DECEMBER 2025 TIP SHEET

Cancer and Lifestyle Medicine

Can Diet and Exercise Make Cancer Treatment More Tolerable?

Cancer therapies often cause a wide range of symptoms that can be so severe that some patients have to stop or slow their treatment. However, a Syvester study presented at the recent ASH 2025 annual meeting suggests that a virtual diet and exercise program is an effective strategy for minimizing side effects and increasing treatment retention. Called the LIFE-L study, it showed that lifestyle interventions can make a real difference during treatment, according to study leader Tracy Crane, Ph.D., RDN, co-lead of Sylvester’s Cancer Control Program.

Blood Cancer

Study Connects Agent Orange Exposure to Earlier, More Severe MDS, AML

Many veterans and physicians have long wondered if exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War contributed to cases of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a type of blood cancer. Now, a national study has shown that people exposed to the chemical face a greater risk of MDS, tend to develop it earlier and often have more aggressive disease that is more likely to progresses to acute myeloid leukemia. “This study has been a personal quest,” said Mikkael Sekeres, M.D., M.S., chief of hematology at Sylvester who presented the study’s analysis at ASH 2025. “Before this study, we hadn’t clearly linked AO to MDS.”

Milder Chemo Works for Rare, Aggressive Lymphoma

New research from Sylvester and collaborating organizations has shown that most patients with a rare and aggressive form of large B-cell lymphoma can receive a less toxic treatment than the intensive chemotherapy often used for the disease. The findings, presented recently at ASH 2025 by lead researcher Juan Alderuccio, M.D., could help standardize treatment for T-cell/histocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma (THRLBCL), ensuring patients receive the most effective, least toxic therapy.

New ASCO Guideline Maps Care for Pregnant Women with Blood Cancers

A new guideline from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) offers clear, evidence-based direction for treating blood cancers during pregnancy and shows that many patients can receive timely cancer care without compromising fetal health. The guideline, co-authored by Sylvester’s Mikkael Sekeres, M.D., M.S., underscores that survival outcomes for pregnant women with leukemia or lymphoma can match those of non-pregnant women when treatment follows established protocols.

Blood Journal’s Cover Story Features Study Led by Sylvester

The cover story in a recent issue of the journal Blood features a study by Sylvester researchers and collaborating cancer centers on improving outcomes for patients who undergo allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT), a procedure used often in treating blood cancers and other serious conditions. “Our approach is about helping the patient’s own immune system create a safe environment for the stem cell transplant,” explained Robert Levy, Ph.D., senior author and a Sylvester professor.

Cancer Research

Lifestyle Medicine Researcher Honored With Endowed Chair for Women’s Cancer Research

Tracy Crane, Ph.D., RDN, co-lead of Sylvester’s Cancer Control Program and director of lifestyle medicine, prevention and digital health, has been awarded the Brigitte Burke  Endowed Chair for Women’s Cancer Research. This prestigious honor recognizes Crane’s groundbreaking work to integrate personalized lifestyle medicine with computational science and digital health in cancer care.

Cancer Survivorship

Artist’s Unique Creation Marks ‘New Day’ for Cancer Survivorship

Romero Britto, an internationally known artist, has gifted a custom work of art to Sylvester to remind cancer patients and their families that with each new day comes the hope for a better tomorrow. The painting, titled “A New Day,” features Britto’s iconic style of vibrant colors and bold patterns and depicts the sun as a heart radiating light and love. “I want all who see this piece, especially those who are suffering, to look to a new day knowing that tomorrow will be better than today and yesterday,” Britto said.

# # #

---

---