Wilmot Cancer Institute

04/20/2026

We are proud to partner with Cancer Support Community at Gilda's Club Rochester to offer this course to patients in our community!

Our own Mary Mulkerin, MSN, RN, OCN, director of Oncology Nursing at Wilmot, and Daniel Mulkerin, MD, associate chief medical officer at Wilmot, plan to participate in a couple of the sessions.

Sign up for the 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 four-week course today: https://urmed.info/1

What comes next after treatment ends? 💛

Cancer Transitions is a 4-week workshop designed to help you navigate life beyond treatment—because it’s normal to experience a wide range of emotions during this time.

Together, we’ll focus on:
✨ Getting back to wellness
💛 Emotional health
🥗 Eating well & staying active
🩺 Medical management beyond cancer

You don’t have to figure it out alone—we’re here to support you every step of the way.

👉 Register: cscrochester.org/events

04/19/2026

Integrative oncology is a newer field, but our doctors are at the forefront and helping educate others! 👩‍🏫

Congratulations to Alissa Huston, MD, co-medical director of the Pluta Integrative Oncology & Wellness Center, and Susan Dent, MD, director of the University of Rochester Cardio-Oncology Program and Wilmot's Survivorship Program! They co-authored a chapter in the 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵-𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 integrative oncology textbook, titled Comprehensive Integrative Oncology.

📖 Their chapter focuses on integrative approaches to reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease among those who have had a cancer diagnosis. It will help educate medical students, oncology fellows, and doctors of any rank hoping to learn about integrative oncology!

04/17/2026

SPOHNC-Rochester is 20 years strong in 2026!! 2️⃣0️⃣

The Support for Oral, Head and Neck Cancer (SPOHNC)-Rochester group celebrated its annual survivor dinner last week, and it was another moving evening! Cancer survivors and their families gathered to celebrate their years of survivorship, chat with one another, and hear from Dr. Joel Fontanarosa.

The group also honored this year's SPOHNC Champion: Roxanne Amend.

Roxanne was diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma in November 2024. She's had surgery and radiation therapy. As a result of treatment, she can no longer speak or eat solid food. In March 2025, she attended her first SPOHNC meeting and quickly connected with many members of the group. She's been involved ever since and not only learns from others, but also shares her story to help inspire and educate. Despite a challenging journey, she remains resilient and grateful to her team at Wilmot and to SPOHNC-Rochester.

"Everyone has been so helpful sharing their stories, life tips, and their compassion for all the new people," she says. "I am not alone. None of us are! There is so much help out there."

Thank you to Rita Goodman, Sandy Sabatka, and many other staff members at Wilmot Cancer Institute who help make this annual celebration dinner possible.

04/16/2026

Flower City 🤝 City of Good Neighbors

What happens when you bring together cancer researchers from Rochester and Buffalo?

You get a bloom of scientists eager to team up to make a difference for people facing cancer throughout Western and Central New York.

Our regions have higher rates of cancer, but we also have two powerhouse institutions working daily to find better approaches to prevent, detect and treat cancer. More than 150 scientists from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and Wilmot Cancer Institute recently gathered for a weekend retreat to get to know each other and identify new ways to collaborate.

During the retreat, teams of scientists shared what they're working on and identified opportunities to work together. They brainstormed new research project ideas focused on a variety of topics - from immunotherapy and drug resistance to multi-site clinical trials, community-engaged research and beyond.

Scientists who teamed up had an opportunity to apply for pilot funding. We look forward to sharing the results of that in the coming months.

The future is bright for team science and cancer research in Western and Central New York!

04/15/2026

It's officially Wilmot Warrior Weekend season 🚴🚶🏽‍♀️🏃🏾🎗

We celebrated the opening of registration at a launch party last week!! Fundraising is underway for the cause, and Wilmot Director Dr. Jonathan Friedberg shared our huge goal for 2026: We aim to raise $1 million for cancer research and survivorship care happening right here in Rochester.

𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭. 𝟏𝟗 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟐𝟎?

Form your team today: https://WarriorWeekend.URMC.edu

04/13/2026

🌟 𝘐𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘣𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥.

Shout-out to Nick Spence, BSN, RN! He works with our WCI Webster team and has been spreading kindness in April.

He handed out kindness bags to the staff and set up a spot for patients to write encouraging messages of kindness to each other on ribbons. The team then laminates the messages and hangs them around the building for other patients to read.

Kindness like this is moving. Thanks, Nick! 🙏💗

04/13/2026

Incontinence is a common side effect of prostate cancer surgery. Treatments may help alleviate it, and a new clinical trial is studying whether a new device could reduce or eliminate this side effect.

Surgery for prostate cancer can cause incontinence for some men. Here’s what men should know about the problem, including how to manage it and information about a new clinical trial hoping to alleviate or eliminate leaking altogether.

04/10/2026

⭐ Thank you to our Patient Access team! ⭐

When you arrive at any of our Wilmot Cancer Institute locations, they're some of the first faces you see. When you finish an appointment, they help make sure you have everything you need before you leave. From registering new patients to scheduling appointments to offering comfort at a stressful time for many, they are an important part of the Wilmot team.

During Patient Access Week and all year long, please join us in thanking this team for all they do! 🙏

04/09/2026

It's been 100 years since Strong Memorial Hospital began caring for patients and conducting research. We're celebrating our centennial year by highlighting the progress we have made in Supportive Care in Cancer research!

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝: In the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, scientists like University of Rochester’s Gary Morrow, PhD, started focusing on cancer patients’ quality of life during treatment, not just on eliminating the cancer. His research primarily looked at how to alleviate chemotherapy-induced nausea, but it helped birth a new field of Supportive Care in Cancer.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠: In 2026, the Division of Supportive Care in Cancer at Wilmot Cancer Institute and the University of Rochester is thriving! Our team is at the forefront of important discoveries around symptom management for cancer patients.

04/08/2026

🚨 Registration is now open for the 2026 Wilmot Warrior Weekend!

Join us on Sept. 19-20 to run, ride, or walk while supporting cancer research and the Judy DiMarzo Cancer Survivorship Program. We're coming together to leave cancer in the dust! ✨

Insider tip ❗ Sign up before the end of April and use discount code LAUNCH to receive a $25 registration discount.

04/07/2026

In April, we recognize all those impacted by testicular cancer, esophageal cancer, and head and neck/oral cancer.

Share a 💜🩵❤️🤍 to show support for those impacted.

04/01/2026

Phil Cammilleri’s cancer journey started with a bam – and it led him to a Wilmot Cancer Institute team he now refers to as Team BAMM BAMM.

After a fall out of bed, his mid-section was hurting. He thought maybe he had injured his ribs, so he saw his primary care doctor. Bloodwork showed Phil had a stage 4 grade B neuroendocrine tumor.

He started on a daily chemotherapy pill right away, as well as hormone therapy.

That’s where he met Team BAMM BAMM, an acronym he explains as:
B-Brenda, his nurse practitioner
A-Angela, his nurse
M-Maria “magnificent”, his doctor
M-McGreevy “magical,” his doctor’s last name

Team BAMM BAMM not only treated his cancer but also identified through testing that he had prostate cancer. They connected him with the Urologic Oncology team, and he had radiation therapy for that at Wilmot Cancer Institute’s Greece location. He got to ring the bell when he finished treatment. Around the same time, he also saw a nephrologist to ensure his kidneys remained healthy.

He has gotten to know many of the team members at Wilmot – from parking attendants to front desk staff to doctors and nurses. He’s also been sure to use resources available to him during his treatment journey. For example, he has had massages at the Pluta Integrative Oncology & Wellness Center, and he completed the YMCA Livestrong Program to keep up his physical strength.

He believes it’s important to be there for his family and friends despite his diagnoses, and he strives to share a little joy with others impacted by cancer, which he’s done by documenting his cancer journey on his Instagram page.

“I’m not a ‘why me’ person. I’m a believer that I’m an example to help others,” he says. “Cancer doesn't bring me down. Cancer enlightens my heart.”