OHSU patient with breast cancer: ‘I have hope again’

Patient with advanced breast cancer carrying a rare genomic mutation benefits from early-phase clinical trial at Oregon Health & Science University

By Amanda Gibbs October 16, 2023 Portland, Oregon

Lea esta página en español

Downloads

OHSU breast cancer clinical trial

Meera Bhide, a senior clinical research assistant in the Knight Cancer Institute’s phase I clinical trial program, places electrocardiogram (ECG) leads on patient Rhonda Stranz in preparation to perform an ECG as part of her appointment. (OHSU/Christine Torres-Hicks)

OHSU breast cancer clinical trial

From left: Clinical research coordinator Vicki Abtin, nurse practitioner Sandra Youngworth, D.N.P., and senior clinical research assistant Meera Bhide with patient Rhonda Stranz. Stranz says: “If a clinical trial is recommended to you, consider participating in it. Trials are the future, in my opinion.” (OHSU/Christine Torres-Hicks)

Rhonda Stranz

Rhonda Stranz at a check-up appointment at the Center for Health & Healing Building 2 on Aug. 28, 2023. When Stranz first saw her OHSU oncologist, her arm was so swollen, she could hardly move it. Her symptoms have improved since then. (OHSU/Amanda Gibbs)

Kummar and Druker

At left, Shivaani Kummar, M.D., FACP, co-deputy director of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, head of the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology in the OHSU School of Medicine and co-director of the Knight Cancer Institute's Center for Experimental Therapeutics, talks with OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Director Brian Druker, M.D., at the opening of OHSU's early-phase clinical trial unit in the Center for Health and Healing Building 2 on OHSU's South Waterfront campus, Aug. 23, 2021. (OHSU/Joe Rojas-Burke)

Sanjay Malhotra and Shivaani Kummar

Shivaani Kummar, M.D., head of the division of hematology and medical oncology in the OHSU School of Medicine, and Sanjay Malhotra, Ph.D., right, are co-directors of the Knight Cancer Institute’s Center for Experimental Therapeutics. Malhotra is a professor in the departments of cell, developmental and cancer biology and oncological sciences in the OHSU School of Medicine. (OHSU/Christine Torres Hicks)

Shivaani Kummar, M.D. (OHSU)

Breast cancer clinical trial

Nurse practitioner Sandra Youngworth, D.N.P., left, and clinical research coordinator Vicki Abtin assist patient Rhonda Stranz at an appointment on Oct. 9. (OHSU/Christine Torres Hicks)

Breast cancer clinical trial

Rhonda Stranz and her daughter, Danlin Ortho, at the OHSU Center for Health & Healing Building 2 on Oct. 9. Stranz says: “I have faith that I’m going to see my daughter graduate high school in 2026,” she says. “She’s been my rock, and she has taken care of me through thick and thin. When they said I had less than year to live, I was feeling pretty sick. I have hope again.” (OHSU/Christine Torres Hicks)

Early-phase clinical trial

Rhonda Stranz, 51, of Kelso, Washington, at a recent appointment at the OHSU Center for Health & Healing Building 2 in Portland. Stranz has benefited from an early-phase clinical trial at OHSU. (OHSU/Christine Torres Hicks)