Cancer and Menopause with Dr. Constance Dabezies
The Cancering Show
In this episode of The Cancering Show, Dr. JYP sits down with menopause specialist Dr. Constance Dabezies for a candid conversation about where cancer care and menopause meet. They talk about why menopause deserves real attention in survivorship, how cancer treatments can trigger or intensify symptoms, and what women can do to feel better. From hormone therapy to non-hormonal options and everyday lifestyle shifts, they walk through practical ways to manage symptoms. The episode highlights the importance of personalized care, the latest evidence-based guidance from the Menopause Society, and...
info_outline
Chemo 101 with Mary Lucy Mattei
The Cancering Show
In this episode, Dr. JYP talks with , a nurse practitioner specializing in gynecologic oncology, all about chemotherapy basics: "Chemo 101." They explain what chemotherapy is, why it's used, and what patients can expect during treatment. Mary Lucy shares practical advice on what to wear and what to bring on the first infusion day. She covers common side effects such as fatigue, nausea, constipation, hair loss, and nerve problems, and provides guidance on how to manage them.They discuss the emotional impact of losing hair and explore options such as wigs, scarves, and even eyebrow tattooing....
info_outline
New Frontiers In Cervical Cancer Screening with Dr. Rebecca Perkins
The Cancering Show
In this episode of The Cancering Show, host Dr. Jennifer Young Pierce talks with Dr. Rebecca Perkins, a nationally recognized expert in cervical cancer prevention, about the latest updates in HPV testing and cervical cancer screening. They emphasize that HPV (human papillomavirus) is linked to virtually all cervical cancers (and several other cancers in men and women), and that testing for high-risk HPV is better at catching problems early compared with the traditional Pap test. The episode highlights new self-collection kits, in which patients can collect their own sample, usually at a...
info_outline
The Power of Oncology Yoga with Michelle Ryan-Day
The Cancering Show
In this episode of The Cancering Show, Dr. JYP welcomes certified oncology yoga instructor Michelle Ryan-Day to discuss the transformative impact of yoga for cancer patients and survivors. Michelle shares her journey into oncology yoga, emphasizing its evidence-based benefits, including reducing recurrence risk, managing treatment side effects such as fatigue and neuropathy, and supporting emotional health. The conversation highlights the accessibility of chair-based yoga tailored for all fitness levels, the power of the breath, and the importance of self-compassion in healing. Listeners also...
info_outline
Zapping Liver Tumors with Dr. Natalie Bath
The Cancering Show
In this episode, Dr. JYP talks with , M.D., a USA Health surgical oncologist, about a new groundbreaking cancer treatment for liver tumors called histotripsy. is a non-invasive technology that uses high-intensity sound waves to break up liver tumors without surgery, incisions or long recovery times. Patients go under general anesthesia, and the machine delivers sound waves to the cancer cells while the physician uses imaging to monitor the treatment. Most people go home the same day and recover quickly, needing only over-the-counter pain medication. This treatment works for different types...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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....
info_outline
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
Never Miss an Episode
Please subscribe to the Cancering Show.
Like us on Facebook
Want us to deliver the Cancering Show to your email inbox?
Let us know by contacting Dr. JYP at cancering.com.
//////
Thanks for listening to the Cancering Show, brought to you by USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute.
Please subscribe, rate and review the Cancering Show wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
Until next time, be healthy, happy and always thriving.
Sponsor
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.
Want to know more about the Mitchell Cancer Institute?
Visit us at usamci.com or search for us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Mitchell Cancer Institute is a member of USA Health.
To learn more about all of USA Health hospitals, clinics and services, visit usahealthsystem.com.