In this Part 2 of 3 of Episode 9 of Bladder Cancer Matters, host Rick Bangs chats with Jill Hamilton-Reeves, PhD, RD, CSO.  Dr. Reeves's research is focused on nutrition and cancer prevention, management, and survivorship, with specific attention on genitourinary cancers.

Rick and Dr. Reeves discuss:

• How good nutrition may help patients receiving immunotherapy, either by increasing the effectiveness of their immunotherapy or making the side effects more tolerable
• How fitness and nutrition before a radical cystectomy play into the results from the surgery including any complications
• How you can lose muscle - not fat - in the days after bladder cancer surgery

In this Part 1 of 3 of Episode 9 of Bladder Cancer Matters, host Rick Bangs chats with Jill Hamilton-Reeves, PhD, RD, CSO.  Dr. Reeves is a registered and licensed dietitian with doctoral training in translational and clinical nutrition science. Dr. Reeves's research is focused on nutrition and cancer prevention, management, and survivorship, with specific attention on genitourinary cancers.

Rick and Dr. Reeves discuss:

• The relationship between nutrition and bladder cancer, and how that evolves at various points in the bladder cancer journey
• How being severely overweight can harm patients before, during and after treatment
• How to deal with lack of an appetite when receiving chemotherapy.

In Episode 8 of "Bladder Cancer Matters," host Rick Bangs interviews Dr. Matthew Milowsky about genetics, genomics and personalized medicine for bladder cancer treatment. 

Dr. Milowsky is the Section Chief, Genitourinary Oncology; Co-Director, Urologic Oncology Program University of North Carolina School of Medicine.  Dr. Milowsky is also the chair of BCAN's Bladder Cancer Genomics Consortium. In this episode, Rick and Dr. Milowsky discuss:

• What the Bladder Cancer Genomics Consortium is and what it does
• What an "exceptional responder" is is bladder cancer
• The importance of clinical studies to the future of bladder cancer
• How philanthropy propels bladder cancer medical research

In this episode, Bladder Cancer Matters host Rick Bangs and guest and BCAN c-founder Diane Zipursky Quale discuss the fact that, despite significant advancements in the past 10 years in the understanding of the biology of bladder cancer and the development and approval of many new therapies, bladder cancer in 2021 remains a deadly disease with low public awareness, inequitable and inadequate funding, and a limited number of effective treatment options.

Rick and Diane also discuss the issue that bladder cancer research advances should be focused on improving the quality of life for patients from the time of initial diagnosis through the end of life, with an emphasis on improving the ability to stratify patients into the appropriate risk categories for recurrence and invasion and developing effective treatments to eliminate the need for bladder removal.

In this episode of "Bladder Cancer Matters," host (and bladder cancer survivor) Rick Bangs interviews Carlos Glender, a non-muscle invasive bladder cancer survivor. Carlos had a Stage 1 high-grade bladder cancer.

Rick and Carlos talk about the symptoms that Carlos experienced that led him to go to his doctor, what it was like to receive a bladder cancer diagnosis, being treated with BCG in a time when the drug is in short supply, what it was like to attend a BCAN Bladder Cancer Summit for Patients and Families, as well as the importance of maintaining a positive attitude.

This podcast was made possible by FerGene and Merck. We are grateful for their support.

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Host Rick Bangs interviews Dr. Elizabeth Plimack of Fox Chase Cancer Center, where she is the Chief, Division of Genitourinary Medical Oncology.  Dr. Plimack is also the Chair of the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network's (BCAN's) Scientific Advisory Board.

Rick and Dr. Plimack talk about:

• The importance of supporting bladder cancer research
• The role of BCAN's Scientific Advisory Board
• What the Bladder Cancer Think Tank is
• Resources that BCAN has for bladder cancer patients, caregivers, researchers and doctors.

Today's episode is sponored by Merck and we are grateful for their support.

In the latest "Bladder Cancer Matters" podcast, host Rick Bangs interviews Dr. Ashish Kamat about the the "slippery slope" of treating high grade bladder cancer tumors that sometimes leads to bladder removal surgery otherwise known as a radical cystectomy. Dr. Kamat is a Professor (Tenure) of Urology and Director of Urologic Oncology Fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center, and a graduate of the AUA Leadership Program.  Dr. Kamat also serves on BCAN's Scientific Advisory Board.

• What does grade mean for bladder cancer tumors?
• Can low grade tumors become high grade?
• What is tumor staging?
• How can patients be confident that they are getting all of the information they need before a radical cystectomy?
• At what point would you encourage a patient to have his or her bladder removed?

Dr. Kamat can be found on Twitter at @UroDocAsh. Please also feel free to reach out to BCAN if you would like to get in touch with Dr. Kamat.

This episode is sponsored by FerGene and Merck. We are grateful for their support.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made a difficult disease even more complicated for bladder cancer patients.  Should those undergoing treatment for the disease get vaccinated before having a procedure or surgery?  What about getting a vaccine either before, during or after chemotherapy?

Dr. Seth Lerner of Baylor University, a bladder cancer doctor, and Dr. Laila Woc-Colburn, an infectious disease doctor at Emory Healthcare, tackle these questions and more.

The two doctors also discuss:

• Does the vaccination reduce or completely eliminate one's risk of contracting the virus?
• Is one type of vaccine better?
• How can patients minimize the risk of a COVID vaccination interfering with their bladder cancer treatment?
• How should patients time their vaccination with their treatment schedules?
• Are there COVID vaccine side effects that are similar to bladder cancer treatment side effects?
• Can BCG reduce the risk of getting COVID?

This podcast episode was brought to you by FerGene and Merck, proud sponsors of Bladder Cancer Matters.

In Episode 2 of the "Bladder Cancer Matters" podcast, host Rick Bangs interviews Dr. Heather Honoré Goltz in Part 2 of a two-part episode.  Rick and Dr. Goltz discuss what oncology social work is and how it might be helpful to bladder cancer patients.  Topics covered in the podcast include:

• How to find an oncology social worker to work with
• Benefits for bladder cancer patients of working with an oncology social worker
• When in your cancer journey to start working with this person

This episode is sponsored by FerGene,  a new gene therapy company dedicated to creating and delivering innovative solutions for bladder cancer.

The Twitter account of the University of Houston Downtown is @UHDowntown.

In Episode 2 of the "Bladder Cancer Matters" podcast, host Rick Bangs interviews Dr. Heather Honoré Goltz in Part 1 of a two-part episode.  Rick and Dr. Goltz discuss what oncology social work is and how it might be helpful to bladder cancer patients.  Topics covered in the podcast also include:

• What oncology social work is and how it is different than other types of social work
• How an oncology social worker helpful in bladder cancer

This episode is sponsored by FerGene,  a new gene therapy company dedicated to creating and delivering innovative solutions for bladder cancer.