A tiny change on your skin can be the loudest early warning you’ll ever get, and it doesn’t always show up where you expect. We sit down with Dr. Celeste Bremer, a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist at Virginia Oncology Associates, for a clear, practical conversation about what skin cancer can look like and what to do when something on your skin just feels off. If you live near the beach, spent your childhood getting burned, or simply haven’t checked your skin in a while, this one is for you.

We walk through the ABCDE rule for melanoma, then talk about the other half of cases that don’t follow it. Dr. Bremmer explains what “fast-growing but symmetric” nodular melanoma can look like, plus the high-miss areas people rarely check: nail beds, palms, and soles. You’ll hear why acral lentiginous melanoma and subungual melanoma are often mistaken for a callus, fungus, or a simple injury, and why delayed healing matters. We also dig into risk factors, including family history, lots of moles, and being immunocompromised.

From there, we zoom out to what a dermatologist actually does during a head-to-toe skin exam, why biopsy timing is so important, and what happens if melanoma spreads. Dr. Bremer also shares how melanoma treatment has evolved, especially with immunotherapy, maintenance approaches, and clinical trials including vaccine strategies that are pushing survival and quality of life forward in a way we didn’t have 10 to 20 years ago.

If this sparked a little concern, use it as momentum: do a quick self-check, book a dermatologist visit if something is new or changing, and share this conversation with someone who keeps putting off their skin exam. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what skin-check habit you’re starting this week.

Dr. Celeste A. Bremer is board-certified in Medical Oncology and Hematology. She has conducted Hematology/Oncology research, with a special focus on breast tumors. She is also involved in clinical research as a primary investigator on several hematologic disorders.

Dr. Bremer is a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, with subspecialties in Hematology and Oncology. She is a fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP) and an active member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and American Society of Hematology (ASH). She received the Governor's Recognition Award from ACP's Navy Chapter in 2006 and the Navy Commendation Medal from the Expeditionary Medical Facility in 2007 for superior patient care at Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, Africa.

Dr. Bremer served on the Board of Directors for Susan G. Komen for four years and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Wings Over Leukemia and Lymphoma and Hampton Roads Cancer Care Foundation, and she is part of the Breast and Colon Cancers Committee with Sentara.

Resources:

NCCN Guidelines: https://www.nccn.org/patients/guidelines/content/PDF/melanoma-patient.pdf

ACS: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/melanoma-skin-cancer.html

Melanoma Research Foundation: https://melanoma.org/

NCI: https://www.cancer.gov/types/skin

Thank you for listening! If you're interested in hearing more from Virginia Oncology Associates, make sure to subscribe to Cancer Care Connections on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere podcasts are available, or listen online at cancercareconnections.buzzsprout.com.

Cancer Care Connections is the official podcast of Virginia Oncology Associates. For more information, visit us at VirginiaCancer.com. or find us on Facebook or Instagram at Virginia Oncology Associates.

People hear “social worker” and think crisis, child removal, or something you only need if you are struggling financially. That misconception can quietly keep patients and families from getting support that would make cancer treatment easier, earlier, and more sustainable.

We sit down with KeAuna and Elisabeth to explain what oncology social work actually looks like inside the clinic and across the full cancer journey. We talk about preventative, whole-person support: coping with distress, navigating psychosocial stress, and problem-solving the practical barriers that can derail care. That includes help with transportation, financial concerns, and even applications like disability or Medicaid when life changes fast during treatment. We also share how social work fits into the larger healthcare team, working alongside medical providers to support both the person in treatment and the people who love them.

We also focus on the family system around cancer. Caregivers can burn out, kids need age-appropriate language and emotional support, and households often need community resources to stay steady. We discuss partnerships and outreach that bring tangible help to patients, from local organizations to seasonal assistance, because life does not pause for a diagnosis.

If you have ever thought, “Someone else needs this more than me,” this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who could use support, and leave a review to help more patients and families find Cancer Care Connections.

https://www.virginiacancer.com/cancer-resources/

Thank you for listening! If you're interested in hearing more from Virginia Oncology Associates, make sure to subscribe to Cancer Care Connections on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere podcasts are available, or listen online at cancercareconnections.buzzsprout.com.

Cancer Care Connections is the official podcast of Virginia Oncology Associates. For more information, visit us at VirginiaCancer.com. or find us on Facebook or Instagram at Virginia Oncology Associates.

Nobody wants to imagine a crisis, but most medical emergencies don’t arrive with a warning or a neat checklist. We sit down with Dr. Galicia-Castillo, a leader in geriatrics and palliative medicine, to talk about advance care planning in plain terms and why it should start far earlier than most people think. The goal is not to predict every possible outcome. The goal is to protect your voice and lighten the load on the people you love.

We walk through what an advance care plan actually includes and why naming the right health care proxy matters more than trying to script every medical scenario. Dr. Galicia-Castillo shares a powerful story about how a completed plan can bring peace after an unexpected tragedy, and she explains what can happen when you do not choose a decision maker and state law takes over. We also talk about complicated family realities, including separation and blended families, where the “default” decision maker may not be the person you would want.

From there, we dig into quality of life, how to clarify your values, and how those values guide real medical decisions when technology, such as ventilators, dialysis, and other life-sustaining treatments, enters the picture. We also explain the difference between advance directives (guidance) and medical orders, such as DNR and POLST forms. Finally, we cover practical next steps: where to find conversation tools, how to share copies with your surrogate decision-maker and your doctor, and how to make sure your documents are accessible while traveling.

If you’ve been putting this off, use this conversation as the nudge to start. Subscribe, share this with someone you care about, and leave a review. Who would you trust to speak for you if you couldn’t?

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

The Conversation Project: https://theconversationproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/ConversationStarterGuide.pdf

US ACP Registry: https://www.usacpr.com/

Advance Care Planning Guide and Forms for VA & NC (Spanish Available): https://www.sentara.com/patientguide/advance-care-planning

Virginia Advance Directives Page: https://virginiaadvancedirectives.org/
Link to Forms (scroll down the page under the map): https://virginiaadvancedirectives.org/completing-an-advance-directive/

Thank you for listening! If you're interested in hearing more from Virginia Oncology Associates, make sure to subscribe to Cancer Care Connections on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere podcasts are available, or listen online at cancercareconnections.buzzsprout.com.

Cancer Care Connections is the official podcast of Virginia Oncology Associates. For more information, visit us at VirginiaCancer.com. or find us on Facebook or Instagram at Virginia Oncology Associates.