A Visit with Dr. Heloisa Soares at the Huntsman Cancer Institute
Dealing with my husband Jimmy’s neuroendocrine cancer diagnosis in 2004, I had dreams of finding a center that could address all the health needs that came with his diagnosis. We went to a large hospital in Los Angeles for some of his NET cancer concerns and received good care, but sometimes we needed more specialized care that wasn’t available there. We found ourselves saving up and hitting the friendly skies to visit another doctor to take care of a tricky surgery or to seek treatment that wasn’t available locally. We had to do a lot of personal research on neuroendocrine cancer and became a couple of experts at a time when there wasn’t much information available. Now, in 2026, I am grateful to see the strides being made to provide neuroendocrine cancer care. I am happy to know that more education and opportunities are available.
Over time, I plan to visit neuroendocrine cancer centers across the country to share what is being offered for the NET community. For my first stop, I traveled to Salt Lake City to shadow Dr. Heloisa Soares at the University of Utah’s Huntsman Cancer Institute. From the moment I arrived, to my departure and during the days since, I have felt the impact of this visit and cannot wait to share it with all of you.
I met up with Dr. Soares in her clinic. I had received approval from Huntsman to meet some of her patients, listen in and spend a little time with them discussing their neuroendocrine journey. I was able to share that the Healing NET Foundation has general information on our website, along with patient stories and NET publications. I also shared that we are always interested in hearing their NET stories.
Walking in with the permission of the patients and seeing the faces of both the caregiver and the patient when they saw Dr. Soares enter the room was inspiring, to say the least. Dr. Soares spent time going over the medical history and scans of her patient before stepping into the room. Her confident and informed manner set everyone at ease. The compassion and comfort that she carries with her is palpable. At first glance, you see people rather concerned about scan results, labs, and the good old “what’s next” conversation. I remember feeling the overwhelming emotions around these visits. It was lovely to see how her patients opened up to her in the ample time she gave them. She would keep an eye on the support person, whether a spouse or parent or friend, and made sure to connect with everyone. I listened as she talked through the next steps and felt the shift in the room when the patients felt heard and respected. Honestly, the decisions being made in these situations are difficult. Every step leading to the next can be taxing for both the patient and the doctor.
The Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah has given a lot of thought to the needs of the NET community. I appreciate Huntsman for the care that goes into the patient long before they make the trip to Huntsman. From the moment a patient has an appointment, they are offered literature on their health concern with guidance and follow up throughout their care. There is so much patient and caregiver support from the neuroendocrine program that I had to remind myself to stop grinning at every corner.
The team regularly sees local patients, patients from rural areas, and people from other states, including Nevada, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Spencer Pugmire, the NET Program Coordinator at Huntsman, sees to all the details and scheduling of appointments. The team knows what tests are available for patients where they live and what needs to be done on site, which makes the trip to Huntsman more manageable and efficient. I was impressed by the way Spencer runs the clinic.
The Destination Care team helps patients with travel logistics. They use the Southwest Airlines Medical Transportation Grant Program (MTGP) to pay for airfare for those that live more than 200 miles away. They have made an agreement with a local childcare center very near the Cancer Institute that provides safe care for the children of patients for a low fee. They have discounted lodging available as well. This team goes above and beyond to help with circumstances as they arise. Breanna Loyola, Megan Jones and Audrey Laney are professionals providing a big dose of kindness while they help patients navigate the stresses of traveling for health care
I always say that anyone diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer should find a palliative care team. Dr. Cari Low, Medical Director of the University of Utah Supportive and Palliative Care Program, and the team address patients’ pain and the other symptoms that can interfere with the quality of life for people diagnosed with NET cancer.
The Linda B. and Robert B. Wiggins Wellness & Integrative Health Center at Huntsman Cancer Institute is led by Dr. Shelley White. This beautiful space offers acupuncture, massage, cooking classes, music therapy, and fitness classes, just to name a few. It’s an amazing facility for those living with cancer. The more people can take care of their overall health, the better treatment can go for them. The Healing NET Foundation’s SEES program addresses the importance of Sleep, Eat, Exercise and Spirit and will be held at Huntsman’s wellness center on October 3, 2026. Please join us!
I always say that anyone diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer should find a palliative care team. Dr. Cari Low, Medical Director of the University of Utah Supportive and Palliative Care Program, and the team address patients’ pain and the other symptoms that can interfere with the quality of life for people diagnosed with NET cancer.
The Linda B. and Robert B. Wiggins Wellness & Integrative Health Center at Huntsman Cancer Institute is led by Dr. Shelley White. This beautiful space offers acupuncture, massage, cooking classes, music therapy, and fitness classes, just to name a few. It’s an amazing facility for those living with cancer. The more people can take care of their overall health, the better treatment can go for them. The Healing NET Foundation’s SEES program addresses the importance of Sleep, Eat, Exercise and Spirit and will be held at Huntsman’s wellness center on October 3, 2026. Please join us!
