Note: Portions of this video reinforce cisgender norms associated with gendered cancers. We recognize cancer is experienced across the spectrum of gender, including transgender and gender non binary individuals. At Knight School, we are committed to continued learning, improvement, and strive to be more inclusive in future educational efforts.
His, hers and theirs: Re-thinking sex-specific cancers
September 17, 2019
Knight School is a series of public science talks designed to educate, entertain, and inspire audiences with stories told by Knight Cancer researchers, clinicians and patients.
Cancer care is becoming increasingly personalized. The goal – not yet realized – is to understand each patient’s disease in enough detail to select precisely targeted drugs that will halt tumor growth long-term. As the field of oncology pursues this ideal, care providers must also consider each patient’s personal needs and values to identify the best course of treatment for healing and survival. Join us for a thoughtful discussion about gender and cancer with advocates, researchers and physicians who are advancing science, patient care, access and support for all.
Presenters:
Tobin Cox
Cancer survivor, advocate and OHSU employee
Cancer is part of Tobin Cox’s family history and they were not surprised to hear the words “you have cancer” at age 32. As someone who is gender nonconforming, Cox does not identify as exclusively male or exclusively female, and has learned to navigate an exclusive health care system and advocate for therapies that have helped to save their life. They also volunteer with OHSU’s Transgender Health Program.
Amanda Bruegl, M.D., M.S.
Assistant professor of gynecologic oncology, OHSU School of Medicine
Director of scholar research, Wy’East Post-Baccalaureate Program, Northwest Native American Center of Excellence
Amanda Bruegl specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of gynecologic cancers. She has a research interest in cancer prevention in the American Indian/Alaska Native population. A citizen of the Oneida Nation, she is the only academic American Indian gynecologic oncologist in the country. Bruegl is also interested in hereditary cancer symptoms and working with patients and their families to help screen for disease and prevent cancer.
Julie Graff, M.D.
Associate professor of medicine, OHSU School of Medicine
Chief of hematology and medical oncology, Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System
Julie Graff is an oncologist who sees patients with genitourinary cancers, such as prostate, kidney, bladder and testicular cancers, and focuses her research on prostate cancer. She is internationally recognized for her work in immunotherapy and received a $1M Movember Challenge Award from the Prostate Cancer Foundation to study the effect of manipulation of the gut microbiota on responses to immunotherapy in Veterans with advanced prostate cancer.
Laura Heiser, Ph.D.
Associate professor and vice chair of biomedical engineering, OHSU School of Medicine
Laura Heiser studies the genomic and epigenomic changes that cause breast cancer, with the goal of identifying pathways and aberrations associated with therapeutic response and resistance in cancer. In her research, she uses an integrative systems biology approach to understand cancer as a complex system. Heiser is also an active member of the DREAM Consortium, a community-based effort to rigorously assess and advance algorithms in computational biology.