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For 30 years, Michael Cher, M.D. , urologic oncologist, chief of Urology and member of the Genitourinary Oncology Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), has been a leading presence at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University. Now, upon completing his 1,000 th robotic surgery, Dr. Cher reflected on how his journey with this technology had begun. “I trained in the era before robotic surgery,” he described. “When robotic surgery came around in the 2000s, we were able to transfer our trad...

“If you care about your life and your family members, get the screenings because they are important." Lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. The current lung cancer screening guidelines are in place to help lower the number of deaths due to the disease by catching the cancer in earlier stages. An annual lung cancer screening can save thousands of lives. Due to his firsthand experience, 69-year-old Edgar Cooper now understands the importance of these screening guidelines. He ...

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , along with cancer centers and other organizations nationwide, recognizes November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. As its name suggests, pancreatic cancer originates in the pancreas, an organ located behind the stomach. The pancreas plays a crucial role in digestion and helps regulate blood sugar levels. About Pancreatic Cancer Exocrine cells make up much of the pancreas. When these cells grow out of control, adenocarcinoma of the pancreas occurs. Pancrea...

McLaren Greater Lansing was recently recognized at the Lansing Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Club and honored with this year’s Celebration of Regional Growth Award (CORG) for the opening of the McLaren Grand Ledge facility. The nearly $40 million freestanding emergency department and multidisciplinary medical campus in Delta Township features 17 private exam rooms, mental health safe rooms, a sensory room, and enhanced access to emergent care for local residents. Construction created more than 100 jobs...

A new drug has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, in which the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute played a crucial role. The oral targeted menin inhibitor ziftomenib (known by its brand name Komzifti™) received FDA approval on Nov. 13, 2025. Ziftomenib is a once-daily oral targeted therapy for adult patients with nucleophosimin 1 (NPM1)-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML). “AML is an aggressive blood and bone marrow cancer, and mutations in the NPM1 gene are among the most co...

“I knew if this treatment was going to help me, I would drive wherever to get it.” Living in Cadillac, David Levine was an avid hunter and outdoorsman who thrived on adventure. About 15 years ago, his active lifestyle was unexpectedly interrupted after a routine visit to his primary care physician. His routine bloodwork revealed elevated PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels - a potential sign of prostate cancer . Though he had no apparent symptoms, Levine continued regular visits with his doctor until...

Logan Wirebaugh’s first pregnancy was difficult. She became seriously ill and had to stop working.. However, her second pregnancy had an even more devastating, life-altering impact: her daughter was stillborn. Overwhelmed by grief, Logan went into a deep depression. “It was pretty rough, and it put me, my fiancé, and our home into a really dark place,” Logan said. That darkness seemed insurmountable at first, but then a visit to the McLaren Flint Family Medicine Residency Center gave Logan the glimmer o...

Over the last decade, melanoma survival rates have improved significantly due to ongoing research and the development of immunotherapy. Lifileucel, also known by its brand name AMTAGVI, is a new form of immunotherapy approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for patients with metastatic melanoma whose cancer has stopped responding to immune checkpoint inhibitors. The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute is the first and only cancer center in Michigan to treat a patient with this new immun...

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , along with cancer centers and other organizations nationwide, recognizes November as Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Lung cancer is the second most common cancer among women and men. Lung Cancer Facts and Figures About 226,650 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in 2025. The chance that a man will develop lung cancer in his lifetime is about 1 in 17. A woman's lifetime chance of developing lung cancer is about 1 in 18. Lung cancer is the leading cause of c...

Two hospitals part of statewide McLaren Health Care have earned an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national distinction that recognizes the hospital’s achievements in protecting patients from harm while providing safe, compassionate health care. McLaren Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant and McLaren Northern Michigan in Petoskey both earned ‘A’ grades. The highest achievable recognition, grades are assigned based on a hospital’s performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, ac...