Dr Madhu Shetti of Balmere On The 5 Things Everyone Needs To Know About Cancer

An Interview With Savio P. Clemente

Can I work during treatment? If working during your treatment is important, talk to your physician and employer. I often treat patients early in the morning, during lunch or later afternoon to accommodate work schedules. Some employers may let you work from home, cut back on work hours, or provide physical accommodations (like a single office) to make it easier for you.

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. Madhu Shetti.

Dr. Madhu Shetti is an oncologist who treats both adults and pediatric patients and founder of Balmere. Dr. Shetti graduated from University of Michigan Medical School with research honors and was chief Oncology resident at University of Washington Medical Center. Her research was published at American Academy of Dermatology and top Oncology organizations. Dr. Shetti was a partner at Epic (acquired by McKesson) and received her Master’s in Business Management from Stanford Graduate School of Business (2022); post-graduation she continues as a teacher and mentor at Stanford. After seeing the painful shingles, like rashes and burns, her patients experienced during and years after cancer therapy, she founded Balmere, a skincare brand developed for cancer thrivers and immunocompromised adults. Balmere received the prestigious Stanford Impact Founders prize (funded by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak) for health innovation. In 24 months, Dr. Sherri’s Stanford women led team (who had loved ones touched by cancer) developed and launched patent-pending, inclusive skincare products so that every person living with cancer, a sensitive immune system, or worried about chemical exposure, has access to safe and effective products from a trusted source. Their goal: Live vibrantly for years to come. The product line includes a gentle face cleanser (to prevent infection and rashes) the Soothing Balm (to protect and repair skin), and a moisturizer, mineral sunscreen and primer with SPF 50 (to prevent hyperpigmentation and skin cancer).

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?

I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and grew up outside Houston, Texas. I come from a multi-racial family. My maternal grandparents were very poor and lived in a rural area. When their baby and toddler were sick, they could not get to a doctor fast enough. Both children passed away. My grandmother, who had a 3rd grade education, prayed that if she could have more children, she would make all of them go to medical school. She did not want other mothers to experience the grief and guilt she had.

My grandmother had 5 more children, including my mom who is a pediatrician. Our family includes 12 physicians working in underserved US communities for over 40 years.

I was blessed with incredible parents, a sister and most importantly community. Often my mom would go into the hospital late at night to treat a sick child. If my dad was away on a work trip, my sister and I would go into the hospital with her. We wore our favorite footy pajamas. We knew everyone in the hospital — from the nursing station to the cafeteria crew. They took care of us as their own children. They taught me how to make holiday cookies, how to play the piano and most importantly how to be a kind, resilient human being.

What or who inspired you to pursue your career? We’d love to hear the story.

As a college student, I served as COO of an international non-profit called SEVHA. Our mission was to educate young adults in India about the life-long impact of using tobacco products.

I spoke to 10,000 students over 2 summers. I visited the cancer hospitals and met hundreds of young adults diagnosed with cancer. They had undergone disfiguring surgeries for their best chance of cure. When they returned home, many died from isolation, malnourishment or worse.

That’s when I decided to become a Radiation Oncologist — I could cure people of cancer AND preserve their appearance. This would give an individual the best chance for cure and quality of life for decades to come.

This is not easy work. What is your primary motivation and drive behind the work that you do?

Several close friends and extended family have undergone cancer therapy — especially in their prime working years (age 30–45). It is incredibly stressful.

Whether you are undergoing treatment yourself or taking care of a loved one through their treatment, I see similar stress points.

“How will I keep my job and pay my bills?”

“How do I care for my young kids?”

“What will our future look like?”

Trying to make a better life for my patients and their loved ones is what motivates me.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?

For years I have heard patients quietly say “I’m so grateful to be alive. But what really bothers me is my skin — the scars, the discoloration, how sickly I always look.”

Many of the products Oncologists recommend have allergenic ingredients, harmful chemicals or they are ineffective. They were made for other skin conditions (like acne or eczema); they were not made for the skin changes due to cancer therapy.

I founded Balmere so every person has access to “clean meets clinical” solutions to prevent the skin complications of cancer therapy.

Excited to share that we have almost completed EWG Verified status

A weakened immune system puts an individual at a 65x higher risk of developing skin cancer. Many sunscreens look greasy/chalky and contain chemicals that can stay in your body for months.

That’s why we created a pure mineral sunscreen (SPF 50), which can be used by anyone-whether you have cancer or not.

This is a great option if you have sensitive skin like me and want invisible, non-greasy sun protection. You can even purchase on our website with your FSA/HSA funds (no need to submit receipts!).

For the benefit of our readers, can you briefly let us know why you are an authority about the topic of Cancer?

I graduated top of my class with research honors from University of Michigan Medical School and served as Chief Resident during my residency at University of Washington Medical Center. I am a Board-certified Radiation Oncologist. I have published and presented research at American Academy of Dermatology and American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology.

I am a thought leader for Stanford Center for Longevity. I have treated several thousand patients. I served as full time physician and General Partner at Epic, a mid-size health care system that was acquired by McKesson in 2023.

I realized health care is a business and wanted to increase my financial skills to ensure we continue serving all communities. In 2022, I earned my master’s in management from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

I received the Stanford Impact Founders prize (funded by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak) for social impact in healthcare.

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?

Our cells repair themselves daily. However, sometimes they repair incorrectly, and a mutation happens. Then the abnormal cells could start growing at a fast rate. Once the abnormal cells have the ability to move to other parts of the body, we call it cancer.

What causes cancer?

Some individuals have a family history of cancer, and they may carry certain genes that put them at higher risk to develop cancer. Meeting with a genetic counselor can help you determine your individual risk.

Others have environmental risks. Their risk factors include exposure to physical carcinogens like ultraviolet and ionizing radiation; exposure to chemical carcinogens (like asbestos, tobacco smoke, alcohol); or exposure to biological carcinogens (like certain strains of HVP virus).

What is the difference between the different forms of cancer?

We generally differentiate cancer based on the location of the body where it came from (like lung, breast, prostate) or the cell type (squamous cell, basal cell etc)

Carcinomas: These abnormal cells originate in epithelial cells that line body cavities, such as the skin, or tissues that cover internal organs. Carcinomas include subtypes such as adenocarcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and transitional cell carcinoma.

Sarcomas: These abnormal cells originate in soft tissue cells, such as bone, muscle, blood, and fat.

Leukemia: This cancer originates in white blood cells, such as those in the bone marrow.

I know that the next few questions are huge topics, but we’d love to hear your thoughts regardless. How can cancer be prevented?

• Don’t use tobacco
• Maintain a healthy weight and active lifestyle
• Be mindful of what you eat and drink. Limit alcohol intake.
• Wear sunscreen and sun-protective clothing/hats
• Get vaccinated (to prevent against HPV associated cancers)
• Get screened
• Know your family history

How can one detect the main forms of cancer?

For women, mammograms and pap smears can screen for breast and cervical cancer respectively. If you are a prior smoker, a low dose lung CT scan can screen for lung cancer. For men, a PSA blood test can screen for prostate cancer.

Cancer used to almost be a death sentence, but it seems that it has changed today. What are the odds of surviving cancer today?

We’ve made remarkable advances in cancer therapy and many individuals live 10+ years after treatment. That’s why it is critical to consider side effects of treatment. The cure cannot be worse than the disease.

If you are worried about side effects of a potential treatment, always discuss your concerns with your physician. There may be other options available.

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?

We have made incredibly strides in the field of immunotherapy. I’m excited to see more advances in the field. Unfortunately, 42% of patients undergoing immunotherapy can develop significant side effects and nearly 15% of patients do not continue a full course of immunotherapy because of the side effects.

Therefore, it is critical to develop solutions to the side effects so patients can complete treatment and have the full benefits.

Healing usually takes place between doctor visits. What have you found to be most beneficial to assist a patient to heal?

At a doctor’s appointment, we rarely retain all the information. My care team provides written and verbal instructions for every patient and their loved ones to take home. Printed schedules of appointments with locations, parking information and any special instructions reduce the stress for a patient tremendously.

Trust is paramount. A great relationship with your physician, nurses and therapists is critical so you can ask questions and receive timely information.

Maintaining normalcy is critical to healing. If there are activities you love to do, let your physician know. I have adjusted patients’ treatments around all kinds of activities — pickle ball tournaments, poker club, you name it. The important thing is talking to your doctor and find ways to make it happen.

From your experience, what are a few of the best ways to support a loved one, friend, or colleague who is impacted by cancer?

Many individuals going through treatment want to maintain normalcy in their lives. Invitations to work and social events are appreciated. If the person needs to be in smaller crowds, offer to go on a walk with them or run errands.

Transportation support is helpful especially if your loved one is tired due to treatment. One of my dearest friends was diagnosed with cancer in her 30s. She genuinely appreciated all of us bringing dinner over every night for 6 weeks. Not preparing dinner for her husband and 2 young children was a huge relief so she could focus on healing herself. We also took the kids out for playdates on the weekend, so she had time to rest.

What are a few of the biggest misconceptions and myths out there about fighting cancer that you would like to dispel?

Patients often come to my office with expensive skincare products labeled as “antioxidant rich” or “growth factors derived.” They may be labeled clean or recommended by Dermatologists.

I do not recommend using such products during treatment. Why? Radiation creates oxidative damage that kills the DNA of cancer cells. If you use products rich in growth factors or antioxidants, you could be protecting the cancer and have less chance of cure.

We have seen clinical studies from 50+ years ago showing mice exposed to high levels antioxidants (compared to placebo) had worse outcomes after cancer therapy.

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.

1. Who is providing my care? Many clinicians greet you wearing a white coat or scrubs. The person could be a medical assistant (who had months of training) or they could be a board-certified Oncologist, who spent 10+ years of training. Ask what their training was and if they (or someone else) will be treating you.
2. What are my options to reduce side effects? Physicians and nurses will often provide information on products to reduce your symptoms. However, they may not realize the products they are recommending contain parabens or other hormone disruptors; fragrance; high level of antioxidants; lanolin; mineral oil or petrolatum. It is critical to read the entire ingredient list and research the manufacturing process. If you develop a rash during treatment your physician will not know if it was from your lotion your medication. They may switch you to another regimen which does not have as high a rate of killing cancer. Therefore, it is so critical to use clean and effective skincare products.
3. What are my fertility preservation options? Sperm banking and egg freezing are options. Surgically shifting your ovaries is another option for certain patients. You may be a candidate for a different chemotherapy regimen — so make sure you talk to your physician about your options.
4. Do you have Direct Power of Attorney forms? 68% of Americans lack a valid will. If anything should happen to you during a procedure or hospitalization, it is important to designate an individual who can make decisions on your behalf. Many hospitals and cancer centers have these forms available for you to fill out quickly and for free.
5. Can I work during treatment? If working during your treatment is important, talk to your physician and employer. I often treat patients early in the morning, during lunch or later afternoon to accommodate work schedules. Some employers may let you work from home, cut back on work hours, or provide physical accommodations (like a single office) to make it easier for you.

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. :-)

39% of people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime (cancer.org).

80% rise in cancer rates among young adults (age 18–50).

My mission is to cure cancer AND have exceptional quality of life for years to come. That’s why I started Balmere.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

Follow us on Instagram (@balmereskin) Linked In or info@balmere.com

Thank you so much for these insights! This was very inspirational and we wish you continued success in your great work.

About The Interviewer: Savio P. Clemente, TEDx speaker and Stage 3 cancer survivor, infuses transformative insights into every article. His journey battling cancer fuels a mission to empower survivors and industry leaders towards living a truly healthy, wealthy, and wise lifestyle. As a Board-Certified Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC, ACC), Savio guides readers to embrace self-discovery and rewrite narratives by loving their inner stranger, as outlined in his acclaimed TEDx talk: “7 Minutes to Wellness: How to Love Your Inner Stranger.” From his best-selling book to his impactful work as a media journalist covering resilience and wellness trends with notable celebrities and TV personalities, Savio’s words touch countless lives. His philosophy, “to know thyself is to heal thyself,” resonates in every piece.