Believe in Progress: an American Association for Cancer Research Foundation Podcast

In this episode of Believe in Progress, we are speaking with Mary Gloria Orji, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 35. Mary confronted the stigmas around cancer in Nigeria to speak about cancer in her country. She also formed a patient support group for those battling cancer in Nigeria.

Remember to visit www.AACR.org to make a donation or to find helpful information and resources. Together, we can make progress against the collections of diseases we call cancer and bring hope to those who need it most.

Cancer Research Saves Lives®

For more episodes of our podcast visit https://AACR.org/BelieveInProgress.

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Our guest on this episode, Mary Gloria Orji, is a beacon of hope and resilience in this battle. Diagnosed with breast cancer at 35, Mary Gloria faced her diagnosis head-on, transforming her journey into a powerful movement for change. Amidst challenges and against the backdrop of stigma, misinformation, and limited medical resources, she founded the Network of People Impacted by Cancer in Nigeria (NePICiN), the first cancer patient support group in Abuja, Nigeria.

In this episode, we'll delve into Mary Gloria's courageous story, the inception of NePICiN, and how this support network is reshaping the cancer journey for many Nigerians. We'll explore the significant hurdles faced by cancer patients in Nigeria, from dealing with metastatic breast cancer to overcoming societal stigma and the dire need for better medical infrastructure. Join us as we discuss hope, survival, and the collective effort to support those impacted by cancer in Nigeria.

Mary Gloria’s journey is not just her own but a testament to what can be achieved with courage, community, and the refusal to give up, even in the face of adversity.

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This is the Believe in Progress podcast hosted by the AACR's Chief Philanthropic Officer Mitch Stoller.

Mary Gloria's story is a profound reminder of the power of hope, the strength of community, and the importance of advocacy in the face of cancer. Her work with NePICiN is not just changing lives in Nigeria; it's inspiring a global conversation about resilience, support, and the urgent need for equitable cancer care.

To our listeners, thank you for joining us on this journey. Your support fuels our mission to advance cancer research and improve patient care. We invite you to spread the word, share this episode, and join us in the fight against cancer.

Together, we can make a difference. Subscribe to Believe in Progress wherever you get your podcasts to stay up to date with more stories of progress, hope, and innovation in cancer science and medicine.

Remember, progress is made one step at a time, and together, we believe in making that journey count. Thank you for listening to the Believe in Progress podcast. Until next time, keep believing in progress.

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Join us again on the Believe in Progress podcast, where we'll continue to share the stories of hope, innovation, and progress within the cancer community. Until then, keep believing in the power of progress, and thank you for your continued support.

We hope you will join us on this journey of hope and progress. Subscribe to Believe in Progress, an AACR Foundation podcast, today, and be inspired by the incredible stories of those who have faced cancer with strength and resilience and the medical professionals who are working to find new treatments and, ultimately, a cure.

Please do not forget to visit https://AACR.org to make a donation or to find helpful information and resources. Together we can make progress in the fight against cancer and bring hope to those who need it most.

Find more episodes of our podcast here: https://AACR.org/BelieveInProgress

This podcast was produced by CollegeCast LLC. Visit www.collegecastpodcasts.com for more information, or to check out our amazing podcasts.

On this episode, we are speaking with Dr. Brian Rivers, the Director of the Cancer Health Equity Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM).

Please do not forget to visit www.aacr.org to make a donation or to find helpful information and resources. Together we can make progress in the fight against cancer and bring hope to those who need it most.

Please don't forget, cancer research saves lives.

For more information visit the AACR and our podcast website here: https://www.aacr.org/get-involved/believe-in-progress-an-aacr-foundation-podcast/

This podcast was produced by the awesome people at CollegeCast LLC. Visit www.collegecastpodcasts.com for more information, or to check out our amazing podcasts.

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Dr. Rivers is the Director of the Cancer Health Equity Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM). He is nationally and internationally recognized as a leader in cancer disparities research and a former member of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Advisory Council on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NACMHD). Dr. Rivers is an active member in the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) community and regularly serves on the faculty for the Scientist to Survivor program.

More recently, Dr. Rivers served as Past-Chairperson for the Minorities in Cancer Research Council of the AACR and Conference Co-Chair for the 11th AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved. Dr. Rivers is a behavioral scientist with a broad background in implementation science and public health, with specific training and expertise in methodologies commonly used to address health disparities, such as the “lay health model” and the “Community-based Participatory Research framework.” Dr. Rivers’ specific programs of research are focused on addressing prostate cancer disparities among African Americans and exploring the role of novel communication interventions, such as mobile health technology, to advance the recruitment science of medically underserved populations.

Dr. Rivers has worked to identify the sociocultural, behavioral, and environmental determinants of cancer health disparities and translated this information into interventions to improve cancer equity among racially diverse populations and medically underserved groups. Dr. Rivers has also developed several psychoeducational interventions for digital platforms such as health apps for mobile devices, to assist with the delivery of salient and tailored cancer research and clinical trials information to high risk groups for prostate cancer, such as African Americans.

Dr. Rivers is a Multiple-Principal Investigator for the NIH National Cancer Institute (NCI) funded PACHE U54 Cancer Research Partnership between MSM, Tuskegee University, and the University of Alabama-Birmingham O’Neil Comprehensive Cancer Center (UAB CCC). Dr. Rivers also serves as the Director of the Integrating Special Populations Core of the NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) funded Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Alliance.

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This is the Believe in Progress podcast hosted by the AACR Foundation, featuring Dr. Brian Rivers.

We hope you have enjoyed this enlightening episode of the "Believe in Progress Podcast," and want to express our heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Brian Rivers for joining us and sharing his invaluable insights into the realm of cancer health equity and disparities research. Dr. Rivers' dedication to advancing our understanding and addressing the critical issues surrounding cancer disparities is truly inspiring, reminding us of the importance of inclusive research and equitable healthcare practices.

To our esteemed listeners, thank you for tuning in and being part of this important conversation. Your engagement and support are pivotal as we continue to explore and highlight the groundbreaking work being done in the fight against cancer. We hope today's episode has not only informed you but also inspired you to contribute to the cause in your own unique way.

Let's keep the momentum going by sharing this episode, engaging in discussions, and advocating for progress in cancer research and patient care. Together, we can make a significant impact in the lives of those affected by cancer.

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Join us again on the Believe in Progress Podcast, where we'll continue to share the stories of hope, innovation, and progress within the cancer community. Until then, keep believing in the power of progress, and thank you for your continued support.

We hope you will join us on this journey of hope and progress. Subscribe to Believe in Progress, the AACR Foundation's podcast, today, and be inspired by the incredible stories of those who have faced cancer with strength and resilience, and the medical professionals who are working to find new treatments and ultimately a cure.

Please do not forget to visit www.aacr.org to make a donation or to find helpful information and resources. Together we can make progress in the fight against cancer and bring hope to those who need it most.

Please don't forget, cancer research saves lives.

For more information visit the AACR and our podcast here: https://www.aacr.org/get-involved/believe-in-progress-an-aacr-foundation-podcast/

This podcast was produced by the awesome people at CollegeCast LLC. Visit www.collegecastpodcasts.com for more information, or to check out our amazing podcasts.

On this episode, we are speaking with Dr. Patricia LoRusso, a luminary in the field of medical oncology and drug development.

Please do not forget to visit www.aacr.org to make a donation or to find helpful information and resources. Together we can make progress in the fight against cancer and bring hope to those who need it most.

Please don't forget, cancer research saves lives.

For more information visit the AACR and our podcast website here: https://www.aacr.org/get-involved/believe-in-progress-an-aacr-foundation-podcast/

This podcast was produced by the awesome people at CollegeCast LLC. Visit www.collegecastpodcasts.com for more information, or to check out our amazing podcasts.

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Dr. LoRusso serves as the associate director of experimental therapeutics at Yale Cancer Center and is the AACR President-elect. She has been instrumental in pioneering groundbreaking clinical trials and cancer drug developments, bringing hope and new solutions to countless patients. Today, we will explore her remarkable journey, her contributions to cancer research, and her vision for the future of oncology.

As the associate director of experimental therapeutics at Yale Cancer Center, Dr. LoRusso is a nationally recognized expert in developing new cancer drugs through clinical trials. Dr. LoRusso has pioneered significant advances in medical oncology, drug development, and early phase clinical trials for her work at Wayne State University’s Barbara Karmanos Cancer Institute as director of both the Phase I Clinical Trials Program and of the Eisenberg Center for Experimental Therapeutics.

Dr. LoRusso joined the AACR in 1988, served on the AACR Board of Directors from 2015 to 2018, and received the AACR-Joseph H. Burchenal Award for Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Cancer Research in 2022. She currently serves with distinction as chair of the AACR Exploratory IND/Biomarker-Driven Clinical Trials Task Force; chair of the AACR-Margaret Foti Award for Leadership and Extraordinary Achievements in Cancer Research Award Committee; and cochair of the AACR Precision Combination Therapy Task Force. She has been a member of the AACR Project GENIE External Advisory Board since its inception in 2015.

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This is the Believe in Progress podcast hosted by the AACR Foundation and featuring Dr. Patricia LoRusso.

Join us on this journey of hope and progress. Subscribe to Believe in Progress, the AACR Foundation's podcast, today, and be inspired by the incredible stories of those who have faced cancer with strength and resilience, and the medical professionals who are working to find new treatments and ultimately a cure.

Please do not forget to visit www.aacr.org to make a donation or to find helpful information and resources. Together we can make progress in the fight against cancer and bring hope to those who need it most.

Please don't forget, cancer research saves lives.

For more information visit the AACR and our podcast here: https://www.aacr.org/get-involved/believe-in-progress-an-aacr-foundation-podcast/

This podcast was produced by the awesome people at CollegeCast LLC. Visit www.collegecastpodcasts.com for more information, or to check out our amazing podcasts.

On this episode, we are speaking with Andrea Wilson Woods a keynote speaker, a writer who loves to tell stories, and a patient advocate who founded the nonprofit Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association. For over ten years, Andrea worked in the education field as a teacher and professor for public and private schools as well as universities. Andrea obtained her master’s degree in professional writing from the University of Southern California; her nonfiction writing has won national awards. Her best-selling and award-winning book, Better Off Bald: A Life in 147 Days, is a medical memoir about raising and losing her sister to liver cancer.

Please do not forget to visit www.aacr.org to make a donation or to find helpful information and resources. Together we can make progress in the fight against cancer and bring hope to those who need it most.

Please don't forget, cancer research saves lives.

For more information visit the AACR and our podcast website here: https://www.aacr.org/get-involved/believe-in-progress-an-aacr-foundation-podcast/

This podcast was produced by the awesome people at CollegeCast LLC. Visit www.collegecastpodcasts.com for more information, or to check out our amazing podcasts.

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You can visit our guest, Andrea Wilson Woods's website here: https://www.andreawilsonwoods.com.

In 2002, Andrea founded Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association after losing her 15-year-old sister Adrienne, whom she raised for seven years, to stage IV liver cancer. Blue Faery’s mission is to prevent, treat, and cure primary liver cancer, specifically hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), through research, education, and advocacy. Andrea established the articles of incorporation; wrote the bylaws, mission statement, and goals; and developed the organizational structure of the corporation. Currently, she attends board meetings, serves on committees, stays informed about liver cancer, and governs the organization. Andrea represents Blue Faery and its mission at conferences, seminars, and special events. Blue Faery has been honored for community service by U.S. Congressman Adam B. Schiff, California State Senator Jack Scott, and the County of Los Angeles, and was inducted into the Burbank Business Hall of Fame for receiving the Best of Burbank Charity Award from 2013 – 2017.

Since serving on an HCC Patient Advisory Board for Eli Lilly in 2014, Andrea has received numerous scholarships to attend various conferences around the country to tell her story, increase her knowledge, advocate for more funding, and continue her professional development. Organizations that have granted scholarships/sponsorships include Academy Health, American Association for Cancer Research, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Liver Foundation, Caring Ambassadors, Conquer Cancer Foundation, Global Liver Institute, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable, and more.

In 2017, Andrea won an e-Patient scholarship for Stanford Medicine X, where she presented her talk, “How Euphemisms Help Us Deal With Death.” Check out more speaking engagements.

As a patient advocate, Andrea serves on many committees and advisory boards, including NCI Hepatobiliary Task Force, Target Pharma Solutions HCC Advisory Board, and ASCO’s Systemic Therapy for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Guideline Panel. She is a patient advocate representative on the Mayo Clinic Hepatobiliary SPORE, which is devoted to improving the diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer and bile duct cancer. Andrea serves as a Consumer Reviewer on the Department of Defense’s Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program. Andrea represents Blue Faery as a member of AASLD, ASCO, Deadliest Cancers Coalition, and GI Cancers Alliance. She was formerly a member and co-chair of the awareness group of the Liver Cancer Roundtable. Currently, Andrea is the only American serving on the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network’s Liver Cancer Advisory Council.

Andrea was one of many co-authors of The Change 12: Insights Into Self-Empowerment(Amazon 2016). She is cited as a co-author on the academic article titled “Understanding the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patient landscape: Results of the first global survey of people living with HCC” (Annals of Oncology, June 2017). In 2017, Andrea debuted her podcast Better Off Bald: A Life in 147 Days. Better Off Bald is based on Andrea’s (now published) memoir about raising and losing her sister to liver cancer. To listen to Adrienne’s story, search Better Off Bald in iTunes or listen to the first episode here. In October 2019, Andrea’s medical memoir Better Off Bald: A Life in 147 Days became a bestseller in multiple categories on Amazon.

Andrea obtained her master’s degree in writing from the University of Southern California where she focused on non-fiction. She loves telling and writing stories. Her nonfiction writing has won national awards from Writer’s Digest and the National Writer’s Association, and she received an editorial internship from Los Angeles Family Magazine. As an adjunct professor for Kaplan University, she taught a writing skills and strategies class to incoming freshman students. As a graduate TA, Andrea worked with more than 100 undergraduate students with the goal of improving all aspects of their writing.

Before focusing on her graduate studies, Andrea worked as a development writer and editor for USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. As a family service specialist at the Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA, she facilitated women’s groups in the Legacy for Children research study sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and managed by the Research Triangle Institute. Additionally, Andrea worked as a social media manager for the nation’s largest wine importer.

During the seven years she raised her sister, Andrea worked as a primary and secondary school teacher, and she acted in film, television, and theatre. Andrea received her certification in fundraising with a focus on institutional development from UCLA Extension. Andrea is also an ICF Associate Certified Coach and a 500-Hour Certified Yoga Teacher. She graduated cum laude from USC with a B.A. in humanities. After graduation, Andrea gained custody of her then eight-year-old sister Adrienne.

Andrea started Blue Faery because she doesn’t want another person to lose a loved one to HCC, and she wants the world to know Adrienne’s spirit, strength, and courage.

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This is the Believe in Progress podcast hosted by the AACR Foundation and featuring Andrea Wilson Woods.

Join us on this journey of hope and progress. Subscribe to Believe in Progress, the AACR Foundation's podcast, today, and be inspired by the incredible stories of those who have faced cancer with strength and resilience, and the medical professionals who are working to find new treatments and ultimately a cure.

Please do not forget to visit www.aacr.org to make a donation or to find helpful information and resources. Together we can make progress in the fight against cancer and bring hope to those who need it most.

Please don't forget, cancer research saves lives.

For more information visit the AACR and our podcast here: https://www.aacr.org/get-involved/believe-in-progress-an-aacr-foundation-podcast/

This podcast was produced by the awesome people at CollegeCast LLC. Visit www.collegecastpodcasts.com for more information, or to check out our amazing podcasts.

On this episode, we are speaking with Hayley Dinerman (the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation), and Melissa Berry (Board Chair of the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation, 10-year Triple Negative Breast Cancer survivor, and the founder of Cancer Fashionista - https://cancerfashionista.com).

Please do not forget to visit www.aacr.org to make a donation or to find helpful information and resources. Together we can make progress in the fight against cancer and bring hope to those who need it most.

Please don't forget, cancer research saves lives.

For more information visit the AACR and our podcast here: https://www.aacr.org/get-involved/believe-in-progress-an-aacr-foundation-podcast/

This podcast was produced by the awesome people at CollegeCast LLC. Visit www.collegecastpodcasts.com for more information, or to check out our amazing podcasts.

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Hayley Dinerman is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation, the leading advocacy group for the triple negative community. She began her career as a corporate lawyer in New York City and pivoted to the non-profit world when a close friend was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Hayley is a proven thought leader in the breast cancer space with the ability to cast vision, strategically plan, manage and fund innovative social impact solutions. Her tireless commitment, unparalleled resourcefulness and valuable relationships have resulted in millions of dollars raised to fund Triple Negative-specific research initiatives, as well as an extensive array of resources and support services for those battling TNBC.

Melissa Berry is the current Board Chair of the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation. She’s a 10-year Triple Negative Breast Cancer survivor and the founder of Cancer Fashionista. During her breast cancer journey, she scoured the internet for beauty tips and tricks to help manage the appearance-related side effects of her treatment and surgeries. Melissa began to keep track of the best advice and items that she found, then created the CancerFashionista.com blog to share her recommendations with others. She has since become a trusted voice in the breast cancer community, launched her own podcast, “Dear Cancer, I’m Beautiful,” and has been tapped by several national media outlets, to share both product recommendations and self-care tips for cancer patients.

Melissa has been recognized for her outstanding support of women affected by breast cancer by many organizations. In 2016, she received the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation’s Courage Award, and in 2018 she was honored with the YWCA Bergen County’s Beacon of Light Award.

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This is the Believe in Progress podcast hosted by the AACR Foundation and featuring Hayley Dinerman and Melissa Berry.

Join us on this journey of hope and progress. Subscribe to Believe in Progress, the AACR Foundation's podcast, today, and be inspired by the incredible stories of those who have faced cancer with strength and resilience, and the medical professionals who are working to find new treatments and ultimately a cure.

Please do not forget to visit www.aacr.org to make a donation or to find helpful information and resources. Together we can make progress in the fight against cancer and bring hope to those who need it most.

Please don't forget, cancer research saves lives.

For more information visit the AACR and our podcast here: https://www.aacr.org/get-involved/believe-in-progress-an-aacr-foundation-podcast/

This podcast was produced by the awesome people at CollegeCast LLC. Visit www.collegecastpodcasts.com for more information, or to check out our amazing podcasts.

On this episode, we are speaking with Paul Stoller, an American cultural anthropologist and professor of anthropology at West Chester University.

Please do not forget to visit www.aacr.org to make a donation or to find helpful information and resources. Together we can make progress in the fight against cancer and bring hope to those who need it most.

Please don't forget, cancer research saves lives.

For more information visit the AACR and our podcast here: https://www.aacr.org/get-involved/believe-in-progress-an-aacr-foundation-podcast/

This podcast was produced by the awesome people at CollegeCast LLC. Visit www.collegecastpodcasts.com for more information, or to check out our amazing podcasts.

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Paul Stoller received his B.A. in political science at the University of Pittsburgh in 1969. He joined the Peace Corps after graduation. Placed in Niger, he taught English to the Songhay until he left in 1971. In 1974, he earned an MS in sociolinguistics at Georgetown University. In 1978, Stoller obtained his Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin with his field research on religious practices among the Songhay in Tillaberi and Mehanna and Wanzerbe in the Republic of Niger and Mali. More specifically, his work has focused on magic, sorcery and spirit possession.

He has been conducting anthropological research for 30 years. His early work concerned the religion of the Songhay people who live in the Republics of Niger and Mali in West Africa. In that work, he focused primarily on magic, sorcery and spirit possession practices. Since 1992, Stoller has pursued studies of West African immigrants in New York City. Those studies have concerned such topics as the cultural dynamics of informal market economies and the politics of immigration. The results of this ongoing research has led Stoller to the study of the anthropology of religion, visual anthropology, the anthropology of senses and economic anthropology. Stoller's work has resulted in the publication of 11 books, including ethnographies, biographies, memoirs as well as two novels. An essay, "Blogging Bliss," will appear in the December 2013 edition of Anthropology Now. In 2014, Dr. Stoller has a forthcoming book entitled: Yaya's Quest: The Quest for Wellbeing in the World. His work is widely read and recognized. In 1994 he was awarded a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship. In 2002, the American Anthropological Association named him the recipient of the Robert B Textor Award for Excellence in Anthropology. On April 24, 2013, Dr. Stoller was awarded the Anders Retzius Gold Medal in Anthropology (given once every three years by the King of Sweden. He lectures frequently both in the United States and Europe and has appeared on various NPR programs as well as on the National Geographic Television Network.

After more than 50 years of good health, Paul suddenly found himself diagnosed with lymphoma. The only thing more transformative than his fear and dread of cancer was the place it ultimately took him: 25 years back in time to his days as an apprentice to a West African sorcerer, Adamu Jenitongo.

Paul wrote about these experiences in his book "Stranger in the Village of the Sick: A Memoir of Cancer, Sorcery, and Healing," which follows Paul down this unexpected path toward personal discovery, growth, and healing. The stories in the book are about life in the village of the healthy and the village of the sick, and they highlight differences in how illness is culturally perceived. In America and the West, illness is war; we strive to eradicate it from our bodies and lives. In West Africa, however, illness is an ever-present companion, and sorcerers learn to master illnesses like cancer through a combination of acceptance, pragmatism, and patience.

On this episode (similar to what he does in his book), Paul provides a view into the ancient practices of sorcery, revealing that as an apprentice he learned to read divining shells, mix potions, and recite incantations. But it wasn't until he got cancer that he realized that sorcery embodied a more profound meaning, one that every person could use: "Sorcery is a body of knowledge and practice that enables one to see things clearly and to walk with confidence on the path of fear."

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This is the Believe in Progress podcast hosted by the AACR Foundation and featuring Paul Stoller.

Join us on this journey of hope and progress. Subscribe to Believe in Progress, the AACR Foundation's podcast, today, and be inspired by the incredible stories of those who have faced cancer with strength and resilience, and the medical professionals who are working to find new treatments and ultimately a cure.

Please do not forget to visit www.aacr.org to make a donation or to find helpful information and resources. Together we can make progress in the fight against cancer and bring hope to those who need it most.

Please don't forget, cancer research saves lives.

For more information visit the AACR and our podcast here: https://www.aacr.org/get-involved/believe-in-progress-an-aacr-foundation-podcast/

This podcast was produced by the awesome people at CollegeCast LLC. Visit www.collegecastpodcasts.com for more information, or to check out our amazing podcasts.

On this episode, we are speaking with Matthew Marquardt, a medical student and professional triathlete at the Ohio State University College Medicine.

Please do not forget to visit www.aacr.org to make a donation or to find helpful information and resources. Together we can make progress in the fight against cancer and bring hope to those who need it most.

Please don't forget, cancer research saves lives.

For more information visit the AACR and our podcast here: https://www.aacr.org/get-involved/believe-in-progress-an-aacr-foundation-podcast/

This podcast was produced by the awesome people at CollegeCast LLC. Visit www.collegecastpodcasts.com for more information, or to check out our amazing podcasts.

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Matthew Marquardt is a medical student and professional triathlete at the Ohio State University College Medicine. A varsity swimmer while in college and US Olympic Trials Qualifier, he graduated from Princeton University in 2021 with a major in Chemistry and a minor in Entrepreneurship.

His interest in cancer and in fundraising for cancer related causes began during his freshman year of high school (2012) when one of his childhood friends was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Wanting to say thank you for all of the support she was given throughout her treatments, he decided to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2013 and raised over $6,000 for Make A Wish.

After multiple family members were diagnosed with cancer, he decided to fundraise again. This time by riding across the US in 2021 and raising over $15,500 for St. Jude Children's Hospital. Now, he is studying to become a future cancer surgeon, and has unexpectedly become one of the top professional Ironman triathletes in the world.

In 2022, he won the Ironman world championship as an age group athlete, and during his 2023 rookie season as a professional, he put up the third fastest ever debut time at Ironman Texas. Through triathlon, he hopes to use sport to make a difference through cancer awareness and fundraising.

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This is the Believe in Progress podcast hosted by the AACR Foundation and featuring Matthew Marquardt.

Join us on this journey of hope and progress. Subscribe to Believe in Progress, the AACR Foundation's podcast, today, and be inspired by the incredible stories of those who have faced cancer with strength and resilience, and the medical professionals who are working to find new treatments and ultimately a cure.

Please do not forget to visit www.aacr.org to make a donation or to find helpful information and resources. Together we can make progress in the fight against cancer and bring hope to those who need it most.

Please don't forget, cancer research saves lives.

For more information visit the AACR and our podcast here: https://www.aacr.org/get-involved/believe-in-progress-an-aacr-foundation-podcast/

This podcast was produced by the awesome people at CollegeCast LLC. Visit www.collegecastpodcasts.com for more information, or to check out our amazing podcasts.

On this episode, we are speaking with R&B icon Patti LaBelle.

Please do not forget to visit www.aacr.org to make a donation or to find helpful information and resources. Together we can make progress in the fight against cancer and bring hope to those who need it most.

Please don't forget, cancer research saves lives.

For more information visit the AACR and our podcast here: https://www.aacr.org/get-involved/believe-in-progress-an-aacr-foundation-podcast/

This podcast was produced by the awesome people at CollegeCast LLC. Visit www.collegecastpodcasts.com for more information, or to check out our amazing podcasts.

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In 2005, Patti LaBelle, the iconic singer, had a cancer scare, but fortunately, she found out that she did not have cancer. While she has never personally received a breast cancer diagnosis, she experienced the loss of her three sisters to this devastating disease.

R&B icon Patti LaBelle, is well known for her ability to reach soaring vocal crescendos while also being capable of stirring emotions with hushed tones. She boasts one of the most enduring careers in modern music. Beginning her musical journey in the early '60s with the Bluebelles, a girl group that eventually morphed into the '70s funk pioneers LaBelle, she has achieved success in diverse genres ranging from girl group pop and soul to disco, funk, and high-tech pop.

She Launched her solo career in 1977, LaBelle achieved 13 Top Ten R&B hits, including the chart-leading quiet storm anthem "If Only You Knew" (1983), and crossover successes such as "New Attitude" (1985) and "On My Own" (1986).

Though best known for her singles, two of her later albums, Burnin' (1991) and Live! One Night Only (1998), received Grammy Awards in the R&B category. In the following years, LaBelle ventured into gospel and jazz with albums like The Gospel According to Patti LaBelle (2006) and Bel Hommage (2017), while continuing her work as a performer and actress.

She joins us today to share stories from her incredible career, as well as to share advice and encouragement for supporting loved ones dealing with cancer.

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This is the Believe in Progress podcast hosted by the AACR Foundation and featuring the iconic Patti LaBelle.

Join us on this journey of hope and progress. Subscribe to Believe in Progress, the AACR Foundation's podcast, today, and be inspired by the incredible stories of those who have faced cancer with strength and resilience, and the medical professionals who are working to find new treatments and ultimately a cure.

Please do not forget to visit www.aacr.org to make a donation or to find helpful information and resources. Together we can make progress in the fight against cancer and bring hope to those who need it most.

Please don't forget, cancer research saves lives.

For more information visit the AACR and our podcast here: https://www.aacr.org/get-involved/believe-in-progress-an-aacr-foundation-podcast/

This podcast was produced by the awesome people at CollegeCast LLC. Visit www.collegecastpodcasts.com for more information, or to check out our amazing podcasts.

On this episode, we are speaking with Dr. Margaret Foti, the Chief Executive Officer of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), the first and largest cancer research organization in the world. Under her visionary leadership, membership has grown from about 3,000 members to over 54,000 in 131 countries and territories, and the AACR’s portfolio of peer-reviewed scientific journals has increased from one to ten.

Please do not forget to visit www.aacr.org to make a donation or to find helpful information and resources. Together we can make progress in the fight against cancer and bring hope to those who need it most.

Please don't forget, cancer research saves lives.

For more information visit the AACR and our podcast here: https://www.aacr.org/get-involved/believe-in-progress-an-aacr-foundation-podcast/

This podcast was produced by the awesome people at CollegeCast LLC. Visit www.collegecastpodcasts.com for more information, or to check out our amazing podcasts.

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After beginning her AACR career in an editorial position with the journal Cancer Research, Foti progressed through several key editorial and management roles in scientific publishing to become chief executive officer. She launched nine additional major peer-reviewed scientific journals: Blood Cancer Discovery; Cancer Discovery; Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention; Cancer Immunology Research; Cancer Prevention Research; Cancer Research Communications; Clinical Cancer Research; Molecular Cancer Research; and Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. She also helped launch Cancer Today, a magazine for cancer patients, survivors, and their families and caregivers, as well as Leading Discoveries, a publication that highlights AACR members, programs, and philanthropic initiatives.

A graduate of Temple University, Foti is one of the most influential voices in advancing the field of cancer research, both in the United States and abroad. She was elected president of three professional societies in scholarly publishing and in cancer research. She has also served as a board member, committee member, and consultant to a number of other nonprofit organizations. There is a legacy of young women, minority scientists, and investigators-in-training whose careers have been advanced as a result of her mentorship and support.

Under Foti’s leadership, the AACR has served with distinction as the Scientific Partner of Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C). In this capacity, Foti and the AACR staff have brought significant expertise to their work with SU2C, especially in the scientific peer review of projects, scientific project management, grants administration, communications, and science policy.

Foti’s leadership was instrumental in the production of two landmark annual reports that highlight the critical need for increased annual federal funding for the government entities that fuel progress against cancer: the AACR Cancer Progress Report, which was first published in 2011 and celebrates the advances in basic, translational, and clinical cancer research which have had a major impact on therapeutic development and improved patient care; and the AACR Cancer Disparities Progress Report, which was launched in 2020 with the overarching goal of increasing public understanding of cancer health disparities and of the vital importance of cancer health disparities research to saving lives.

Foti’s contributions have been widely recognized by numerous awards from organizations around the world. Her lengthy list of formal recognitions includes honorary degrees in medicine and surgery from the University of Rome La Sapienza and the University of Catania in Sicily, and an honorary degree in medicine from the University CEU of San Pablo in Madrid. In 2023, she received the Outstanding Leadership Award from the University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center, and in 2021 she received the Tara Withington Public Service Award from the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) as well as the 23rd Annual Gallery of Success Award from the Klein College of Media and Communication at Temple University. In 2019, she was honored as one of the Women of Inspiration and Influence by the Women Business Leaders of the U.S. Health Care Industry Foundation. She was also recognized with the 2018 Women for Oncology Award from the European Society for Medical Oncology, the 2016 PHL Life Sciences Ultimate Solution Award, the Ovarcome Excellence 2016 Award, the 2016 James Ewing Layperson’s Award from the Society of Surgical Oncology, the 2016 Honorary Member Award from the Oncology Nursing Society, and as a 2015 honoree of “the one hundred” by Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center. Additionally, she received the 2015 Children’s Champion Award from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the 2014 Ellen V. Sigal Advocacy Leadership Award from Friends of Cancer Research, the 2014 Morton M. Kligerman Visiting Professorship Award from the University of Pennsylvania, the 2013 Stanley P. Reimann Honor Award from Fox Chase Cancer Center, and the 2013 Distinguished Partner in Hope Award during the Annual Colorectal Cancer Conference hosted by the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania. In 2007, the AACR established the first AACR Margaret Foti Award for Leadership and Extraordinary Achievements in Cancer Research, which is given annually in her name.

Her visionary leadership, combined with her steadfast focus on the AACR’s mission, continues to drive the field forward towards the vital goal of preventing and curing all cancers.

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This is the Believe in Progress podcast hosted by the AACR Foundation and featuring Dr. Margaret Foti.

Join us on this journey of hope and progress. Subscribe to Believe in Progress, the AACR Foundation's podcast, today, and be inspired by the incredible stories of those who have faced cancer with strength and resilience, and the medical professionals who are working to find new treatments and ultimately a cure.

Please do not forget to visit www.aacr.org to make a donation or to find helpful information and resources. Together we can make progress in the fight against cancer and bring hope to those who need it most.

Please don't forget, cancer research saves lives.

For more information visit the AACR and our podcast here: https://www.aacr.org/get-involved/believe-in-progress-an-aacr-foundation-podcast/

This podcast was produced by the awesome people at CollegeCast LLC. Visit www.collegecastpodcasts.com for more information, or to check out our amazing podcasts.

On this episode, we are speaking with Rabbi Benjamin David. Rabbi Ben David is usually the one providing assistance to those in need, but following his lymphoma diagnosis, he discovered that he was in need as well. The avid marathon runner has gradually regained an active lifestyle, one stride at a time.

Please do not forget to visit www.aacr.org to make a donation or to find helpful information and resources. Together we can make progress in the fight against cancer and bring hope to those who need it most.

Please don't forget, cancer research saves lives.

For more information visit the AACR and our podcast here: https://www.aacr.org/get-involved/believe-in-progress-an-aacr-foundation-podcast/

This podcast was produced by the awesome people at CollegeCast LLC. Visit www.collegecastpodcasts.com for more information, or to check out our amazing podcasts.

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David is well known for his love of running, his roles as a husband and father of three, and as the senior rabbi at Congregation Adath Emanu-El in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. He was diagnosed with an aggressive type of cancer known as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), necessitating immediate treatment.

David had a suspicion it could be cancer even before his diagnosis. The fall before his diagnosis, he had detected a lump on his neck, although it hadn't caused him much concern. By then, David had already completed 17 full marathons and over 20 half-marathons, clocking more than 30 miles of running each week and feeling like he was in excellent health. He ran frequently, would go to the gym often, had a healthy diet, and led a healthy life. It felt as though he was doing everything right.

He is a competitive distance runner, he has completed 20 marathons including the Boston Marathon twice and the NYC Marathon four times. He is a co-founder of the Running Rabbis, a social justice initiative that works with clergy worldwide to run and walk in the name of worthy causes.

He joins us on this episode to share his story of hope with you.

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This is the Believe in Progress podcast hosted by the AACR Foundation and featuring Rabbi Benjamin David.

Join us on this journey of hope and progress. Subscribe to Believe in Progress, the AACR Foundation's podcast, today, and be inspired by the incredible stories of those who have faced cancer with strength and resilience, and the medical professionals who are working to find new treatments and ultimately a cure.

Please do not forget to visit www.aacr.org to make a donation or to find helpful information and resources. Together we can make progress in the fight against cancer and bring hope to those who need it most.

Please don't forget, cancer research saves lives.

For more information visit the AACR and our podcast here: https://www.aacr.org/get-involved/believe-in-progress-an-aacr-foundation-podcast/

This podcast was produced by the awesome people at CollegeCast LLC. Visit www.collegecastpodcasts.com for more information, or to check out our amazing podcasts.