This past week we were able to spend time filming at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida. The center has been hailed as one of the most progressive cancer centers in the country, opened in 1986 on the campus of the University of South Florida in Tampa, which was followed by active research effort beginning in 1994. Moffitt Cancer Center achieved NCI cancer center designation four years later (1998), and ultimately was awarded the prestigious NCI comprehensive cancer center designation in 2001. In 2019, it's estimated that the number of new melanoma cases diagnosed will increase by 7.7%.
Our time there was focused on melanomas and other skin related cancers. Florida being ground zero as the sunshine state it was the ideal medical institution, featuring and learning about skin cancers from Dr. Vernon Sondak who is the chair of the Department of Cutaneous Oncology. Through an in depth interview Dr. Sondak we learned just how sun can affect our aging process as well as the dangers of skin cancers. While there we met with Dr. Jane Messina, a pathologist whose focus is detecting skin related cancers.
Patient Tim Kilraine shared with us his journey of stage four melanoma that spread to his lungs after ignoring a large mole on his back. Tim was fortunate that with Moffitt being on the front lines working with precision medicine and immunology, Tim is doing well now. In Tim’s case the drug Keytruda was a lifesaver. Tim is the real life story behind the dangers of sun exposure. As Dr. Sondak pointed out there is no question the sun today is different than 20 years ago since our ozone layer is thinner. The Uv rays that are stronger so we have to be vigilant about sun screens and covering up.
We then had the chance to film with Dr. Joseph Markowitz who leads the immunology work in his lab for melanoma cancer patients. This new therapy is being widely used to teach our own immune systems to identify the cancers and help break down the tumors without using the old version standby chemotherapy drugs that were once used.
We are thrilled to be able to feature Dr. Sondak and his team in our upcoming documentary film, Those On The Front Lines Of Cancer.