The Cracking Cancer Podcast

Testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer in men aged 15-35, but nobody is talking about it! Until today that is. In this crucial episode of "Cracking Cancer," host Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by Dr. Andrew Johns, a GU Cancer specialist from MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Jon Fox, a testicular cancer survivor. They tackle the vital topic of testicular cancer, shedding light on its biolo...

In this crucial episode of "Cracking Cancer," host Dr. Kyle Concannon and patient advocate Samantha Murrell delve into Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs), a revolutionary class of targeted therapy. Samantha, who was treated with an ADC for her HER2 non-small cell lung cancer, shares her real-time experience with the drug's potent effects and cumulative side effects. Dr. Concannon explains the sophist...

In this essential episode of "Cracking Cancer," host Dr. Kyle Concannon, a physician scientist and medical oncologist, sits down with patient advocate Samantha Murrell to demystify the role of the medical oncologist and how they fit into a patient's care journey. They clarify the distinct but collaborative roles of medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists. Dr. Concannon provides an honest, beh...

In this episode, Dr. Lauren Groner, a Cardiothoracic Radiologist and Health Services Researcher, demystifies the field of radiology and its critical, often unseen, role in oncology. Dr. Groner breaks down the differences between Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologists, explaining how the former interprets complex images (CT, MRI, PET, X-rays) to diagnose and stage disease, while the latter perf...

In this timely episode of "Cracking Cancer," host Dr. Kyle Concannon, a physician scientist, speaks with patient advocate Ashley Holt about the challenges of navigating new, aggressive cancer surveillance technologies. Ashley, a survivor of Stage I non-small cell lung cancer with a ROS1 mutation, chose to go beyond the standard of care by incorporating the Signatera circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) b...

In this deeply personal episode of "Cracking Cancer," host Dr. Kyle Concannon and guest Sara Sandoval, a stage four metastatic breast cancer patient, explore the rarely discussed intersection of faith and a cancer diagnosis. Sara shares her journey of turning to her Catholic faith after her diagnosis, finding solace, strength, and a sense of control in an otherwise chaotic and frightening reality....

Navigating a cancer diagnosis often means a barrage of medical terms and images that can be confusing and frightening. In this powerful episode of "Cracking Cancer," host Dr. Kyle Concannon sits down with guests Heidi Onda, a lung cancer survivor and founder of the White Ribbon Project, and Dr. Lauren Groner, a cardiothoracic radiologist, to demystify the world of medical scans. Heidi shares her p...

In this episode of "Cracking Cancer,"  Sara Sandoval, a stage four triple-positive metastatic breast cancer patient, and Whitney Lewis, an oncology pharmacist, provide an intimate and transparent look at taxane chemotherapies, a class of drugs commonly used in many cancer treatments. Sarah shares her personal experience, offering a patient's perspective on the physical and emotional realities of t...

Lung Cancer Screening: Why You Should Get Checked and the Hope That Follows In this episode of "Cracking Cancer," Dr. Kyle Concannon, and guests, Dr. Lauren Groner, and seven-year lung cancer survivor Heidi Onda, tackle a critical public health issue: lung cancer screening. They explore the current guidelines for who should be screened, the science behind the low-dose lung CT, and the significant...

Welcome to a powerful new episode of "Cracking Cancer," where hosts Dr. Kyle Concannon and patient advocate Samantha Murrell pull back the curtain on the complex world of cancer research. In this candid discussion, they tackle the fundamental questions you've always wanted to ask: Who are the key players in cancer research? How is it funded, and why does it feel like progress is so slow? From the...

In this episode, Dr. Kyle Concannon and patient advocate Samantha Murrell dive deep into lung cancer. They discuss the basics of lung cancer, how it forms, common misconceptions, and the differences between small cell and non-small cell lung cancers. They also cover the symptoms and signs of lung cancer, how it is diagnosed, the importance of molecular testing, and various treatment options, inclu...

In this episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by Heidi Onda, a lung cancer survivor and founder of The White Ribbon Project. After going to the doctor with concerns of ovarian cancer, Heidi's world was rocked when they instead found Stage 3 Lung Cancer. Looking for support in the Lung Cancer community, Heidi was shocked to find the community lacked key representation, and a...

Dr. Kyle Concannon, joined by co-host JJ Singleton, dives deep into the sensitive topic of male fertility affected by cancer treatments. Joined by Dr. Cathy Ang, a medical oncologist from Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, and colorectal cancer survivor JJ Singleton, they discuss the often-overlooked issue of fertility planning for cancer patients. JJ shares his personal journey and the emotional an...

When you hear that someone is being treated for cancer, the immediate thought can often be about chemotherapy, and the horror story that you've heard so many times. Nausea, sores, suffering, all in hopes to live. In this episode, we dive into platinum-based chemotherapy with insights from clinical pharmacist Whitney Lewis and lung cancer patient advocate Samantha Murell. You'll learn about the fun...

With over 1.3 million U.S. citizens alone being in the military, it is without a doubt a number of them will inevitably be faced with a cancer diagnosis during their active status. Today, we speak with Commander Bill Phillips, a retired military aviator, and co-host Samantha, a military spouse, to disucss the unique challenges faced by cancer patients in the military.   The discussion focuses on h...

Joined by prostate cancer patient Tim Fitzgerald and medical oncologist Dr. Justin Lebenthal, Dr. Kyle Concannon discusses the complexities of prostate cancer and dives into the general community perception that prostate cancer is not a "big deal".   Dr. Lebenthal explains the basics of prostate cancer, the function of the prostate, and the importance of PSA screening. Tim Fitzgerald shares his pe...

Dr. Kyle Concannon engages in an insightful conversation with cancer patients JJ Singleton and Bill Phillips about how men uniquely experience cancer. Covering topics such as personal identity, coping mechanisms, and the impact on masculinity, this discussion delves into the emotional and psychological challenges faced by men during their cancer journey.   The episode also highlights the transform...

In this episode, we delve into the complex topic of cancer remission. What does 'remission' really mean? How does it differ across different stages of cancer? Dr. Concannon and Samantha discuss their experiences and provide insights into the terminologies like complete response, partial response, stable disease, and no evidence of disease (NED).   We also tackle the emotional rollercoaster that co...

Dr. Kyle Concannon dives into the intricate world of pulmonary nodules with real patient Ashley Holt and pulmonologist Dr. Alex Dragnich. They talk about the essential questions to ask after a nodule is detected, the diagnostic processes involved, and the emotional journey of discovering and treating potential lung cancer.   Ashley shares her personal experience from an incidental finding to under...

Today's episode features JJ Singleton, a resilient cancer survivor and member of the Cracking Cancer team, sharing his emotional journey from diagnosis to treatment and beyond. JJ discusses the mental and physical struggles he faced, the significance of milestones, the impact of community and mental health support, and his dedication to advocacy. Learn about the complexities of coping with a cance...

In this episode of Cracking Cancer we are talking with Yvonne Diaz, a stage four ALK positive lung cancer patient and a dedicated advocate. She discusses the importance of patient advocacy in the cancer community, how patients can drive positive change, and the integration of patient perspectives into cancer research.   Yvonne shares her journey into advocacy, the challenges she faced, and how she...

Dr. Kyle Concannon and Co-Host Samantha delve into the crucial topic of how best to support loved ones who have cancer. Supporting loved ones with cancer is an obvious thing to do, and yet subtly complicated. They discuss the subtle dynamics of offering meaningful support. From understanding the importance of asking 'How can I help you?' to practical suggestions like setting up a meal train, joini...

Demystifying Immunotherapy: Hope and Reality in Cancer Treatment In this episode Dr. Kyle Concannon sits down with Dr. Natalie Vokes, a thoracic oncologist and immunotherapy expert, and JJ Singleton, a 10 year colorectal cancer patient. They dive deep into "What is Immunotherapy?", exploring its mechanisms, benefits, and challenges directly from patients and world experts. Learn how immunotherapy...

Dr. Concannon and co-host Samantha are diving into the often confusing and difficult world of cancer and oncology treatments within social media. They discuss the credibility of various cancer-related reels, the emotional toll of conflicting information, and the importance of evidence-based treatment. Samantha shares her personal experiences with social media recommendations and alternative therap...

What Is Colon Cancer? A Deep Dive with Experts & Patients Colon cancer is often misunderstood—but we're here to change that. In this episode of Cracking Cancer, Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by Dr. Mark Lewis, an oncologist and cancer survivor, along with patient advocate JJ Singleton, who shares his powerful journey. Together, they break down what colon cancer is, how it forms, and the latest...