MUSC Hollings Cancer Center

02/02/2026

Thank you to The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort for hosting the 18th Annual Gourmet & Grapes this past weekend!

This incredible event brought together local and national culinary talent alongside award‑winning wineries – all in support of raising funds for cancer research at Hollings Cancer Center.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, $1,650,683 was raised to support life‑saving research and patient programs. We are deeply grateful to everyone who attended, donated, sponsored, and staffed this unforgettable event (despite the record low temperatures and snow in the Lowcountry!)

01/31/2026

It’s Gourmet & Grapes weekend and our silent auction is open all day today at the link below. You can bid on luxury experiences, wine, gift certificates, art, shopping sprees, weekend getaways and resort vacations with all proceeds benefitting Hollings. 🍇

https://my.onecause.com/event/organizations/adf3e41c-6644-41ea-a645-5f697a85bcf7/events/vevt:7d48a8ab-d73c-4874-9229-62157fbd5a2e/auctions/silent-auction

01/29/2026

What should breast cancer survivors know about heart health? Interventional cardiologist Dr. Arasi Maran talks to Bobbi Conner on this week's Health Focus.

Listen on your favorite SC Public Radio station or check out the website: https://www.southcarolinapublicradio.org/show/health-focus

01/28/2026

Is it possible to eliminate cervical cancer?

If we can increase HPV vaccination rates, improve screening rates and make sure that pre-cancers and cervical disease are treated in a timely fashion, then the answer is yes – but we're still a ways from that goal, according to a new paper from Hollings researcher Dr. Trisha Amboree.

A new study quantifies how close each state is to the goal of eliminating cervical cancer, defined as 4 or fewer cases per 100,000 women.

01/25/2026

Are you caring for a loved one battling cancer? Join us for our Caregiver Support Group – a safe space to connect with others that understand what you're going through as a caregiver. Share your experience and leave feeling supported and fulfilled. The support group is held virtually every third Wednesday of the month from 1-2 pm. To register for our next meeting on Feb. 18, email Jalesa Green at grejal@musc.edu.

01/23/2026

When Jack Smith learned he had a kidney tumor, surgery wasn’t an option. But advanced radiation therapy at Hollings offered him hope – and a chance to keep doing what he loves most: playing pickleball.

01/23/2026

🏓 “Downtime is not part of my repertoire.”

Jack Smith still brings his competitive spirit to the pickleball court – and to his fight against kidney cancer. When surgery wasn’t an option, advanced radiation therapy at Hollings gave him hope and a path to remission.

With determination, family support and world-class care close to home, Jack is staying in the game – on the court and in life.

Read Jack’s story:

With surgery deemed too risky for a man with a tumor in his only working kidney, the Radiation Medicine team at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center stepped in.

01/21/2026

Pancreatic cancer is one of the hardest cancers to detect and treat. But not all pancreatic tumors act the same, and a new Hollings study sheds light on why that is.

Researchers found that a rare gene mutation leads to a gentler tumor environment with slower-moving cancer cells, weaker growth signals and a less protective barrier. This may explain why some pancreatic cancer patients live longer and respond better to treatment.

According to lead researcher Dr. Aaron Hobbs, this discovery offers new clues for developing more targeted therapies.

“If we can identify patients whose tumors carry the gene mutation, we may be able to approach their care differently. These tumors may be more sensitive to certain treatment sequences, and the biology gives us clues as to why.”

Learn more:

Hollings researchers uncovered the reasons why one particular KRAS mutation results in less aggressive pancreatic cancer.

01/16/2026

Cervical cancer is highly preventable if caught and treated early – but too many people aren’t getting screened.

That could start to change. New federal guidelines for cervical cancer screening now recognize HPV self-collection as an approved screening option.

This simple approach could play an important role in reaching people who are overdue for screening and closing long-standing gaps in cervical cancer prevention.

🔗 Learn how HPV self-collection works and why it matters:

Hollings Cancer Center researcher Dr. Trisha Amboree explains how self-collection to test for HPV works and why it could be important for cervical cancer prevention.

01/15/2026

Congratulations to Hollings' Dr. Marvella Ford who recently received a Diamond of the Community in the Field of Medicine Award from the Charleston Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. The work her team is doing in partnership with our statewide community partners is truly making a difference in improving cancer outcomes!

01/10/2026

Expanding eligibility for lung cancer screening isn’t enough if people can’t access it.

That’s why Hollings researchers and partners at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center launched a new study focused on enhancing patient navigation. The program helps patients move from eligibility to screening by addressing barriers like insurance, transportation, scheduling and time off work.

The effort, which has funding from Stand Up To Cancer, is already reaching people most affected by lung cancer and could serve as a model for screening for other cancers.

“This is about ensuring that advances in medicine reach the people who need them most,” said lead researcher Dr. Marvella Ford. “If we can do that, then we can save lives.”

🔗 Learn more about this innovative model:

A new multi-state study tests an ambitious approach to expand lung cancer screening for Black patients. It aims to increase screening uptake and reduce barriers that keep many high-risk adults from being screened – a critical step for detecting cancer early.

01/05/2026

Teamwork makes the dream work. When you come to MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, you're not getting just one provider. You're getting a whole team dedicated to working together to help you achieve the best outcome. It's one of many reasons why it's so important to have an NCI-Designated Cancer Center in South Carolina.