Know your risk factors, both genetic and lifestyle-based. Precision diagnostics can provide a 360-degree view of your lifetime cancer risk, offering valuable insights so you can be proactive and lead a long, healthy life.
Cancer is a horrible and terrifying disease. There is so much great information out there, but sometimes it is very difficult to filter out the noise. What causes cancer? Can it be prevented? How do you detect it? What are the odds of survival today? What are the different forms of cancer? What are the best treatments? And what is the best way to support someone impacted by cancer?
In this interview series called, “5 Things Everyone Needs To Know About Cancer” we are talking to experts about cancer such as oncologists, researchers, and medical directors to address these questions. As a part of this interview series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr John Feller, Chief Medical Officer, HALO Precision Diagnostics.
Dr. John F. Feller is a board-certified Diagnostic Radiologist and Chief Medical Officer for HALO Precision Diagnostics. His pioneering work on Laser Focal Therapy for prostate cancer has helped save the lives of thousands of men by effectively treating prostate cancer tumors while protecting healthy tissue. His research is supported by more than 12 years of follow-up clinical trial data.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the main focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?
What or who inspired you to pursue your career? We’d love to hear the story.
I graduated college with an engineering degree but began working as a home caregiver for Hospice patients. The experience of sitting at the bedside of terminally ill patients had a profound impact on me, and I decided to go to medical school.
After completing my internship, residency, and fellowship at Stanford University, I served as a United States Air Force (USAF) officer and became the Chief of MRI at the David Grant USAF Medical Center.
Today, I’m a board-certified Diagnostic Radiologist and serve as Chief Medical Officer for HALO Precision Diagnostics, where we are saving lives through early disease detection.
This is not easy work. What is your primary motivation and drive behind the work that you do?
Flipping the focus of cancer care from late-stage diagnosis and treatment to early detection and less-invasive therapies is my primary motivation. Precision diagnostics makes early detection of the deadliest diseases a reality — saving lives and improving the quality of life. At HALO Precision Diagnostics, we integrate the most-advanced imaging, digital pathology, molecular genomics, and predictive analytics under one roof — improving the patient experience and saving lives. This cuts diagnosis time from weeks or months to just days, enabling patients to get on a precise treatment path faster than ever before.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?
I’m working to bring more awareness to men’s health solutions, particularly early diagnosis of prostate cancer, which is the #2 cancer among men after skin cancer.
In most cases, conventional imaging cannot identify the location and extent of prostate cancer. As a result, prostate cancer is often treated too late or is overtreated with invasive surgery, which can significantly impact quality of life for men.
With a special type of prostate MRI, called multiparametric MRI and precision diagnostics, we can detect prostate cancer early at stage 1 or 2, when it can be treated with less-invasive, more-precise treatments. There is a 4x higher 5-year survival rate when prostate cancer is caught early, compared to those diagnosed in later stages.
For the benefit of our readers, can you briefly let us know why you are an authority about the topic of Cancer?
I am the principal investigator for the world’s most comprehensive clinical study of MRI-guided laser focal therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer, which now has more than 12 years of follow-up data.
Findings show a 100% prostate-cancer-specific survival rate, and a less than 1% risk of side effects, such as erectile dysfunction, infection, and incontinence. The research has been published in peer-reviewed journals, and I’ve given more than 300 lectures on prostate cancer and body MRI imaging.
Ok, thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview. Let’s start with some basic definitions so that we are all on the same page. What is exactly cancer? What causes cancer?
Cancer is a multifactorial disease, impacted by genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors. That’s why understanding your risk profile and seeking early detection is key — it helps ensure better outcomes and increased survival rates.
What is the difference between the different forms of cancer?
You’ll often hear cancer talked about in “stages.” If cancer is caught in stage 1 or 2, there is a dramatic increase in survival rates and quality of life. Regrettably, today most cancers are caught at stage 3 or 4, when lives are at risk and more aggressive, invasive treatment is required.
All of us at HALO are working to change that by giving more patients access to the benefits of early detection with precision diagnostics.
I know that the next few questions are huge topics, but we’d love to hear your thoughts regardless. How can cancer be prevented?
Embracing a healthy lifestyle can help mitigate cancer. However, it’s also important to understand your personal risk factors so that you can take meaningful steps to protect your health. That’s what makes precision diagnostics so exciting. Using early detection tools and technologies, we create a 360-degree view of each patient’s lifetime risk.
How can one detect the main forms of cancer?
Early diagnosis with precision diagnostics is the #1 way to detect cancer in stage 1 or 2, when it can be treated with minimally invasive therapies.
Precision diagnostics increases the accuracy, speed, and convenience of early detection.
Cancer used to almost be a death sentence, but it seems that it has changed today. What are the odds of surviving cancer today?
Early detection makes all the difference. Research shows:
- 99% 5-year survival rate for prostate cancer detected early1–2 (versus 26% late/metastatic)
- Eliminates 50% over-treatment of prostate cancer (focal versus radical) and avoids safely 27% of prostate biopsies3 in men with an elevated screening serum PSA
- Identifies 50% more women at high risk of breast cancer (Nature) so that they can be offered screening breast MRI in addition to their screening mammogram
References
1 Biomarkers and MRI for early PCa detection, https://pubmed.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/32897802
2 JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(8):e2119568. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.19568
3 seer.cancer.gov
Can you share some of the new cutting-edge treatments for cancer that have recently emerged? What new cancer treatment innovations are you most excited to see come to fruition in the near future?
HALO has pioneered highly precise, non-surgical treatments for prostate cancer. One example is Laser Focal Therapy, a non-invasive outpatient MRI-guided therapy proven to effectively treat prostate cancer tumors while protecting healthy tissue.
- Laser Focal Therapy results in ≤1% ED and urinary incontinence, as shown in clinical trial studies with 12-year follow up data.
- In contrast, a radical prostatectomy — the most commonly recommended treatment for prostate cancer — carries a 50% risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) and a 15% risk of incontinence.
Healing usually takes place between doctor visits. What have you found to be most beneficial to assist a patient to heal?
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and getting enough rest helps with the healing process.
From your experience, what are a few of the best ways to support a loved one, friend, or colleague who is impacted by cancer?
Stay connected — let them know you’re there to listen and provide support. Educate yourself about cancer to better understand what they’re going through and respect their treatment decisions. Convince them to never give up hope.
What are a few of the biggest misconceptions and myths out there about fighting cancer that you would like to dispel?
Some people fear that cancer is contagious, but that’s simply a myth. It’s fine to touch and spend time with someone who has cancer. In fact, your support may never be more valued or appreciated.
Thank you so much for all of that. Here is the main question of our interview. Based on your experiences and knowledge, what are your “5 Things Everyone Needs To Know About Cancer? Please share a story or example for each.
- Know your risk factors, both genetic and lifestyle-based. Precision diagnostics can provide a 360-degree view of your lifetime cancer risk, offering valuable insights so you can be proactive and lead a long, healthy life.
- If detected early, cancer is much easier to treat with fewer side effects and better outcomes. This is why regular screenings are imperative.
- Early detection may improve the survival of 30–50% of cancers when combined with healthy lifestyle choices.
- Listen to your body — if you start experiencing new symptoms, see a doctor and voice your concerns.
- A cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence. Know that there is hope. Early cancer detection and treatment is advancing every day, making a real difference for patients and their well-being.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Every day, I advocate for early detection. I’ve seen first-hand the difference it can make for patients and their loved ones. If people embrace the concept of early detection, we’ll empower better health and save countless lives.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
They can find our blog, videos, and latest news at www.halodx.com
Thank you so much for these insights! This was very inspirational and we wish you continued success in your great work.