In this episode of From Bench to Bedside and Beyond, host Diane Mapes talks with Dr. Vidhya Nair, medical director of adult cancer survivorship at Fred Hutch, about what truly happens after active cancer treatment ends. Together, they explore late and long-term side effects, fear of recurrence, and the emotional whiplash many patients feel when treatment stops but symptoms and worries do not. Dr. Nair also explains how Fred Hutch's evolving survivorship program—from embedded care in disease clinics to specialized services in rehab, sexual health, and integrative medicine—helps survivors navigate life after cancer with more support and less uncertainty.

• Survivorship is more than "being done" with treatment; it is a structured phase of care focused on late and long-term effects, surveillance for recurrence, and helping patients move forward informed rather than fearful.
• Fred Hutch is embedding survivorship into disease-specific clinics and expanding specialized services such as cancer rehabilitation, sexual health, integrative medicine, and psychosocial support so more patients receive tailored help over 5–10 years after treatment.
• Survivorship care plans and primary care collaboration give survivors clear guidance on symptoms to watch for, risks like secondary cancers and osteoporosis, and practical steps—exercise, nutrition, and mental health support—to live as well as possible after cancer.

• Survivorship starts at diagnosis, not after treatment ends—and often means coping with the effects of treatment, not just the cancer itself.
• Cancer care leaves lasting impacts across physical health, mental health, relationships, and finances, requiring ongoing support long after therapy.
• New treatments like immunotherapy are transforming outcomes, but their long-term effects are still being understood.
• Modern survivorship programs are expanding earlier and more holistically, meeting patients where they are and helping them rebuild strength, confidence, and quality of life.

In this episode, Trang VoPham, PhD, MPH, MS, from Fred Hutch Cancer Center discusses the impact of environmental exposures like wildfire smoke and solar jet lag on health with Diane Mapes from Fred Hutch News. Dr. VoPham also lists other potential risks, such as for liver cancer, and offers potential strategies for mitigation of these impacts.

One takeaway: Where you live in a time zone impacts your circadian rhythms and your risks for disease.