Cancer in Our Community

One in five Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70, but Dr. Peter Kanetsky is working to tackle this through his work as an epidemiologist. This subject seems particularly apt for those of us living in “The Sunshine State” as we head into summer, but it’s not just Floridians who are at risk. Join us to learn about sunscreen, shade and avoiding risky behaviors. Learn more about Peter and his...

Cancer treatments come in many forms: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and more recently immunotherapy. While there are many types of treatment, they all undergo the same important checks to assess effectiveness and safety through clinical trials. But what is a clinical trial? Why should patients participate? And how can patients trust that they are the best option for them? To answer this...

Terms like hospice and palliative care can instantly make us think of worst case scenarios, but whether you are a patient or a caregiver, they should be considered a normal part of the experience offered by experts in Supportive Care Medicine. Treating a patient is not just about killing the cancer, but doing everything you can to improve their quality of life, a subject that Dr. Saima Rashid is f...

Cancer is a profoundly disabling illness, whether that is due to side effects from the life-saving treatments or the disease itself. Understandably then, patients need constant and vital support in the form of caregivers, but who do we consider to be a caregiver, and what does their role involve? In this episode we discuss the essential role of caregivers, who qualifies as a caregiver, and the res...

June is recognized in the US as Caribbean-American Heritage Month. So what better time to say Sante! or Cheers! to recognize the important achievements of researchers working to support members of the Caribbean community. We speak with Dr. Dorothie Durosier Mertilus about how important it is it literally be able to speak someone’s language; in her case French or Haitian Creole. We hear from from D...

Why does it matter if someone identifies as LGBTQ+ or is recognized as a sexual gender minority? What do these terms even mean, and why are they relevant to cancer care? Dr. Matthew Schabath talks about this and more as he describes his work as an epidemiologist, initiatives using AI in diagnosis, and a researcher studying health disparities in the LGBTQ+ community. Learn more about our guest Matt...

The mission of Moffitt Cancer Center is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. Their commitment goes beyond treatment—exploring every possible avenue to support their community. Sharing information is among the simplest tools and can in itself save lives. This episode addresses how podcasts can form one such tool to help improve health outcomes for the Black and African American commu...

Health disparities in cancer care are driven by many different factors and many marginalized communities will be impacted in different ways. On the flip side, many socio-economic factors will mean that patients from diverse backgrounds will be impacted in similar ways. In this “Crossover” episode, Dr. Brandon Blue, host of Cancer in our Community, sits down with Dr. Sarimar Agosto Salgado, host of...

May is National Cancer Research month. It is dedicated to all those investigating the causes, prevention, treatment and cure for the diverse diseases that constitute cancer. From everyone studying individual cells through to whole humans. It’s perhaps easy to understand the role that biologists and physicians play, but what about a mathematician? Learn more about the exciting and unique work being...

Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV is a virus that attacks the body's immune system and, if left untreated, can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). While there is no cure, treatments mean that people with HIV can live long and fulfilling lives. But if this is a podcast about cancer, why are we talking about HIV?  Join our guests: Dr. Jessica Islam; an epidemiologist at Moffitt Canc...

Getting a cancer diagnosis is never easy, even with a family history. This is the story of our guest Lanse Scriven, who found himself receiving news that he had prostate cancer. From diagnosis, through treatment, to annual check ups, Lanse has had the support of Dr. Kosj Yamoah - a radiation oncologist at Moffitt Cancer Center. In addition to treating his patients, Kosj has a research focus on the...

Ms. Valerie Goddard is an expert in creating equitable educational programming. Dr. B. Lee Green is an experienced researcher in understanding health disparities. So what do they have in common? The answer: passion for helping the Black and African American community navigate cancer. Both have worked together on many outreach initiatives, with the most recent being the George Edgecomb Society. Lis...

Dr. Jhanelle Gray is a renowned thoracic medical oncologist and clinical scientist, who is actively involved and leads numerous clinical research trials which have greatly influenced treatments for lung cancer. She also serves on many committees and boards to pay it forward to the next generation of minority physicians, and to speak up when designing studies and treating patients, to ensure that B...

Dr. Robinson is an MD with an MBA and a master’s degree in health policy research. As well as treating patients, he also leads Moffitt’s Center for Digital Health which uses tools of IT, Health Data Services, and Digital Innovation. What does that all mean? Listen in to hear Edmondo discuss how using data can improve outcomes for patients and cancer hospitals, while addressing concerns about data...

Dr. Iman Washington is a radiation oncologist at Moffitt Cancer Center where she treats breast cancer patients with radiation therapy. She is also interested in research to better understand how breast cancer arises and how this knowledge can be used to improve cancer care for underserved populations. We spoke to Iman about therapy, clinical trials and the importance of breast cancer screening. Th...

Dr. Brandon Blue is an oncologist in Malignant Hematology meaning he is a doctor who treats blood cancers. But he is also a researcher interested in how education and behaviors can change health outcomes. Listen as Brandon talks about why he’s so engaged in community outreach. Learn more about the common features of blood cancers, and how you can learn to identify them and advocate for better trea...