As we dive deeper into 2026 (no worries, dry (or moist) January is almost over!), tremendous changes in cancer management will continue. Our national convention in Orlando is Superbowl weekend and I will have plenty of room in my suitcase, since there will be no Eagles, Jaguars or even Pittsburgh team gear to wear, so sad. What is also impacting the meeting, are even more dramatic changes. Professors scheduled to speak are up-tooling their presentations as rapid changes in treatment evolve. Smug “National guidelines”, annoying insurance approvals, chatty cancer websites and even chat GPT can not keep up. The amazing developments continue to make cancer, even tough to treat diagnoses, a chronic disease. No, it will not magically disappear, but giving each of us more time is the blessing we need. Let’s not waste it.

Meg will take her new immune shot, then head to snowy Michigan for her new grandchild. Frank will have less days of radiation with a new protocol (5 instead of 49!) and use the time wisely to hold his wife’s hand and remind her failing memory of their 60 years together. Jake will decline hormone therapy for his prostate cancer since last week new research found no improvement in survival or outcomes for men over 80 with intermediate prostate cancer. He is happy to maintain that fierce tennis serve and knows the camaraderie on the court influences wellness more than drugs.

There isn’t a patient at this point not benefiting. The new year, new research, new treatments are opening opportunities for your own renewal. You are grabbing the reigns and ready for anything. New experiences, new challenges, new therapies, new people, new discoveries even your own renewed fortitude. You are going to surprise yourself this year. As you dismantle the Christmas lights, it is your own light within that will burst forth. Nothing artificial here.

And so, a suggestion……when the Doc enters the room and asks how you are…. instead of “Fine” or a litany of complaints for them to fix, I suggest that you ask a question. “What’s new, Doc?” Every single specialty, and especially Oncology, is rapidly expanding. Even clinical trials going on for years are closing as new evidence comes to light and treatments shift. Be a part of the new. Expect greatness from yourself and your team, and always bring forth your own shining light of hope with new expectations.