Local 12: UC cancer treatment goes beyond treating the disease
Local life coach Krista Powers, her partner Patrick and the University of Cincinnati's Sara Kleinschmidt, MD, recently joined Local 12's What's Happening in Health to discuss the importance of supporting patients' mental and emotional health in addition to treating their disease.
"I started thinking of it like ingredients when you bake a cake," Powers said. "It's like you have mental health, emotional and spiritual, financial and sexual, all of these ingredients. They're all good on their own, but when you put them together, you make an amazing cake, and I can't pull the mental health out on its own."
Kleinschmidt is a primary care doctor at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center's Oncology Care Clinic, the only primary care clinic in the region designed to serve cancer patients and survivors.
"It’s born out of a recognition that people with cancer have other diseases they are dealing with simultaneously, and sometimes more so," said Kleinschmidt, UC adjunct assistant professor and a UC Health physician. "So we know that with cancer and surviving cancer, there’s a great incidence of mental health issues, hypertension, diabetes. You’re at more risk of these things as a survivor or dealing with cancer, and so primary care is then kind of folded into that mix.
"I would encourage anyone who is navigating cancer and mental health issues, or any mental health issues, it’s always right to also start with your primary care doctor," Kleinschmidt continued. "That is what we are here for. Anyone in your health care team is a listening ear, but your primary care doctor is a place to start. And at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, we are well connected with psychology, psychiatry, accupuncture, so while I might be your first point of connection, I have many places to reach out from there."
Watch the What's Happening in Health segment. (Note: Segment featuring Powers and Kleinschmidt begins around 5:20 mark.)
Featured photo at top of Breast Cancer Awareness Month ribbon. Photo/Lludmila Chernetska/iStock.
Screening is key
Early detection of breast cancer increases treatment options and survival rates. The University of Cincinnati Cancer Center's Mobile Mammography Unit is equipped with the latest in mammogram screening technology and offers a comfortable registration area, waiting space and private changing room.
Screenings typically take 15 minutes, with results sent to providers within 1-3 business days.
Related Stories
Tips to avoid headaches this holiday season
December 15, 2025
A University of Cincinnati migraine expert offered a list of potential headache triggers around the holidays, and how you can try to avoid them, to 91.7 WVXU News. "There are a number of different factors that make this a very headache provocative time," said Vincent Martin, MD, professor of clinical medicine at the University of Cincinnati's College of Medicine and director of the Headache and Facial Pain Center at the Gardner Neuroscience Institute.
Local couple uses royalties from children's books to give gifts to kids in need
December 15, 2025
A local couple has found a unique way to give back to those in need this holiday season. Vic and Laura Troha wrote two children's books together, and this year, they are using the proceeds to buy Christmas gifts for Hamilton County foster kids. The couple are both graduates of the University of Cincinnati's College of Allied Health Sciences and met the day they graduated.
The hottest toys this holiday season
December 15, 2025
Local 12 turned to Lindner College of Business associate professor-educator of marketing Roseann Hassey to explain what’s got the trendiest items flying off the shelves.