UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center

12/11/2025

UCI Health was a proud sponsor of this year’s MB Invitational, a event that is committed to raising fund for life-saving .

The two-day event included a black tie gala and Pro-Am golf tournament, featuring a long drive event.

Learn more at https://bit.ly/495z7V0

12/10/2025

The key to living with mild cognitive impairment is creating structure and using visual cues to help your memory, says Hayley Kristinsson, PsyD, a neuropsychologist at UCI Health Psychiatry Services. They include labeling items, keeping clutter to a minimum and adopting a predictable routine.

“Such strategies help your brain stay organized so you spend less time worrying about what you might forget and more time focusing on what’s important to you.”

Learn more https://bit.ly/4ptb9sL

11/26/2025

Lung cancer remains the deadliest cancer for U.S. men and women, largely because it isn’t detected early enough, says UCI Health thoracic surgeon Dr. Hari B. Keshava. That’s why he encourages current and past smokers to get a simple CT scan. He also has launched a new a clinical trial to extend screening to family members of certain lung cancer patients who rarely or never smoked.

“The scan is painless and if we find a nodule that happens to be lung cancer, we can do something about it,” says Keshava.

Learn more at https://www.ucihealth.org/blog/2025/11/lung-cancer-screening-clinical-trial

11/19/2025

In the fall of 2023, Mauricio Alvarez was given no more than a year to live after being diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer. Two years later, he has beaten the odds thanks to a novel clinical trial developed by UCI Health gastric cancer specialists. Today, the 61-year-old mechanical engineer is cancer free.

Alvarez has a very good chance of extended, progression-free survival, says surgical oncologist Dr. Maheswari Senthil, co-principal investigator of the clinical trial with medical oncologist Dr. Farshid Dayyani at the UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Dr. Senthil and Dr. Dayyani," says the father of seven and grandfather of 10. “I want the world to know how great these doctors are. They are always looking to innovate, to find treatments that can help others."

Learn more at https://bit.ly/3KbTnuB

11/06/2025

A record 4,600 participants joined the ninth annual UC Irvine Anti-Cancer Challenge to support lifesaving research. The Oct. 11 event raised more than, $1.1 million, bringing the total since the annual rally's founding in 2017 to $7.3 million for homegrown cancer research at the UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer.

“This is how we continue to advance treatments and improve outcomes for cancer patients here in Orange County and beyond,” said Richard A. Van Etten, MD, PhD, founder of the Anti-Cancer Challenge and director of the cancer center, the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center based in Orange County.

Read more https://bit.ly/3JIFQdK

11/05/2025

The UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center has been recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of the nation’s top cancer programs.

The was highlighted for its leadership in oncology, offering state-of-the-art therapies, conducting pioneering research and participating in forward-thinking clinical trials.

Read full story https://bit.ly/4oXvyFQ

11/04/2025

New episode of the Live Well with UCI Health podcast on iHeart Radio.

In this installment of the Live Well with UCI Health, thoracic surgeon Dr. Hari B. Keshava shares insights into the latest advances in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.

Listen to the full episode at ucihealth.org/podcast

10/29/2025

At the UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, our experts are pushing the boundaries of breast cancer care.



Learn more about our ongoing research at active breast cancer trials. https://www.ucihealth.org/search?searchType=clinicalTrials&query=breast%20cancer&sort=BEST_MATCH

UCI Health is dedicated to advancing care for patients with breast cancer.

As the region’s only academic health system, our specialists are driving innovation through groundbreaking research and clinical trials — bringing tomorrow’s treatments to patients today.

Learn more about our breast cancer clinical trials at https://bit.ly/48Xgm6R

10/26/2025

Five years after undergoing targeted therapy for late-stage cancer, UCI Health breast cancer survivor Barbara Cortez is grateful that regular scans and blood tests continue to show no evidence of the disease. But it hasn't been an easy path. Early detection, she says, is key to survival. "If I can reach just one woman who schedules this all-important test, I will have done my part.”

Read more about Barbara and UCI Health breast cancer care https://bit.ly/3Wj5Ejs

10/18/2025

Gastrointestinal cancers, including gastric, colore**al, esophageal and pancreatic, continue to rise in young adults worldwide. Early detection is key to improving outcomes, says Dr. Robert Fearn, a gastroenterologist with the UCI Health Chao Digestive Health Institute. That includes paying attention to re**al bleeding, bowel habit changes and regular screening. He spoke with MedCentral about the questions physicians should ask their patients to identify risk.

“Physicians should routinely ask patients about family history of gastrointestinal cancers, genetic syndromes, inflammatory bowel disease and lifestyle factors such as smoking and obesity.”

Read more https://bit.ly/3IQ2pwG

10/17/2025

The 2025 UCI Anti-Cancer Challenge achieved record-breaking participation with nearly 4,600 registered in-person and virtual participants and have raised $1.1 million to date.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in supporting innovative cancer research at UC Irvine and UCI Health.

10/16/2025

This October, wants to remind the community about the common risk factors for .

You can also learn more about our breast cancer services, including how to schedule a https://bit.ly/46OB5s5