Today's interview features childhood brain cancer survivors Tori Moreno (DIPG) and Michael Keller (Astrocytoma G3), both having received treatment at the Burzynski Clinic in Houston, TX over 2 decades ago. As long-term survivors, they tell of their early memories and shared triumphs of enjoying, for all practical purposes, normal and healthy lives with a special fondness for "Dr. B", including Michael Keller's mom Christine who was helpful to detail their experiences as Michael was just a baby when diagnosed. A controversial doctor with a controversial therapy, Dr. Burzynski represents a sort of enigma of modern research science: a promising treatment with no development support, paired with the deadliest of diseases for our most vulnerable of citizens, childhood brain cancer. Dean and Wendy Fachon join us to further explain the kinds of obstacles with which a young person and their family are confronted when attempting to navigate a pathway to desired treatment amid very few options, as they did with their late son, Neil. Their recently published book of these long, arduous but light-filled adventures, "DIPG", can be found at www.dipgbook.com.

Tiffany Rose Curran shares her childhood cancer journey with us, of 2-time cancer survivor Keelie Grace Curran, her daughter who was first diagnosed at 3 years old with leukemia. Tiffany is an intuitive life coach with training in several energetic healing modalities, and is a graphic artist and also a singer/songwriter. She shares her personal journey with a rich storytelling gift and greatness of heart and hope that lifts the spirit. You can learn more about Tiffany's work at intuitivetiffanyrose.com.

Both Susan Lataille and Wendy Fachon have each endured the tragic loss of their sons and continue to demonstrate the dignity, love, and healing they have found through the shared process of writing. Both coming to us today from Rhode Island, Susan Lataille is a Certified Master Grief Coach who helps individuals who are grieving the loss of a loved one. It took her years to come to a place of acceptance of her own loss, diving head on into sharing her story and then helping others share theirs in her anthology series called “Shining a Light on Grief.” She has been able to guide others in writing their stories to feel lighter, find a new sense of peace and happiness, opening up to life's new possibilities. Wendy Fachon is the Host of Story Walking Radio Hour; she writes for the Natural Awakenings publication and is an environmental educator for the Empowerment Factory, among other outlets. She as been a participating author in the Shining a Light on Grief series and so brings her unique testimony to the effectiveness and power of that process to our audience.

Before devoting his efforts to advocacy for pediatric cancer research upon the diagnosis and loss of his daughter Juliana to DIPG, Marcelo Ortigao served as an associate professor of Preventive Medicine and Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Uniformed Services University (USU), in Bethesda, MD. He is now the Medical and Science Advisor to DIPG Advocacy Group, and also a supporter and advisor to the Marc Jr Foundation in Denver, CO. Dr Ortigao’s work has focused on the epidemiology and immune-biology of vector-borne diseases with specific interests on vector-pathogen-vertebrate host interactions, vector competence and innate immunity, ecology, distribution, and vector control methodologies. Rather than buying into the "rare" excuse for lack of solutions for pediatric diseases, he maintains unequivocally from his experience as a medical researcher that childhood cancers like DIPG (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma) are neglected diseases, full stop. Today's podcast includes descriptions of certain government funding mechanisms now being more open to pediatric designation. His story has been impactfully presented by the Portrait Project: https://portraitproject.muralhealth.com/stories/marcelo-ortigao-part-ii

This historic event, truly a first for a focus on cancer prevention for children, takes place in Washington DC on October 25-26 of 2023. Jonathan Agin, Executive Director of Prep4Gold, Joe McDonough with the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation and Simon Davies, Executive Director of Teen Cancer America share details of this highly anticipated event, which include a assembly of top experts in oncology and pediatric oncology from around the world, and Keynote Speaker Azra Raza from Columbia University, author of "The First Cell," and the human cost of pursuing cancer to the last. Topics of discussion include environmental exposures and childhood cancer risk, genetics and early detection, defining prevention and parental guilt, and preventing adverse outcomes and late effects. Registration is free for families and advocates.

Matthew Zachary is an American advocate and one of the health care industry's most respected, influential, and visionary voices with a 25+ year career in entertainment, advertising,

marketing, nonprofit, digital health, public policy, life sciences, and broadcast media. Also the founder and CEO of the non-profit, Stupid Cancer, and the young adult cancer movement, Matthew shares with us his personal story of discovering, enduring, and eventually beating cancer, and also his sought-after insight into the norms and conventions of the medical research investment culture, which Matthew helps cancer organizations and patients to navigate. Also co-founder of the documentary podcast studio OffScrip Health, Matthew hosts the popular podcast "Out of Patients, with Matthew Zachary," A Top-10 healthcare podcast.

Paul Miller, a dedicated advocate for children with cancer for the past 2 decades, joins us live for an unscripted conversation about childhood cancer advocacy, from the beginnings of his involvement to present day. Notable achievements range from MC-ing events for the Denver Chapter of St. Baldrick's Foundation for several years, to breaking records for blood and platelet donations to Children's Hospital Colorado, to his work with Jack's Angels Foundation towards the success of the National DIPG Awareness Resolution in the House and Senate, including trailblazing 2 Moonshot4Kids Congressional DIPG/Childhood Brain Cancer Briefings and Summits in Washington DC in 2020 and 2022; the impact of his contributions continue.

Childhood Cancer Talk Radio interviews Noah Berlow PhD, with Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute from the perspective of dedicated researcher fighting the deadliest childhood cancer on the front lines. The second half features an interview with Gerry Tye, a DIPG Dad who trailblazed the DIPG Research Group on Facebook who shares the reality behind, and motivation for, this crucial research for all of oncology.

Phil Tan, pharmaceutical industry scientist from San Diego, shares the story of his son Xavier who was diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma (DMG), and the devastating effects of this diagnosis for the whole family. Brain cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children in the United States while cures continue to elude this inadequately funded area of cancer research. Phil, Xavier and the rest of his family sacrificed precious time during their fight to keep him alive to provide a window of insight for the public, as the causes and conditions of childhood brain cancer remain a mystery. The Tan family resorted to alternative, lesser known therapies to create a more effective treatment program for him, while forging new pathways to accessing drugs like ONC201.

Both advocates and moms share the parallel of their personal experiences with their sons who were both diagnosed with DIPG, with Wendy's son Neil Fachon diagnosed at age 19 in 2016, and Janet's son Jack Demeter diagnosed in 2012. A continuation of a deep conversation from last week, the two share their hope and inspiration for continued advocacy as well as some of their hard-fought successes in the field. Despite the growing attention to the pediatric brain cancer research space, nothing has to date changed for the average family with a child diagnosed with DIPG from the experience 60 years ago. The two friends discuss what they have done to survive and thrive in a relative vacuum and an at-times fractured community, how hope is indispensable when fear runs rampant, and how brilliant scientists like Stalislaw Burzynkski (Houston, TX) and Michelle Monje (Palo Alto, CA) and innovative, collaborative organizations like Children's Brain Tumor Network (CBTN) and the Pacific Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium (PNOC) give thousands an extended license to believe there will be a cure for DIPG.