DETROIT — The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute’s Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) continues the 2025 Community Conversations on Cancer series this month.

Dr. Ammar Sukari, a medical oncologist, member of the Thoracic Oncology Multidisciplinary Team, member of the Molecular Therapeutics Research Program at Karmanos and associate professor at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, will be giving a presentation in the series The Road Ahead: Understanding a Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Exploring Treatment.

Partnering with Detroit Public Library to present this series, Karmanos is providing an in-person session and a Zoom option for residents across Michigan on Wednesday, June 25, from 6-7 p.m. The in-person session will be at the Main Branch, located at 5201 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48202.

“The community will be intrigued to learn about ongoing and new studies, research and treatments available that have really changed lung cancer outcomes,” said Hayley Thompson, Ph.D., associate center director of Community Outreach and Engagement, faculty supervisor of COE at Karmanos and professor of Oncology at WSU, in a press release. “Dr. Sukari and his colleagues have been at the forefront of many studies investigating more effective treatments that are helping patients overcome aggressive lung disease. Dr. Sukari will explain the difference in care that we are able to provide now versus in the past.”

June’s session will focus on what to expect after a lung cancer diagnosis, how to determine which treatments are best, what types of treatments are being studied now and how newer treatments compare to the standard of care.

“Lung cancer is one of the most diagnosed and one of the deadliest cancers,” Sukari said. “It’s preventable and we can screen for it, but in times where the disease is found in later stages, there are newer treatment options where patients have had a positive response. One of the newly approved treatments that we have studied and have seen success with in and outside of clinical trials is immunotherapy.”

These sessions aim to educate and inform, which can ultimately help alleviate fears when people hear the word “cancer” while also reducing the stigma often associated with the disease.

Kristin Maki, Ph.D., a scientist in the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement at the Karmanos Cancer Institute, and assistant professor at Wayne State Medical School, told The Arab American News that fear is common and becoming informed is a way to combat that.

“Feeling anxious or scared about cancer is something that many people experience, especially when we’re talking about lung cancer,” Maki said. “Community members have highlighted that learning about the potential risks and overall benefits of low-dose CT scans for lung cancer screening and the current treatment advances, plus getting a complete picture of their options can help with this uncertainty. They have also mentioned that acknowledging the tobacco industry’s heavy influence on smoking and recognizing that anyone can get cancer can help reduce feelings of stigma.”

When asked how people can minimize risk, she said that quitting smoking is the most important step. Other steps include talking to your doctor about your health history and testing your home for radon — exposure to radon, Maki said, is another leading cause of lung cancer — and installing mitigation systems.

The Karmanos Cancer Institute shared that the June session will be moderated by three community leaders and partners of COE: Jim Scott, Katrina Studvent and Patrick Yankee.

Scott plays an active role in the Cancer Action Councils supported by COE where he informs and motivates community members to engage in cancer research in Detroit. Studvent represents Blare, a non-profit aimed at supporting individuals and caregivers who are affected by chronic illness by providing programs, support and advocacy. Yankee is the chief development officer at Corktown Health, which provides various services including primary care, behavioral health, health insurance guidance and more.

The Road Ahead: Understanding Your Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Exploring Treatment begins at 6 p.m. at the Detroit Public Library Main Branch and can be viewed virtually.

Registration is required for in-person and virtual attendance. For more information and to register, click here or call (313) 576-8911.

You can download the flyer in Arabic, English and Spanish.

Additional upcoming Community Conversations on Cancer seminars:

• Wednesday, June 25 | The Road Ahead: Understanding a Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Exploring Treatment – Ammar Sukari, M.D.
• Wednesday, July 23 | The Road Ahead: Understanding a Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Exploring Treatment – Kevin Ginsburg, M.D., MS, and Frank Cackowski, M.D., Ph.D.
• Wednesday, Sept. 17 | Of Mice and Women: Connecting the Dots to Strengthen Uterine Cancer Research – Michael Wilson, Ph.D.
• Wednesday, Oct. 22 | The Road Ahead: Understanding a Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Exploring Treatment – Hadeel Assad, M.D., and Michael Dominello, D.O.
• Wednesday, Nov. 5 | How to Communicate with a Doctor to Get the Information and Support You Need – Lauren Hamel, Ph.D.