The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 38 COVID patients today, up from 35 yesterday. Other significant numbers:
- 20 with the active virus today, 20 yesterday
- 4 in ICU, 6 yesterday
- 0 on a ventilator, 2 yesterday
Key points from today’s guests:
Tom Dempsey, testicular cancer survivor
- Testicular cancer impacts mostly younger men -- the average age of diagnosis is just 33 years of age according to the American Cancer Society, and more than 95 percent of men who get it survive it.
- Tom, a TV news reporter, was diagnosed with testicular cancer at age 31.
- Tom's treatment was to remove his testicle and replace it with a prosthesis.
- He is active about sharing his journey so other men can get checkups.
Zach Archer, testicular cancer survivor
- Zach was diagnosed with testicular cancer at age 27 and had one of his testicles removed.
- He had symptoms of back and groin pain, but he dismissed them as normal aches and pains.
- The cancer had spread to lymph nodes, so he also had to get chemotherapy.
- The chemotherapy treatment was rough, but Zach was able to push through to be healthy for his wife and two kids.
- He wants people to know about this so they can detect it and address it early.
Dr. Jeff Holzbeierlein, physician-in-chief and urologic oncologist, The University of Kansas Cancer Center
- Testicular cancer is really sort of the poster child for the curable solid tumors.
- Survival rates went from about 50 percent in the 1970s to up over 90 percent now.
- Treatments really have advanced and as we get better and better at curing it, we're also looking at ways to decrease the burden of the treatment. Early diagnosis is extremely important.
- Testicular exams are one of those things that's not being taught, so many people really aren't aware about how to do it.
- We need to do a better job of public education around this topic.
Dr. Elizabeth Wulff-Burchfield, medical oncologist, The University of Kansas Health System
- It's almost a 100 percent rate of the testicle being removed if someone is diagnosed with testicular cancer. There are some instances in which patients can have a partial removal.
- Patients are usually relieved that we can do the removal. Because the organs are paired, we reassure them that that opposite testicle is adequate for all of the functions that they need both hormonal function as well as fertility.
- If chemotherapy is involved, we want to make sure that people are able to have the family that they want when regardless of their diagnosis. So we can look at options involving sperm banking and allowing for procedures like IVF.
- It's not a common cancer at all, but in young men, it is the most common solid tumor.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control, The University of Kansas Health System
- The population has natural immunity as well as vaccine induced immunity to COVID .
- We also have very good medications to help reduce your chance, especially if you are immunocompromised, of going to the hospital and severe illness.
- What we can do to prepare for the next pandemic includes infrastructure for surveillance, resources to help research and development of new vaccines as well as potential therapeutics.
Wednesday, April 12 is the next Open Mics with Dr. Stites. Pregnancy and childbirth should be safe and joyful. But America has a maternal health problem. Black mothers in particular are at risk. Meet an expert who has dedicated her life to keeping black mothers and babies healthy. And how she's working with others to fix the disparities.
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