Event Recap: "The Changing Landscape of Cancer: Prevention, Emerging Therapies, Survivorship, and Healthy Aging"

The Stein Institute for Research on Aging recently welcomed a packed audience at Osher Lifelong Learning on UC San Diego Campus for a special community event exploring cancer research, treatment, and survivorship. The program brought together leading experts from UC San Diego’s Moores Cancer Center and Stein Executive Director Danielle Glorioso, who shared her personal battle with advanced-stage colorectal cancer.

Danielle opened the event by reflecting on how the program came to be. One year earlier, as she helped organize and lead this very event, she was undergoing daily radiation treatment for advanced-stage colorectal cancer and struggling with severe side effects. About a month later, during a lunch with the Lim family to discuss the previous event and plan for the next, Danielle shared her diagnosis with them. It was Linda Lim who suggested dedicating this year’s program to cancer and inviting Danielle to share her story.

The idea gave Danielle something meaningful to hold on to during some of her hardest days: the possibility that one day she might share her experience and make a difference for others.

Stein Institute Director Alison Moore followed with remarks on the importance of community events and the Institute’s commitment to cancer-related research and programming. She then introduced Dr. Samir Gupta, whose presentation, “The Changing Face of Colorectal Cancer: A Generational Challenge,” explored trends in colorectal cancer and opportunities to improve the benefits of screening and prevention.

Dr. Gupta also highlighted research published in Nature in 2025 that found signs of exposure to colibactin, a toxin produced by certain strains of E. coli, were more common in younger adults with colorectal cancer. This research may offer important clues about the rising rates of colorectal cancer in younger people.

Danielle then shared her journey from diagnosis and treatment to becoming cancer-free in her presentation, “When Resilience Becomes Personal: From Studying Resilience to Living It.” Drawing on her years of work studying resilience at the Stein Institute, she reflected on the practices that helped her navigate some of the most difficult days, including gratitude, connection to others, and engaging in activities aligned with her values. She spoke about the importance of staying connected to the things that made her feel like herself, even when cancer changed nearly every aspect of daily life.

Danielle reflected on how staying connected to who she was meant adapting to her new limitations, making adjustments, and finding ways to continue doing the things she loved, even when it was difficult. Whether spending time with friends or attending a concert during chemotherapy, these experiences required flexibility and often looked different than they would have before cancer. But they also gave her moments when she could forget, even briefly, that she was a cancer patient and simply enjoy being herself. Those moments of joy and connection helped sustain her through the hardest days.

The final presentation, “Cancer Treatment: Path Forward,” was delivered by Dr. El Rayes, Deputy Director of Moores Cancer Center, who stepped in for Dr. McKay. He highlighted the important cancer research underway at Moores and discussed clinical trials that may offer opportunities for community members to access promising new approaches to treatment.

The event concluded with a question-and-answer session, giving attendees the opportunity to engage directly with the speakers and explore questions about cancer research, treatment, and survivorship.

The Stein Institute extends its sincere thanks to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute for co-hosting the event, to Dr. Gupta and Dr. El Rayes for sharing their expertise, and to the Lim family for their generous support and commitment to advancing research and community education. We are also grateful to everyone who joined us for this important day of learning, connection, and hope.