CURE Talks Cancer

In this week’s “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we speak with Tony Bossis, PhD, head of the Cancer Anxiety Project, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry, and director of palliative care at NYU. 

Bossis is one of a handful of scientists leading the so-called  "research renaissance" into psychedelics like psilocybin -- the psychoactive ingredient found in magic mushrooms. 

In clinical trials, psilocybin is getting remarkable results with patients who take it in guided sessions alongside a therapist. Many patients claim that the experience ranks among the most important of their lives and that it brings profound new perspective on living and dying that helps ease stress and anxiety. 

In this episode, you'll learn about the history of psilocybin research, what we've learned, what we still need to figure out, and what's in store for patients looking to find meaning amid their suffering. 

In this week’s “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Michelle Velez, a married mother of two and news anchor in Las Vegas, who developed a rare gynecological cancer following a molar pregnancy. “When we went back for another ultrasound to check and see how things have progressed, that’s when my doctor took one look at the screen, turned around and asked me, ‘How do you feel?’ And I said, ‘I feel awful and sick all the time.’ And he said, ‘Well, that's because you didn’t have a miscarriage. You have a molar pregnancy.’ We had no idea what that was. I'd never heard of it in my life.” A molar pregnancy occurs in 1 out of every 1,000 pregnancies and is a result of a genetic error during the fertilization process that leads to a growth of abnormal tissue within the uterus, according to the American Pregnancy Association.  Velez had never heard of her type of cancer and felt alone as she was coping with the diagnosis and the loss of a baby. Listen as she details the emotional journey that led to her choriocarcinoma diagnosis and how she found strength.

As palliative care becomes a bigger part of a patient’s treatment journey, oncology nurses need to understand the realities and benefits of palliative care and help make their patients understand these as well. Which is why in this month’s episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer Podcast: Nursing Edition,” we had the chance to talk with Betty Ferrell, FAAN, FPCN, MA, PhD, director of the Division of Nursing Research and Education at City of Hope, and discuss the important differences between palliative care and end of life care and how nurses can advocate for proper palliative care for their patients. 

After putting off a trip to the doctor, Grammy-winning songwriter and vocal producer Kuk Harrell was devastated to learn that he had prostate cancer, like his father before him. However, with his characteristic positive attitude and the help of his family, friends, and health care team, Harrell is now cancer-free, and spreading a message of hope to others who may find themselves in a similar situation.  On this week’s episode of the CURE Talks Cancer podcast, we talk with Kuk about what it’s like to be “on the other side” of his diagnosis, and how he’s using his platform to shine a light on prostate cancer with the No Shaver November campaign in partnership with City of Hope. 

In this episode of “CURE Talks Cancer,” we spoke with Dr. Mark Socinski to learn more about stage 3 lung cancer and what others should know about the disease.

In this episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Kassandra Alcaraz, PhD, MPH, about a new phenomenon that's gaining traction across the healthcare universe. It’s called the Social Determinants of Health. It may not be the catchiest phrase, but its implications on our health are absolutely enormous. According to research, the social determinants of health are responsible for 80% of our overall wellbeing.
So what are the social determinants of health? They’re the neighborhood where you grew up. They’re the school you went to. They’re the depth of your personal relationships— the social determinants of health are all of the social factors that impact how you feel.

This week on the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we’ll take a closer look at what's being done to incorporate the social determinants of health into cancer care. 

In this episode of the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we spoke with Dr. Donald Sullivan, associate professor of medicine at Oregon Health and Science University and the VA Portland healthcare system, about his research into palliative care and prolonged survival in patients with cancer.  As Dr Sullivan points out, the topic of palliative care is complicated because it’s mired in misconceptions and tends to get an undeserved bad rap. Many patients associate palliative care with end-of-life care or hospice, but that assumption is inaccurate. If we focus on the truth amid all the noise and speculation, we can see that palliative care can be a useful practice that can help patients with cancer improve their health.  Before we take a closer look into this murky, often unfamiliar portion of the cancer journey, we’ll politely ask our listeners to leave their preconceived notions about palliative care at the door. This week on the “CURE Talks Cancer” podcast, we’ll check our baggage and come together on a journey with an expert who has made his life’s work about improving the quality and the quantity of life for patients with cancer—all through palliative care. 

Fifteen years ago, at the age of 31 and just married about a month prior, Scott Petinga and his wife had discovered he had stage 1 testicular cancer – a disease he was severely overtreated for. After 16 rounds of radiation, Petinga was left with one less testicle, infertile and unable to properly produce hormones – all things that affect him still today. As a result, Scott has become a patient advocate and philanthropic entrepreneur to help raise awareness for others by founding organizations like the TH!NK DIFFERENT Foundation, the Fairy Foundation and the Center of Advocacy for Cancer of the Testes International (CACTI).  This week, CURE spoke with Petinga about his journey with testicular cancer, why getting a second opinion is key and how community can help patients and their loved ones navigate the new normal after a cancer diagnosis.  

After being diagnosed with bone cancer, Dana Vaughns refused to own his cancer, and instead triumphed over the disease.  Now a 10-year survivor, he recently joined 109 of his colleagues from Bristol-Myers Squibb in riding 225 miles each as part of the V Foundation’s Coast 2 Coast 4 Cancer ride. “(Participating in events like this is) important because we ensure that we're staying in front of this thing called cancer,” Vaughns said. “…We have to find a way to be able to come up with solutions for cancer, whether they be cured, whether they be better treatments, we just have to ensure that we stay out there because the next person that may be diagnosed is going to rely on that…It is very important that we're not just doing this for now, but we're doing it for tomorrow.” In this week’s episode, CURE spoke with Vaughns about his journey with cancer and his triumph over the disease – including his recent trek that he considers exhilarating.

In this month’s episode of CURE Talks Cancer Podcast: Nursing Edition, we had the chance to follow up with Chasity M. Washington, MPH, CHES, director of the Center for Cancer Health Equity at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, after sitting down with her at the 3rd Annual School of Nursing Oncology to discuss her presentation on health equity. In this episode, we were able to talk more in-depth on how the social detriments of health affect patients with cancer and how nurses can not only advocate for their patients but their fellow nurses as well.