Open Mics with Dr. Stites

Most people know obesity can raise the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Fewer know it is also linked to at least 12 types of cancer. Dr. Kristy Brown explains what researchers know about the connection and whether losing even a modest amount of weight can make a difference.

Clinical trials aren't only for people who already have cancer. Some trials are about cancer prevention. Dr. Lauren Nye explains who makes a great trial participant and how you can sign up to advance the science of cancer prevention and care.

CAR T-cell therapy can cure some blood cancers, but many patients who could benefit still can't get access or don't even know about it. Learn what doctors and researchers at The University of Kansas Cancer Center are doing to overcome barriers to life-saving care.

Only about 13 people in the world are considered cured of HIV. The youngest is a patient at The University of Kansas Cancer Center whose treatment for leukemia also cleared HIV from his body. The doctors who treated him explain how it happened and why his case is getting international attention.

Great nursing isn't always about medicine. Sometimes it means helping a heart transplant patient walk while on life support or finding another way to reach a patient who is struggling. We'll show you why The University of Kansas Health System earned Magnet with Distinction and what that means for patients.

Doctors spend their careers taking care of others but often struggle to ask for help themselves. After the suicide of a respected Kansas City doctor, his colleagues are talking openly about the pressures doctors face and why some never reach out. We'll also look at how collaboration among the medical community is helping before someone reaches a crisis.

Dr. Steve Stites explores a groundbreaking Kansas City program bringing whole blood directly to critically injured patients before they reach the hospital. Experts discuss pre-hospital transfusions, blood shortages, EMS training, universal blood, and why this life-saving care begins with community blood donors.

A routine bike ride along Missouri's Katy Trail turned catastrophic when Nate Prater crashed into a truck and suffered a rare Le Fort IV fracture — a severe facial injury that separated his upper jaw from the base of his skull. Doctors at The University of Kansas Health System performed complex reconstructive surgeries and intensive rehabilitation to help Nate relearn how to speak, swallow and smile. Nate now shares his powerful recovery story and the message he believes saved his life: always wear a helmet.

Lester McKinzy was working construction and spending long days on his feet when a rare disorder suddenly changed everything. What started as weakness, numbness and trouble walking eventually left him wheelchair bound as doctors searched for answers. In this episode of Open Mics with Dr. Stites, Lester shares his journey with POEMS syndrome, a rare and complex disorder connected to plasma cells that can affect the nerves, organs, hormones, blood and skin. His care team at The University of Kansas Cancer Center explains why POEMS syndrome can be difficult to diagnose, how it may be mistaken for conditions like neuropathy or multiple sclerosis, and why early recognition is so important. Doctors also discuss how POEMS syndrome is treated, when stem cell transplant may be needed, and why Lester was able to use his own cells for the procedure. This is a powerful look at a rare, life-threatening diagnosis, the role of specialized cancer care and the determination it takes to move from a wheelchair back to walking again.

Cancer screenings can save lives, but the right screening plan can change as we age. In this episode of The University of Kansas Health System Open Mics, Dr. Steve Stites talks with geriatric medicine specialist Dr. Jessica Kalender-Rich and clinical oncologist Dr. Nina Mathew about cancer screenings for older adults and how seniors can make informed decisions about early detection. The conversation covers common screenings such as colonoscopy, mammograms, prostate cancer screening, lung cancer screening and skin cancer checks. The doctors also discuss why some screenings stop at a certain age, how health status and personal risk affect recommendations, and how patients can weigh the benefits and risks of routine cancer screening. They also look at newer options, including blood-based multi-cancer early detection tests, mail-in colon cancer screening, and mobile cancer screening programs designed to reach rural communities.