Cancer Connections

Our guest this episode is Dr. Beth Karlan, recent recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS), and a surgeon who has three decades of experience treating women with ovarian cancer.  

You're going to want to find a quiet space to enjoy this interview, because it's our most content-packed episode yet, covering topics that will be useful to anyone with an interest in the current and future state of cancer treatment, and particularly for gynecological cancers.

Some of the topics covered:

• how precision medicine is moving beyond one size fits all chemotherapy

• how to make sure you're getting the best care possible

• why it's so important to find care that follows NCCN guidelines

• the untapped personal benefits of participating in clinical trials early in the course of treatment

• the differences between Phase 1, 2 and 3 clinical trials

• what PARP inhibitors are

• what germline testing is, and why it should be top of the list for any woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer

• the difference between high grade and low grade cancers and how they require different treatment approaches

• what's important to know about the checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy drugs that you see advertised on TV 

• how Avastin works

• information for those considering additional debulking surgery after recurrence

• why researchers and doctors are excited about ADCs, or antibody drug conjugates

• the importance of getting the right psychosocial support (like Clearity's own Steps Through OC) during treatment


About Clearity

Cancer Connections is produced by Clearity, which provides free support and services to people impacted by ovarian cancer. You can learn more about Clearity and the topics we've discussed today by visiting clearity.org. Or, feel free to email us your questions or comments at [email protected]. Thanks!

On this episode of Cancer Connections, Clearity's founder, Laura Shawver, talks with Clearity's Scientific Director, Deb Zajchowski, about how much the field of cancer testing, treatment and research has changed in the 15 years since Laura was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2006. These two women, pioneers in their field, explain topics like PARP inhibitors, immune oncology and the difference between “hot” and “cold” tumors. Take a listen to learn more about the science and why we should all be hopeful about for the future.


About Clearity

Cancer Connections is produced by Clearity, which provides free support and services to people impacted by ovarian cancer. You can learn more about Clearity and the topics we've discussed today by visiting clearity.org. Or, feel free to email us your questions or comments at [email protected]. Thanks!

In our first three episodes, we heard from expert physicians about the connection between stress and disease, people who have defied the odds in exceptional ways, and how addressing death thoughtfully may bring unexpected joy. But how do these ideas about the connection between stress and disease square with someone who is actually living with a cancer diagnosis every day?

In this episode of Cancer Connections, we talk with Cissy White, a journalist and advocate for PTSD and abuse survivors, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2019. Cissy shares her experience living with cancer, including how her work to heal from PTSD has helped inform how she manages stress today, and taught her how to authentically advocate for herself when choosing treatment options.

Cissy also talks about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and how the health impact of childhood trauma can linger into adulthood and even across generations. For more information about ACEs, check out these sites:

ACES Too High - https://acestoohigh.com
PACES - https://www.acesconnectioninfo.com

You can find out more about Cissy and the work she's doing at her website, Heal Write Now.


About Clearity

Cancer Connections is produced by Clearity, which provides free support and services to people impacted by ovarian cancer. You can learn more about Clearity and the topics we've discussed today by visiting clearity.org. Or, feel free to email us your questions or comments at [email protected]. Thanks!

It's not just you—nobody wants to talk about death. Not only is it an uncomfortable topic to bring up, but also, as palliative care expert Dr. BJ Miller explains, it's nearly impossible to capture in words the range of feelings one can have about such a momentous and personal life event.

But if we don't talk about it, what are we missing out on? Can we find joy and meaning in life by having a conversation about death? In this episode, host Hillary Theakston and her guest Dr. Miller discuss the challenges and the benefits of opening up more to our loved ones about this universal experience. Topics include:

• The emotional and spiritual benefits of addressing mortality
• Ways one might broach the subject of death with loved ones
• Why you probably need to turn your To Do list upside down

Dr. BJ Miller is a physician, author, and expert on end of life care, as well as the founder of the online palliative care service Mettle Health. His book A Beginner's Guide to the End is available at booksellers everywhere. 

You can view BJ Miller's popular TED Talk "What really matters at the end of life" on Youtube, and follow him on Twitter at @bjmillermd.

About Clearity

Cancer Connections is produced by Clearity, which provides free support and services to people impacted by ovarian cancer. You can learn more about Clearity and the topics we've discussed today by visiting clearity.org. Or, feel free to email us your questions or comments at [email protected]. Thanks!

Are spontaneous healers medical flukes? Or is there something we can learn from them and apply to our own lives? Dr. Jeffrey Rediger, author of "Cured: The Life-Changing Science of Spontaneous Healing," talks with us about what he's learned from studying these kinds of cases for the past 15 years. Some of the topics we cover:

• Why it's so important to explore the link between disease and mind
• How personal beliefs influence health and illness
• How connecting with intuition and living authentically could be the critical element for dramatic healing
• Why it's so hard for us to talk about what really matters, and how to start those conversations anyway

You can buy "Cured: The Life-Changing Science of Spontaneous Healing” everywhere,  or visit Dr. Rediger's website drjeffreyrediger.com for more info.

About Clearity

Cancer Connections is produced by Clearity, which provides free support and services to people impacted by ovarian cancer. You can learn more about Clearity and the topics we've discussed today by visiting clearity.org. Or, feel free to email us your questions or comments at [email protected]. Thanks!

Welcome to a new space where we can have the kinds of conversations that are not happening often enough alongside a cancer diagnosis—conversations about things like the connection between stress and wellness, or how to cope with death anxiety,  or how clinical trials work today. We're sitting down with scientists, doctors, advocates, and patients for discussions that are thought-provoking, empowering and fact-based. 

We won’t have all of the answers, but we hope you’ll come away with some important perspectives that may make the cancer journey more manageable, whether you have been diagnosed or someone you care about has. 

Cancer Connections is brought to you by Clearity, an organization that provides services and support at no cost to people whose lives are impacted by ovarian cancer. Learn more about Clearity at clearity.org.