VUE

VUE: Are there any trends you've seen in recent years in terms of new cancers evolving and risk factors? DR. MCCAIN: You know what, I think it's hard to put a finger on what the reason is, but people seem to be much more proinflammatory in terms of the generation of cancers. Whether, you know, there's a lot of argument aer Covid, with all the vaccines plus with all the effects of Covid, people having much more inflammation within them, bad diets, who knows? Maybe not getting out and around, etc, but because of that you see a lot more cancers showing up in, even younger people, and I think that would be a contribution, you could argue, based on food and environmental factors, a variety of things, but I think cancer shis more, even in colorectal cancer, some of the upper GI gastroesophageal cancers that younger people, more so than just older patients. It's no longer just an old patient's disease for cancer. We look at a much younger population. at should be studied, for sure. VUE: Are there any medical advances that you think will make cancer treatment easier or more effective? DR. MCCAIN: I think the circulating tumor DNA really would give you the best early warning as to changes in residual cancer and early growth, so you could really pick up and maybe really treat from that. So much earlier, higher level detection, you know, DNA level before you can detect clinically or radiologically any disease. So I think that's good. I think the targeted therapies that they're putting out now, with specific drugs for specific cancers, plus the immuno- oncology targeted treatment with a CAR T or whatever. Vaccine based would be, I think, the best, most promising direction. We see that already in melanoma with the combination therapy which has clearly proven to be much, much more effective for patients. VUE: Have you seen any new factors or changes developing as a result of climate change in your field? DR. MCCAIN: Again, whether they have any effects on the diets, the food processing, you know, anything that would lead to inflammatory conditions in people will increase their likelihood of getting cancer. Certainly if, you know, the ozone layer, melanoma has increased in time. at, certainly would be skin cancers. So, you know, over time, you'll see more and more of a shi in that direction. VUE: Summer is here, so risk for melanoma and other skin related cancers are likely going to be elevated in the coming months. What are your best recommendations for preventing exposure? DR. MCCAIN: Clearly – for some people it's a controversy – but sunscreen is key. It comes down to, very simply, being smart. ey even have UV reflective clothing now, which my 24 year old son pointed out, so there's a lot of new items available. But at the end of the day, it's simply a matter of, you know UV reflecting clothing I think is a great idea. Also, sunscreen – SPF 30 and above; some people believe in 50, but 30 and above is, I think, adequate. And avoiding, I think, sprays– the spray can create dead spots that can certainly be a problem. So you really want to use lotion and put it on properly. And there's no way better, you know, a nice hat, proper clothing. Overexposure to sun without proper protection for the quick, rapid tan could be very costly over time. Because you really won't see the effects for years to come. So just when you no longer go to the beaches is when skin cancers tend to show up. So I think early protection, especially among young kids and young adults is something of value. VUE: What was the most impactful experience in your career? Perhaps a success story that really stands out? DR. MCCAIN: Seeing patients who have done so remarkably well, following all the treatments that we went through and how we arrived there. How well they've done: we have so many cards – the thing on one of my websites, I ask them to put some of the letters, etc, but just to see how well people have done, resuming back their lives, becoming very productive. I even had someone who – there were a couple of kids whose mom had cancer that are now in medical school. You know, they've really been inspired to be the next generation so I'm really very glad to see how all these people are so appreciative of the time given back. ey're able to resume their lives and be inspired and look at the kids in the family and the effects there are. So that to me, is always the most gratifying aspect of it. VUENJ.COM 93

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