Creatine is a naturally occurring compound made from three amino acids. Your liver, kidneys and pancreas produce it, and it's also found in foods like red meat.

While your body makes creatine on its own, and you can get some through your diet, those amounts typically aren't enough to provide the performance benefits seen with supplementation.

Best known for helping muscles work harder during high-intensity exercise, creatine is one of the most researched sports nutrition supplements available. The most studied form is creatine monohydrate, which has been shown to improve exercise performance and increase lean muscle mass when paired with resistance training.

"There are three different forms that creatine can come in. It can come in a pill (capsule form), it can come in gummy form, or a powder form. There are different types of creatine; the most well-studied form is creatine monohydrate," says Gabrielle Raucci, outpatient clinical oncology dietitian with OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute. "All the studies we've seen say the best form is going to be powder. It's better absorbed by your body, and you can just take a scoop of it, add it to water and shake it up really well."

Most adults who choose to supplement should aim for about three to five grams per day, Raucci says.

Emerging research also suggests creatine may have benefits beyond muscle health. Recent studies have found promising evidence that it may help support brain energy metabolism and cognitive function, although researchers say more studies are needed to understand its long-term effects in healthy adults.

For people with cancer, however, timing matters.

"The main thing we focus on is that if you're undergoing an active treatment, like chemotherapy or immunotherapy, the kidneys can sometimes take a hit with those treatments. When your body breaks down creatine, it breaks it into a byproduct called creatinine," Raucci says. "When your oncologists are closely looking at your blood levels, we wouldn't want to take a supplement that could potentially bump your creatinine. So, make sure to talk with your care team if you're on an active treatment and you want to use one of these supplements. Because it could potentially affect your kidneys."

For cancer survivors who have completed treatment, creatine may be an option to help rebuild muscle mass, particularly when combined with regular strength training.

"If you're in survivorship and are looking to build your lean body mass up, it could be a safe supplement," Raucci says. "Check with your care team, they'll double-check your medications and see if it's something to build yourself up after treatment."

As with any supplement, people undergoing cancer treatment or managing other medical conditions should talk with their health care team before starting creatine to ensure it's appropriate for their individual situation.

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B-Roll

Now, emerging research continues to point to multiple factors of why hundreds of thousands of people worldwide are dying from the disease each year. The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) reports lung cancer as the most common cancer across the globe, attributing most of the cases to people in China, the United States and Japan from data released in 2022. The Journal of Thoracic Oncology says 1.8 million people die each year from lung cancer.

Between 10-20% of patients diagnosed with lung cancer are non-smokers.

In part one of this two-part series, Jun Zhang, MD, PhD, a thoracic oncologist and the vice president of oncology research with OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute, discusses five main reasons that patients who do not smoke are being diagnosed with lung cancer. Part one discussed both PM2.5 (Particulate matter) and radon levels being major causes of lung cancer among nonsmokers, while this article will dive into the next three categories.

#3: Cooking fumes leading to lung cancer

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that each year, 2.9 million people die prematurely from illnesses caused by household air pollution, specifically by the “incomplete combustion of solid fuels and kerosene used for cooking.”

Of those deaths, 6% are from lung cancer, the WHO says, adding that roughly 11% of lung cancer deaths in adults are attributed to “carcinogens from household air pollution caused by using kerosene or solid fuels like wood, charcoal or coal for household energy needs.”

"This is one of the reasons there's a higher incidence among Asian people, because of cooking style and the importance of food," Dr. Zhang says. "Over there, the way we cook delicious food is using the really hot wok (large bowl-shaped pan used for high-heat cooking) as the way to cook. Especially if the cooking involves using animal fat, it can create droplets (fumes), that can be inhaled and cause problems." 

#4: Secondhand smoking

Just as there is no safe level of smoking, the same can be said for secondhand smoke (SHS). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) says even brief exposure to SHS can be harmful. This should be a wakeup call to both smokers and those who are around smokers, and lung cancer isn’t the only health concern.

The CDC reports other health problems that can be caused by secondhand smoke (in adults who don’t smoke) are coronary heart disease, stroke, as well as reproductive health effects in women. For infants and kids, SHS can cause sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), respiratory infections, ear infections and asthma attacks.

Especially in the 1940s through 60s, smoking was seen more broadly as "cool" and was a norm in many American households. So, secondhand smoking, Dr. Zhang says, is another major contributor to non-smoking lung cancer diagnoses. 

"Whether it's a parent smoking or a coworker smoking, this leads to indoor air pollution," Dr. Zhang points out. 

SHS causes more than 7,300 lung cancer deaths each year in American adults who don’t smoke and increases the risk of lung cancer in adult non-smokers by 20-30%.

#5: Genetic predispositions

Your genes can play a role in your cancer risk as well, Dr. Zhang says. A family history of lung cancer in a first-degree relative account for approximately 25% of attributable risk in never-smokers – the largest single risk factor. The germline variants in certain genes like EGFR and STK11 can increase lung cancer susceptibility among never-smokers.

Dr. Zhang says with genetic testing, these variants can be found.

"It turns out that if you have germline variants in the EGFR gene, people have a higher susceptibility to have lung cancer," Dr. Zhang says. "With AI (artificial intelligence) and more in-depth sequencing, we'll be able to find more genetic predispositions."

STK11 (also known as LKB1) is another prominent gene that its germline variants my result in increased susceptibility in many non-smoking lung cancer patients. Germline mutation of this gene can lead to Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome, which leads to the growth of polyps in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract or other parts of the body. It also increases lung cancer susceptibility regardless of environmental exposures.

Current screening guidelines

Low-dose CT scans are available for certain patients, but the current guidelines require you to be at least 50 years of age and have a 20-year smoking history (one pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years, of ½ pack of cigarettes for 40 years). You also need to either be a current smoker or have quit in the last 15 years. 

Dr. Zhang says findings like this argue for expansion of lung cancer screening criteria, especially among Asian females, which is aligned with the findings from FANSS (Female Asian Nonsmoker Screening Study), which screened 1,000 eligible Asian women, ages 40-74. Using low-dose CT (LDCT), the findings showed a lung cancer detection rate of 1.3%. This was higher than a separate study called the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) which studied high-risk smokers.

Dr. Zhang says that if you have any concerns like lingering cough that lasts for multiple weeks, talk to your primary care provider (PCP). You can get a chest X-Ray to make sure you don't have pneumonia.

You could also have GERD (acid reflux), and these are important to be seen for. If none of the common benign cases are identified, this is where patients should advocate for themselves and ask for a CT scan to check for lung cancer.

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The American Cancer Society (ACS) says other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the United States.

The good news? Prostate cancer, when caught early, is also one of the easiest to treat.

Salman Syed, MD, a radiation oncologist with OSF HealthCare, describes today’s current treatment options as “exceptional,” noting that most men diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early stage are successfully treated and remain cancer-free after therapy.

The best way to detect prostate cancer early is through screening with a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test, Dr. Syed explains.

PSA is a protein produced by the prostate that can be measured with a simple blood test. Higher PSA levels may indicate prostate cancer or other prostate conditions. "It correlates with the amount of prostate tissue that you have," Dr. Syed adds.

“In general, we like to see PSA levels below four, but the interpretation depends on a patient’s age and overall risk,” Dr. Syed says. “Some men can develop prostate cancer even with a relatively low PSA, which is why screening decisions should be individualized and discussed with a physician.” 

If you have a strong family history of prostate cancer, you may need to start PSA testing at a younger age. “Current guidelines recommend discussing PSA screening as early as age 40 to 45 for men with higher-risk features, including a family history of prostate cancer, African ancestry or certain inherited genetic mutations.”

Inherited mutations such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 can increase the risk of developing prostate cancer, among other cancers, and can be passed down from parent to child. So, knowing your family history and if you or your parents have genetic mutations is helpful in assessing your cancer risk, Dr. Syed suggests. 

Doctors might also use genomic testing, which analyzes the activity of certain genes within a prostate tumor. These tests help determine how aggressive the cancer is likely to be, allowing physicians to tailor treatment to each patient.

“In some cases, genomic testing helps us safely avoid unnecessary treatments,” Dr. Syed explains. “In others, it tells us when we should treat more aggressively to give the patient the best chance of cure.” 

New and improved ways to diagnose, treat prostate cancer

The OSF HealthCare oncology program has several advanced technologies that help detect prostate cancer earlier and treat it more precisely, often with fewer side effects.

“One of the biggest advances we’ve seen in prostate cancer care is the ability to combine better imaging with more targeted treatments,” Dr. Syed says. “That allows us to detect cancer earlier and personalize treatment, so patients get exactly what they need.”

One example is the multiparametric MRI (mpMRI), an advanced imaging test that provides a highly detailed look at the prostate. This scan can identify suspicious areas that may not be visible on standard imaging, helping doctors detect prostate cancer earlier and guide more targeted biopsies and treatment.

Another breakthrough is PSMA PET/CT, an advanced scan that can detect extremely small amounts of prostate cancer throughout the body. Because it is far more sensitive than traditional imaging, it helps doctors locate recurrent or metastatic disease earlier and plan treatment more accurately. 

OSF HealthCare also offers proton therapy at OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute in Peoria. Proton therapy is an advanced form of radiation that allows physicians to deliver radiation to the tumor while reducing exposure to nearby organs such as the bladder and rectum. 

"With proton therapy, we can often reduce the dose to surrounding healthy tissues compared with conventional radiation," Dr. Syed explains. "That can translate into fewer long-term side effects and better preservation of quality of life for many patients." 

Another highly advanced option available at OSF is high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy, which delivers radiation from inside the prostate.

“HDR brachytherapy is one of the most precise forms of radiation therapy available for prostate cancer,” says Dr. Syed. “Because we deliver radiation from inside the prostate itself, we can sculpt the radiation dose very tightly around the tumor while minimizing exposure to nearby organs like the bladder and rectum. At OSF, this treatment is typically completed in just two sessions, which allows us to deliver a very powerful and focused treatment over a short period of time while maintaining excellent cure rates.” 

Together, these advanced tools allow the OSF oncology team to diagnose prostate cancer earlier, personalize care and deliver highly effective treatment while minimizing side effects. 

Radiation versus surgery: Is there a better option?

In terms of radiation versus surgery, Dr. Syed says they are both highly effective treatment options.

"In terms of cancer control, surgery and radiation have very similar success rates for most patients," says Dr. Syed. "The choice often comes down to differences in side effects and what best fits a patient's lifestyle and priorities."

Rectal irritation, like diarrhea and looser stools during treatment, and other side effects are possible during radiation, but that improves over time, Dr. Syed points out. 

Side effects from surgery include temporary erectile dysfunction (ED), which is regained after surgery. As well as urinary incontinence (accidental urine leakage caused by lack of bladder control), which can tend to last post-surgery as well. Men are encouraged to wear supporting underwear (Depends) to prevent urinary leakage. 

The best starting point is a conversation with your oncology team to discuss what your lifestyle looks like.

If you are actively working and can't have urinary incontinence, radiation will likely be the recommendation. If you have urinary issues already, there are certain radiation options that would be better for you. 

Exercise helps decrease your risk of cancer. Dr. Syed recommends maintaining a healthy weight and staying up to date with your health maintenance and primary care provider, as well as avoiding alcohol and smoking.

Video Interview Clips

While this seems straightforward, this isn’t a quantity vs. quality scenario. It’s a mix of both, personalized to everyone in different ways.

A late-phase trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine finds people who follow an exercise program after undergoing surgery and chemotherapy can reduce the risk of cancer recurrence, a new cancer diagnosis or death by 28%. The findings were presented on June 1 at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), focusing on those who had Stage 3 or high-risk Stage 2 colon cancer.

Nathaniel Leman is an exercise physiologist with OSF HealthCare. He works alongside patients with cancer, mapping out plans to keep them exercising, despite a cancer diagnosis.

Exercise is helpful to patients with cancer

During a cancer journey, exercise helps deliver medication through the body as it's intended, because a person's blood vessels are opening, allowing the drugs to get to the areas impacted by cancer better. 

"We know exercise is so beneficial for our bodies. Specifically for patients with cancer who deal with a lot of fatigue, tiredness and low energy," Leman says. "They also deal with a lot of joint and muscle pain, maybe even bone pain. Most of the time they have weakened immune systems as well. There's a lot of things through their treatment journey they'll deal with; weight loss is another one."

How exercise is beneficial for patients with cancer

"Exercising with cardio and strength training is really good for our hearts, lungs, muscles and joints. The benefits also include our mental health, and it helps keep our weight consistent," Leman adds. "It also helps to boost our immune system and keep us healthy for a long time."

Leman and his colleagues rely on recommendations from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) to put together plans for patients with cancer. That includes 150 minutes of moderate, cardiovascular or aerobic (using body’s main muscle groups in repeated motions) exercise per week. This can break down into 30 minutes of exercise, five days a week.

If 30 minutes at one time is too much for a person, feel free to break it down into two 15-minute exercise periods, sprinkled throughout your day. Even three 10-minute periods are beneficial.

The main goal is to just get people to start moving. 

How to start moving

"That includes anything from walking to an aerobic bike on a moderate setting," Leman says. "Walking in a pool and doing light jogs inside the pool is something where we can take that pressure of gravity off."

If people want to achieve vigorous exercise, Lehman recommends 75 minutes a week because of the added pressure that's put on muscles and bones. 

If strength training is more your speed, Lehman recommends two to three days a week. This can include light squats, shoulder press, bicep curls, triceps extensions and rows as a few examples. Make sure to have a day of rest in between. 

Avoid powerlifting during cancer

Power lifting (power clean, heavy squats, deadlift) or exerting too much energy during a cancer journey is something to avoid, Lehman recommends. 

"We don't want to do that type of workout where we're over stressing our body to a point we can't move the next day," Lehman says. "Those athletes train for years and years and years, and they put a lot of fatigue on their body that our patients with cancer just can't handle." 

Marathons, triathlons, Iron Mans and Spartan races should be avoided as well. These extremely tough exercise events would cause too much stress on the bodies of patients with cancer. 

Lehman says exercise is good at lowering the risk of cancer, but it doesn't outright prevent cancer. 

Lehman says there is a difference between an active lifestyle and exercising. A basic active lifestyle can include things like daily chores around the house, but he wants patients to take things a step further and add committed time to exercise specifically. However, if a person is working outside in the yard all day, that can be a great amount of physical activity which could supplement exercise on that specific day.

The European Society of Cardiology reports a sedentary lifestyle for two decades is linked to being two times at risk of premature death, compared to being physically active. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends 8,000 steps a day and says that for every 1,000 added steps per day in people with a sedentary lifestyle, reduces the risk of heart disease and death by 15 percent.

OSF HealthCare exercise physiologists offer a free exercise consultation to get started. Contact your oncology care team here to learn more about exercise plans during cancer.

Video Interview Clips

The Peoria, Illinois-based hospital system has brought surgical oncologist Tamara Floyd, MD, to the care team at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Dr. Floyd performs cytoreductive and HIPEC (hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy) surgeries in Peoria, while also seeing patients in Bloomington and Galesburg.

HIPEC procedures are mostly for patients who have tumors or cancer spread in the abdominal cavity. 

Cancerous tumors are removed through cytoreductive surgery where the surgeon initially attempts to remove as much of the cancer as possible. Surgery is then followed by HIPEC, which is when a heated chemotherapy – at just over 106 degrees Fahrenheit – is administered into the abdomen. The heated chemo is then circulated around the area inside the abdomen to treat any remaining microscopic tumor cells.

HIPEC can be beneficial for several types of cancer patients. The one it benefits the most is LAMN, or low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm. HIPEC is considered a standard of care for patients who have seen their cancer spread into the space in the abdomen that contains the abdominal organs.

These can be appendix, colorectal, and now more data indicates stomach cancer patients may benefit from HIPEC, Dr. Floyd says.

"Additionally with more data, pancreatic cancer is being looked at as well. Even patients with breast cancer. Another cancer that benefits from HIPEC is peritoneal mesothelioma." 

HIPEC can be a viable treatment option at any stage, Dr. Floyd says. But as some people are diagnosed with later stage disease, it can feel like no options are possible. HIPEC changes that.

"It's beneficial to have the option of doing HIPEC, or cytoreductive surgeries, for patients who have peritoneal spread of disease, which for most cancers means it is a stage 4 disease," Dr. Floyd says. "In a lot of instances, if you're talking about stage 4 disease, there aren't a lot of other options."

While HIPEC is a viable option for low-grade cancers, it's also a helpful option for later stage, more aggressive cancers. Patients with signet ring or goblet cell features, which are more aggressive subtypes, can also be treated with HIPEC. 

"Signet ring is one of the subtypes of appendiceal, colon or rectal that can be treated. There are even some subtypes of gastric or stomach cancer that are considered a signet ring or have signet ring features," Dr. Floyd says. "Cytoreductive and HIPEC can be considered for those patients."

Throughout a cancer journey, combining traditional chemotherapy that is administered through IV with HIPEC provides a "synergistic effect" Dr. Floyd says. HIPEC allows the chemotherapy to be administered directly to the cancer cells and kill them that way. 

Dr. Floyd has done one HIPEC at OSF Saint Francis so far and has another planned soon. It's anticipated that within the next year, Dr. Floyd and her team will start to do three to four HIPEC surgeries a month as OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute continues to grow as a destination center.

Patient recovery times can be one to two weeks in the hospital after HIPEC surgery, which is why having this option for Central Illinois patients is so important. It allows the patient and their families to stay close to home, instead of having to travel hours away. Dr. Floyd says the longer travel times can turn patients and their families away from pursuing care. 

Heated chemotherapy can also be used in thoracic cavities. This would then be called HITEC or HITOC, Heated IntraThoracic Chemotherapy. This is for patients who have disease spreading in the pulmonary area. 

Types of cancers that can be treated by HIPEC: 

-          LAMN (Low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm)

-          Appendiceal

-          Colon

-          Rectal

-          Gastric

-          Stomach

-          Pancreatic

-          Breast

-          Mesothelioma

-          Ovarian

For more information on cancer treatment options at OSF, visit the OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute website.

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A colonoscopy at age 15

But why? Those at an average risk of colorectal cancer are recommended to start getting colonoscopies once every ten years, starting at 45 years of age.

"My dad was diagnosed after just turning 26. Because it was colon cancer, they recommended I be seen ten years before. The doctors said when I turned 15 to get a colonoscopy," Jaxson says. He was just a baby when his father passed away.

Jaxson’s father, Michael, was an avid runner in great shape. Angie Brown, Michael’s wife and Jaxson’s mother, says Michael had no family history of colon cancer, and never drank or smoked. At the age of 26, Michael was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. He underwent six months of chemotherapy and was in remission for almost four years. In 2013, Michael was diagnosed with a rare form of stage 4 colon cancer called signet ring cell adenocarcinoma.

“If he can do it, I can do it!”

Angie says for years, she has helped prepare her sons to know the importance of cancer screening, and that they’d have to undergo a colonoscopy from a young age.

“He figured that if he could go out there and show people that a 15-year-old boy is willing to go through a colonoscopy, without having any symptoms, then anybody can do it,” Angie says. “We had a good amount of people who sent messages and said, ‘if he can do it, I can do it!’”

Jaxson says it helped to know from a young age that the day was coming. Afterwards, he said it “wasn’t that bad.”

"They have you roll over on your side, then they inject the stuff in, and it works like a charm. You're out and don't remember a thing. Best sleep you'll ever get," Jaxson laughs. 

Jaxson’s bravery can inspire others

Daniel Martin, MD, a gastroenterologist with OSF HealthCare, oversaw Jaxson’s treatment. He says Jaxson’s bravery to undergo something uncomfortable, yet potentially lifesaving, should be inspiration for everyone.

"Colon cancer, if caught early (even if not caught at a polyp stage), is a very treatable condition. Where in the early stages of disease, greater than 90% of those patients are going to be disease free at five years," Dr. Martin says. "One of the advantages of colorectal cancer screening is that we can prevent the disease. With colorectal cancer, in a colonoscopy, you can identify the precursor lesions called polyps and remove them during the exam."

Colon cancer is the third-most diagnosed form of cancer in both men and women.

“Lung is first for both, breast cancer is second for women, then colorectal cancer is third. For men, prostate is second, colorectal cancer is third. Colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer mortality in this country,” Dr. Martin explains.

The prevalence of colon cancer, along with the rareness of Michael’s signet ring colon cancer, led Angie and Michael to launch the Michael P. Brown Colon Cancer Foundation which lives by the motto “Get Busy Living.”

“A lot of people think you’re guaranteed a long life, especially if they’ve had parents who lived into their 80s and 90s,” Angie says. “You just never know what’s going to happen. If you have a bucket list, start doing those things. Don’t wait until you’re retired.”

The Foundation hosts Michael’s 5K Run for Life each year, raising money for signet ring research

“We try to be an outlet for people to get information about signet ring colon cancer. My husband used to field most of those calls, but now I do. My boys are getting involved too,” Angie says. “If there’s a parent who has cancer, they’re willing to talk to kids about that.”

Signs and symptoms of colon cancer

"The most common concern would be bleeding in your stool. But that would also include abdominal pain that's new or different," Dr. Martin says. "Or changes in the frequency or caliber of your stools."

This was mainly the case with Michael, Angie says.

“Initially, my husband’s symptom was belly pain. He was put on a couple of different medications because it was thought to be a stomach ulcer,” Angie says. “It didn’t work. He started having constipation, diarrhea and vomiting. We went into the emergency department, and he got the diagnosis of colon cancer.”

Traditionally, colon cancer is seen in people in their 60s and 70s. However, more younger people are starting to be diagnosed with colon cancer, Dr. Martin says.

"Specific to colorectal cancer, there are various options available now for screening. We recommend procedural screening with colonoscopy whenever possible. But with the advent of stool studies that are readily available and have been covered by insurance, that has helped increase the pool of patients who are receiving appropriate screening," Dr. Martin says. These readily available options are so important, Dr. Martin says, because most colon cancer patients are getting diagnosed at a later stage in the disease.

In the past, things like smoking, obesity and unhealthy lifestyle choices have been thought to cause colon cancer. Dr. Martin says in addition to that, more recent studies have shown processed foods to be a concern as well, adding that our gut's microbiome may show early indicators of cancer. A study done by Harvard Medical School investigators found that certain types of gut bacteria could lead to the development of precancerous colon polyps. 

Dr. Martin credits the OSF HealthCare cancer tumor boards and medical teams for creating a more organized process over the last five to 10 years that takes care of patients from diagnosis to treatment. 

Jaxson says now that it’s all said and done, the colonoscopy process was not as bad as most people think. This is on par with what most patients say, Dr. Martin adds. His word of caution? Many of his patients undergoing a colon cancer diagnosis wish they would have gotten colonoscopies earlier on.

To schedule a screening, speak with your primary care provider first and get a referral. You can find more information about colonoscopies on the OSF HealthCare website.

Jaxson Brown Video Interview Clips

Angie Brown Video Interview Clips

Dr. Daniel Martin Video Interview Clips

Innovative Technologies at the Forefront

Leading-edge cancer treatments like proton beam therapy, brachytherapy, genetic counseling and dietetics are all offered within the OSF Cancer Institute, providing patients with a one-stop-shop during their cancer journey.  

Proton therapy

Proton therapy was first offered on April 1, 2024.

"Proton therapy lets us offer radiation therapy to patients that maybe wouldn't have been able to tolerate side effects due to tumor location, or factors such as prior radiation treatment to the same area," says Tom Cox, the vice president of operations at OSF Cancer Institute. " This is possible because protons stop after passing through a tumor, eliminating the radiation effects on tissue often treated incidentally to photon (X-ray) therapy. The OSF Cancer Institute is on track to have treated 180 patients by April 1, 2025 – which far exceeded the original first-year target of 130 patients.

Brachytherapy

The brachytherapy suite offers a more patient-friendly way for mostly prostate and gynecological (cervical, endometrial) cancer patients to receive treatment. This option involves placement of applicators or needles directly into tumors so that very controlled, effective radiation can be delivered in discrete volumes. Since the radiation is delivered from within the tumor, there is a dramatic reduction of the dose to normal tissue, even those near the tumor itself. The dose is delivered with high-dose rate techniques so the therapy is delivered in just a few minutes time.

"Being able to bring the introduction of the applicators into the body, the treatment planning CT and the treatment all in one room, has created a much better experience. We're having some really good outcomes there, and we think we can expand what we're able to do there,” Cox says.

Intuitive Ion robot 

The OSF Cancer Institute’s pulmonology team offers state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and treatments, including minimally invasive, robotic surgeries and robotic assistive bronchoscopy. This includes the Intuitive Ion Robot, which allows care teams to get early answers and advance care for lung cancer patients.

"We're going to leverage the ability of an ion robot in the interventional pulmonary lab to really upend how we do the front end of lung cancer care," Cox says. "That robot is going to enable us to biopsy smaller lesions. It has fewer side effects than when you're getting a lung biopsy that's CT-guided. You can also do a staged EBUS (endobronchial ultrasound) exam, so you can diagnosis and stage at the same time."

Rachael Davis, MD, a pulmonologist at OSF Cancer Institute, and her team have been using the ion robot weekly. Dr. Davis and her team are training more providers, and by this summer they’re expecting to quadruple – or more – how often it’s used. 

HIPEC procedures

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) surgeries are now offered at the OSF Cancer Institute. Tamara Floyd, MD, a surgical oncologist with OSF performs the open surgery and removes tumors from the abdomen. In the HIPEC procedure, heated chemotherapy is circulated through the body for a period of time. The first case went extremely well, and Dr. Floyd is planning her second case for mid-March. 

In addition to treatment options, the OSF Cancer Institute is increasing cancer supportive services in the Peoria region as well.

• Cancer navigation - 13% increase (Specially trained OSF Mission Partners walking you through the process of cancer care) 
• Dietetics - 64% increase
• Palliative medicine - 213% increase (Helps control symptoms, augments treatment from physicians) 
• Genetic counseling - 20% increase

Nutrition journey during cancer

Part of the dietary benefits OSF Cancer Institute offers is in the CEFCU Teaching Kitchen. Oncology dietitians work with patients on recipes to cook and are there with them step-by-step during their cancer journeys. Cox says 50% of people who come in for cancer treatment have dietary risks, while 80% of those people suffer malnutrition during treatment. Having a trained, professional dietary team walking alongside you helps fight those negative complications.

OSF Cancer Institute Culture

Cox credits the Institute’s first-year success to the culture of those who work there. The goal, he says, is to offer cancer support services across the entire spectrum of life. 

"The Mission Partners that work in this building have completely bought in to the idea that we all are advocates for cancer patients. We're always asking patients what they need, to see if we can help them," Cox says. "If we hear there's an issue with travel, or they're having trouble keeping food down, or if their children are not coping very well (with a loved one's cancer diagnosis), we know there are resources in the building, and we try very hard to line up those resources. You can feel it when you walk through the building."

Support services after cancer treatment 

"We can get you with a nurse, an exercise specialist and a dietitian to get back to your best life after cancer. Maybe you like to run a lot and ran half marathons, and you think you'll never be able to do it again. We have rehab and exercise specialists here and nutritionists. Who says you can't do that again? We're going to work with you to see you can get to the life after cancer you want to get to,” Cox says.

Services and medical professionals continue to grow

Building off the first year of OSF Cancer Institute, the administrative team continues to hire world-class medical professionals to offer cancer care in Peoria. A breast surgeon was recently brought onto the team, and a colorectal surgeon will be starting soon.

Additionally, the fourth floor of the building will be built out soon. Cox says this will give much-needed space for the surgical oncology and medical research teams. Research-focused medical oncologists are currently being recruited as well.

Leaving OSF Cancer Institute healthier, and more aware

Patients who leave OSF Cancer Institute don't just leave the building as healthier people; their awareness continues and will benefit other people. Cox admits a cancer diagnosis is not an easy thing to go through, and that the support from the OSF care team doesn’t stop when you walk out the door.

Grateful for community support

Cox says he’s been humbled throughout the years of working in oncology by the incredible commitment of the community and region to the OSF Cancer Institute.

"It is overwhelming to me, the philanthropic spirit of our community and extended community," Cox says. "I take that as, they've made a big commitment to us, and we're making a big commitment back. We're going to bring things to central Illinois that have not been here before. We are going to support you and your family members throughout your life and keep you as healthy, relative to cancer, as we possibly can."

Looking to the future

Cox says the OSF Cancer Institute is looking to bring more pediatric cancer support services to the building, the work collaboratively alongside the adult services.

The team is creating both a lung lesion clinic and a lung multidisciplinary clinic, which aims to reduce the time from finding a cancerous lesion to treatment. The lesion clinic is expected to open in late spring.

The OSF Cancer Institute intake team has been created with oncology nurses who will answer patients’ questions on the very same day, to see if services are right for you.

Cox adds that OSF is planning to put together an early detection hotline as a resource for the community to know if or when they should be screened for cancer.

To learn more about the OSF HealthCare Cancer Institute, visit its website to view the services offered and find contact information to get connected.

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If you’re looking for more reasons to switch from cocktails to mocktails, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)’s newest study may encourage you to embrace sobriety.

The AACR published its 2024 Cancer Progress Report, showcasing that excessive alcohol use increases an individual’s risk of developing six types of cancer.

-          Certain types of head and neck cancer

-          Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

-          Breast cancer

-          Colorectal cancer

-          Liver cancer

-          Stomach cancers

The study goes on to say that in 2019, 5.4% of cancers were attributed to alcohol consumption. The AACR’s research suggests that by drinking less, or not at all, it can decrease your risk of getting the above-mentioned cancers by 8% and lessen the risk of all cancers by 4%.

Jeanna Rich is an oncology registered dietitian with OSF Cancer Support Services. She says that part of the reason excessive alcohol can affect so many different parts of the body, is because alcohol touches tissue inside the body at most of these places.

"All alcohol contains ethanol, so one alcohol beverage is not safer than the other because they all contain that ethanol component. That can essentially damage or oxidize healthy cells and create DNA damage,” Rich says. “In regard to breast cancer, alcohol can actually increase the levels of estrogen in our body, it can lead to excessive calorie intake, which can lead to obesity." 

Rich says the increase in estrogen is what increases the risk of breast cancer.

Heavy drinking can lead to poor sleep, malnutrition

“Sleep is essential,” Rich says, noting that late nights drinking oftentimes leads to a poor night’s sleep.

“People who are choosing to drink a large amount of alcohol are not eating or drinking other nourishing items, so then they're deficient in other healthy nutrients," Rich adds. 

From cocktails to mocktails

"Why do people drink? Sometimes it's a social factor, sometimes it's for relaxation like going out to dinner with friends and having a glass of wine," Rich says, adding it’s becoming more common to have mocktails on menus at restaurants. “The sober lifestyle trend is becoming very popular. Especially with the New Year coming up, people like to stay sober for a month and see how your body feels, it does make a difference." 

Rich says other than being trendy and fun, if you make them right, mocktails can have beneficial nutrients.

The National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) has year-round and holiday-themed mocktail recipes here. The NFCR reports that most Americans double their alcohol intake between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

"Some can even include cancer-fighting nutrients like cranberries, teas and mints. So, taking that risk factor away, not only takes away the damage that's going to cause your body, but then it provides you with a cancer-fighting nutritional component that's going to enhance your overall health,” Rich says.

Avoid alcohol completely during cancer treatment

On a cancer journey, it’s important to discuss alcohol with your medical team. Rich says it’s imperative to completely avoid alcohol if you’re under treatment.

"Alcohol needs to be detoxed through our liver. Our liver will choose to focus on alcohol first, versus doing other jobs," Rich says. “We are essentially robbing our body of using our cancer treatment and using nutrition to help keep our bodies fighting that cancer. The overall message is to not drink alcohol during cancer treatment and have that conversation with your health care provider or dietitian, to make sure you understand why you're avoiding alcohol.”

To learn more about nutrition during a cancer journey, visit the OSF HealthCare website.

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As we begin a new year at OSF HealthCare, we’re reflecting on 2024 and the major strides in digital transformation to make access to care and health information seamless for our patients. At OSF, we continue to collaborate with our academic and business partners to leverage collective expertise and to responsibly use the power of artificial intelligence, always taking care to use guiding principles of what is fair, appropriate, valid, effective and safe (FAVES).

The efforts are highlighted here in our Top 10 Digital Health and Innovation stories of 2024 in no particular order.

1. OSF Unveils new 55+ primary care service in south suburban Chicago: Called OSF Complete Care 55+, this is a unique collaboration between OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center and OSF OnCall, the digital arm of the health care Ministry. When launched in early 2025, this primary care program will incorporate in-person visits, plus a mix of virtual care, digital health monitoring tools and 24/7 access to a care team focusing on those with chronic conditions.

2. Building an AI prepared workforce: OSF HealthCare leaders took just six weeks to develop mandatory training about generative AI for all 24,000 OSF Mission Partners (employees) because tools were already publicly available. Melissa Knuth, Vice President of Planning, outlines that to rise to the challenge, she worked with OSF Innovation to use mixed media to keep the content interesting and tapped generative AI tools to assist with the content creation.

3. OSF Digital Hospital patients in Rockford area say it’s the best medicine: OSF OnCall expands its digital hospital program to Rockford and receives rave reviews from some of its first patients. In addition, a well-known farm broadcaster shares her story about receiving acute-level care from the comfort of her own home and urges others who are eligible to consider the option.

4. OSF Innovation sets the table for solution to prevent cancelled surgeries: Two OSF HealthCare nurses turned to the OSF Innovation Studio team to help improve their Device Table software that serves as a database for implanted medical devices – offering information needed for surgical teams to reference for safety in surgery planning. We also reported on the creation of a spin-off company, OpenSurg, which will license and promote widespread sales of Device Table and related support features.

5. OSF HealthCare experts: ‘Establish guiding principles when developing digital care strategy’: OSF OnCall was a spotlight vendor and presenter at this year’s American Telemedicine Association’s annual Nexus conference in Phoenix, Arizona. OSF OnCall Senior Vice President Jennifer Junis advised during her presentation that health systems use guiding principles when developing their approach to digital health and to involve clinicians and patients when piloting new programs and digital tools. OSF HealthCare has also become a founding member of an ATA Digital Center of Excellence.

6. Mapping the future for early diagnosis of rare diseases: A Jump ARCHES grant-funded project with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is using generative AI and knowledge graphs that map symptoms to detect rare diseases. Adam Cross, MD, who leads the OSF Children's Innovation Lab in Peoria, Illinois, wants to create a point-of-care tool for primary care providers to help patients get an early diagnosis of a rare disease.

7. Health economist: Connectivity and trust can expand telehealth: OSF OnCall hosted its first-ever digital health symposium which drew nearly 150 clinicians and vendors. Keynote speaker health economist and advisor Jane Sarasohn-Kahn stressed evidence-based digital technologies can improve health outcomes, but health systems need to build trust and expand community partnerships to increase engagements.

8. Fast-Tracking Hope: Rapid Intake at the OSF Cancer Institute: OSF HealthCare began 2024 with the opening of its new comprehensive Cancer Institute, offering advanced radiation therapy such as brachytherapy and proton beam therapy.  It also launched a new rapid intake system, developed by OSF OnCall and OSF Innovation to offer a single point of contact through OSF-HOPE (844- 673-4467) so cancer patients can be immediately connected to treatment and support services.

9. Piloting a smarter colonoscopy: OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center piloted artificial intelligence-backed colonoscopies, using a company called GI Genius, to improve detection of precancerous polyps. During the pilot, the adenoma detection rate (ADR) averages increased among all patients involved to as high as 12%, while individual physician ADR increased as high as 32.8%. The technology is now being implemented across the OSF Ministry.

10. Testing the path to better concussion diagnosis: An OSF Innovation lab-designed FlightPath app is now being tested by athletes at Illinois State, Bradley and Illinois Wesleyan Universities. The app only takes about two minutes to collect more than a million data points as a person tries to catch a hummingbird within a 3D space on a screen. The clinical trial could last two years. 

Well how about “tomatoes each week, keeps your health at peak?”

Not only are these bright red, juicy fruits filled with vitamins and minerals, but they can also lessen the risk of cancer, says Katrina Sommer, an advanced clinical dietitian with OSF HealthCare.

Tomatoes have what Katrina calls “bonus nutrients” in them called Phytochemicals. They're found in plant foods and help us fight inflammation and act as an antioxidant. 

One of the Phytochemicals found in tomatoes is Lycopene. 

“There’s a lot of different groups of these phytochemicals. One of them is called carotenoids. Carotenoids a lot of times will give the plant food its color," Sommer says. "Lycopene is a type of carotenoid and gives the tomato that bright red or orange color. Lycopene is also found in watermelon, grapefruit and is the red or pink color you see.”

Sommer recommends cooking the tomatoes and drizzling olive oil on them to help them be absorbed in your system. 

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) shared an Adventist Health study showing that having a high intake of tomatoes lessesns the risk of prostate cancer. 

If you don't like tomatoes by themselves, tomato sauce or tomato soup are good options.

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