American poet Mark Van Doren once said, \u201cThe art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery.\u201d Debbie Oakley has been practicing this art for over 30 years.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s been a parent classroom volunteer, a classroom teacher, an assistant principal, a principal and the director of special programs, all in Spokane Public Schools. Now, she\u2019s \u201cassisting discovery\u201d in a new way: participating in oncology research at the MultiCare Institute for Research & Innovation<\/a> \u2014 the largest community-based nonacademic research center in the Pacific Northwest.<\/p>\n After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Oakley opted to join a study that examines the gut microbiome \u2014 the collection of tiny organisms, such as bacteria and fungi, that live in our gastrointestinal (GI) tract. These microbes are vital to the healthy functioning of our bodies, supporting digestion and our response to infection, among many other processes. The study aims to find out how these naturally occurring microbes affect the delivery of cancer therapy.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter I read all the paperwork for the study, there was no doubt that I would sign up,\u201d Oakley says. \u201cIt was something I could easily fulfill, and I could stop at any point if I needed to \u2014 there was no risk. Plus, there was huge potential that my participation could help someone down the road someday with my same condition. I thought to myself, \u2018Wow, why aren\u2019t more people doing this?\u2019\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n Oakley noticed the lump in her breast in March 2022. Just three months prior, she\u2019d had a clear mammogram, so the lump came as a shock. After getting an ultrasound and biopsy at MultiCare Rockwood Clinic Breast Health<\/a>, she received a diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer<\/a>, a rare type of cancer that tends to grow quickly and can be difficult to treat.<\/p>\n \u201cMy radiologist at MultiCare was so caring and sweet when he called to tell me the news, and it was still one of the hardest calls I\u2019ve ever had,\u201d Oakley says. \u201cMy husband passed almost six years ago, and I think the hardest part was not having that significant other by my side offering support. I had to do some self-talk to figure out how I was going to get through this.\u201d<\/p>\n To navigate the uncertainty that comes with a cancer diagnosis, Oakley has leaned on the support of her family and friends, and she has also leaned into research. Her motivation for participating in a study, in part, comes from her lifelong passion for education.<\/p>\n \u201cWhenever a doctor says, \u2018I\u2019ve got an intern here, do you mind if they are in the room?\u2019 My answer is always \u2018Absolutely, come on in!\u2019\u201d Oakley says. \u201cThe best way to learn is to be in the middle of it, whether that\u2019s a classroom or an exam room. Participating in a study is just another way I can support learning.\u201d<\/p>\n Another source of inspiration for Oakley is her late husband, John. A fellow educator, as well as a physical education teacher, runner and bodybuilder, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurological disorder<\/a>, at the age of 57.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the time, we looked into participating in an ALS clinical trial,\u201d Oakley says. \u201cJohn knew his diagnosis was fatal, but if participating in a study meant that he could help somebody else with ALS in the future, then he wanted to do that. Unfortunately, John\u2019s age disqualified him from the trial. But I don\u2019t face that barrier, so I want to do what I can to improve the treatment of my disease. I know John would support me in that goal.\u201d<\/p>\n Part of MultiCare\u2019s approach to delivering personalized, comprehensive cancer care is screening every patient with a cancer diagnosis for clinical trials or other studies that may be a good fit for their situation.<\/p>\n In Oakley\u2019s case, her oncologist recommended the gut microbiome study, which seeks to better understand the relationship between gut microbes and a type of immunotherapy known as immune checkpoint inhibitors<\/a>. Immunotherapy, a key part of Oakley\u2019s treatment plan, harnesses the power of the immune system to find and destroy cancer cells.<\/p>\n \u201cRecent studies have shown that the gut microbiome \u2014 all the different organisms that inhabit our GI tract \u2014 play a role in how the body responds to immunotherapies like immune checkpoint inhibitors,\u201d says Jalene Tangen, clinical research coordinator at the Research Institute<\/a>. \u201cIn this study we want to clarify that role \u2014 we want to know exactly which microbes influence cancer therapy.\u201d<\/p>\n The largest nationwide microbiome study on cancer, this study could yield information that improves the delivery of care and the prognosis for patients with triple-negative breast cancer as well as other cancers.<\/p>\n Oakley\u2019s participation in the study has involved giving blood, taking stool (poop) samples at home and mailing them in, as well as completing dietary questionnaires. The study is observational<\/a>, meaning it examines the health outcomes of a certain group of people \u2014 in this case patients with specific cancer diagnoses \u2014 without intentionally changing or intervening in their care.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s really impressed me about this experience has been the level of communication,\u201d Oakley says. \u201cJalene made sure I knew exactly what the expectations for the study were and that I had all the information I needed at every step. She even filled out a calendar of important dates for me. There have been very few surprises throughout this process. The educator in me has really appreciated that.\u201d<\/p>\n After going through 24 weeks of chemotherapy, the lump in Oakley\u2019s breast has shrunk considerably. But it hasn\u2019t been an easy road; she has dealt with hair loss, fatigue, loss of appetite and many other difficult symptoms that often accompany cancer treatment \u2014 and the journey isn\u2019t over. Oakley will continue immunotherapy for approximately six more months, with surgery and radiation to follow.<\/p>\n Yet despite everything she\u2019s gone through, Oakley\u2019s bright outlook and dedication to \u201cthe art of discovery\u201d shine through.<\/p>\n \u201cDebbie has looked beyond herself and focused on the bigger picture of what this study could accomplish, the lives it could change and the contribution to scientific advancement,\u201d Tangen says. \u201cAnd what\u2019s even more incredible to me is that she does everything with a smile on her face. Despite being in the middle of treatment and not always feeling great, she keeps such a positive attitude that you can\u2019t help but love to be around her.\u201d<\/p>\n To learn more about leading-edge research and how you could move the science of medicine forward, visit the MultiCare Institute for Research & Innovation<\/a>. You can also search the Research Institute\u2019s current list of open clinical trials and studies<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":" American poet Mark Van Doren once said, \u201cThe art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery.\u201d Debbie Oakley has been practicing this art for over 30 years. She\u2019s been a parent classroom volunteer, a classroom teacher, an assistant principal, a principal and the director of special programs, all in Spokane Public Schools. Now, she\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":367,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[43,79,103],"tags":[165],"class_list":["post-22187","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cancer","category-profiles-stories","category-research","tag-breast-cancer"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAn unexpected diagnosis, a meaningful opportunity<\/h2>\n
Mapping the gut microbiome<\/h2>\n
Sparking hope in the midst of hardship<\/h2>\n