The Cancering Show

In this episode, Dr. JYP talks with Gina Gregory , a breast cancer survivor and a second-time Cancering Show guest. Gina shares her journey five years after her initial diagnosis, discussing the difficulties of living with cancer and the side effects from treatment, such as receding gums and ringing ears. She is open about the challenges, as well as the strength and faith she gained along the way....

In this Cancering episode, Dr. JYP is joined by oncologist  Dr. Ayesha Munir as they tackle the complex and crucial topic of breast cancer and health disparities. Together, they explore the impact of socioeconomic status on health inequalities, the challenges faced by different racial groups in accessing breast cancer screening, and the concerning prevalence of triple-negative breast cancer among...

In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Young Pierce talks with guest Barbara Boone, who shares her journey with endometrial cancer and how gardening has helped her through the tough times. Barbara emphasizes the benefits of gardening, such as stress relief, a sense of achievement and being part of a nurturing gardening community. Even during her cancer treatment, Barbara stayed positive by focusing on dail...

In the latest episode of The Cancering Show, Dr. Jennifer Young Pierce delves into the topic of cancer as a chronic disease. It's a thought-provoking discussion that challenges our understanding of cancer and survivorship. Dr. Pierce emphasizes that cancering is not just a phase or a battle to be won, but an ongoing journey that requires long-term management and adaptation. She shares insights on...

In today's episode, Dr. Jennifer Young Pierce is joined by the brave and resilient Haley Orillion, who shares her powerful story of undergoing risk-reducing surgeries after learning she carries a BRCA gene mutation. From the societal pressures she faced to the emotional aftermath of her surgeries, Haley opens up about her experiences and ongoing challenges. Dr. Pierce guides us through Haley's jou...

In this inspiring episode, we meet Hannah Adams , a 13-year cancer survivor and an extraordinary advocate for childhood cancer research. Hannah shares her story of overcoming cancer at a young age, her journey to becoming Miss Mobile Bay and her relentless pursuit of her dreams. Hannah's resilience and dedication are truly remarkable, from her experience lobbying in Washington, D.C., to founding t...

  In this holiday special episode of The Cancering Show, Dr. Jennifer Young Pierce discusses the unique challenges that cancer patients face during the holiday season. Drawing on classic Christmas and holiday movies, she offers guidance on managing mixed emotions, navigating events, adapting to food restrictions, and providing support as a caregiver. Additionally, she addresses the financial hards...

In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Young Pierce discusses mental health and its impact on cancer patients. She emphasizes the importance of addressing mental health concerns and seeking help, as they can affect the overall quality of life and even survival. Dr. Pierce explains that mental health encompasses external factors (such as basic needs and purpose) and internal factors (such as anxiety and dep...

In this episode of The Cancering Show, Dr. JYP explores the topic of pain and its connection to cancer. She shares a powerful personal story highlighting the importance of addressing and managing pain in cancer patients. She also discusses the types of pain that can arise during the cancer journey, the difference between cancer pain and treatment pain, and when to communicate with your doctor abou...

Welcome to another episode of The Cancering Show, where we demystify cancer and take away the fear surrounding its diagnosis and treatment. In this episode, Dr. JYP delves into the topic of nausea, which can be a side effect of cancer treatment. She addresses the various causes of nausea and explains how cancer treatments can affect the gastrointestinal tract. Dr. JYP also provides valuable advice...

Welcome to The Cancering Show, where we demystify cancer and take away the fear surrounding its diagnosis and treatment. In this episode, Dr. JYP is joined by  Beth Davis from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama to discuss the importance of research in improving outcomes for breast cancer patients. With 1 in 8 women and 1 in 1,000 men being diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifeti...

In this episode, host Dr. Jennifer Young Pierce answers listener questions about cancer. She explains where cancer can travel in the body, how treatments can be tailored to individual patients, how technology has changed cancer diagnosis and treatment, and the importance of psychological and physical support for cancer patients and their caregivers. Plus, Dr. Pierce provides helpful advice on topi...

This episode of the Cancering Show focuses on the importance of caregivers in the cancer journey. Dr. Jennifer Young Pierce talks with Dr. Nick Dionne-Odom , associate professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and co-director of Caregiver and Bereavement Support Services in the UAB Center for Palliative and Supportive Care. They discuss what it means to be a car...

On this episode of The Cancering Show, Dr. Jennifer Young Pierce is joined by GYN oncologist Dr. Nathaniel Jones from USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute to discuss advances in precision medicine for cancer treatment. They will explore what precision medicine is, how it can help inform treatment, and what effect it has on patients. They will also discuss data showing the effects of precision medi...

We are so excited for this special episode that addresses our listeners' questions. All of you have been writing to us, and we've got a long list of questions. We'll get through some today and save some for a second show toward the end of Season 3. You all know our season has been about community and the community of Cancering, and we couldn't think of a better way to respond to our community than...

On this episode, we will introduce you to an amazing young woman and a true inspiration, Helen Bender. Helen, who is only in her mid-20s, learned a few months ago that she has Stage 4 melanoma. But that is not where this story ends. It's actually the beginning of Helen's story. You will hear about how her cancer is responding to immunotherapy, how her family and community have rallied around her,...

Our guest today, Tamika Felder , is practically the definition of a Cancering community. When she was diagnosed with cervical cancer at age 25, she didn't feel like she had found a community of survivors who could help walk her through what was ahead of her. So, she CREATED her own community, Cervivor , a nonprofit organization that brings cervical cancer survivors together and helps to spread awa...

On this episode, Dr. Jennifer Young Pierce talks with Dr. Ahmed Abdalla. Dr. Abdalla is an expert in phase 1 clinical trials, which is how we develop the newest therapies for cancer treatment, and he is an oncologist specializing in gastrointestinal cancers at the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute. Dr. JYP and Dr. Abdalla will discuss the best ways to avoid rectal and colon cancers, the importa...

On this inspirational Cancering episode, Dr. JYP talks with Chaplain Kim Crawford Meeks, manager of the Spiritual Care Department at USA Health . Chaplain Kim meets her care recipients wherever they are on their journeys, whether with cancer or some other illness. If someone is experiencing sadness, loneliness, helplessness, anxiety, grief, fear or has cause for celebration, they may need a chapla...

We are excited to share this episode with our guest, Dr. John Wesley McWhorter. Dr. McWhorter is one of the nation's leaders and practicing advocates for Culinary Medicine, a growing field of medicine, behavioral science, nutrition, and cooking that sits at the intersection of delicious food creation, modern medicine, and healthy living. So, we are going to focus on the "why" and the "how" we eat...

Meet Dr. Gretchen Holmes . Gretchen is a three-time cancer survivor, one of Dr. JYP's patients, and she holds a doctorate in health communications with a graduate certificate in medical behavioral science from the University of Kentucky. Presently, she works as the designated institutional official for graduate medical education programs at a healthcare system in Mississippi. On this episode, Gret...

Meet Janel Lowman , a colleague of Dr. JYP and one of her favorite people. On this episode, they will talk about the function and importance of community health workers and outreach. Janel hol ds a Master of Health Administration and has more than a decade of community outreach experience with the University of South Alabama. Her current role is senior manager of community outreach at the USA Heal...

In this episode, we have longtime sports broadcaster Mike Raita and his surgeon, Dr. Marty Heslin . Mike Raita is a 35-year veteran of TV sports broadcasting, winning multiple awards over his 27 years spent in Birmingham, Alabama. His career as a sportscaster broke several big Alabama stories, including the Alabama Crimson Tide Coach Gene Stalling's decision to retire, Coach Denise Francione's dep...

On this episode, Dr. Jennifer Young Pierce talks with teacher, lymphoma survivor and author Glen Mutchnick about his book " Everybody's Got Tzuris ," which documents his and others' cancer journeys. "Tzuris" is a Yiddish word that means difficulties, pain or troubles, and Glen says that having cancer definitely fits that bill and that everyone has some sort of difficulty in their lives. A lot of p...

On this episode, Dr. Jennifer Young Pierce has a very important conversation about cancer risk and prevention with cancer researcher Natalie Gassman, Ph. D. Gassman explains how long-term exposure to the sun, e-cigarettes, common chemicals and BPAs can transform our DNA at the cellular level, possibly causing cancer. Plus, they discuss the small and practical everyday decisions that can minimize o...