Simply Oncology

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As we approach transgender awareness week we discuss cancer care in the transgender community with the exceptional Dr Alison Berner.

1 in 40 people aged under 30 identify as transgender in recent census.

How we give support needed and signpost patients can have a huge influence on their experience of care.

Alison has done so much work in this area.

We learned a lot in this episode and we hope you enjoy!

https://outpatients.org.uk/

https://www.wearetransplus.co.uk/uk-cancer-and-transition-service/

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We return to discuss stereotactic radiotherapy (SABR) in prostate cancer with the superb Dr Alison Tree from The Royal Marsden Hospital.

We discuss the findings of the TRAP study which extended time to next treatment by 6 months when SABR was used for sites of growing disease.

Do we always need to change systemic therapy when only one or two sites of metastatic disease is growing??

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We are back for part 2 to finish our journey through the Gut Microbiome with the excellent Professor Monty Pal !!

Few areas of cancer treatment have generated as much interest as the Gut Microbiome in recent years. 

We discuss work done by Monty's team on CBM588 on immunotherapy in kidney cancer.

CBM 588 is a live bacterial product that is available in health shops in Japan where it is used to promote a healthy gut.

Monty's team found incredible results where it improved response rates for immunotherapy containing treatment and significantly improved  time to tumour progression.

Plans are now afoot to trial this in a much larger phase 3 trial which could readout some exciting results!

We discuss;

- Should we run patient poo through an AI algorithm to see what gut microbiome changes are needed

- Can we engineer gut bacteria to make more of useful proteins in our gut

- Can we get more biotech companies to engage in this space to help move it forward at more pace

Of course Monty knocks it out of the park so he gets a Simply Oncology wish!!

Amazing to hear Professor Monty Pal share his thoughts on this exciting area of medicine.

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Did you know that we have more bacterial DNA than human DNA in our bodies. This is because our guts contain trillions of bacteria and are now being thought of as another organ of the body.

Join us this week as we discuss the Gut Microbiome (part 1 of 2) and its importance on drugs like immunotherapy response in cancer.

We talk to none other than the excellent Professor Monty Pal from The City of Hope Hospital in California.

Monty is an internationally respected kidney cancer expert and has been researching the impact of the gut microbiome on cancer outcomes in recent years.

We discuss;

The potential impact of fibre in our diet - any how much that looks like in Wheetabix.

The need for balanced good versus bad bacteria in our guts.

That probiotics are not recommended.

The challenges of a faecal microbiome transplant.

What a great episode!!

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Did you know that the lifetime risk of prostate cancer in a black man is 1 in 4 ?

That’s twice the risk of prostate cancer in a white man.

Did you know that men in Scotland are twice as likely to have advanced prostate cancer compared to those in the South of England?

Professor Frank Chinewungdoh is a man on a mission. 

He is trying to make prostate cancer testing as possible to men across all groups.

He makes an argument for prostate cancer screening and measures to make PSA testing more accessible.

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We are back to finish our journey through cancer vaccines with Dr Lennard Lee.

We celebrate some of the heroes of UK cancer vaccine trials from centres Big & Small.

Lennard gives us all some hope for the future.

We now are officially Watching This Space for more Cancer Vaccine Trial results.

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Cancer Vaccines are Here!!

We talk to a man who is on a mission!

Dr Lennard Lee - associate Professor at Oxford University Hospital.

Lennard has a vision where we use the technologies developed in Vaccines during COVID and turn them into effective treatments for cancer.

This is some space age stuff but its HERE, its EXCITING, its HAPPENING!!

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We return on our odyssey through Rectal Cancer with the amazing Professor Richard Adams from Velindre cancer Centre, Cardiff.

In this episode we discuss the immunotherapy revolution in the subgroup of rectal cancer that is MSI-High.

We discuss future directions in rectal cancer.

We also give Richard a wish  - AND HE GOES BIG!!!

What a treat to have these 2 episodes with Richard!

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In this episode we venture in to a new tumour site:  Colorectal Cancer.

We are joined by internationally renowned oncologist Professor Richard Adams from Velindre Cancer Centre.

In Part 1 we dive in to treatment of localised rectal cancer, with a comprehensive overview of the role of radiotherapy, contact brachytherapy and total neodjuvant therapy. We also explore the evolving evidence of non-operative management of rectal cancer. 

We look into the OPERA (EU), OPRA (US) and RAPIDO trials and where that’s taking Rectal Cancer.

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Biliary Tract Cancers - Cholangiocarcinomas and Gallbladder cancers are often seen as rare and aggressive cancers.

🎙️We tackle Biliary Tract Cancers with the exceptional Professor John Bridgewater.

🎙️Few people are as knowledgable & linked to a cancer as Prof Bridgewater is to cholangiocarcinoma.

🎙️Prof Bridgewater has led practice changing studies in this area and is an internationally renowned expert.

🎙️This group of cancers is more common than you think!

🎙️If you don’t know your gallbladder cancer from your cholangiocarcinoma the check it out wherever you get your podcast!!

Find out more about these cancers at AMMF – The UK's only Cholangiocarcinoma Charity

Also - Check the Transcript!!