Cancer is often thought of as a disease of older age. But tens of thousands of people are diagnosed each year in their teens, twenties, and thirties. And for them, this diagnosis arrives right in the middle of building a life. In this episode, Hajar and David explore what it’s like to face cancer as a young adult, when careers are just beginning, relationships are still forming, and questions about family, identity, and the future are far from settled. They look at why cancer is often harder to recognize in younger patients, how diagnoses can be delayed, and the loneliness of going through cancer when no one around you can relate.

Keep up with all things Smarter Than Cancer and let us know what you think of the show at https://www.roswellpark.org/smarterthancancer

We all know that our diet has a huge effect on our health, but in many ways it’s never been harder to know what to do about it. Want to prevent cancer? Or improve your course of treatment? The internet is happy to provide you with an absolute mountain of dubious advice, contradictory claims, and outright snake oil. Thank goodness David found some experts who provide some grounded, proven advice about what you should eat and why!

Keep up with all things Smarter Than Cancer and let us know what you think of the show at https://www.roswellpark.org/smarterthancancer

Cancer doesn’t just take a toll on the body, it can also take a serious toll on a person’s financial life. In this episode, Hajar talks with Tameka Brooks, a financial empowerment coach at Roswell Park, and Dr. Anurag Singh, a radiation oncologist and researcher, about something called financial toxicity, the stress and burden patients experience as a result of the financial impact of cancer.

They explore how insurance confusion, lost income, housing insecurity, and out-of-pocket costs can compound the challenges of treatment, why many patients feel too ashamed or uncomfortable to bring up financial concerns with their doctors, and how that stress can actually affect health outcomes and survival.

Keep up with all things Smarter Than Cancer and let us know what you think of the show at https://www.roswellpark.org/smarterthancancer

What’s so scary about a bone marrow transplant? Not nearly as much as there used to be. The procedure has changed so much that it isn’t even really a bone marrow transplant any more. Modern stem cell transplants rebuild healthy bone marrow in a way that is safer and more effective than ever before, offering treatment options and paths to remission that would have been unthinkable just a few decades ago. In today’s episode, David talks to Dr. Shernan Holton about why we can replace fear with hope and optimism.

Keep up with all things Smarter Than Cancer and let us know what you think of the show at https://www.roswellpark.org/smarterthancancer

Laura Mango is a doctor, but that didn’t make it any easier when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. What it did do is completely change how she sees herself, her work, and her relationship with the people she cares for. In today’s episode, she sits down with David to talk about her parallel journeys as a doctor, a patient, and a mother, and how each has made the others richer and more profound.

Keep up with all things Smarter Than Cancer and let us know what you think of the show at https://www.roswellpark.org/smarterthancancer

Ever wondered what’s actually happening when you get an X-ray, CT, MRI, or ultrasound? In this episode, Hajar dives into the world of medical imaging with Dr. Craig Hendler and Dr. Tom Laudico. They break down how each type of scan works, when and why doctors use them, and the role radiologists play in guiding cancer care.

Keep up with all things Smarter Than Cancer and let us know what you think of the show at https://www.roswellpark.org/smarterthancancer

We’ve looked at some amazing science on Smarter Than Cancer, but today we’re going to hear about maybe the amazing-est. CAR-T Cell therapy takes a truly outrageous concept — using modified viruses to alter the DNA of white blood cells — and turns it into one of the most promising cancer treatments ever devised.

We all know our immune system fights off colds, flu, and infections. But can it also fight cancer? 

In this episode, Hajar explores the groundbreaking world of immunotherapy, from its early experiments in the 1890s to the most modern breakthroughs. Hear from doctors and researchers at Roswell Park as they explain how these treatments train the body’s own defenses to recognize and attack cancer, and what challenges and risks still remain. 

Keep up with all things Smarter Than Cancer and let us know what you think of the show at https://www.roswellpark.org/smarterthancancer

Hair loss is one of the most visible, and emotional, side effects of cancer treatment. In this episode, David and Hajar explore why something as simple as losing your hair can have such a profound impact on self-image and identity. At Roswell Park’s New Era Cap Foundation Elevate Salon, patients find more than wigs and head coverings—they find compassion, confidence, and a sense of control in a time when so much feels uncertain.

Keep up with all things Smarter Than Cancer and let us know what you think of the show at https://www.roswellpark.org/smarterthancancer

Doctors have relied on medical scans for decades, but what if they could go one step further and actually hold a 3D model of your anatomy in their hands before surgery? In this episode, Hajar talks with Dr. Larson Hsu about how Roswell Park is using advanced imaging and 3D printing to give clinicians a clearer picture of your personalized anatomy, helping them see what scans can’t always show so they can plan more precisely before entering the operating room. 

Keep up with all things Smarter Than Cancer and let us know what you think of the show at https://www.roswellpark.org/smarterthancancer