Thriving Breast Cancer Services Coincide with Prospering Graduate Researchers at Wilmot - According to Dialogue Magazine
In the heart of Rochester, New York, Wilmot Cancer Institute is making significant strides in the battle against breast cancer. The Institute's approach, as expressed by graduate student Zachary Sechrist, emphasizes the importance of every role, big or small, in this fight: "No one's role is small."
One of the Institute's recent initiatives is the adaptation of a standard yoga program for breast cancer survivors. Recognizing the unique needs of Rochester's Black community, Wilmot's team is tailoring this program to be more inclusive and culturally sensitive. This move reflects the Institute's commitment to understanding and catering to the diverse community it serves.
The story of Wilmot Cancer Institute's breast cancer service line is featured in the latest edition of Dialogue (Vol 1, 2023). The Institute's efforts are not limited to yoga studies, as they delve into innovative bench science, aiming to uncover the root causes of breast cancer and its spread.
Pioneering Research and Treatments
Wilmot Cancer Institute is a regional leader in the implementation of advanced cellular therapies, such as CAR T-cell treatments. Since 2017, the Institute has expanded clinical treatments and studies to optimize the steering of immune cells against cancer, including breast cancer.
The Institute also participates in the Empire State Cellular Therapy Consortium, a statewide collaboration aimed at improving gene and cellular therapy for solid tumors, including breast cancer. This collaboration allows shared data, resources, and clinical trial access, speeding the development and availability of innovative treatments.
Focus on Research Funding and Grants
The Institute's dedication to breast cancer research is evident in its focus on securing funding. In July 2025, the Sylvia Cappellino Breast Cancer Research Faculty Grant was awarded to Dr. Ajay Dhakal at Wilmot, highlighting ongoing focused breast cancer research supported by nonprofit coalitions.
Lifestyle and Survivorship Focus
Current trends in breast cancer survivorship emphasize lifestyle medicine and psychosocial interventions to improve outcomes post-treatment. While specific details about Wilmot's approach are not available, the Institute's integrated research and clinical approach likely incorporates such supportive care strategies.
Clinical Trials and New Technology
Wilmot's involvement in multicenter clinical trials through the consortium and its access to cutting-edge manufacturing and cell therapy engineering facilities enable rapid translation of bench science into clinical application, including novel cellular therapies targeting breast cancer.
Cooling Caps and Supportive Care
While publicly available information does not explicitly mention cooling caps or their use at Wilmot, these devices are known to help reduce chemotherapy-induced hair loss. Patients should consult their clinicians at Wilmot for the availability of cooling caps.
Embracing the Community
Wilmot Cancer Institute's collaboration with a community group to reshape yoga studies for breast cancer survivors is a testament to its commitment to inclusivity and cultural sensitivity in its research and services. This collaboration underscores the Institute's belief that understanding the community's needs is crucial in making meaningful strides against cancer.
Zachary Sechrist, a graduate student at Wilmot Cancer Institute, embodies this commitment. His personal connection to breast cancer—his mother's battle with the disease when he was 12 years old—fuels his dedication to the fight against cancer at Wilmot.
In the end, a team approach is key to making meaningful strides against cancer at Wilmot Cancer Institute, whether in the clinic, the laboratory, or understanding the community's needs. The Institute's innovative research, treatments, and collaborations are making a significant impact in the battle against breast cancer, ensuring that no one's role is small in this fight.
[1] Wilmot Cancer Institute website. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.wilmotcancerinstitute.org/
[2] University of Rochester Medical Center. (2025, July 1). Sylvia Cappellino Breast Cancer Research Faculty Grant Awarded to Dr. Ajay Dhakal. Retrieved from https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/4514/sylvia-cappellino-breast-cancer-research-faculty-grant-awarded-to-dr-ajay-dhakal.aspx
[3] National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). CAR T-cell Therapy for Cancer. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/research/car-t-cell-therapy
[4] American Cancer Society. (n.d.). Lifestyle and breast cancer. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/causes-and-risks/lifestyle/diet-physical-activity.html
- Wilmot Cancer Institute's commitment to understanding and catering to the diverse community it serves is evident in their adaptation of a standard yoga program for breast cancer survivors, which they tailor to be more inclusive and culturally sensitive for Rochester's Black community.
- In the realm of science, Wilmot Cancer Institute is making significant strides in the battle against breast cancer, delving into innovative bench science to uncover the root causes of breast cancer and its spread, and participating in clinical trials to rapidly translate this bench science into clinical application using novel cellular therapies.
- Recognizing the importance of every role in the fight against breast cancer, Wilmot Cancer Institute, through its integrated research and clinical approach, likely incorporates lifestyle medicine and psychosocial interventions to improve outcomes post-treatment, as part of current trends in breast cancer survivorship.
