From Doctor To Patient with Dr. Thomas Butler
The Cancering Show
In this episode, Dr. JYP welcomes back , a seasoned oncologist who specializes in supportive oncology. Dr. Butler shares his journey from humble beginnings and a fascination with science to a career in cancer care, emphasizing the importance of addressing both the physical and emotional needs of patients. He discusses the distinction between palliative and supportive care, advocating for an approach that supports patients throughout their cancer journey — not just at the end of life. Dr. Butler also offers personal insights from his own cancer diagnosis, reflecting on what he has learned...
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Understanding Skin Cancer with Dr. Harrison Howard
The Cancering Show
In this episode, Dr. JYP talks with , a surgical oncologist who specializes in melanoma. Dr. Howard explains that not all skin cancers are the same, emphasizing that melanoma is more dangerous compared with basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. He highlights the importance of detecting melanoma early, as it is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. They discuss surgical and systemic treatment advancements, including the practice of sentinel lymph node biopsy and the game-changing benefits of immunotherapy. Dr. Howard says clinical trials are essential in improving treatment methods and...
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Art Therapy for Cancer Patients with Margaret Wielbut
The Cancering Show
In this episode, Dr. JYP welcomes , a trained art therapist who works with patients at the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute. Margaret delves into her personal journey, from discovering art therapy to implementing it in cancer care in Mobile, Alabama. She describes art therapy as a marriage between art and psychology, emphasizing its benefits for cancer patients in creating hope, reducing anxiety, and bringing purpose to the cancer journey. She shares stories about how art can turn clinical spaces into environments of light and creativity. Sponsored by the , the MCI’s art therapy...
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Liquid Biopsy Technology with Dr. Daisy Escobar
The Cancering Show
In this episode, Dr. JYP welcomes medical oncologist and hematologist Dr. Daisy Escobar to discuss her background and her expertise in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Escobar shares her journey to the Mitchell Cancer Institute and talks about her family. The conversation focuses on cell-free DNA technology, also known as liquid biopsy, which is used primarily for cancer surveillance and monitoring. Dr. Escobar explains the benefits and limitations of this technology, including how it compares with traditional biopsies and its potential in early cancer detection. The conversation also...
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Fighting Cancer in Alabama: Insights from Dr. Scott Harris
The Cancering Show
In this episode, Dr. JYP and State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris discuss the intersection of infectious disease and cancer in Alabama. Dr. Harris shares insights into the state's cancer trends, including the impact of delayed screenings during the pandemic, and disparities in cancer outcomes based on geography and race. They discuss the collaborative efforts among state agencies, nonprofits, and medical communities to combat cancer. They also delve into Alabama's strategic initiative, Operation Wipe Out, aimed at eliminating cervical cancer through vaccination, screening, and treatment....
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Chaplain Kim’s Holiday Tips for Cancering Patients and Families
The Cancering Show
In this heartfelt episode of The Cancering Show, Dr. JYP welcomes back Chaplain Kim Crawford Meeks to discuss the complexities of celebrating the holidays while dealing with cancer. They explore the bittersweet nature of the season, emphasizing the importance of modifying expectations, planning ahead, and cherishing moments with loved ones. Chaplain Kim shares practical advice on managing emotions, supporting family members, and including children in celebrations. They also discuss commemorating a loved one who is no longer present, and ensuring everyone feels valued and included. Whether...
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A Nonsmoker’s Cancer Story with Leah Phillips
The Cancering Show
In this episode, Dr. JYP speaks with Leah Phillips, a nonsmoker diagnosed with stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer in 2019. Leah emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and self-advocacy in health, sharing her journey from initial misdiagnosis to targeted therapy success. Despite an initial prognosis of six to 12 months to live, Leah has surpassed expectations with a targeted drug that led to significant tumor reduction and stability for over four years. Leah discusses her participation in clinical trials, the benefits of multimodal therapy, and her role in the . For more about Leah, see...
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Breaking Free From Nicotine: Insights With Susan Crutchfield
The Cancering Show
In this episode, Dr. JYP and guest Susan Crutchfield discuss the complexities of tobacco addiction and strategies for quitting smoking. They highlight the importance of nonjudgmental support, individual motivations ("your why"), and the availability of various medications and therapies. The dangers of vaping, especially among youth, are also covered, emphasizing nicotine's addictive nature and health risks. The Great American Smokeout is promoted as an event that encourages smoking cessation through peer-to-peer engagement. The significance of early lung cancer detection, particularly through...
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How to Read Your Results #3: Pathology Reports
The Cancering Show
Dr. JYP concludes a three-part series focused on understanding the most common medical reports received by Cancering patients. This episode delves into pathology reports and how patients can use them to better understand their condition. Dr. JYP describes the key elements of pathology reports and defines terms such as "benign," "malignant," “carcinoma,” and “sarcoma.” She discusses how detailed reports from biopsies aid in staging cancer and the implications for treatment options. She reminds listeners that pathology reports should always be discussed with a doctor, and that reviewing...
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How to Read Your Results #2: Blood Chemistry Tests
The Cancering Show
Dr. JYP continues a three-part series focused on understanding the most common medical reports received by Cancering patients. In this second episode, she discusses blood chemistry panels. She explains common abbreviations suck as BNP (basic metabolic panel) and CNP (comprehensive metabolic panel), guiding listeners through key components including sodium (NA), potassium (K), magnesium (MAG), kidney function tests (BUN and creatinine), and glucose levels. She discusses the importance of understanding normal ranges, the potential causes for abnormalities and the most common questions patients...
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When I think about the future of cancer therapy, I tell medical students that somebody in their generation is going to say how silly we were that we gave chemotherapy and radiation therapy to cancer patients -- treatments that we knew harmed their immune system when what we should have been doing this whole time was immunotherapy. - Dr. Jennifer Young Pierce
Immunotherapy is a 180-degree change in the way physicians are looking at cancer. We are not focused just on the cancer but on the immune system that allowed the cancer to happen in the first place. - Dr. Moh'd Khushman
In this episode, Dr. Pierce talks immunotherapy and targeted therapy with USA Health medical oncologist and hematologist Dr. Moh'd Khushman. Immunotherapy is a class of drugs that can help a patient's immune system to fight cancer cells much smarter than current chemotherapy. Cancer cells can turn off the immune system, and these new drugs can turn on the immune system to fight cancer. These drugs are full of hope and promise, and they are spreading in terms of usefulness to more and more cancer types and their treatments.
Key Takeaways
Immunotherapy is a class of drugs that help a patient's immune system to fight cancer.
If your doctor or oncologist did not look at your genetic makeup, you need to discuss this with your doctors.
Sometimes genetic makeup can predict who would respond and who would not respond to therapy for a specific cancer.
Since 2010, we have witnessed an overwhelmingly increasing knowledge about immunotherapy.
Good candidates for immunotherapy have specific DNA mutations that have shown physicians that immunotherapy is going to work.
The biggest challenge and the unmet need of immunology are to figure out why some patients do not respond to immunotherapy.
Targeted therapy takes advantage of the differences between cancer cells and normal cells. It's not 100 percent precision, but for the most part, it's much more precise than chemotherapy.
The Docs Said:
Cancer cells can turn off the immune system. So immunotherapy drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors modulate the immune system and can turn back on the immune system to fight cancer cells much smarter. - Dr. Moh'd Khushman
Every cancer is so unique -- within the gastrointestinal cancer types and also with other cancers. Within the GI cancer types, we treat every cancer differently. - Dr. Moh'd Khushman
Now I really look at the genetic makeup for every patient that I treat, because if they do have any targeted marker, I try to plan the treatment for that targeted biomarker. - Dr. Moh'd Khushman
Your physician and your cancer doctor should be looking at either a biopsy or a surgery that removes a piece of the tumor and then sends that tumor to be tested with some genetic test. - Dr. Moh'd Khushman
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The Cancering Show is brought to you by USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute at the University of South Alabama. MCI is a cutting-edge cancer research and treatment center built to fight cancer smarter in Mobile and Baldwin counties in Alabama. Our researchers and clinicians focus daily on the struggle against cancer, serving a potential catchment population of more than 4.1 million people, with a singular focus of advancing cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prevention throughout the Gulf Coast and beyond with science, technology and hope.
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