Podcasts about md anderson

What if “energy healing” could be tested—and measured—in a world-class cancer research setting?In this episode of Unpacking Possibility, host Traci Stein unpacks a groundbreaking MD Anderson Cancer Center preclinical study investigating biofield therapy (energy healing) and its reported effects on pancreatic cancer in lab and animal models—including slower growth and spread.Traci shares the findings of this study and discusses them in the broader context of research on biofield therapies (including Reiki, Healing Touch, and Therapeutic Touch). She also shares a personal story about doing Reiki in an operating room for a patient who was undergoing heart surgery and how what she witnessed deepened her perspective on subtle energy. You'll also learn a simple, at-home exercise you can try to begin sensing your own energy field (as well as a friend's).In this episode you'll learn more about:- What the MD Anderson studies found- Why pancreatic cancer research needs new possibilities - Early research showing energy healing could make seeds germinate faster, surgical wounds heal better, and more- A brief look at the Bengston Healing Method and “image cycling” - A simple exercise you can try tonight to explore energy-field sensing Note: This episode is educational and not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare team about diagnosis and treatment.To learn more about Traci's self-paced, online course, “Developing Everyday Intuition,” visit: https://www.drtracistein.com/developing-everyday-intuition-courseTo receive $5 off the price of Traci's course, “Developing Everyday Intuition,” apply code ENERGY5OFF before checkout.“The Everything Guide to Integrative Pain Management,” by Traci Stein, PhD, MPH: https://a.co/d/0fji41kQTo read the MD Anderson paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cam4.71726

Julia Chiappetta was at the peak of her career, running a high-pressure consulting business, traveling the globe, when a diagnosis of stage 2B infiltrating ductal carcinoma and lupus stopped everything. Rather than follow the conventional path her oncologist demanded, Julia leaned into prayer, deep research, and a rigorous integrative protocol: a 30-day water fast, raw food veganism, juicing, the Gerson protocol, detoxing her home of every chemical and synthetic product, and rebuilding her sleep and stress habits from the ground up. A trip to MD Anderson, facilitated by a cousin on staff, became a turning point when Dr. Marek Ross told her that her bloodwork had nearly normalized in just 90 days. A lumpectomy with clean margins followed, and Julia has been thriving for 26 years. She now helps carry the legacy of the Annie Appleseed Project, the organization founded by her late friend Ann Fonfa, providing free education and advocacy to anyone navigating a cancer diagnosis.HealingStrong's mission is to educate, equip and empower our group leaders and group participants through their journey with cancer or other chronic illnesses, and know there is HOPE. We bring this hope through educational materials, webinars, guest speakers, conferences, community small group support and more.Please take advantage of our FREE resources below to help you along your health and healing journey:Support Group DirectoryHolistic Curriculum - Participant GuideSupport Our Mission - DonateAdditional Health ResourcesListen to Previous EpisodesWebsite: healingstrong.org

Un nuevo modelo de IA desarrollado por investigadores de la Clínica Mayo y el Centro Oncológico MD Anderson de la Universidad de Texas, podría ayudar a detectar el cáncer de páncreas más temprano lo que ayudaría a salvar miles de vidas. Escucha esta y otras noticias positivas.

Lisa Beck, a fitness-focused director of operations from Keller, Texas, was so healthy she wasn't even nervous about her biopsy. The call telling her she had endometrial cancer stopped her in her tracks. What followed was two years of navigating conflicting diagnoses (serous vs. endometrioid cancer), doctors eager to remove everything they could, and her own fierce determination to slow down and make informed decisions. She sought opinions at Texas Oncology, MD Anderson, and Memorial Sloan Kettering, eventually discovered a BRCA1 mutation, and pursued integrative treatments in Tijuana alongside conventional care. Three years cancer-free, Lisa now leads a HealingStrong group in Keller and is newly addicted to pickleball.HealingStrong's mission is to educate, equip and empower our group leaders and group participants through their journey with cancer or other chronic illnesses, and know there is HOPE. We bring this hope through educational materials, webinars, guest speakers, conferences, community small group support and more.Please take advantage of our FREE resources below to help you along your health and healing journey:Support Group DirectoryHolistic Curriculum - Participant GuideSupport Our Mission - DonateAdditional Health ResourcesListen to Previous EpisodesWebsite: healingstrong.org

When every batch belongs to a single patient, a single centralized facility cannot serve the world. In Part 2, Chantale Bernatchez moves from process development into the broader consequences of that reality: the manufacturing model built around clinical proximity, the global alliance bringing TIL production to regions with no current access, and the next-generation engineered approaches redefining what these therapies can do.Chantale Bernatchez is Head of Process Development at CTMC, a joint venture between Resilience and MD Anderson Cancer Center. If you missed Part 1, she explained how specific activation changes recovered a failing TIL process from 50% to 95% success in heavily pre-treated patients.Topics discussed:How close collaboration with MD Anderson accelerates clinical development and regulatory readiness (03:08)CTMC's approach to process development and adapting to innovative technologies (05:15)The value of partnership-based models versus traditional CDMO-driven approaches (06:24)Global technology transfer: building alliances to expand access to cell therapies, with a case study in Brazil (07:35)Key barriers and solutions for cell therapy manufacturing in new regions (09:41)Practical advice for scientists starting in GMP manufacturing and process development (10:46)Future directions in CAR T and TIL, including logic-gated CARs, engineered TILs, and in vivo therapies (12:24)The importance of continued innovation and collaboration to expand global patient access (17:39)Smart insight:The choice of manufacturing partner in cell therapy is not a logistics decision. It is a process development decision. CTMC's collaboration-based model exists because many early-stage developers arrive without a process robust enough to hand over. For scientists in small or mid-sized companies, engaging that kind of partnership too late, or on purely transactional terms, is one of the most avoidable risks in early clinical development.If you're interested in exploring further the concepts we touched on, such as cell therapy manufacturing, process control, and scaling living therapies—take a look at these related discussions:Episodes 125 - 126: How to Enhance Cell Engineering Using Mechanical Intracellular Delivery with Armon ShareiEpisodes 109 - 110: Spinning Like Earth: Designing Low-Shear Bioreactors for Better Cell Culture with Olivier DetournayEpisodes 105 - 106: From Proteins to Cell Therapy: Why ATMPs Aren't Just Complex Biologics with Oliver KraemerConnect with Chantale Bernatchez:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/chantale-bernatchez-22b09511CTMC website: www.ctmc.comSupport the show

The most underappreciated parameter in cell therapy process development is not your bioreactor, your media, or your activation protocol. It is the patient. Chantale Bernatchez has spent 20 years learning that lesson the hard way, watching the same manufacturing process succeed brilliantly with one donor and fail completely with the next. In this episode, she explains why starting material variability is the defining challenge of cell therapy manufacturing, and what it actually takes to build a process robust enough to survive it.Chantale Bernatchez is Head of Process Development at CTMC, a joint venture between Resilience and MD Anderson Cancer Center. She holds a PhD in immunology and has spent two decades advancing T cell therapy from early research programs at MD Anderson to GMP-compliant clinical manufacturing. She holds four patents in adoptive cell therapy.Key topics discussed:Personal journey: from immunology PhD in Quebec to cell therapy leadership in Houston (04:25)Evolution of TIL therapy at MD Anderson, including manufacturing innovations to overcome declining T cell yields (06:14)The fundamental differences between traditional medicines and cell-based immunotherapies (10:01)Unique manufacturing complexities for autologous therapies, including batch variability and process standardization (11:19)Strategies to address decreased cell fitness in heavily pretreated patients, including changes in cell activation and culture conditions (13:57)Key learnings from the CAR T and TIL manufacturing process: balancing process duration, cell fitness, and product yield (16:28)Mechanistic differences between CAR T and TIL therapies and their implications for efficacy and resistance (17:58)The limits and risks of automation in cell therapy manufacturing—balancing manual vs. automated processes (24:04)Why moving between manufacturing platforms raises challenges in comparability and clinical outcomes (25:44)The ongoing search for critical cell quality attributes that correlate with patient response (27:00)In part two, Chantale goes deeper into next-generation approaches, technology transfer, and what needs to change to broadly expand patient access.Smart insight: In cell therapy, manufacturing isn't just a production step. It defines the therapy itself. Because each patient's starting cells are unique, even subtle changes in the process can significantly alter clinical outcomes.If you're interested in exploring further the concepts we touched on—such as cell therapy manufacturing, process control, and scaling living therapies—take a look at these related discussions:Episodes 125 - 126: How to Enhance Cell Engineering Using Mechanical Intracellular Delivery with Armon ShareiEpisodes 109 - 110: Spinning Like Earth: Designing Low-Shear Bioreactors for Better Cell Culture with Olivier DetournayEpisodes 105 - 106: From Proteins to Cell Therapy: Why ATMPs Aren't Just Complex Biologics with Oliver KraemerConnect with Chantale Bernatchez:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/chantale-bernatchez-22b09511CTMC website: www.ctmc.comSupport the show

In this episode of Bright Spots in Healthcare, recorded live at the ViVE 2026 conference, Eric Glazer sits down with Dr. Pavitra Krishnamani from MD Anderson Cancer Center to explore what it actually takes to build scalable digital health systems. As both a practicing emergency physician and digital health innovator, Dr. Krishnamani brings a frontline perspective to one of healthcare's biggest challenges: why so many digital health tools fail to scale, and what separates technologies that succeed from those that don't. While the industry continues to invest heavily in AI, wearables, telehealth, and other digital tools, many health systems are still struggling with fragmented solutions, low adoption, and limited real-world impact. The path forward isn't more tools, it's better systems.  In this episode, you'll learn: Why workflow integration matters more than features in digital health adoption How AI, wearables, telehealth, VR, and EHRs must work together as a connected ecosystem What health systems should evaluate before bringing in new technology, including ROI, maintenance, and unintended consequences The role of human-centered design in building solutions clinicians will actually use  Why adoption fails without clinician buy-in, flexibility, and cultural alignment How to design more effective pilots and avoid common implementation pitfalls Why education and mindset are critical to scaling AI and digital health What it takes to move from siloed tools to scalable, system-level transformation Key Takeaway: "Education begets innovation" - Pavitra P. Krishnamani, MD. Scalable digital health isn't about deploying more technology, it's about aligning technology, workflows, and people into systems that actually work in practice. Learn More from Dr. Krishnamani: http://pavitramd.com/. Dr. Krishnamani expands on many of these ideas in her upcoming book: Home is Where the Health Is: How Digital Innovation and Technological Advances are Transforming Healthcare and Wellness. The book explores how technologies like AI, wearables, telehealth, and data systems are coming together to reshape healthcare delivery and move care closer to where patients live their daily lives. Connect with Dr. Krishnamani: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/docpavitra  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavitra-krishnamani   Partner with Bright Spots Ventures: If you are interested in speaking with the Bright Spots Ventures team to brainstorm how we can help you grow your business through credibility building content and trusted executive relationships, email hkrish@brightspotsventures.com About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what's working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the "bright spots" in healthcare, proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com.

What if AI isn't just a tool to plug into your business — but a reason to redesign the entire thing? In this episode, Jeff Mains sits down with Steven Wunker, managing director of New Markets Advisors and bestselling author of AI and the Octopus Organization: Building the Super Intelligent Firm. Steven has been working in AI since 2012 and has advised dozens of Fortune 500 companies on how to unlock real growth through transformation — not just optimization.Steven challenges the "AI magic dust" approach most companies default to — sprinkling AI on top of existing workflows for marginal gains — and makes the case for something far more powerful: using AI to take over entire classes of tasks, redistribute decision-making to the front lines, and redesign how organizations actually work. Whether you're a SaaS founder thinking about your product roadmap or a leader rethinking your org structure, this episode will challenge you to think way bigger.Key Takeaways4:13 — AI is the biggest shift of our lifetimes — bigger than smartphones Steve has been in AI since 2012 and helped launch one of the first smartphones in 1999. He says this is still bigger — not just in breadth of adoption, but in depth: changing strategies, org structures, and roles within companies.7:14 — Stop using AI as "magic dust" Sprinkling AI on top of existing workflows only yields marginal gains. The real transformation happens when AI takes over entire tasks that humans won't do (too tedious), shouldn't do (not the best use of their skills), or can't do (too high volume). That's when organizations must fundamentally rethink how work gets done.9:55 — The Octopus Organization: distributed intelligence in action The octopus has nine brains — one central brain and one in each arm. Each arm can sense, think, and act independently while remaining contextually aware of the whole. That biological model is the blueprint for how AI-powered organizations should be structured: parallel execution, distributed decision-making, and strategic focus at the center.11:25 — Why authority hasn't truly been devolved — and how AI finally changes that For 40 years, leaders have talked about flattening orgs and devolving decision-making. It hasn't happened for two reasons: humans resist giving up authority, and front-line workers have lacked the contextual awareness to make good autonomous decisions. AI solves the second problem — and also gives leaders visibility to veto in near real-time rather than always having to pre-approve.16:48 — Map the "work chart," not the org chart Microsoft calls it the "work chart" — how work actually flows through the organization, cross-functionally, in reality. That's what needs to be mapped and redesigned. Layering AI onto the org chart misses the point entirely. Change happens workflow by workflow, tranche by tranche.26:29 — Three questions every leader must answer right nowHow does the competitive landscape change? (Include DIY and AI-native startups)What makes you special in an AI world?How do you get work done — what behaviors, culture, and structure do you need?32:19 — Everyone in management is now a change manager It doesn't matter how technical your role is — if you have people reporting to you, you must become a change manager. That skill can no longer be confined to a C-suite priesthood. Psychological safety for AI adoption and rethinking how good work is incentivized are critical.32:58 — The LUCK framework for strategic serendipity Derived from workforce survey research, four patterns that separate successful AI adopters:L — Leverage help (stay connected, workflows are increasingly cross-functional)U — Unexpected connections (be open to signals outside the average case)C — Control chaos (build systems to absorb the disruption coming)K — Know what's missing (AI is only as good as its data; humans must fill the gaps)34:57 — Don't chase glamorous AI use cases first IBM's Watson failed spectacularly by targeting cancer diagnoses — the world's best oncologists didn't need it. The win? Recording doctor-patient conversations so doctors can actually practice medicine instead of typing. Low risk, high utility, high return. Start there.38:05 — The most valuable AI use cases are unglamorous Things humans won't do: take notes after every meeting and distribute them. Things humans shouldn't do: type during patient consultations. Things humans can't do: transcribe and summarize 40 simultaneous three-person breakout groups and track individual commitments. AI can do all of this — none of it is flashy, all of it is high-value.28:10 — Build in AI optionality from the start Upwork re-engineered their stack with an AI optionality layer — flexible to swap between small LLMs, large LLMs, agents, or other AI systems. You can't predict where AI goes. Build optionality in. Don't make bespoke bets you can't unwind.Tweetable Quotes"AI has this ability to take over certain tasks entirely — things humans wouldn't do, shouldn't do, or simply can't do at scale. That's when it gets truly transformative." — Steven Wunker"We've been talking about devolving authority and de-siloing organizations since 'In Search of Excellence' in the 1980s. It just hasn't happened. AI finally changes the equation." — Steven Wunker"The octopus is 300 million years old — 70 million years older than the dinosaurs — and it has survived because it is so darn adaptable. We need to be like that." — Steven Wunker"AI magic dust — sprinkling it on top of what you're currently doing — will get you marginal improvements. That's nice. But it won't fundamentally change how organizations work." — Steven Wunker"Don't be Adobe in the face of Figma. That has already played out. It would be very easy for that to play out again in innumerable SaaS markets unless we think transformatively." — Steven Wunker"Every person in any management position is now a change manager. It doesn't matter how specialized your technical skill is." — Steven Wunker"Features are only as good as their adoption." — Steven Wunker"AI is only as good as the data that's in it — so it's the role of the human to think about what's NOT in that AI system that needs to complete the picture." — Steven WunkerSaaS Leadership Lessons1. Redesign the work, don't just automate it. The companies that win with AI aren't the ones that add AI features — they're the ones that fundamentally rethink how work flows through the organization. Map your "work chart" (how work actually happens cross-functionally) and redesign it workflow by workflow. Layering AI on your existing org chart is the surest path to becoming the next Kmart.2. Your installed base is an asset — but only if you act transformatively. Existing SaaS companies have something AI startups don't: data, customer relationships, and deep domain context. That is an enormous advantage — but only if you think transformatively. AI-native disruptors are watching your market. Your data moat only protects you if you use it to reimagine what you build, not just improve what you have.3. Prioritize low-risk, high-utility AI use cases first. Resist the temptation to prove what AI can do with your most complex, high-stakes problem. Start where the utility is obvious and the risk is low. Prove value there. Build trust with customers and your team. Then expand. IBM's Watson at MD Anderson is a $62M cautionary tale. The doctor who gets to practice medicine instead of typing is the win.4. Build optionality into your AI architecture. You cannot predict where AI capabilities are heading. Large models, small models, agents, new paradigms — the landscape is shifting too fast to make permanent bets. Build your product and internal systems with an optionality layer that stays flexible. Businesses that hard-code their AI assumptions will face expensive rebuilds. Those who build for adaptability will compound their advantage.5. Transform your go-to-market alongside your product. AI transformation isn't just a product problem — it's a sales, marketing, and customer success problem. The companies that win aren't just selling software; they're selling a changed way of getting something done. That means customer success becomes more important, not less. Sales cycles involve more change management. Proving economic value requires new evidence. Think Workfront, not the feature-obsessed competitor it acquired.6. Make change management everyone's job. The old model — change management as a C-suite discipline — is dead. In an AI-first organization, every manager at every level must develop the skills to lead people through uncertainty, redesign workflows, and create psychological safety for new ways of working. If you're building or leading a SaaS company, start developing these muscles now — in your leaders, your managers, and yourself.Guest Resourcesswunker@newmarketsadvisors.comBook: AI and the Octopus Organization: Building the Super Intelligent Firm — Available on Amazon in all formats (print, ebook, audio)Book Website:

After losing her mother to de novo metastatic breast cancer, Elise turned grief into long term advocacy and board service at The Rose. She demystifies modern metastatic care, clinical trials, and lifelong treatment while urging women of every age to push for screenings and answers. Support The Rose HERE. Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts. 10 Key Questions Answered 1. How Elise became involved with The Rose board and metastatic breast cancer advocacy. 2. What happened during her mother’s initial breast cancer diagnosis and why it was classified as de novo metastatic. 3. How metastatic breast cancer treatment looked in the early 1990s, including bone marrow transplant approaches. 4. What key advances have changed metastatic breast cancer care since her mother’s time, such as genetic testing and subtype specific treatments. 5. How clinical trials for metastatic breast cancer usually work today and why they rarely involve placebo without treatment. 6. Why metastatic patients often need lifelong treatment and careful monitoring to stay on effective therapy as long as possible. 7. How advocacy groups and steering committees at MD Anderson direct research funds toward metastatic specific projects. 8. Why self advocacy and persistence with providers can be critical, especially for younger women seeking mammograms or additional testing. 9. How Elise balances her volunteer work, legal background, and family life while staying active on multiple boards and committees. 10. What message she wants women and families to remember about screening, self care, and not putting their own health last. Timestamped Overview 00:00 Board recruitment and early connection to The Rose02:30 High risk programs, navigation, and genetic testing03:45 Mother’s de novo metastatic diagnosis and treatment in the 1990s08:30 Limited options then versus today’s targeted therapies10:00 Role of subtyping, genetics, and clinical trials now11:30 How trials work, ongoing treatment, and progression13:00 Starting early mammograms and self advocacy in her 30s17:30 Younger women, “too young” barriers, and trusting your body21:30 Advanced breast cancer steering committee and research funding24:30 Boot Walk fundraising and metastatic specific projects28:00 Broader volunteer work and intensity of patient needs31:00 Navigation, uninsured women, and final call to advocateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us Fan MailJoin us as we tackle the topic of Artificial intelligence in Radiotherapy.This week we speak to the excellent Professor Ajay Aggarwal about the use of AI in radiotherapy planning.We discuss the international ARCHERY trial using an AI radiotherapy planning tool to  streamline radiotherapy planning in prostate, head & neck and cervical cancers. This PRA artificial planning tool developed at the MD Anderson hospital could unlock huge radiotherapy delivery potential in Low & middle income countries and beyond!This trial of 990 patients is being conducted in Jordan, South Africa, India and Malaysia.All radiotherapy trials are hard to get funded. This remains an area of need for oncology trial funding.Massive respect and congratulations to Ajay and the international team for getting unified treatment protocols and to actually prospectively test and AI solution in radiotherapy.We hope you enjoyLink below to the ARCHERY trial manuscript.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/12/e077253

Ep. 382 starts with the celebrity “rule of three” and an extremely ironic second entry: Robert Mueller. Angela talks about Chuck Norris' passing, then reacts to Mueller's death and Trump's savage line—“Good. I'm glad he's dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people”—and points out that eventually everyone involved in the Russia‑collusion hoax has to answer for what they did in their life review.Then she shifts gears into what she's watching:Still grinding through The Americans with FredRevisiting HBO's The Deuce and why Emily Meade's Lori Madison storyline stuck with herStrongly recommending the original British Utopia on Prime, which now plays like a disturbing pre‑Covid blueprint for the pandemic (especially given what we've learned about Epstein, Bill Gates, and “planned” outbreaks)Angela also rants about Taylor Sheridan—calling most of his stuff Hallmark‑adjacent, absolutely torching Land Man and its soundtrack, and admitting Mayor of Kingstown is the one Sheridan show she actually likes—while complaining about cheap TCL TVs and Paramount's refusal to update so she can even watch the shows everyone keeps hyping.She closes with a good news cancer update from MD Anderson: her surgical site is healing “as well as it possibly could,” she should be able to cover it with makeup in about six weeks, and she's proudly claiming “straight‑A skin cancer patient” status. Big thanks to everyone who prayed for her—and a not‑so‑polite “suck it” to the commenter who said she'd be cute “if she didn't have cancer all over her.”

Join Stephen Ibaraki as he sits down with Dr. Caroline Chung, Vice President, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, and Professor at MD Anderson Cancer Center, for an inspiring conversation about transforming medicine through data, technology, and human-centered innovation.In this episode, Dr. Chung shares her incredible journey—from her early years as a second-generation Canadian to leading pioneering initiatives in oncology at UBC, Princess Margaret, and MD Anderson. Discover how her personal experiences, mentorship, and fearless approach to nonlinear career paths shaped her impact in medicine and data science.Career Inflection Points: How early life experiences and family inspired a mission-driven path in medicine.Precision Medicine & Innovation: Dr. Chung's focus on brain tumors, quantitative imaging, and translational research.Leading Change: Creating multidisciplinary clinics, standardizing tumor measurement, and integrating AI in oncology.Data & Technology in Healthcare: Building enterprise-level data governance, exploring digital twins, and leveraging AI, HPC, and quantum computing.Future of Medicine: Overcoming challenges in interoperability, collaboration across sectors, and fostering the next generation of innovators.

Στο τέταρτο επεισόδιο της σειράς «Η επιστήμη και οι επιστήμονες», ο καθηγητής Αιματολογίας και Ογκολογίας Μελέτιος-Αθανάσιος Δημόπουλος μιλά για την πορεία του στην ιατρική και τις μεγάλες εξελίξεις στην έρευνα για τον καρκίνο, με έμφαση στο πολλαπλούν μυέλωμα. Περιγράφει τις σπουδές και την καριέρα του από τη Βαρβάκειο Σχολή και την Ιατρική Αθηνών μέχρι το Πανεπιστήμιο McGill και το MD Anderson στις ΗΠΑ, καθώς και την επιστροφή του στην Ελλάδα. Εξηγεί ότι τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες η πρόοδος στη μοριακή βιολογία και στη γονιδιακή ανάλυση έχει μεταμορφώσει την ογκολογία, επιτρέποντας στοχευμένες και ολοένα πιο εξατομικευμένες θεραπείες. Χαρακτηριστικό παράδειγμα είναι το πολλαπλούν μυέλωμα, όπου η επιβίωση των ασθενών έχει αυξηθεί θεαματικά σε σχέση με τη δεκαετία του 1980. Παράλληλα, αναφέρεται στον ρόλο της τεχνητής νοημοσύνης, της ανοσοθεραπείας και των νέων φαρμάκων στην αντιμετώπιση του καρκίνου, αλλά και στη σημασία της πρόληψης, της ψυχολογικής κατάστασης του ασθενούς και παραγόντων όπως η παχυσαρκία. Όπως τονίζει, η Ιατρική σήμερα ζει μια περίοδο πραγματικής «κοσμογονίας», με συνεχείς επιστημονικές εξελίξεις που αλλάζουν ριζικά τη θεραπεία των νεοπλασιών. Με την υποστήριξη των Σίμου και Ζέτας Παληού Συντελεστές Sound design, Ηχοληψία: Στέφανος Ανδριτσόπουλος Η ηχογράφηση έγινε στο Athens Voice Studio

What if the “wait and see” approach to suspicious oral lesions is putting patients at risk? In this episode, Dr. Paras Patel, an oral maxillofacial pathologist based in Texas, joins us to challenge outdated thinking and share a more proactive, data-driven approach to early detection and prevention. We begin with a key shift in the field: moving from the term ‘potentially malignant lesions' to ‘precancerous lesions', and what that change signals about risk, responsibility, and intervention. Dr. Patel unpacks how evolving diagnostic criteria, new treatment pathways, and better follow-up protocols are changing outcomes. He explains why he favors a two-week monitoring window for leukoplakia, how non-traditional risk factors like HPV and iron deficiency come into play, and why there is no single pathway to disease. The conversation also explores how biomarkers, advanced testing, and even AI can support clinicians in tracking change over time and making more informed decisions. Finally, Dr. Patel shares practical guidance on managing ulcers and tissue abnormalities and why consistent follow-up is critical, even after a patient has been referred.Key Points From This Episode:Updated terminology, from ‘potentially malignant lesions' to ‘precancerous lesions'.How the field has evolved through updated criteria, new treatment options, and more. How Dr. Patel approaches follow-up to protect patients from developing cancer.Developments in pathology and treatment methods. Why Dr. Patel favors a two-week period to monitor leukoplakia. Non-traditional risk factors, including HPV and iron deficiency. Understanding the multiple pathways to this kind of pathology. Leveraging a variety of biomarkers and tests for direction as a clinician. How AI can support this data collection process. What Dr. Patel recommends for navigating ulcers and tissue during surgery.The platinum-based therapy he has been using with great results.Why follow up protocol is so important.Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:Dr. Paras Patel on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/paras-patel-6023a7a1/ Dr. Paras Patel on ResearchGate — https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Paras-B-Patel-2158422405 Center for Oral Pathology — https://www.centerfororalpathology.com/ Oral Diagnostics SDFW — oraldiagnosticsdfw@gmail.com WHO Oral Epithelial Dysplasia: Classifications — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6503768/ Yen-Chen Kevin Ko on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/yen-chen-kevin-ko-561469115/ Glenn Hanna on ResearchGate — https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Glenn-J-Hanna-2006701454 Alessandro Villa on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/alessandrovilla-oralmedicine/ Nivolumab for Patients With High-Risk Oral Leukoplakia — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37971722/  MD Anderson — https://www.mdanderson.org/ Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/ Everyday Oral Surgery on Instag

“Would you risk it all for a baby monkey you've never met?”

Join the Behind the Knife Surgical Oncology Team as we discuss the PRADO and NADINA randomized control trials regarding neoadjuvant therapy in Stage III melanoma with macroscopic nodal disease!Hosts:Timothy Vreeland, MD, FACS (@vreelant) is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and Surgical Oncologist at Brooke Army Medical Center.Daniel Nelson, DO, FACS (@usarmydoc24) is Surgical Oncologist/HPB surgeon at Kaiser LAMC in Los Angeles.Lexy (Alexandra) Adams, MD, MPH (@lexyadams16) is a 2ndYear Surgical Oncology fellow at MD Anderson.Beth (Elizabeth) Barbera, MD (@elizcarpenter16) is a General Surgery physician in the United States Air Force station at RAF Lakenheath.Joe (Joseph) Broderick, MD, MA (@joebrod5) is a General Surgery research resident between his second and third year at Brooke Army Medical Center.Galen Gist, MD (@gistgalen) is a General Surgery research resident between his second and third year at Brooke Army Medical Center. Learning Objectives:-       Evaluate the role of Completion Lymph Node Dissection (CLND) in patients with positive sentinel lymph nodes, specifically citing the lack of melanoma-specific survival benefit vs. the improvement in regional disease control demonstrated in the MSLT-II trial.-       Determine the appropriate surgical excision margins for primary cutaneous melanoma, comparing the outcomes of 1 cm versus 2 cm margins as analyzed in the MINT trial (Lancet 2019).-       Analyze the impact of adjuvant systemic therapy (Anti-PD1/Immunotherapy) on recurrence-free survival in patients with resected high-risk Stage III melanoma.References:Reijers, I.L.M., Menzies, A.M., van Akkooi, A.C.J. et al. Personalized response-directed surgery and adjuvant therapy after neoadjuvant ipilimumab and nivolumab in high-risk stage III melanoma: the PRADO trial. Nat Med 28, 1178–1188 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-01851-xChristian U. Blank et al. Neoadjuvant nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus adjuvant nivolumab in macroscopic, resectable stage III melanoma: The phase 3 NADINA trial.. J Clin Oncol 42, LBA2-LBA2(2024). DOI:10.1200/JCO.2024.42.17_suppl.LBA2*Sponsor Disclaimer: Visit goremedical.com/btkpod to learn more about GORE® SYNECOR Biomaterial, including supporting references and disclaimers for the presented content.  Refer to Instructions for Use at eifu.goremedical.com for a complete description of all applicable indications, warnings, precautions and contraindications for the markets where this product is available. Rx only Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.  If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here: https://behindtheknife.org/listenBehind the Knife Premium:General Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/general-surgery-oral-board-reviewTrauma Surgery Video Atlas: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/trauma-surgery-video-atlasDominate Surgery: A High-Yield Guide to Your Surgery Clerkship: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/dominate-surgery-a-high-yield-guide-to-your-surgery-clerkshipDominate Surgery for APPs: A High-Yield Guide to Your Surgery Rotation: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/dominate-surgery-for-apps-a-high-yield-guide-to-your-surgery-rotationVascular Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/vascular-surgery-oral-board-audio-reviewColorectal Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/colorectal-surgery-oral-board-audio-reviewSurgical Oncology Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/surgical-oncology-oral-board-audio-reviewCardiothoracic Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/cardiothoracic-surgery-oral-board-audio-reviewDownload our App:Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/behind-the-knife/id1672420049Android/Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.btk.app&hl=en_US

Love the episode? Send us a text!What if part of what makes cancer so hard isn't just the diagnosis—but the spaces where care happens?In this eye-opening episode of Breast Cancer Conversations, host Laura Carfang explores how hospital design, architecture, and the built environment directly shape the cancer experience, often in ways patients never realize—but deeply feel.Laura is joined by Abbie Clary, Executive Director of Market Strategies and Growth for Health for All, and a nationally recognized leader in healthcare architecture and experience design. With millions of square feet of cancer and healthcare facilities in her portfolio—including projects at Memorial Sloan Kettering, MD Anderson, and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab—Abbie pulls back the curtain on how hospitals are designed, who they're designed for, and why women are so often treated as the “outlier.”Together, they discuss trauma-informed design, survivorship-centered care, caregiver inclusion, gender bias in medical spaces, and why healing doesn't only happen through medicine—it happens through dignity, control, and environment.In This Episode, We Talk About:Why hospitals and medical spaces are often designed for a “default male”How architecture impacts anxiety, trauma, and healing for cancer patientsWhat trauma-informed design actually looks like in practiceWhy cancer patients experience healthcare differently than other patientsThe importance of designing for repeat visits, not one-time careHow caregivers and loved ones should be treated as part of the care teamWhy dignity, control, and privacy matter as much as efficiencyGender bias in medical design—from gowns to equipment to workflowsWhy women's pain and discomfort are often minimized in healthcareDesigning cancer centers for survivorship, not just treatmentAbout Today's GuestAbbie Clary, FAIA, FACHA, is the Executive Director of Market Strategies and Growth — Health for All. Her work spans some of the most ambitious healthcare projects in the world, including Memorial Sloan Kettering's new Cancer Care Pavilion, MD Anderson Cancer Center's 2030 facilities master plan, and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago.A nationally sought-after speaker and TEDx presenter, Abbie's work focuses on transforming healthcare through strategic, human-centered design—bridging architecture, culture change, patient experience, and health equity. Her mission is simple but radical: design healthcare spaces that actually support healing, dignity, and belonging. Support the showLatest News: Become a Breast Cancer Conversations+ Member! Sign Up Now. Join our Mailing List - New content drops every Monday! Discover FREE programs, support groups, and resources! Enjoying our content? Please consider supporting our work.

Most of us have been trained to think of treating people as a technical problem. If something hurts, we look for the right drug. If something fails, we look for the right procedure. That picture is incomplete.We've built a system obsessed with fixing bodies, while quietly ignoring the inner worlds of the people living inside them. Their fears, their beliefs, their unanswered prayers, and the meaning they're trying to make of suffering.Illness doesn't just attack organs. It raises questions about God, identity, guilt, fear, and loss of control. And when those questions go unanswered, suffering multiplies, no matter how advanced the treatment plan is.Modern medicine has no real language for this kind of pain. It knows how to measure blood pressure, inflammation, and tumor size, but it doesn't know how to sit with grief, spiritual doubt, uncertainty, and loss.Yet when clinicians slow down enough to listen, something shifts. Patients begin to speak about meaning, about God, about unresolved relationships and fears they've never voiced before.And often, that is where real healing starts — the kind of whole-person healing that restores connection, dignity, and a sense of being spiritually held in the middle of suffering.What if some of the deepest healing doesn't come from doing more, but from being more present? How can clinicians learn to care for the soul as intentionally as they care for the body?In this episode, I speak with Dr. Marvin Delgado Guay, a palliative care specialist at MD Anderson Cancer Center. We talk about what it looks like when medicine includes spiritual care in its everyday practice. We explore why “total pain” includes the soul as much as the body, and how healthcare can become not just a place of treatment, but a space for healing, meaning, and connection with God.Things You'll Learn In This Episode Pain isn't always physicalMany symptoms labeled as “medical” are actually expressions of emotional or spiritual distress. What happens when we treat suffering instead of just symptoms?Fixing vs. healingMedicine is trained to solve problems, but some forms of suffering can't be solved, only witnessed. How does presence become a form of treatment?How spirituality shapes medical decisionsBeliefs about meaning, God, and purpose influence everything from treatment choices to end-of-life care, but are clinicians equipped to address this?The power of the “collective soul” in healthcareWhen doctors, nurses, chaplains, and therapists work as one, care becomes something deeper than specialization. What changes when healing becomes a shared human act?Guest BioDr. Marvin Delgado Guay is an internist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine at MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he provides symptom control and supportive care for patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers. He completed his internal medicine training at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, followed by a fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and a clinical and research fellowship in Symptom Control and Palliative Care at MD Anderson. Earlier in his career, he coordinated palliative care services and worked within geriatrics at Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital through the University of Texas Medical School. Dr. Delgado Guay's work focuses on what medicine often overlooks: the full experience of illness. His research explores physical, psychological, and spiritual distress in patients with serious disease, as well as aging-related issues such as frailty and cognition. He has authored and co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications on symptom burden and spiritual care in advanced cancer, and is deeply committed to improving quality of...

In this raw "trifecta" episode, Ashley, Brian, and Collin sit down for a candid update on Brian's battle with Stage 4 tongue cancer. Recorded just weeks before a life-altering surgery, the team discusses the physical toll of chemo, the overwhelming weight of "decision fatigue," and how the dental community has rallied to support them. This is an unfiltered look at resilience and the reality of navigating a healthcare system in crisis.1. Life in the "Messy Middle"Family Strength: Brian shares the emotional (and humorous) reality of home life, from their sons shaving their heads in solidarity to a breakthrough moment of faith and empathy with their middle son, Brady.The "Messy Years": Brian reflects on a quote by Chris Dixon: "The messy years make the obvious years possible." He views this grueling season as the "mess" that will eventually become a message of hope.2. Clinical & Dietary PivotsMetabolic Support: Brian details his 72-hour fast leading into his third round of chemo to improve treatment tolerance and "starve" the metabolic pathways of the tumor.The 180-Degree Shift: After seeing rapid growth on high protein, the couple pivoted to a 95% plant-based, whole-food diet inspired by Dr. Valter Longo. Ashley discusses the shift to juicing and "clean" plant proteins like lentils and tofu.Favorable Momentum: Recent imaging shows that while the journey is far from over, the tumor growth has slowed, and the lymph node architecture is improving.3. The Mental Burden: Decision FatigueThe Surgical Plan: Brian explains the upcoming Hemi-Glossectomy (removing half the tongue) and reconstruction using a thigh graft.The Weight of Choice: After researching alternative trials (like Chef Shirley's non-surgical path in Chicago), Brian speaks candidly about "decision fatigue." When every choice feels like life or death, he has reached a point of mental exhaustion. He finds a strange peace in surgery because it shifts his role from "decision-maker" to "rehab worker."4. Advocacy & A Broken SystemAccess Challenges: Despite being a physician, Brian reveals the "mind-boggling" difficulty of scheduling scans, with major institutions booked out for months.The Power of the Tribe: Ashley discusses her "bulldog" approach to advocacy—leveraging her network to get a patient liaison at MD Anderson in Houston within 30 minutes of a single text.This episode is made possible by: Studio 8E8 — Dentistry's story-driven growth agency for startups. Learn more at https://s8e8.com/vsl Net 32 — The online marketplace to compare brands and prices so you never overpay. Check them out at net32.com/themakingofSupport the showFind Out More Thank you for listening to The Making Of podcast. If you enjoyed it, please share with anyone you think will gain value from the show by clicking on one of the sharing tabs above. SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER HERE Also, please consider leaving an honest review on iTunes. It helps other listeners find the show, and I would be forever grateful.Questions or comments? Feel free to contact us at - themakingofadental@gmail.comFollow us on Instagram or Facebook and improve your dental practice every day!Have you subscribed? Don't miss a single episode!

Bill Thach has had 9 lines of treatment, over 1,000 doses of chemo, and more scans than an airport. He runs ultramarathons for fun. He jokes about being his own Porta Potty. He became a father, then got cancer while his daughter was 5 months old. Today she is 8. He hides the worst of it so she can believe he stands strong, even when he knows that hiding has a cost.We talk about the illusion of strength, what it means to look fine when your body is falling apart, and how a random postcard in an MD Anderson waiting room led him to Man Up to Cancer, where he now leads Diversity and AYA Engagement. Fatherhood. Rage. Sex. Denial. Humor. Survival. All that and why the words good morning can act like a lifeline.RELATED LINKSFight Colorectal CancerCURE TodayINCA AllianceMan Up to CancerWeeViewsYouTubeLinkedInFEEDBACKLike this episode? Rate and review Out of Patients on your favorite podcast platform. For guest suggestions or sponsorship email podcasts@matthewzachary.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rare diseases like renal medullary carcinoma demand earlier awareness, stronger advocacy, and faster specialist-driven care because delays can be deadly.In this episode, Tanisha Washington, the mother of Jelani Washington and a family advocate, shares her son's sudden diagnosis and passing from renal medullary carcinoma (RMC), a rare and highly aggressive kidney cancer strongly linked to sickle cell trait. She recounts his first symptoms, abdominal pain and severe blood in the urine, and how imaging revealed a kidney mass that set off a rapid and overwhelming medical journey.Tanisha describes the urgency of Jelani's treatment, which included kidney removal and intensive chemotherapy, and reflects on how little clinical familiarity exists with RMC. She highlights the critical role played by MD Anderson specialists and explains how limited research, scarce awareness, and delayed recognition worsen outcomes, particularly in Black communities.She also discusses warning signs families may dismiss, the importance of second opinions and self-advocacy, and the need for greater education about sickle cell trait–related risks. The episode closes with the family's creation of the Jelani Washington Seeds of Hope Foundation, which offers grief support and promotes healing initiatives centered on hope, remembrance, and growth.Tune in and learn how awareness, early detection, and insistence on care can save lives.ResourcesConnect with Tanisha Washington on LinkedIn here.Visit the Jelani Washington Seeds of Hope Foundation website.Learn more about Jelani's story in the news here.Watch Jelani's testimony video here.

This new mini-series on Behind the Knife will delve into the technical aspects of the Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery, developed through the American College of Surgeons Cancer Research Program. This second episode highlights the thyroid cancer operative standard.Hosts:Tracy Wang, MD, MPH, FACS is a Professor of Surgery and Vice-Chair of Strategic and Professional Development at the Medical College of Wisconsin with a clinical focus on endocrine surgical oncology. Vladmir Neychev, MD, PhD is a Professor of Surgery at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine with a clinical focus on endocrine surgical oncology.Jack Sample, MD (@JackWSample) is a General Surgery Resident at Mayo Clinic Rochester.Guests:Elizabeth Grubbs, MD (@EGrubbsMD) is a Professor of Surgical Oncology at MD Anderson where she specializes in endocrine tumors, with expertise in cancer of the thyroid.David Hughes, MD is a Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at University of Michigan, where he focuses on surgical diseases of the endocrine system, including a particular focus on the diagnosis and management of papillary thyroid cancer.Learning Objectives: Understand key preoperative and intraoperative aspects of the evaluation and treatment of patients with biopsy-proven papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) greater than or equal to 1 cm. Define factors that guide decision making regarding the extent of surgical resection (lobectomy versus total thyroidectomy) for PTC.Links to Papers Referenced in this EpisodeOperative Standards for Cancer Surgery, Volume 2: Thyroid, Gastric, Rectum, Esophagus, Melanomahttps://www.facs.org/quality-programs/cancer-programs/cancer-surgery-standards-program/operative-standards-for-cancer-surgery/purchase/Kindle edition:Amazon.com: Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery: Volume 2, Section 1: Thyroid eBook : Program, American College of Surgeons Clinical Research, Katz, Matthew HG: Kindle StoreImpact of Extent of Surgery on Survival for Papillary Thyroid Cancer Patients Younger Than 45 years. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25337927/ Extent of Surgery Affects Survival for Papillary Thyroid Cancer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17717441/Sponsor Disclaimer: Visit goremedical.com/btkpod to learn more about GORE® SYNECOR Biomaterial, including supporting references and disclaimers for the presented content.  Refer to Instructions for Use at eifu.goremedical.com for a complete description of all applicable indications, warnings, precautions and contraindications for the markets where this product is available. Rx only Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.  If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here: https://behindtheknife.org/listenBehind the Knife Premium:General Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/general-surgery-oral-board-reviewTrauma Surgery Video Atlas: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/trauma-surgery-video-atlasDominate Surgery: A High-Yield Guide to Your Surgery Clerkship: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/dominate-surgery-a-high-yield-guide-to-your-surgery-clerkshipDominate Surgery for APPs: A High-Yield Guide to Your Surgery Rotation: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/dominate-surgery-for-apps-a-high-yield-guide-to-your-surgery-rotationVascular Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/vascular-surgery-oral-board-audio-reviewColorectal Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/colorectal-surgery-oral-board-audio-reviewSurgical Oncology Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/surgical-oncology-oral-board-audio-reviewCardiothoracic Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/cardiothoracic-surgery-oral-board-audio-reviewDownload our App:Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/behind-the-knife/id1672420049Android/Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.btk.app&hl=en_US

How has immunotherapy evolved in the last decade? In this episode of The Chain, Laszlo Radvanyi, professor of immunology at the University of Toronto, discusses his years-long research on cancer immunotherapy, including his time at MD Anderson, with host Rakesh Dixit. He shares his thoughts on agonist antibodies, the true breakthroughs that are moving the needle for patients, reducing the CD-28 pathway so that it doesn't produce cytokine toxins, and what is the next frontier in immunotherapy. Links from this episode:  EpiVax University of Toronto, Department of Immunology University of Toronto  

What if everything you've been told about cancer is based on the wrong science? I'm Dr. Betty Murray, and in this myth-busting episode, I sit down with Dr. Donese Worden, researcher, clinician, and one of 80 scientists worldwide leading the charge on the mitochondrial theory of cancer. Dr. Donese is co-founding the Society for International Metabolic Oncology and has worked with oncologists from MD Anderson, Mayo Clinic, and top institutions globally to change how we approach cancer treatment at its root. We're pulling apart the misinformation in functional medicine, the dangerous trends in biohacking, and why conventional cancer care, while well-intentioned, is treating the wrong target. Dr. Donese doesn't work against oncologists; she works with them, using metabolic therapies like hyperbaric oxygen and ketogenic protocols to improve chemo sensitivity, reduce side effects, and potentially target cancer stem cells that conventional care misses. You'll Discover: ●    Why only 5-10% of cancers are genetic but all conventional treatment targets DNA when the real cause is mitochondrial damage that creates cell respiration problems ●    How metabolic therapies like hyperbaric oxygen and ketogenic diet support conventional cancer care by improving chemo sensitivity with fewer side effects ●    The dangerous truth about cold plunges: blood pressure spikes 50 points in seconds, has killed healthy people, especially risky for women with unbalanced hormones ●    Why wearables lie to women about sleep and recovery scores, and why listening to your body is more accurate than tracking devices ●    The Seven Pillars framework: a simple 1-10 self-assessment covering sleep, body, bowel movements, energy, mental state, relationships, and spiritual health ●    Why biohackers are often the most stressed people and how excessive tracking and forcing protocols prevents the body from healing ●    Why mitochondria are passed only through the female line and function collaboratively like matriarchal societies ●    The one biohack that's universally beneficial: sauna and heat exposure for cardiovascular health, especially advantageous for women ●    Why functional medicine practitioners giving glutamine to cancer patients are feeding the problem since glutamine is one of two pathways that fuel cancer growth This episode is for anyone navigating cancer or complicated health cases, women frustrated by wearables and contradictory health advice, or biohackers wondering if they're making things worse.  Watch now and discover why your mitochondria hold the answers. Connect with Dr. Donese Worden:  Website: https://drworden.com/  Connect with Dr. Betty Murray:  Betty Murray Website: https://www.bettymurray.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbettymurray/ Links: The Fierce Female Method for Longevity (Dr. Betty's book): https://fierce.hormoneshelp.com/  Menrva Telemedicine: https://gethormonesnow.com/  FREE Hormone Quiz: https://bit.ly/3wNJOec  Living Well Dallas: https://www.livingwelldallas.com/  Hormone Reset: https://hormonereset.net/ More from the Podcast:  Subscribe to #MenopauseMastery → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwONPdSvb2-YYY74VhD-XBw  Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/menopause-mastery/id1607369247  Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNsjm32CZNXSgSFEwS3uH Thank you for listening to Menopause Mastery. Empowering your health journey, one episode at a time.

Host Dr. Davide Soldato and guests Dr. Kerin Adelson and Dr. Maureen Canavan discuss JCO article "Association Between Systemic Anticancer Therapy Administration Near the End of Life with Health Care and Hospice Utilization in Older Adults: A SEER Medicare Analysis of End-of-Life Care Quality," highlighting adverse outcomes for patients who receive any type of systemic anticancer therapy(SACT) at EOL (end of life) and the need for better communication between oncologists and patients regarding expected risk and benefits of such treatments to properly align goals-of-care. TRANSCRIPT Dr. Davide Soldato: Hello and welcome to JCO After Hours, the podcast where we sit down with authors from some of the latest articles published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. I am your host, Dr. Davide Soldato, medical oncologist at Ospedale San Martino in Genoa, Italy. Today, we are joined by JCO authors Dr. Maureen Canavan, epidemiologist and associate research scientist at Yale Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research Center; and by Dr. Kerin Adelson, Chief Quality and Value Officer, medical oncologist, and clinical researcher on health services and clinical care delivery at MD Anderson Cancer Center. In the manuscript "Association Between Systemic Anticancer Therapy Administration Near the End of Life With Health Care and Hospice Utilization in Older Adults: A SEER-Medicare Analysis of End-of-Life Care Quality." that you recently published in the JCO, you performed an analysis that included more than 30,000 older adults in the SEER-Medicare database, and you observed that 7.6% of these patients received any systemic anticancer medication within 30 days of death. So, I wanted you to explain why you thought that this was a priority right now, and whether there was any previous data that was published in the literature, and if you think that there was any significant gap in the literature that led you to the research you just published. Dr. Kerin Adelson: We have published a series of articles looking at real-world trends  in patterns of care, particularly related to systemic anticancer therapy at the end of life. This has been gaining increasing focus in recent years because of the understanding that when patients stay on systemic anticancer therapy, that is often a surrogate for a lack of goal-concordant care. So, patients who continue to receive systemic therapy have worse quality of life, are more likely generally to have a medicalized death, and less likely to use hospice. And what our prior work has shown is that more and more we are seeing patients using immunotherapies and targeted therapies towards the end of life. No prior work had really comprehensively examined whether these novel therapies were associated with those same patterns of care increases in acute care utilization and decreases in hospice. Dr. Davide Soldato: So basically, the data that we had up until that point was mostly with cytotoxic chemotherapy, and the emergence of this new treatment, which frequently are thought to be less toxic and so less problematic also in the end of life, led to this research. Is that correct? Dr. Kerin Adelson: Correct. Dr. Maureen Canavan: I would also build on that. I think that as the landscape of cancer care changes, it is important to really understand the availability of treatments, but then also, as Kerin noted, it is important to focus on goal-concordant care. We have established literature, studies we have done and some other studies that have looked at cytotoxic chemotherapy, but with the emergence of these targeted therapies, we really did not know a few things. We did not know the rates of utilization in a large national population, and how that was associated with these elements of medicalized death like ED use, hospitalizations, acute care use. So this was really a question that we had going into it. How can we expand the knowledge base so that both patients and providers can be more cognizant when thinking about goals of care conversations and ensuring that that is in place? Dr. Kerin Adelson: And our work has kind of evolved to answer some critical questions. So, one of our early papers looked at different rates of systemic anticancer therapy at the end of life, and that is where we showed that we were seeing a lot more immunotherapy and targeted therapy. And then we asked the question, well, oncologists generally when they give these treatments, they are hoping that those treatments are going to work and help the patients live longer. So we did another paper where we actually looked at practices who were more aggressive near the end of life and whether they had better overall survival than practices that were less aggressive, accounting for the fact that there could be populations of patients who benefited. And in fact, we showed there was no survival difference. So then this paper sort of answered the question: Well, if it is not having benefit, is this treatment actually doing harm? And this study gets at that question: What are the harms of continuing patients on therapy past the point of benefit? Dr. Maureen Canavan: And I think building off of that, the use of the SEER-Medicare database is a quite robust database. So in this, we have very specific data we can track. We can track the exact type of treatment they had, you know, was it a targeted therapy? Was it immunotherapy? So looking at those subclasses of therapy. We were also able to directly link it within that time frame to the acute care utilization, a limitation that we had in some of our previous work that that data was not always available. So it is more focused in the sense that we were looking at older adults, so patients 66 years of age and older, but we were able to get those individual metrics. So to Kerin's point, we did not see the survival benefit. What do we see then for these medicalized death elements? So the higher rates of all of them across the board. Dr. Davide Soldato: So coming back to the cohort and to the data that you utilized, Dr. Canavan mentioned the use of the SEER system to analyze these data. You already mentioned that you included mostly older adults, so those aged 66 and more. And also there was a little bit of restriction regarding the fact that the patient needed to be covered by Medicare in the last year of death concerning Part A and Part B, and the last 30 days from death concerning Part D. So I just wanted to ask a little bit of a question regarding these findings and whether you think that we also need additional work, especially in the younger population because I think it is something that all of us who work in oncology have seen. The aggressiveness, and this is also something that you showed in your data, tends to increase as the age of the patient tends to decrease. So we tend to be more aggressive towards younger patients. So just a comment on that on the population and generalizability of the findings. Dr. Maureen Canavan: Yeah, I will start with the data question element. Thank you. I think there are a few things to point out for that. So in terms of the restriction to ensure that they had continuous Part D coverage, that was necessary for us to track their oral medication use during that time. So kind of an easy response. The Part A, Part B requirement, it is actually pretty widely used in studies of SEER-Medicare data, and that is you want to establish the patient population, that they are not getting treated with another insurance provider in some way that you are not able to track. So that ensures that we can track not only their systemic anticancer therapy use but also when we are trying to make sure that we are controlling for confounders like chronic conditions and stuff, we are able to track the presence of chronic conditions. So we wanted to make sure we were not biasing the data, so I think that was an important consideration. You do point out very wisely that there are then limitations with the generalizability, and I think we would be lacking if we did not account for that. But I think it is important to establish this baseline relationship association, and then you can step out, we will say, to more diverse populations. So I think we could potentially maybe try to relax the timeline to see if people that might have influx in and out of the Medicare system are still seeing those same rates. I think it is likely they would. But I think to the bigger point that you bring up is that establishing this within the older adults where, you know, we do see as they get older maybe less rates of systemic therapy, extending it to the younger population. There is a challenge with that in that just that data is not available to the robust level that SEER-Medicare is. Both Kerin and I have noted that there is the possibility to look within one specific insurance provider type. Again, recognizing the limitations of the generalizability, but always slowly pushing the needle, finding out more about younger adult populations. And I think this is maybe in an ideal world, but setting the precedent that we really do need to track this on a national scale within younger adults because they do have the need. We do see these higher rates of utilization, and really making sure again with the mindset always of the best interest of patients and the most informative to providers in how we are looking at care. So I think generalizability is definitely a goal. However, there are limitations of the availability of data for younger populations and I think that they are a necessary restraint that all researchers should acknowledge. Dr. Kerin Adelson: Yeah, I think it is important for our audience to understand that health services research and large database research is really limited by what databases are available and what are the characteristics of those databases. So we have done a lot of work in an electronic health record database, and there you can get certain kinds of granularity that you may not be able to get in a payer or a claims-based database. But what you do not get is that comprehensive look at, say, what happens if a patient goes to another practice. Claims-based databases offer you that, but research on US populations is limited by our payment system. So when you look at younger patients, there are so many different insurance companies that when you are trying to get that comprehensive view, it can be hard or very expensive actually. These commercial insurers will sell their data to different databases. So for us, the largest single payer in the United States is the US government, and that is for patients who are over age 65, and that is why you see lots of US-based studies done in the Medicare population. Interestingly, a recent paper by a Canadian group showed very, very similar patterns. It was a significantly smaller study but, right, Canada is a single-payer system and so they were able to really look at all ages, and we did see the same patterns of care in a different payment system. Dr. Davide Soldato: Going back a little bit to the type of treatments that were observed in your manuscript, so we start from a 7.6% of patients who received any type of systemic anticancer therapy within 30 days from death. And when we split the different categories that you analyzed, which I think is a very strong aspect of your manuscript, we see that more or less 50% of the patients received chemotherapy, 20% more or less received immunotherapy, more or less 20% targeted therapy, and then there is a combination of those agents. So just wanted to have a little bit of your opinion compared also to the data that you already published and that you mentioned before. Was this in line with previous data? Was there anything surprising about this? We saw a little bit of a raise in the use of immunotherapy and targeted therapy as you were saying, but still, there is a very high proportion of chemotherapy, 50%. Dr. Kerin Adelson: So I think that really, really reflects the time period in which we studied where immunotherapies were gaining ground. There was tons of excitement and we were seeing this shift. I bet if we do the same study in five years that chemotherapy percent may even go down to half, and we are going to see more and more targeted and immunotherapies, and that is just reflecting the pattern of drug discovery that we are seeing. Dr. Davide Soldato: Coming to the real question that you wanted to answer with this manuscript, so is systemic anticancer therapy associated with worse outcomes in terms of healthcare utilization and use of hospice resources? Was there any hint that for example immunotherapy was related to less of these adverse outcomes? Dr. Kerin Adelson: So I will be honest, I was a little bit surprised that the combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy was that much more strongly correlated with acute care use at the end of life. You know, I had really thought most likely that what we would see were similar rates. And we did. Each different type of systemic anticancer therapy was associated with significantly higher odds of ending up in the hospital, going to the ICU, dying in the hospital, going to the ED. But that group that got dual therapy was that much higher, you know, over three times the risk. And that surprised me because what it suggested is that there is likely a component of treatment toxicity that is leading to some of the acute care use. It is not simply just a constellation of patients who have not yet transitioned towards hospice or palliative care or end-of-life care who are then more likely to end up in the hospital. But the fact that we see a difference between, say, single-agent immunotherapy and dual combination with chemotherapy does suggest that the treatments are actually contributing to some of what we are seeing. Dr. Davide Soldato: But still, all of the treatments that you evaluated were still associated with higher healthcare utilization. Like there was no signal that, for example, giving immunotherapy at the end of life was not associated with these adverse outcomes. Correct? Dr. Kerin Adelson: Correct. And you will find oncologists out there who will say, actually, these treatments are so good that they might actually lower rates of hospitalization because they keep patients healthy. And certainly, that may be true upstream or earlier in the course of disease, but at the end of life, any form of systemic anticancer therapy is really a surrogate marker for lack of transition towards what is likely appropriate end-of-life therapy. And I just want to point out that time spent in the hospital, going back and forth to invasive procedures, going to the intensive care unit, even going back and forth to an infusion center, that is time that is not spent at home with loved ones for people who have very little time left to live. Dr. Davide Soldato: Thank you very much. That was exactly the point that I wanted you to stress because I think it is really the most important message that we can get as oncologists from this manuscript. Like there is no treatment that is not associated with potentially harming our patient and, as you were saying, taking off time with loved ones in a critical period of the life of these individuals who have been diagnosed and treated for cancer. So, basically what we saw in the paper was a 7.65% utilization of systemic anticancer therapy. And I might imagine that for some oncologists or for some hematologists that might not actually be that much. Like they could potentially say, "Okay, but it is like 7%, it is not that high. I would have expected something higher." So I just wanted a little bit of perspective regarding also quality metrics that we have available for these types of indicators at end-of-life care. What would be the appropriate percentage of people receiving any type of treatment within 30 days from death? Dr. Maureen Canavan: A couple caveats, as a data person I always like to give those. This was among all cancer patients, so not necessarily patients that had been on active treatment. So I think that number was actually quite lower than when we looked in another study about patients that had chemo within the last year, so on, you know, active treatment. So I think that is an element to take into consideration is that those numbers will vary based on who your denominator population is. So that is important to consider. Additionally, the National Quality Forum, they call for reducing rates of systemic therapy at end of life. But I think they, similar to how I would be, are cautious to point out this is the exact number, or it should be zero. Because there are cases where you have to go in line with patient preferences. And if a patient is very adamant that they want to continue treatment, that needs to be a decision that comes between them and their provider. So, you know, the zero, though sounding ideal to us who want to encourage transitions and encourage goals of care conversation is a nice number, it is not a realistic. So, to evade your question completely, I do not think there is a set number. But the goal is to make sure that both patients, providers, everyone is informed and is making the best holistic decision. So there is this natural tendency, I think, to keep fighting both for the patient and the provider to try to beat something, but recognizing the point at which we are beyond a benefit of treatment and what would be most beneficial to the patient in terms of getting back to that idea of, you know, the time with their families and whatnot. So is the number zero? No. Could it probably be lower than we have? I think yes, definitely. Dr. Kerin Adelson: I completely agree with everything Dr. Canavan said. I think one of the other challenges is that this data isn't being tracked and publicly reported across the world. And so what that optimal rate is, is a little unclear. We see different rates also depending on the population included. So one of the things Dr. Canavan said is our database included patients who were likely treated long ago for cancer and cured of their cancer. So they were less likely to die on systemic therapy. But until everybody starts tracking and reporting, it is really hard to know where we are as a country or really as a global population, and then what are the bars that we want to achieve in driving down the rates. I think some data shows that probably something in the range of 10% or below, you know, for patients who have more active cancer is probably where we should be going and driving towards. But until we have more public reporting of these metrics and consistency in how we measure them, it is really hard to come up with a single number. Dr. Davide Soldato: I have the impression that sometimes there is also a little bit of difficulty for the oncologist or the hematologist to really understand who are the patients who are approaching end of life. So there has been some data and you also report some of them in the discussion of the manuscript regarding, for example, prompts inside of the electronic health records or the use of artificial intelligence to try to predict what is the disease course. So just wanted a little bit of perspective if you think that these tools could potentially be helpful and if you think that we will be able at a certain point to implement them in routine clinical care. Dr. Kerin Adelson: I have been working on trying to do this actually at MD Anderson and coming up with a really reliable data tool that will tell us who are the patients who are going to die in short order after receiving systemic anticancer therapy. And it is not that easy, I will say. So, you know, I think we all want this amazing machine learning model that is incredibly reliable. But like any statistical test, there are problems, right? So a very sensitive test that is going to identify high, high risk of dying at the end of life is going to be compromised by false positives. And when an oncologist knows that the test might be a false positive, it becomes very hard for them to take action on it. Similarly, you know, a very, very specific test is going to be compromised by false negatives. So in that case, you could end up having patients who are at risk for dying and still treating them with chemotherapy. And so, you know, I think in the end we need some tools. It will be great if machine learning becomes very reliable and we have the right structured data elements in our electronic health records to give these reliable prediction tools. But I think there are some basic things that we all know, and those are the markers of chronicity of cancer. So patients who have had multiple lines of therapy already, right? Past the point of clinical trial benefit. Patients who have lost significant amounts of weight. Patients who are not getting out of bed and have worse performance status. Patients who are increasingly confused, right? And not mentally engaging the way they did previously. Those markers have been shown in numerous publications by a colleague of mine, David Hui and others, to really be pretty strong predictors, and they resonate with clinicians more than a machine learning score might. You know, I think when clinicians do not understand what the elements in a machine learning tool are, they are less likely to trust it and more likely to say, "Oh, it is a false positive or a false negative." But very few clinicians can argue against the fact that the patient who hasn't gotten out of bed in two weeks is somebody who is less likely to benefit. Dr. Davide Soldato: Dr. Adelson, I would like to close this podcast and I would like to thank you again for joining us today. Dr. Maureen Canavan: Thank you so much. Dr. Kerin Adelson: Thank you so much for having us. Dr. Davide Soldato: Dr. Canavan, Dr. Adelson, we appreciate you sharing more on your JCO article titled "Association Between Systemic Anticancer Therapy Administration Near the End of Life With Health Care and Hospice Utilization in Older Adults: A SEER-Medicare Analysis of End-of-Life Care Quality." If you enjoy our show, please leave us a rating and review and be sure to come back for another episode. You can f ind all ASCO shows at asco.org/podcast. The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. Guest statements on the podcast do not express the opinions of ASCO. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement.    Disclosures Kerin AdelsonStock and Other Ownership Interests: Carrum Health Consulting or Advisory Role: Abbvie, Quantum Health, Gilead SciencesPatents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: Genentech Other Relationship: Genentech/Roche Employment: Emilio Health/Brightline Health(An Immediate Family Member) Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Emilio Health/Brightline Health, Lyra Health (An Immediate Family Member)

What if everything you've been told about cancer is based on the wrong science? I'm Dr. Betty Murray, and in this myth-busting episode, I sit down with Dr. Donese Worden, researcher, clinician, and one of 80 scientists worldwide leading the charge on the mitochondrial theory of cancer. Dr. Donese is co-founding the Society for International Metabolic Oncology and has worked with oncologists from MD Anderson, Mayo Clinic, and top institutions globally to change how we approach cancer treatment at its root. We're pulling apart the misinformation in functional medicine, the dangerous trends in biohacking, and why conventional cancer care, while well-intentioned, is treating the wrong target. Dr. Donese doesn't work against oncologists; she works with them, using metabolic therapies like hyperbaric oxygen and ketogenic protocols to improve chemo sensitivity, reduce side effects, and potentially target cancer stem cells that conventional care misses. You'll Discover: ●     Why only 5-10% of cancers are genetic but all conventional treatment targets DNA when the real cause is mitochondrial damage that creates cell respiration problems ●     How metabolic therapies like hyperbaric oxygen and ketogenic diet support conventional cancer care by improving chemo sensitivity with fewer side effects ●     The dangerous truth about cold plunges: blood pressure spikes 50 points in seconds, has killed healthy people, especially risky for women with unbalanced hormones ●     Why wearables lie to women about sleep and recovery scores, and why listening to your body is more accurate than tracking devices ●     The Seven Pillars framework: a simple 1-10 self-assessment covering sleep, body, bowel movements, energy, mental state, relationships, and spiritual health ●     Why biohackers are often the most stressed people and how excessive tracking and forcing protocols prevents the body from healing ●     Why mitochondria are passed only through the female line and function collaboratively like matriarchal societies ●     The one biohack that's universally beneficial: sauna and heat exposure for cardiovascular health, especially advantageous for women ●     Why functional medicine practitioners giving glutamine to cancer patients are feeding the problem since glutamine is one of two pathways that fuel cancer growth   This episode is for anyone navigating cancer or complicated health cases, women frustrated by wearables and contradictory health advice, or biohackers wondering if they're making things worse. Watch now and discover why your mitochondria hold the answers.   Connect with Dr. Donese Worden: Website: https://drworden.com/   Connect with Dr. Betty Murray: Betty Murray Website: https://www.bettymurray.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbettymurray/ Links: The Fierce Female Method for Longevity (Dr. Betty's book): https://fierce.hormoneshelp.com/ Menrva Telemedicine: https://gethormonesnow.com/ FREE Hormone Quiz: https://bit.ly/3wNJOec Living Well Dallas: https://www.livingwelldallas.com/ Hormone Reset: https://hormonereset.net/ More from the Podcast: Subscribe to #MenopauseMastery → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwONPdSvb2-YYY74VhD-XBw Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/menopause-mastery/id1607369247 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNsjm32CZNXSgSFEwS3uH Thank you for listening to Menopause Mastery. Empowering your health journey, one episode at a time.

Show Notes The RPGBOT crew closes out Season 5 the only way they know how: with heartfelt gratitude, passionate rants, accidental comedy, and at least one derailment into pop culture discourse. In this end-of-year recap, Randall, Tyler, and Ash look back on a year of certified bangers, a few corporate-mandated stinkers, and the surprising joy of discovering that people are, in fact, listening. A lot of people. Like… three-quarters of a million downloads a lot. Along the way, the hosts reflect on: Why giving feedback is harder than it sounds (and why Josh should maybe just be hired already). How unionization, passion, and not hating your job might magically lead to better RPG books. The growth of RPGBOT from "30 listeners we personally harassed" to a thriving, weirdly wholesome community. The success of Quick Start / How to Play episodes for systems that are not D&D (and the relief that people actually want those). The birth and future of Other Worlds, where the same characters keep falling through genre portals like some kind of dice-based Sliders reboot. Big plans for 2026, including Numenera, Pulp Cthulhu, Cyberpunk, Blades in the Dark, Dragonbane, Starfinder, and the eternal quest to finally do Star Wars without the universe collapsing. Charity streams, especially the Old Gods of Appalachia fundraiser for MD Anderson, and why that one hit especially close to home. A completely unnecessary but spirited debate about Stranger Things, narrative stakes, and which beloved characters absolutely should have died (allegedly). The episode ends exactly as you'd expect: Tyler's brain breaks when the outro script is violated, identities are swapped, BlueSky handles are mangled, someone accidentally says "sub-sex" instead of "success," and the podcast briefly achieves true chaos before stumbling lovingly into 2026. If you like tabletop RPGs when they're fun—and you like listening to three people who clearly enjoy making them fun—this episode is a warm, messy thank-you note to everyone who made 2025 possible. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Show Notes The RPGBOT crew closes out Season 5 the only way they know how: with heartfelt gratitude, passionate rants, accidental comedy, and at least one derailment into pop culture discourse. In this end-of-year recap, Randall, Tyler, and Ash look back on a year of certified bangers, a few corporate-mandated stinkers, and the surprising joy of discovering that people are, in fact, listening. A lot of people. Like… three-quarters of a million downloads a lot. Along the way, the hosts reflect on: Why giving feedback is harder than it sounds (and why Josh should maybe just be hired already). How unionization, passion, and not hating your job might magically lead to better RPG books. The growth of RPGBOT from "30 listeners we personally harassed" to a thriving, weirdly wholesome community. The success of Quick Start / How to Play episodes for systems that are not D&D (and the relief that people actually want those). The birth and future of Other Worlds, where the same characters keep falling through genre portals like some kind of dice-based Sliders reboot. Big plans for 2026, including Numenera, Pulp Cthulhu, Cyberpunk, Blades in the Dark, Dragonbane, Starfinder, and the eternal quest to finally do Star Wars without the universe collapsing. Charity streams, especially the Old Gods of Appalachia fundraiser for MD Anderson, and why that one hit especially close to home. A completely unnecessary but spirited debate about Stranger Things, narrative stakes, and which beloved characters absolutely should have died (allegedly). The episode ends exactly as you'd expect: Tyler's brain breaks when the outro script is violated, identities are swapped, BlueSky handles are mangled, someone accidentally says "sub-sex" instead of "success," and the podcast briefly achieves true chaos before stumbling lovingly into 2026. If you like tabletop RPGs when they're fun—and you like listening to three people who clearly enjoy making them fun—this episode is a warm, messy thank-you note to everyone who made 2025 possible. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

The most widely used COVID-19 vaccines may offer a surprise benefit for some cancer patients—revving up their immune systems to help fight tumors. People with advanced lung or skin cancer who were taking certain immunotherapy drugs lived substantially longer if they also got a Pfizer or Moderna shot within 100 days of starting treatment, according to preliminary research reported in the journal Nature. And it had nothing to do with virus infections. Instead, the molecule that powers those specific vaccines, mRNA, appears to help the immune system respond better to the cutting-edge cancer treatment, concluded researchers from MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and the University of Florida. The vaccine “acts like a siren to activate immune cells throughout the body,” said lead researcher Dr. Adam Grippin of MD Anderson. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has raised skepticism about mRNA vaccines, cutting $500 million in funding for some uses of the technology. But this research team found its results so promising that it is preparing a more rigorous study to see if mRNA coronavirus vaccines should be paired with cancer drugs called checkpoint inhibitors—an interim step while it designs new mRNA vaccines for use in cancer. A healthy immune system often kills cancer cells before they become a threat. But some tumors evolve to hide from immune attack. Checkpoint inhibitors remove that cloak. It's a powerful treatment—when it works. Some people's immune cells still don't recognize the tumor. Messenger RNA, or mRNA, is naturally found in every cell, and it contains genetic instructions for our bodies to make proteins. While best known as the Nobel Prize-winning technology behind COVID-19 vaccines, scientists have long been trying to create personalized mRNA “treatment vaccines” that train immune cells to spot unique features of a patient's tumor. Dr. Grippin and his Florida colleagues had been developing personalized mRNA cancer vaccines when they realized that even one created without a specific target appeared to spur similar immune activity against cancer. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Recognition is no longer just about t-shirts or medals - it's about meaning. Thoughtful, mission-driven recognition strategies can deepen fundraisers' emotional connection and inspire long-term loyalty.In this episode, Marcie Maxwell talks with Meredith Perkins, Director of Peer-to-Peer Fundraising at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Meredith shares how her team has evolved recognition from transactional to transformational, creating experiences that honor fundraisers' motivations and celebrate their impact.From weaving MD Anderson's mission to eliminate cancer into every recognition moment to reimagining branded products with purpose, Meredith offers practical ways to make participants feel valued and connected. She also dives into how feedback and metrics guide continuous improvement, ensuring each recognition effort aligns with participant expectations and program goals.Together, we'll explore:How to design recognition programs that strengthen mission connection and emotional engagementCreative ways to recognize and reward fundraisers across participation levels and yearsPractical methods for measuring impact and evolving recognition strategies for sustained success​Mentioned Linkswww.MDAnderson.org/Fundraisewww.MDAnderson.org/BootWalkwww.MDAnderson.org/DIYwww.MDAnderson.org/Remember​Stay Connected on LinkedInConnect with MeredithConnect with MarcieConnect with the Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum (00:00) - Welcome to The P2P Soap Box

In this episode, Dane Groeneveld speaks with Mickie DeVeau, Director of the Leadership Institute at MD Anderson Cancer Center, about how one of the world's leading healthcare organizations builds leadership capacity at every level.Mickie shares how MD Anderson's coaching culture empowers employees—from physicians to administrative staff—to lead with empathy, accountability, and purpose. Their conversation explores how structured development, shared responsibility, and authentic connection help make “Making Cancer History” more than a tagline.

In this episode of the Oncology Brothers podcast, we are joined by esteemed hematologists Dr. Onyee Chan from Moffitt Cancer Center and Dr. Fadi Haddad from MD Anderson to discuss the management of side effects associated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) used in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Join us as we delve into: • An overview of the different generations of TKIs, including imatinib, dasatinib, nilotinib, bosutinib, ponatinib, and asciminib. • Common class-wide toxicities such as fatigue, hypertension, gastrointestinal symptoms, and cytopenias. • Unique side effects associated with each TKI and strategies for dose optimization. • The importance of patient education and monitoring to ensure effective management of side effects. Don't forget to check out our other ToxCheck episodes on antibody drug conjugates, CAR-T therapies, and more! Follow us on social media: •⁠  ⁠X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/oncbrothers •⁠  ⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oncbrothers •⁠  Website: https://oncbrothers.com/ Subscribe to the Oncology Brothers for more discussions on bridging the gap between academic research and community practice in cancer care! #CML #TKI #ToxCheck #Hematology #OncologyBrothers #PrecisionMedicine

The RPGBOT crew descends into the haunted hollers of Appalachia—where faith, fire, and coal run deep, and the locals don't much care for outsiders asking questions. Between GM intrusions, cursed deer, and whiskey-soaked theology, our heroes quickly learn that in Old Gods of Appalachia, salvation's a dangerous business. Welcome to the mines, y'all—hope you brought your holy water and your lucky charm. Support the MD Anderson Cancer Center If you're looking to make a meaningful impact today, please consider donating to MD Anderson. Your gift supports cutting-edge cancer research, world-class patient care, and education & prevention efforts — all part of their mission to "Make Cancer History®." MD Anderson Cancer Center MD Anderson treats patients from around the globe, advances new therapies through clinical trials, and drives programs that prevent cancer before it starts.

Join us for another insightful episode of The Oncology Brothers as we dive into the Challenging Case Series! In this episode, we were joined by Dr. Eric Singhi, a thoracic medical oncologist from MD Anderson, to discuss the complexities of treating EGFR-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We explored the latest treatment options, including: •⁠  ⁠Osimertinib •⁠  ⁠Amivantamab plus Lazertinib (based on the MARIPOSA trial) •⁠  ⁠Osimertinib plus chemotherapy (from the FLAURA2 trial) Listen in as we analyze real-life patient cases, focusing on a 58-year-old gentleman with CNS involvement and a 66-year-old woman experiencing disease progression after initial treatment. Dr. Singhi shared valuable insights on the importance of supportive care, the impact of treatment combinations, and the significance of repeat tissue profiling. Key topics covered: •⁠  ⁠The latest data from the MARIPOSA and FLAURA2 trials •⁠  ⁠Strategies for managing side effects and improving patient quality of life •⁠  ⁠The role of multidisciplinary teams in treatment planning •⁠  ⁠The importance of understanding resistance patterns in treatment decisions Whether you're a healthcare professional or simply interested in oncology, this episode is packed with essential information and expert perspectives.  Follow us on social media: •⁠  ⁠X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/oncbrothers •⁠  ⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oncbrothers •⁠  Website: https://oncbrothers.com/ Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more episodes from The Oncology Brothers! #EGFRNSCLC #Mariposa #Amivantamab #Osimertinib #FLAURA2 #OncologyBrothers #LungCancer

Dr. Monty Pal and Dr. Fumiko Chino discuss several of the top abstracts presented at the 2025 ASCO Quality Care Symposium, including research on federally funded clinical trials and financial reimbursement for trial participation. TRANSCRIPT Dr. Monty Pal: Hello, and welcome to the ASCO Daily News Podcast. I am your host, Dr. Monty Pal. I am a medical oncologist, professor, and vice chair of academic affairs at the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles. Today, we are highlighting key abstracts that were presented at the 2025 ASCO Quality Care Symposium. I am delighted to be joined today by the chair of this year's meeting, Dr. Fumiko Chino. Dr. Chino is an associate professor in radiation oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center with a research focus on access, affordability, and equity. She is also a consultant editor of JCO Oncology Practice and the host of the Put into Practice podcast. I have got to listen to that.  Dr. Chino, welcome, and thanks so much for being on the podcast today. Dr. Fumiko Chino: I am overjoyed to be here, and absolutely, you should take a listen. Dr. Monty Pal: Definitely. And FYI for listeners, our full disclosures are all available in the transcript of this episode, so do have a look if you are inclined. Now, we have really seen some fantastic advances in health services and quality and supportive care, digital health, and beyond. There are some great abstracts that were presented at this year's meeting. I have actually picked a couple that I am particularly interested in and that I believe you share my interest in as well.  So, the first is an abstract actually from my friends at SWOG (Abstract 94). So, this was a terrific abstract from Joe Unger and Michael LeBlanc and Dawn Hershman. And this, I think, really hits on a very, very key issue right now, which is the benefit of federally funded trials. Do you mind just kind of spelling out some of the observations from what I think is a really brilliant piece of work? Dr. Fumiko Chino: Absolutely, and I think Dr. Unger's work is really important for our current funding environment. I think that this research is really essential to do to show the role of federal sponsorship in the design and conduct of clinical trials. Because what they did was really look at a landscape analysis over the last 20 years looking at funding and were able to show quite clearly that federal funding really matters for advancing the science in cancer care. So what they showed was that the federal funding was more commonly essential for early-stage clinical trials, so those phase 1, phase 2 trials that really help advance the science. And that federal funding was really essential for multimodality drug combinations, combinations with drug and surgery, combinations with drug and radiation. Those trials were much more likely to be federal funded. And then the last thing is that they showed that the patients that are, I think, the largest at risk for gaps in care who really need the advancements in science that keep U.S. health care amazing and wonderful and world-leading, so the kids, the pediatric patients, the patients with rare cancers, and the patients actually that could benefit from de-escalation or right-sizing of treatment, they were also all more likely to have federal funding. So I think this research that was presented really shows that if, unfortunately, current status of restricted federal funding continues, that we are going to lose out in terms of the next generation of cancer cures, cancer de-escalations, and the type of combination treatments that make advancements in science. Dr. Monty Pal: Indeed. You know, I always point to Joe Unger's paper, and I think it is in JAMA Oncology, right, that showed life-years gained from NCI trials. It is such an important piece of work. I think this is a really nice complement to that, isn't it, to show the specific areas that otherwise would be, am I right in saying, kind of largely untouched? Dr. Fumiko Chino: I think you are right in that what we know from what industry will sponsor versus what the federal government will sponsor, that the federal government really helps make up the gap to really make those advancements that save lives, that lead to more birthdays, that advance our knowledge and our capacity for providing more cures and more successful futures for our patients. I always like pointing to the de-escalation research, which is, and this is not to dig pharma, but no pharmaceutical company is going to run a trial that says you can give less of their drug, right? It just does not make sense for the business end of the science. And so, thinking about how to right-size treatments, how to do more with less, that really is the purview of the federal government. Dr. Monty Pal: Absolutely. Absolutely.  I am going to shift gears here and bring up another abstract that I found to be quite intriguing, and this relates to reimbursement of expenses, et cetera, for clinical trials. This is an abstract from Courtney Williams and team. It brings to mind the importance, I think, of recognizing the hardships that patients take on by clinical trials, but I also would love for you to comment on that sort of fine line between reimbursement for expenses and then, you know, sort of undue enticement. It is a challenging balance there. But give me your reflections on this abstract. Dr. Fumiko Chino: Absolutely. You are speaking about Dr. Williams' Abstract 93 from the Alabama group, and Alabama actually has this incredible group of health services researchers which is, are doing really important work in this space. What this trial shows is that, you know, it is a small pilot study, it is 30-something patients that received some support primarily for their travel and additional expenses related to their clinical trial participation for breast cancer. It showed that the money helps, and I think what we all know is that it is expensive to participate in clinical trials. It requires additional visits. It often requires some significant travel burden for our patients, and I do not feel that money reimbursement for clinical trial expenses is an inducement. Nobody participates in a clinical trial to get the money for their gas, right? We know that our patients are making some pretty significant sacrifices in order to participate in clinical trials, and what this type of program does is just actually reimburse them for their outlaying of funds.  And I loved this trial because the patients were actually given $1,000 a month for the first 4 months of their trial participation, and what the study showed is that the patients were using it for things like travel-related food, for things like transportation, caregiver expenses, or even some of their out-of-pocket medical expenses like cost sharing or prescriptions. And that they said that overall, the reimbursement really made a difference in terms of their capacity for staying on the clinical trial. Because we know our clinical trials really are not able to enroll the full diversity of patients that often have a disease, and that the patients that are at biggest risk for a health care disparity or a gap in care are also the least likely to enroll in a clinical trial.  Programs like this are an essential part of showing how financial toxicity can be overcome with pretty straightforward assistance to patients to help reimburse them for the things that they are already taking out of their pocket, for parking costs, for that $10 soup that they buy at the cancer center, for those additional expenses that we are, unfortunately, putting on them. Dr. Monty Pal: Very well said. And you know, I have started to dabble in clinical trials looking at CAR T-cell therapies for kidney cancer, and I have to tell you, it is just insane the amount of cost that a patient would have to take on to comply with the stipulations for some of these novel therapies. We require that they stay within 30 minutes of the facility for 28 days, and unless we are compensating for some of that, I mean, how can one afford a hotel stay that is that long? I mean, it is just, it is unprecedented, and it would certainly provide a huge barrier to many patients who would otherwise enroll. Really well said. I also wanted to bring up another financially driven topic, and treating renal cell, again, I would say the vast majority, 90% plus of my patients in clinic are on oral drug therapies. And I cannot tell you how often a patient will show up in my practice and say, "Doc, I have got 15 days out of this 30-day prescription left. What do I do with it?" You know, or some come with pill bottles from a deceased loved one. And it is so frustrating to say, "Take it to the pharmacy and they will just get rid of it for you." But sounds like there is an abstract from Dr. Mackler, Abstract 102, that seems to address this topic quite well. Am I right? Dr. Fumiko Chino: Absolutely. This presentation, I was the most excited about seeing because this group, which helps run a cancer drug repository, theirs is called YesRx, presented their data from the last approximately two years of running this repository, and they were able to show incredible benefit for their patients in Michigan. And it is a really straightforward program. It is run by pharmacists. It has support from the legislation in Michigan. And what they were able to show is that they repurposed medications that would otherwise have been discarded. They delivered them directly to the oncologist, which then actually dispersed them to the patients. They helped 1,000 patients in less than two years. They saved them millions of dollars, over $15 million presented in the abstract. And it is just a win-win-win because I know that patients actually, and sometimes patient caregivers, they feel very sad to have spent a lot of money out of pocket for their medication, and then if they have a dose reduction or, obviously, you know, if the surviving spouse then has to get rid of their medication, just dispose of them, it is very disheartening. And this is a way of kind of reclaiming power for patients. So they were able to accept donations from all over the state of Michigan and then also help over 1,000 patients. And so, it is a phenomenal program. Dr. Monty Pal: Just wild when I came across the dollar amounts, right, that they were saving. It just, it seems like a place that, you know, we just have to look, as cancer centers, right, and really take this on. Just brilliant. On that same theme of cost savings and so forth, you know, I think there has been a lot of focus on what recent policies have done in the context of us having access to therapies and so forth. And one of the topics that has come up is the Inflation Reduction Act and how changes pertaining to the IRA have really played a role in one's ability to take on some of these expensive prescriptions. And I believe John Lin and colleagues tackled that issue in Abstract 97. Could you comment on that, Fumiko? Dr. Fumiko Chino: Absolutely. Dr. Lin is one of my colleagues here at MD Anderson, so I know him very well, and he has been doing really phenomenal work over the last several years with looking at drug affordability and access. And what his analysis shows is that for patients, after the Inflation Reduction Act's cap on out-of-pocket expenses, is that it really did show that out-of-pocket expenses decreased. So what the Inflation Reduction Act did is that it eliminated the 5% co-insurance and placed this $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket expenses. And what that led to for these patients that were not able to have the low-income subsidy is that there were lower costs, and that there was a lower rate of drug abandonment, meaning that the prescription was not refilled. There was also a lower rate of unfilled prescriptions as well. And I think that it shows that health policy really can improve access to care. I think the flip side of the fact that the IRA, this policy, really did seem to help people is that what his research showed is that actually, even with the benefits of this cap, is that actually it is still really high in terms of the rate of people who are not able to fill their prescriptions or that completely abandon them over time. And that unfortunately, even with this change, that over half of people without the low-income subsidy were potentially not getting the full benefit of their medications because they were not able to afford them. And so I think it really kind of highlights that we still need to do more work about making drugs affordable. Dr. Monty Pal: Indeed, indeed. And I mean, in a setting like this, I mean, I think it is important to recognize that $2,000 is a lot, it is a big chunk of change, right, for a lot of families in the U.S. What do you think of the prospect of, like, decreasing that cap? Is that something that from a policy standpoint you would be supportive of? Dr. Fumiko Chino: Well, so something that is a real option for patients on Medicare is there is something called the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, and what it allows you to do is actually prorate the $2,000 over the whole year. And so instead of having to pay $2,000 as soon as you fill your prescription, because you are going to have, if you have an expensive medication, it is essentially you have to pay the $2,000 in January, right? It allows you to prorate it, so essentially $170 a month, and that comes to you as like a regular bill. And I think that as rolled out as part of the IRA is a really lovely way of thinking about how do we make these payments more stable over time, so it is not a huge hit sort of at the beginning of the year. And I think that alone actually can make a difference in terms of trying to help make sure that people can actually get their medications. Dr. Monty Pal: That is an excellent tip. Excellent tip.  We are going to shift gears entirely. We have been talking a lot about the dollars and cents of things and talk about an abstract from Sophia Smith and colleagues. So this is Abstract 550 at your meeting. And this hinged on a program of sorts to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder. We do not often think about PTSD in the vernacular for oncology patients, but indeed, I mean, it is something that they must face, especially in the context of long-term survivorship. Can you talk a little bit about Dr. Smith's abstract? Dr. Fumiko Chino: Absolutely. I love this work from Dr. Smith, who is at Duke. She worked with Dr. Applebaum, who was my old colleague at Memorial Sloan Kettering. And this group of researchers really is trying to figure out how to best support people into survivorship so that they can actually thrive. And their patient population for this work was actually people who received stem cell transplant, and they focused on people who had PTSD symptoms. And what they were able to show through this SMART design, which is essentially this serial, multiple randomized trial, so everyone got randomized upfront to either usual care or this app, so this digital app that actually helped coach people through cancer distress. And then for the people who were non-responders, they were then additionally randomized to either the app plus coaching or a therapist versus the cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT.  And what they were able to show is that, number one, anyone who had the app seemed like they did better than those who did not start the path with the app. But then the additional help of either the therapist or the coach or the CBT made additional benefit over time. And so, I think this shows a really nice stepped care, which is you can potentially have some right-sizing of treatments cost saving, if we sort of give everyone the app, which is, I think, overall pretty low cost. And that for the people who do not get the full benefit from the app, then you can think about these maybe more tailored approaches, the therapist, the coach, the CBT, but that some people actually just respond to the app. And I think it allows us to, again, right-size the care for our patients. And I think it is really innovative to think about how technology can help improve access to care in the setting of something like PTSD. Dr. Monty Pal: Brilliant summary. Brilliant summary.  Gosh, it looks like such an exciting meeting this year. Congratulations on a terrific program for the ASCO Quality Care Symposium. I know you played a huge role in developing it, and thanks for sharing your insights on the ASCO Daily News Podcast. Dr. Fumiko Chino: No, I really appreciate you having me. ASCO Quality is my favorite meeting of the year. You know, it is really a phenomenal meeting, and I am so excited for next year in Boston in 2026. Dr. Monty Pal: Awesome. And thanks to our listeners too. You are going to find links to all the abstracts that we discussed today in the transcript of this episode. Finally, if you value the insights that you heard today on the ASCO Daily News Podcast, please rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Disclaimer: The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. Guest statements on the podcast do not express the opinions of ASCO. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement. More on today's speakers: Dr. Sumanta (Monty) Pal  @montypal Dr. Fumiko Chino @fumikochino Follow ASCO on social media: @ASCO on Twitter ASCO on Bluesky ASCO on Facebook ASCO on LinkedIn Disclosures of Potential Conflicts of Interest: Dr. Monty Pal:     Speakers' Bureau: MJH Life Sciences, IntrisiQ, Peerview Research Funding (Inst.): Exelixis, Merck, Osel, Genentech, Crispr Therapeutics, Adicet Bio, ArsenalBio, Xencor, Miyarsian Pharmaceutical Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Crispr Therapeutics, Ipsen, Exelixis Dr. Fumiko Chino:  Consulting or Advisory Role: Institute for Value Based Medicine Research Funding: Merck

Approximately one in four people will face a cancer diagnosis. For most, the hardest part won't be the treatment itself but the waiting, the 3 AM questions, the logistical maze of care coordination that can mean the difference between hope and despair. Ann Stadjuhar knows this truth from both sides of the stethoscope. When Ann navigated her own cancer diagnosis, she had every advantage: 20 years of healthcare expertise, knowledge of case volumes, connections to top surgeons at Optum. Yet even she found the system overwhelming. Her uncle in rural New Mexico wasn't as fortunate; by the time he reached MD Anderson, inadequate local care had sealed his fate. These parallel experiences crystallized Ann's mission at Reimagine Care: ensuring no one faces cancer alone, regardless of their zip code or insider knowledge. This conversation comes at a critical moment. As cancer increasingly strikes younger populations, with many cancers now appearing in people's 20s and 30s rather than their 50s, we need innovators who understand that technology without empathy is just expensive machinery. Ann represents a new breed of healthcare leaders who see AI not as a replacement for human connection, but as a way to multiply it. "The worst part of cancer is the wait," Ann explains. "We can be there 24/7 to understand whether there may be social determinants of health needs. I need a ride to treatment. I need someone to watch my dog. I have issues paying my electric bill. Sometimes people are honestly more comfortable telling the bot they're having these challenges." After two decades revolutionizing digital health from women's health to pandemic response centers, Ann calls cancer care her "capstone." She's witnessed how the 18-month health system adoption cycle literally costs lives. Now, armed with Meta glasses and AI tools that multiply her capabilities "times four," she's racing against a broken system where your uncle's zip code shouldn't determine whether his cancer stays operable. In this episode of Inspiring Women with Laurie McGraw, discover how one woman's journey through cancer transformed into a mission to democratize access to the kind of insider knowledge that can save lives. From the Cancer X Accelerator to Reimagine Care's AI companion REMI, Ann reveals why the future of cancer care isn't about choosing between humans and machines. It's about creating technology sophisticated enough to know that sometimes, the most advanced intervention is simply helping someone find a dog sitter so they don't miss chemotherapy. For Ann Stadjuhar, reimagining cancer care isn't about replacing human connection. It's about multiplying it. In a healthcare system where staying curious might be the difference between innovation and stagnation, between treatment and tragedy, she's proof that the most powerful technology is the kind that remembers to be human. Key Insights: Why patients confess more to AI than to their doctors, and what that means for care How social determinants of health become matters of life and death in cancer treatment The hidden complexities even healthcare insiders struggle to navigate Why the next generation needs emotional intelligence more than technical skills How one woman's cancer diagnosis became a blueprint for system-wide change About the Guest:  Ann Stadjuhar brings 20+ years of digital health innovation to her role as Chief Growth Officer at Reimagine Care. From launching pharmaceuticals to scaling population health tools, she's run what she calls "the gauntlet" of healthcare transformation. Her personal cancer journey while at Optum revealed the gaps even insiders face, inspiring her mission to ensure 24/7 companionship for every cancer patient through AI-powered human care. Guest & Host Links Connect with Laurie McGraw on LinkedIn Connect with Ann Stadjuhar on LinkedIn Connect with Inspiring Women Browse Episodes | LinkedIn | Instagram | Apple | Spotify

Join the Behind the Knife Surgical Oncology Team as we discuss the nuances in the work up and management of patients with pheochromocytomas. Hosts: Timothy Vreeland, MD, FACS (@vreelant) is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and Surgical Oncologist at Brooke Army Medical Center. Daniel Nelson, DO, FACS (@usarmydoc24) is Surgical Oncologist/HPB surgeon at Kaiser LAMC in Los Angeles. Lexy (Alexandra) Adams, MD, MPH (@lexyadams16) is a 2ndYear Surgical Oncology fellow at MD Anderson. Beth (Elizabeth) Barbera, MD (@elizcarpenter16) is a General Surgery physician in the United States Air Force station at RAF Lakenheath. Joe (Joseph) Broderick, MD, MA (@joebrod5) is a General Surgery research resident between his second and third year at Brooke Army Medical Center. Galen Gist, MD (@gistgalen) is a General Surgery research resident between his second and third year at Brooke Army Medical Center. Learning Objectives: 1)    Review the presentation of patients with pheochromocytomas.  2)    Review the work up of patients with pheochromocytomas.  3)    Review the treatment of patients with pheochromocytomas.  4)    Review the surveillance of patients with pheochromocytomas.  References used in the making of this episode: Patel D. Surgical approach to patients with pheochromocytoma. Gland Surg. 2020;9(1):32-42. doi:10.21037/gs.2019.10.20. PMID: 32206597; PMCID:PMC7082266.   Eisenhofer G, Lenders JW, Siegert G, et al. Plasma methoxytyramine: a novel biomarker of metastatic pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma in relation to established risk factors of tumour size, location and SDHB mutation status. Eur J Cancer. 2012;48(11):1739-1749. doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2011.07.016. PMID:22036874; PMCID: PMC3372624.   Lenders JWM, Eisenhofer G, Mannelli M, Pacak K. Phaeochromocytoma. Lancet. 2005;366(9486):665-675. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(05)67139-5.   Vicha A, Musil Z, Pacak K. Genetics of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma syndromes: new advances and future treatment options. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2013;20(3):186-191. doi:10.1097/MED.0b013e32835fcc45. PMID: 23481210; PMCID: PMC4711348. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23481210/ Dickson PV, Alex GC, Grubbs EG, et al. Posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy is a safe and effective alternative to transabdominal laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma. Surgery. 2011;150(3):452-458. doi:10.1016/j.surg.2011.07.004. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21878230/ Lei K, Wang X, Yang Z, et al. Comparison of the retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy versus transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy for large (≥6 cm) pheochromocytomas: a single-centre retrospective study. Front Oncol. 2023;13:1043753. doi:10.3389/fonc.2023.1043753. PMID: 36910608; PMCID: PMC9992891. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36910608/ Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.   If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here: https://behindtheknife.org/listen Behind the Knife Premium: General Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/general-surgery-oral-board-review Trauma Surgery Video Atlas: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/trauma-surgery-video-atlas Dominate Surgery: A High-Yield Guide to Your Surgery Clerkship: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/dominate-surgery-a-high-yield-guide-to-your-surgery-clerkship Dominate Surgery for APPs: A High-Yield Guide to Your Surgery Rotation: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/dominate-surgery-for-apps-a-high-yield-guide-to-your-surgery-rotation Vascular Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/vascular-surgery-oral-board-audio-review Colorectal Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/colorectal-surgery-oral-board-audio-review Surgical Oncology Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/surgical-oncology-oral-board-audio-review Cardiothoracic Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/cardiothoracic-surgery-oral-board-audio-review Download our App: Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/behind-the-knife/id1672420049 Android/Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.btk.app&hl=en_US

Today on Beating Cancer Daily, Saranne shares an inspiring look into the often-overlooked practice of stretching, which is especially beneficial for those undergoing cancer treatment. From personal anecdotes of discovering the benefits of stretching with her husband to sharing compelling studies, Saranne explores how stretching can improve posture, decrease muscle tension, and contribute to overall joint health. She humorously recounts a study involving stretched mice with breast cancer, providing informative and lighthearted moments for listeners. "Physical exercise is an excellent thing to do when you're going through cancer treatment." – Saranne Today on Beating Cancer Daily: ·     Stretching can improve posture and decrease muscle tension, improving overall health. Specific studies from MD Anderson reveal significant benefits of stretching, emphasizing its role in cancer care.·     You should always warm up your muscles for 5-10 minutes before stretching to avoid injury.·     Gentle and slow movements in stretching help to prevent injury and enhance effectiveness.·     Stretching throughout the day can be beneficial, particularly for those who spend long hours sitting.·     Physical exercise, including stretching, is generally beneficial during cancer treatment but should always be discussed with a medical professional.·     The hilarious visual of studies involving stretching mice underlines the significant findings about its potential benefits for breast cancer patients.·     Setting reminders to stretch can help integrate this beneficial practice into your daily routine. 2025 People's Choice Podcast Awards Finalist Ranked the Top 5 Best Cancer Podcasts by CancerCare News in 2024 & 2025, and #1 Rated Cancer Survivor Podcast by FeedSpot in 2024 Beating Cancer Daily is listened to in over 130 countries across 7 continents and features over 390 original daily episodes hosted by Stage IV survivor  Saranne Rothberg.   To learn more about Host Saranne Rothberg and The ComedyCures Foundation:https://www.comedycures.org/ To write to Saranne or a guest:https://www.comedycures.org/contact-8 To record a message to Saranne or a guest:https://www.speakpipe.com/BCD_Comments_Suggestions To sign up for the free Health Builder Series live on Zoom with Saranne and Jacqui, go to The ComedyCures Foundation's homepage:https://www.comedycures.org/ Please support the creation of more original episodes of Beating Cancer Daily and other free ComedyCures Foundation programs with a tax-deductible contribution:http://bit.ly/ComedyCuresDonate THANK YOU! Please tell a friend whom we may help, and please support us with a beautiful review. Have a blessed day! Saranne 

On today's Unemployable, we tackle the hard stuff: why cancer remains our biggest health challenge, why water quality may define the next global conflict, how outbreaks re-enter the U.S. (measles, dengue, bioterror), what COVID actually taught us, and where AI and genomics help—or create new risks. Along the way we talk access to care, compounding vs. brand-name drugs, GLP-1s (Ozempic/Wegovy), and the habits that really move the needle: sleep, strength, hydration, and walking with purpose. My guest is a former U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health and four-star admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service with leadership roles spanning MD Anderson's Moon Shots, WHO, and federal response teams for anthrax and Ebola. It's a masterclass in population health, plain talk, and what leaders should actually do next. Timestamps below. If this helps you think clearer and lead better, hit subscribe and share it with one person who needs it today. Disclaimers: This show is educational only. Nothing here is medical advice. Talk to your doctor before making decisions about screening, vaccines, medications, or treatment. Resources mentioned: • Joxel Garcia's books on Amazon • St. Jude Children's Research Hospital • MD Anderson Moon Shots • CDC/WHO resources on vaccines & outbreaks 

On today's Unemployable, we tackle the hard stuff: why cancer remains our biggest health challenge, why water quality may define the next global conflict, how outbreaks re-enter the U.S. (measles, dengue, bioterror), what COVID actually taught us, and where AI and genomics help—or create new risks. Along the way we talk access to care, compounding vs. brand-name drugs, GLP-1s (Ozempic/Wegovy), and the habits that really move the needle: sleep, strength, hydration, and walking with purpose. My guest is a former U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health and four-star admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service with leadership roles spanning MD Anderson's Moon Shots, WHO, and federal response teams for anthrax and Ebola. It's a masterclass in population health, plain talk, and what leaders should actually do next. Timestamps below. If this helps you think clearer and lead better, hit subscribe and share it with one person who needs it today. Disclaimers: This show is educational only. Nothing here is medical advice. Talk to your doctor before making decisions about screening, vaccines, medications, or treatment. Resources mentioned: • Joxel Garcia's books on Amazon • St. Jude Children's Research Hospital • MD Anderson Moon Shots • CDC/WHO resources on vaccines & outbreaks 

MD Anderson fellows discuss AML, MRD endpoints, and evolving trial strategies in a dynamic grand rounds–style presentation.

In this episode of SurgOnc Today, Drs. Abhineet Uppal and Shirin Sabbaghian Hebert will discuss management considerations for the treatment of lateral pelvic nodes in patients with rectal cancer.  We have the great opportunity to speak with Dr. Tsuyoshi Konishi (MD-PhD), who has maintained an essential role within the Lateral Node Study Consortium.   He is a great resource of knowledge in this field as he trained at the University of Tokyo in Japan, where lateral node dissection is performed more routinely for patients with rectal cancer. Following his training, he worked at the Cancer Institute Hospital of the JFCR in Tokyo as faculty for a decade. .  We are fortunate to have him working with us here in the United States as Associate Professor of Surgery at MD Anderson.

Are you getting what you pay for with your Medicare plan? This eye-opening conversation between healthcare insiders Nathan Kaufman and Rich Helppie pulls back the curtain on what they provocatively call "Medicare Disadvantage" plans.When something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Medicare Advantage plans tempt seniors with zero premiums, dental coverage, vision benefits, and even gym memberships. But these apparent perks mask a troubling reality: significantly restricted healthcare options when serious illness strikes. Our experts explain how insurance companies profit from delaying and denying care while creating increasingly narrow provider networks that limit access to specialists and top medical centers.The most alarming revelation? The trap many seniors find themselves in when they discover these limitations. Once enrolled in Medicare Advantage, leaving becomes nearly impossible if you develop a serious condition, as new supplemental plans can exclude pre-existing conditions. Meanwhile, those with Traditional Medicare maintain freedom to choose providers nationwide, including prestigious research hospitals like Mayo Clinic or MD Anderson, without administrative barriers or insurance company gatekeepers.For anyone approaching Medicare eligibility or reconsidering their current coverage, this episode provides crucial guidance. Our experts recommend a clear path: Medicare Parts A, B, and D, plus a comprehensive Medigap policy. While this combination involves upfront premiums, it offers something priceless: control over your healthcare decisions precisely when you need it most.Subscribe to Healthcare Bridge on your favorite podcast platforms or find us at the Common Bridge on Substack to continue exploring the vital connections shaping our healthcare landscape. Your health decisions matter—make them with complete information.Support the showEngage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

Texas surgeon Dr. Elisabeth Potter says UnitedHealthcare stopped her mid-surgery to question if the patient's procedure was necessary – despite the fact the patient was already on the operating table. Dr. Potter was even threatened with legal action after sharing her astonishing story on social media. The health insurance giant denies that it would ever ask a doctor to interrupt care. But this incident follows an alarming pattern with UnitedHealthcare. According to Daily Mail, “UnitedHealthcare has also been accused of using an AI program with a 90 percent error rate to deny claims.” “Without insurance,” the Mail says the surgery being performed by Dr. Potter “costs anywhere from $30,000 to $50,000.” The Mail also reports a spokesperson from UnitedHealthcare claimed “There are no insurance related circumstances that would require a physician to step out of surgery… We did not ask nor would ever expect a physician to interrupt patient care to answer a call.” Dr. Elisabeth Potter details UnitedHealthcare's legal threats against her for speaking out. Dr. Eric Weiss shares his pioneering work in stem cell therapy for autism, drawing from his son's journey and a suppressed CDC study showing a 1135% autism increase linked to thimerosal in vaccines. Dr. Elisabeth Potter is a board-certified plastic surgeon who earned her MD from Emory University and completed a fellowship at MD Anderson. She specializes in natural breast reconstruction, performing over 1,000 DIEP flap surgeries. Formerly a regulatory analyst of FDA law, she monitors BIA-ALCL risks. Follow at https://x.com/epottermd Dr. Eric Weiss is board-certified in plastic surgery and a leader in regenerative medicine. Founder of North Florida Stem Cells Clinic, he treats autism with stem cell therapy. He co-authored Educating Marston, a memoir about his son's autism journey. Follow at https://instagram.com/northfloridastemcells 「 SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 」 Find out more about the brands that make this show possible and get special discounts on Dr. Drew's favorite products at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drdrew.com/sponsors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• FATTY15 – The future of essential fatty acids is here! Strengthen your cells against age-related breakdown with Fatty15. Get 15% off a 90-day Starter Kit Subscription at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drdrew.com/fatty15⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • PALEOVALLEY - "Paleovalley has a wide variety of extraordinary products that are both healthful and delicious,” says Dr. Drew. "I am a huge fan of this brand and know you'll love it too!” Get 15% off your first order at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drdrew.com/paleovalley⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • VSHREDMD – Formulated by Dr. Drew: The Science of Cellular Health + World-Class Training Programs, Premium Content, and 1-1 Training with Certified V Shred Coaches! More at https://drdrew.com/vshredmd • THE WELLNESS COMPANY - Counteract harmful spike proteins with TWC's Signature Series Spike Support Formula containing nattokinase and selenium. Learn more about TWC's supplements at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twc.health/drew⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 「 MEDICAL NOTE 」 Portions of this program may examine countervailing views on important medical issues. Always consult your physician before making any decisions about your health. 「 ABOUT THE SHOW 」 Ask Dr. Drew is produced by Kaleb Nation (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kalebnation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) and Susan Pinsky (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/firstladyoflov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠e⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). This show is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Holly Cotton (breast cancer survivor, nurse, author) and Dewayne Charleston (stage 4 prostate cancer survivor). Topic: Raising awareness and eliminating disparities in Black men’s health, especially prostate cancer. 2. Holly Cotton’s Story Breast cancer survivor and nurse with a master’s degree. Author of Strong More Than Muscles. Uses her survivorship to inspire others and promote health awareness. Advocates for being a “life survivor,” not just a cancer survivor. 3. Rushion McDonald’s Personal Experience Thyroid cancer survivor since 2015. Shares how the diagnosis changed his perspective on life and purpose. Uses his platform to raise awareness and encourage proactive health decisions. 4. Dwayne’s Journey Diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer at age 46. All 16 biopsy samples came back positive. Told by MD Anderson urologist Dr. Lewis Sisler that only prayer could help. Fought cancer for 14 years and founded a prostate cancer awareness foundation. 5. Foundation Mission Educates Black men on prostate cancer, clinical trials, and health disparities. Addresses emotional, sexual, financial, and relational impacts of cancer. Aims to break silence and stigma around men’s health issues. 6. Breast Cancer Awareness vs. Prostate Cancer Awareness Holly explains the success of “Go Pink” campaigns for breast cancer. Dewayne and Holly aim to replicate that success with “Go Blue” for prostate cancer. Goal: Encourage men to prioritize their own health and get tested. 7. Community Impact Importance of storytelling and visibility at events like HBCU games. Emphasis on legacy, education, and proactive health care. Holly and Dewayne’s collaboration bridges gender and cancer awareness gaps. 8. Closing Rushon thanks guests for their advocacy and friendship. Encourages listeners to lead with their gifts and keep winning.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Holly Cotton (breast cancer survivor, nurse, author) and Dewayne Charleston (stage 4 prostate cancer survivor). Topic: Raising awareness and eliminating disparities in Black men’s health, especially prostate cancer. 2. Holly Cotton’s Story Breast cancer survivor and nurse with a master’s degree. Author of Strong More Than Muscles. Uses her survivorship to inspire others and promote health awareness. Advocates for being a “life survivor,” not just a cancer survivor. 3. Rushion McDonald’s Personal Experience Thyroid cancer survivor since 2015. Shares how the diagnosis changed his perspective on life and purpose. Uses his platform to raise awareness and encourage proactive health decisions. 4. Dwayne’s Journey Diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer at age 46. All 16 biopsy samples came back positive. Told by MD Anderson urologist Dr. Lewis Sisler that only prayer could help. Fought cancer for 14 years and founded a prostate cancer awareness foundation. 5. Foundation Mission Educates Black men on prostate cancer, clinical trials, and health disparities. Addresses emotional, sexual, financial, and relational impacts of cancer. Aims to break silence and stigma around men’s health issues. 6. Breast Cancer Awareness vs. Prostate Cancer Awareness Holly explains the success of “Go Pink” campaigns for breast cancer. Dewayne and Holly aim to replicate that success with “Go Blue” for prostate cancer. Goal: Encourage men to prioritize their own health and get tested. 7. Community Impact Importance of storytelling and visibility at events like HBCU games. Emphasis on legacy, education, and proactive health care. Holly and Dewayne’s collaboration bridges gender and cancer awareness gaps. 8. Closing Rushon thanks guests for their advocacy and friendship. Encourages listeners to lead with their gifts and keep winning.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Holly Cotton (breast cancer survivor, nurse, author) and Dewayne Charleston (stage 4 prostate cancer survivor). Topic: Raising awareness and eliminating disparities in Black men’s health, especially prostate cancer. 2. Holly Cotton’s Story Breast cancer survivor and nurse with a master’s degree. Author of Strong More Than Muscles. Uses her survivorship to inspire others and promote health awareness. Advocates for being a “life survivor,” not just a cancer survivor. 3. Rushion McDonald’s Personal Experience Thyroid cancer survivor since 2015. Shares how the diagnosis changed his perspective on life and purpose. Uses his platform to raise awareness and encourage proactive health decisions. 4. Dwayne’s Journey Diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer at age 46. All 16 biopsy samples came back positive. Told by MD Anderson urologist Dr. Lewis Sisler that only prayer could help. Fought cancer for 14 years and founded a prostate cancer awareness foundation. 5. Foundation Mission Educates Black men on prostate cancer, clinical trials, and health disparities. Addresses emotional, sexual, financial, and relational impacts of cancer. Aims to break silence and stigma around men’s health issues. 6. Breast Cancer Awareness vs. Prostate Cancer Awareness Holly explains the success of “Go Pink” campaigns for breast cancer. Dewayne and Holly aim to replicate that success with “Go Blue” for prostate cancer. Goal: Encourage men to prioritize their own health and get tested. 7. Community Impact Importance of storytelling and visibility at events like HBCU games. Emphasis on legacy, education, and proactive health care. Holly and Dewayne’s collaboration bridges gender and cancer awareness gaps. 8. Closing Rushon thanks guests for their advocacy and friendship. Encourages listeners to lead with their gifts and keep winning.

Join the Behind the Knife Surgical Oncology Team as we discuss the two key studies investigating optimal management strategies of neuroendocrine tumors of the small bowel. Hosts: - Timothy Vreeland, MD, FACS (@vreelant) is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and Surgical Oncologist at Brooke Army Medical Center - Daniel Nelson, DO, FACS (@usarmydoc24) is Surgical Oncologist/HPB surgeon at Kaiser LAMC in Los Angeles. - Connor Chick, MD (@connor_chick) is a 2nd Year Surgical Oncology fellow at Ohio State University. - Lexy (Alexandra) Adams, MD, MPH (@lexyadams16) is a 1st Year Surgical Oncology fellow at MD Anderson. - Beth (Elizabeth) Barbera, MD (@elizcarpenter16) is a PGY-6 General Surgery resident at Brooke Army Medical Center Learning Objectives: In this episode we review two important papers that discuss optimal management strategies of neuroendocrine tumors (NET) of the small bowel.  The first paper by Singh and colleagues discusses the NETTER-2 trial investigating the role of radioligand therapy for NET as a first-line treatment.  The second article by Maxwell et all challenges surgical dogma regarding optimal debulking cutoffs for debulking of NET. Links to Papers Referenced in this Episode: 1.     Singh S, Halperin D, Myrehaug S, Herrmann K, Pavel M, Kunz PL, Chasen B, Tafuto S, Lastoria S, Capdevila J, García-Burillo A, Oh DY, Yoo C, Halfdanarson TR, Falk S, Folitar I, Zhang Y, Aimone P, de Herder WW, Ferone D; all the NETTER-2 Trial Investigators. [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE plus long-acting octreotide versus high‑dose long-acting octreotide for the treatment of newly diagnosed, advanced grade 2-3, well-differentiated, gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (NETTER-2): an open-label, randomised, phase 3 study. Lancet. 2024 Jun 29;403(10446):2807-2817. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00701-3. Epub 2024 Jun 5. PMID: 38851203. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38851203/ 2.     Maxwell JE, Sherman SK, O'Dorisio TM, Bellizzi AM, Howe JR. Liver-directed surgery of neuroendocrine metastases: What is the optimal strategy? Surgery. 2016 Jan;159(1):320-33. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2015.05.040. Epub 2015 Oct 9. PMID: 26454679; PMCID: PMC4688152. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26454679/ Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.   If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here: https://app.behindtheknife.org/listen

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 6-12-2025: Dr. Dawn opens with alarming news about NIH budget cuts devastating cancer research just as breakthrough CAR-T cell therapy shows promise for gastrointestinal cancers. This personalized immunotherapy extracts patients' T cells, engineers them to target specific cancer antigens, and makes them essentially immortal before reinfusion. While previously successful only for blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, researchers achieved tumor shrinkage in 25% of solid GI tumor patients. However, devastating layoffs forced removal of two patients from trials due to staff shortages and supply chain disruptions. Dr. Dawn emphasizes how pregnancy can worsen hidden cancers due to immune suppression, explaining why aggressive metastasized cancers often appear shortly after childbirth. Dr. Dawn takes a call from Bob about concerning forehead growths his dermatologist examined. She speculates they're likely seborrheic keratoses - benign, stuck-on appearing growths common in sun-exposed areas that look like crumpled brown paper "spit-wads". These aging-related changes are harmless and can even be picked off, though she warns against repeatedly traumatizing any skin area as this increases cancer risk through accumulated DNA damage. She explains how repetitive trauma in occupational settings creates statistically higher cancer risks, comparing it to filling a bingo card of cellular errors. She addresses an email about Joe Tippens' cancer cure protocol involving fenbendazole, an anti-parasitic drug. Dr. Dawn explains this viral social media phenomenon began when Tippens claimed his lung cancer was cured by fenbendazole, but he was simultaneously receiving Keytruda immunotherapy at MD Anderson. The story spread rapidly in South Korea, causing pharmacy shortages. Unvalidated internet health information can spread dangerously. Dr. Dawn compares it to old-fashioned medicine show scams. trend Dr. Dawn warns about a recent vitamin B6 toxicity misdiagnosis trend affecting her patients who were told they had dangerous levels of B6 despite lacking neuropathy symptoms. Accuracy requires fasting 12 hours before blood draws, otherwise creating false elevations from recent vitamin consumption. More critically, she alerts listeners about biotin(Vitamin B7) interference with laboratory tests using biotin-streptavidin techniques. High-dose biotin supplements are often used in hair and nail health growth formulas. This can falsely alter tests for thyroid hormones, vitamin D, sex hormones, cortisol and dangerously, troponin levels that diagnose heart attacks. This could lead to missed myocardial infarctions in emergency rooms, potentially causing fatal outcomes. Dr. Dawn takes a call from Richard seeking information about a previous radio program guest. She guides him to use on-line resources at ksqd.org to find program details, pivoting into praise for libraries as community centers offering far more than internet access. She emphasizes libraries provide serendipitous discovery that algorithms can't match, encouraging people to explore their local library systems for events, historical collections, and personal assistance from knowledgeable librarians eager to help visitors navigate both physical and digital resources. She discusses the concerning trend of giving melatonin to children, calling it "the Grinch that stole children's bedtime." While used prescription-only for severe developmental disorders in Denmark and EU countries, American children receive melatonin gummies regularly, with one in five preteens using it occasionally. Dr. Dawn explains melatonin is a hormone affecting pancreas, heart, fat tissue, and reproductive organs still developing in children. Supplemental doses create blood levels 10 times higher than natural peaks, representing an uncontrolled medical experiment on developing brains and bodies. Poison control calls for melatonin ingestion increased 530% between 2012-2021, with one tragic case involving a three-month-old death where 20 melatonin bottles were found in the home. Dr. Dawn concludes by debunking food expiration date myths, explaining that Americans waste a third of food ($7 billion annually) due to misunderstanding labels. Most shelf-stable foods simply degrade in quality rather than becoming dangerous after printed dates. She notes acidic dairy products like yogurt resist bacterial contamination due to protective bacteria,and even surface mold can be scraped off safely. However, she emphasizes trusting expiration dates on lunch meats and deli products, which pose real listeria risks when stored improperly. California will soon simplify labeling laws to reduce confusion between quality and safety dates.

"Microbiome" is a buzzword these days--but many people don't know what it means. As we re-assess the lasting impact diet may have on our health, researchers are examining the role of gut health as possible causes for the dramatic uptick in colorectal cancer in young people. Katie Couric, founder of Katie Couric Media and Stand Up To Cancer, hosts an expert-led panel including Dr. Nancy You, a surgeon and director of the Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Program at MD Anderson, Dr. Susan Bullman–an Associate Professor of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Julie Smolyansky, CEO of Lifeway Foods, to discuss the impact of diet on the gut microbiome.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.