Cancerwise Podcast

How to get men to the doctor

Do you know any men who avoid going to the doctor? Lisly Chéry, M.D., and Amy Hassan, M.D., discuss men’s health problems, important cancer screenings and tactics to help convince your loved ones to get the care they need.

Life with astrocytoma: Young brain tumor survivor shares her cancer story

Hannah Kahn was a newlywed marathon runner when she suffered a sudden seizure. Diagnosed with astrocytoma just two days before her 32nd birthday, Hannah talks about recovering from her brain tumor surgery and her survivorship experience with Adolescent and Young Adult Program Director Wendy Girbach. They explore topics like fertility planning, enduring treatment side effects like hair loss, and the importance of staying connected with other survivors through social media.

Lung cancer treatment is evolving with smarter combination therapies

Lung cancer treatment is evolving, with combination therapies providing a more personalized approach to care. Lauren Byers, M.D., and Ferdinandos Skoulidis, M.D., Ph.D., discuss how targeted therapy and immunotherapy are being used together to improve outcomes, the importance of biomarkers in guiding treatment decisions and new advances in KRAS research. They also explore the growing role of personalized immunotherapy and antibody-drug conjugates, including how these approaches may reduce reliance on chemotherapy, and what this means for patients facing lung cancer today.

Staying safe in the sun: Preventing skin cancer with UPF clothing

Have you ever wondered if UPF clothing is an effective way to prevent skin cancer? UT MD Anderson dermatologists Susan Chon, M.D., and Hung Doan, M.D., Ph.D., talk about how sun protective clothing works and why you should consider incorporating sunglasses, hats and items like driving gloves or sleeves into your daily sun safety plan.

Bladder cancer treatment: The importance of accurate diagnosis and staging

Accurate diagnosis and staging are critical for optimizing bladder cancer treatment outcomes. Ashish Kamat, M.D., professor of Urology, and Matt Campbell, M.D, associate professor of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, discuss how bladder cancer is diagnosed, treatment options and bladder preservation strategies in muscle-invasive and non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Advances in translational cancer research

Cancer research is moving fast, and emerging biomarkers can help inform and accelerate the pace of clinical trials, bringing new cancer treatments to patients more rapidly. Chief Scientific Officer Albert Koong, M.D., Ph.D., and Systems Biology Chair Nick Navin, Ph.D., discuss how new technologies and multimodal data integration are improving precision oncology for advanced cancer care.

How to find the right therapist for you

Finding the right therapist can make a significant difference in your experience. Erica Taylor, M.D., and Catherine Powers, Ph.D., discuss what to look for and how to get the most out of each session.

What is personalized ovarian cancer treatment?

Many ovarian cancer patients treated with chemotherapy or surgery still have a small number of cancer cells left in the body, called minimal residual disease (MRD). Amir Jazaeri, M.D., and Roni Nitecki Wilke, M.D., discuss how a minimally invasive procedure called a second-look laparoscopy can help detect MRD, and how clinical trials and immunotherapy could play a role in personalized ovarian cancer treatments.

Sex after cancer treatment: Managing side effects

Cancer treatment can affect intimacy and sex for patients and their partners. Clinical psychotherapist Carmella Wygant and advanced practice provider Donna Herrera Bell discuss common culprits and the importance of speaking up about side effects. 

Facing radiation therapy as a breast cancer doctor and survivor

Jennifer Litton, M.D., breast medical oncologist and chief clinical research officer at MD Anderson Cancer Center, recently completed radiation therapy after she was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Litton and her radiation oncologist Melissa Mitchell, M.D., Ph.D., discuss her experience as a patient undergoing radiation treatment, and how research advancements have led to customized, de-escalated treatment plans.