Hope First
When it comes to cancer in Orange County, it’s Hope First.
Hope Means Cancer Loses and Life Wins
A cancer diagnosis comes with many questions and can be emotionally overwhelming. Though types of cancers vary and everyone copes in uniquely individual ways, here are answers to some of the most common questions we hear. Let us help you begin navigating the journey back to health.
Finding out you have cancer can be overwhelming for you and your loved ones. Experts advise taking the time to make important decisions and, if possible, asking a friend or loved one to help during these early days. One of the most important decisions you will need to make is selecting your doctor (the oncologist) and the medical team that will support you.
Plastic surgeon Mouchammed Agko, M.D., understands that many cancer survivors want to continue their lives after treatment without physical reminders of the disease. His goal is to help them achieve that — in addition to providing additional aesthetic improvements, if it meets a patient’s needs.
Ibrahim T. Aldoss, M.D., is a hematologist-oncologist and board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology and hematology. His clinical expertise is in acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia.
Haris Ali, M.D., is an hematologist-oncologist and associate professor in the department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.
Nairi Berner, M.D., is an Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Tanuja Bhandari, M.D., is a radiation oncologist at City of Hope who is well-versed in all forms of radiation oncology, including intraoperative radiation therapy.
Azra Borogovac, M.D., M.S., is a hematologist at City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center. For Dr. Borogovac, the patient is the most important part of the medical team. She sees the opportunity to provide care to people with cancer as a privilege.
Luke Chen, M.D., is a medical oncologist and hematologist at City of Hope's Huntington Beach and Irvine Sand Canyon locations. Dr. Chen’s research has explored ways to improve treatment for prostate cancer and other malignancies.
Jennifer Chen M.D., is a Lead Breast Imager and Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Diagnostic Radiology at City of Hope Orange County.
Christian Co Lu, M.D., M.H.S., is a patient-centric physician with 15+ years of experience in medical care.
Nikki Zahabi, D.O., is an assistant clinical professor with a strong background in internal medicine and critical care in the Department of Medicine at City of Hope in Duarte, California.
Monzr M. Al Malki, M.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation and is board certified in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology at City of Hope.
Seth Cohen, M.D., is a urologic surgeon with a focus on female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery at City of Hope's community practice sites in Orange County.
Joshua G. Cohen, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., F.A.C.S., is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist dedicated to offering his patients in Orange County empathy and excellence in clinical care.
Misagh Karimi, M.D., is a medical oncologist who is passionate about patient education, appearing frequently at community forums to discuss obesity, the environment and other possible risk factors for cancer.
Amrita Krishnan, M.D., directs the Judy and Bernard Briskin Center for Multiple Myeloma Research at City of Hope's cancer research hospital, seeking to make gains in one of the most rapidly changing areas in cancer research.
Christian Co Lu, M.D., M.H.S., is a patient-centric physician with 15+ years of experience in medical care.
Hoda Pourhassan, M.D., is a hematologist-oncologist in the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation at City of Hope.
George Bernard Semeniuk, III, M.D., is a hematologist/oncologist specializing in leukemia, lymphoma and hematopoietic cell transplantation.
Wade Smith, M.D., is a medical oncologist specializing in breast cancer at City of Hope Orange County and Duarte.
Tingting Tan, M.D., Ph.D., is a medical oncologist and assistant clinical professor in the Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research at City of Hope.
Joshua G. Cohen, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., F.A.C.S., is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist dedicated to offering his patients in Orange County empathy and excellence in clinical care.
Sudarsan Vishnu Kollimuttathuillam, M.D., is a medical oncologist and hematologist at City of Hope's Huntington Beach and Irvine Sand Canyon locations. Dr. Kollimuttathuillan places a priority on offering his patients access to innovative treatments and clinical trial options.
Christian Co Lu, M.D., M.H.S., is a patient-centric physician with 15+ years of experience in medical care.
Danny Nguyen, M.D., is a medical oncologist and hematologist at City of Hope's Huntington Beach and Irvine Sand Canyon locations. Dr. Nguyen is also an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research.
Nishan Tchekmedyian, M.D., is a hematologist and medical oncologist at City of Hope's Huntington Beach, Irvine Sand Canyon, and Newport Beach Lido locations.
Nerses Simon Tchekmedyian, M.D., FACP, is a medical oncologist and hematologist at City of Hope's Huntington Beach, Irvine Sand Canyon, Long Beach Elm locations. Dr. Tchekmedyian is also a clinical professor in the Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research.
Sassan Farjami, M.D., is a hematologist and medical oncologist at City of Hope's Long Beach Elm and Long Beach Worsham locations. Dr. Farjami is also an associate clinical professor in the Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research.
Christian Co Lu, M.D., M.H.S., is a patient-centric physician with 15+ years of experience in medical care.
Nerses Simon Tchekmedyian, M.D., FACP, is a medical oncologist and hematologist at City of Hope's Huntington Beach, Irvine Sand Canyon, Long Beach Elm locations. Dr. Tchekmedyian is also a clinical professor in the Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research.
Lihong Wu, M.D., is a medical oncologist and hematologist at City of Hope's Long Beach Elm and Worsham locations. Dr. Wu has made it her mission to help others triumph over cancer. She prides herself on being there for her patients and finding the best possible treatments for them.
Sassan Farjami, M.D., is a hematologist and medical oncologist at City of Hope's Long Beach Elm and Long Beach Worsham locations. Dr. Farjami is also an associate clinical professor in the Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research.
Christian Co Lu, M.D., M.H.S., is a patient-centric physician with 15+ years of experience in medical care.
Specializing in bioengineering and tumor micro-environment in cancer development and progression, Andrew Nguyen, M.D., is an assistant clinical professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology in the Department of Surgery at City of Hope.
Lihong Wu, M.D., is a medical oncologist and hematologist at City of Hope's Long Beach Elm and Worsham locations. Dr. Wu has made it her mission to help others triumph over cancer. She prides herself on being there for her patients and finding the best possible treatments for them.
Nikki Zahabi, D.O., is an assistant clinical professor with a strong background in internal medicine and critical care in the Department of Medicine at City of Hope in Duarte, California.
City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center features the latest and most comprehensive suite of market-leading technology for screening, diagnosing and treating cancer, delivered by highly specialized experts who raise the bar for scientific expertise and exceptional outcomes. Patients receive fully integrated, multidisciplinary cancer care in one convenient location.
Whether you are seeking help in navigating your treatment or assistance with insurance, billing, appointments and other aspects of your care, we are here for you.
City of Hope Orange County leaders and physicians are available to provide commentary on a wide range of healthcare topics and cancer-focused news,