Duke Health

Leslie Saunders was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer, and then it spread to her brain. Following treatment with a newer drug called tarlatamab, her brain MRI is clear, and she’s hosting events and bringing people together. “Duke is one of the best cancer institutes in the world,” said Saunders. “When you’ve got a team of such brilliant people, you don’t worry about the cancer.”

Dave Warthen smoked for 50 years. In September 2025, he joined Duke’s smoking cessation program “Quit at Duke.” And thanks to the team’s expertise and individualized approach, he’s been cigarette-free since March 2026. “Quit at Duke works,” Warthen said, “and I will tell anybody to do it.”

Cervical disc replacement surgery is a new option for people with pain in the neck and/or arm due to arthritis or degenerative disc disease. Unlike cervical disc fusion surgery, which cements vertebrae together, cervical disc replacement swaps out the problematic disc for an artificial one. This shortens post-operative recovery time, preserves mobility in the spine, and still allows for spinal fusion surgery down the line, if needed. Wondering whether cervical disc replacement is right for you? Here, Duke spine surgeon Deb A. Bhowmick, MD, answers your questions.