Patient from Hell

Cancer care is difficult enough to navigate as someone with little to no healthcare/biology background, but what does it mean when a physician faces similar challenges within the healthcare system? Dr. Jean-Luc “JL” Neptune shares his compelling caregiver story of caring for his mother and father's cancer diagnoses simultaneously with the help of his sister. We delve into how his experience im...

Brad Power, the co-founder and CEO of the Cancer Patient Lab, shares his insight on a multitude of topics such as: the challenges of innovating healthcare, the importance of personalized care, and Brad’s personal experience with cancer. Key Highlights: 1. Large organizations are resistant to change, making it difficult to innovate within the healthcare industry. 2. Personalized care is the future...

Janice Cowden, retired nurse and patient advocate, shares her remarkable triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) story. Five years following successful treatment for stage one breast cancer in 2011, Janice was diagnosed with a stage 4 metastatic TNBC recurrence. As of today she has 8 years of no evidence of disease (NED) under her belt. She shares how she stumbled upon the cancer community that inspi...

In this episode, Dr. Doug Blayney, oncologist, former President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and the Chief Medical Officer of Manta Cares, discusses the latest advancements in breast cancer treatments presented at ASCO’s 2024 Annual Meeting. He highlights the significant progress in antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), which are engineered to specifically target cancer cells, o...

Cecilia Lang-Ree shares her experience as a childhood survivor of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She shares some of her memories as an inpatient, her struggles with fitting in with her peers at school, and the evolution of her identity in relation to her survivorship. She also shares her discovery of her fertility issues and the importance of discussing fertility as early on as possible as a cancer...

Emily Capilouto, a medical anthropologist and cancer advocate, discusses the topics of medical anthropology, fertility preservation, and IVF. She also shares her work in oncology and raising awareness about prostate cancer. The conversation includes a rapid-fire Q&A session on fertility treatments and options. The main takeaways include the importance of early discussions about fertility for c...

This episode features Aurora Lucas sharing her experience navigating stage 3A lung cancer, starting from her symptoms and misdiagnosis to her eventual diagnosis and targeted treatment. She shares aspects of her story that all of us can relate to: insurance problems, delays, being rushed into life altering decisions, and more. She also talks about the impact of her diagnosis on her fertility and th...

In this episode, Dr. Geoff Oxnard, a thoracic oncologist, discusses his career journey into oncology and shares insights from his experience treating lung cancer patients and conducting research. He emphasizes the increasing role of precision medicine and genomic and biomarker testing in guiding treatment decisions, providing examples of how identifying specific mutations can lead to dramatically...

In this episode, Kimary Kulig, PhD, MPH dives into the topic of cancer biomarkers. Kimary explains the difference between genes and proteins, germline versus somatic gene testing, and the critical importance of testing for both as biomarkers for treatment selection. She also describes the world of lung cancer biomarkers and the implications for treatment decisions. The conversation highlights the...

Dr. Kozower, a thoracic surgeon, discusses the role of surgery in lung cancer treatment and the use of surgery in the diagnosis of lung cancer. The conversation then shifts to the PCORI study on lung cancer surveillance, where Dr. Kozower explains that the intensity of surveillance, such as the frequency of CT scans, does not impact survival rates for lung cancer patients in retrospect. We also di...

Abigail Johnston shares her experience as a patient with de novo metastatic breast cancer since 2017. She discusses the challenges she faced in getting a diagnosis and the systemic flaws of the healthcare system. Abigail emphasizes the importance of being an informed and proactive patient, and advocating for yourself even if you’re labeled “difficult.” Abigail’s fighter spirit in this episode is t...

Dr. Karen Wernli, a Senior Scientific Investigator at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, explores the topic of preoperative breast MRIs in a PCORI funded study. The conversation provides insights into the emotional and practical aspects of living with cancer and the need for improved communication between researchers and patients. They touch on the classification of breast den...

Black women with breast cancer have higher mortality rates and recurrence rates than white women. On this episode, we speak with Ricki Fairley, breast cancer survivor and co-founder of TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance and her daughter Hayley Brown, Director of Programs, about why health equity is such a major issue, and the need for better access to care and more research on the biology of...

In this episode, we interview Erika Bell, PhD from the Bay Area Cancer Connections (BACC) patient advocacy community about ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Erika discusses the role of BACC in supporting cancer patients, the challenges of finding support during the pandemic, and the importance of patient advocacy organizations. She then dives into a detailed explanation of DCIS, its characteristics...

In this episode, we embark on a profound exploration of death with the help of two remarkable individuals. Katie Coleman bravely shares her experience as a survivor of Stage IV liver cancer, a path fraught with uncertainty and a lack of available information. Julie McFadden is a hospice nurse whose daily encounters with death provide unique insights. She educates online audiences about various top...

In this episode, we interview mother and son Ashlee and Michael, hosts of the podcast “ Michael and Mom Talk Cancer ." They share their personal cancer experience and discuss topics such as managing work and finances, the impact of cancer on athleticism and identity, and the importance of maintaining positivity and mental health. They also touch on the concept of toxic positivity and how diff...

In this episode, we talk with Dennis Watson and Cliff Reid, two entrepreneurs in the cancer space. They speak about the difference between genetics and genomics, and the role of genetic and genomic testing in clinical decision-making. They also touch on the history and impact of DNA sequencing and the challenges in applying genomics to cancer treatment. This conversation explores the development o...

Sit back, relax, and get ready to dive into the world of hypnotherapy! In this episode, Dr. Sonia Gupte will explore the intriguing realm of hypnotherapy and its potential impact on the mental and physical well-being of cancer patients. Join us as we debunk common misconceptions, shed light on the benefits, and delve into the current regulatory landscape surrounding this fascinating therapeutic ap...

In this episode, Dr. Fumiko Chino shares her inspiring journey from art director to oncologist, driven by her experience as a caregiver. She highlights the gap between ideal and actual cancer care by discussing a breast cancer imaging study where some patients with Stage 2 and 3 disease received scans to monitor for cancer. Dr. Chino goes into why “surveillance“ scans may or may not be beneficial,...

In this episode, we welcome back a previous guest and friend, Katie Coleman. This time, we dive into facing one’s mortality and how to grapple with the uncertainty of living with a cancer diagnosis. We get into pre-diagnosis thoughts on mortality and how perspectives shifted after diagnosis. Katie also sheds light on some of the silver linings of being forced to confront your own mortality: helpin...

Did you know that the majority of Americans with cancer are treated in community oncology practices and not at academic medical centers? Community oncologist Dr. Chris Terry joins us this week as we discuss local oncology care benefits and successes, and the importance of physical activity during cancer treatment. Dr. Terry also shares the way he communicates with new cancer patients in his practi...

You might be familiar with economics or the study of monetary scarcity, but have you heard of healthcare economics? In this episode, we explore the daily trade-offs inherent in healthcare with Dr. Jayadevappa, whose dedicated focus revolves around healthcare economics and racial disparities between African American and white Prostate Cancer patients. Dr. Jayadevappa offers a glimpse behind the sce...

Ever experienced the frustration of feeling unheard, hastily ushered away, and checked off during your appointments? Or perhaps you've caught yourself making life-altering decisions hastily during your visits with your primary care provider? Join us in this episode as we unravel the systemic reasons behind these challenges and receive actionable tools to empower yourself, becoming an advocate...

Matthew Rosenblum, a geographer by training, shares his journey from PhD candidate to pancreatic cancer patient. He discusses the interplay of space, time, and identity, particularly in relation to his Jewish background and cancer diagnosis. Matthew shares his diagnosis and treatment experience candidly with his unique sense of humor.  While addressing the realities of living with terminal cancer...

We welcome back one of our previous guests, David Moriah! Embark on a profound journey into David's relationship with religion and faith, specifically uncovering how his unwavering faith became a guiding light through his cancer experience. The radiant blend of optimism and vulnerability in this episode offers invaluable lessons for us all. Don't miss out—tune in and be inspired by David&#...