Osteoporosis is a disease that takes years and even decades to develop. Up to 40% of post-menopausal women are affected who have a lifetime risk of fracture of ~40%. Men aged 60 have a 25% lifetime risk of an osteoporotic fracture. Evidence also shows that patients health significantly deteriorates following a significant fracture.

The best treatment for osteoporosis is prevention. We discuss this disease, lifestyle, diagnosis, and management with a panel of experts at COMBATT: Comprehensive Osteoporosis Management workshop, at the Adelaide Convention Centre in February 2025.

This is the story of osteoporosis.

Our special guests:

Our special guests are:

Dr Alecia Macrow: General Practitioner

Dr Nick Kasmeredis: Endocrinologist

Dr Steve Soukoulis: Periodontist

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Recent genetics studies have shown that ancient Humans and Neanderthals coexisted around 50,000 years ago for approximately 7,000 years. There is evidence of these different human species mixing and having offspring. Around 2-4% of modern humans can be traced back to Neanderthals.

This is the story of Humans and Neanderthals.

Our special guests:

Our special guest is Associate Professor Bastien Llamas who is affiliated with the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA.

This Medical Life podcast is available on all podcasting services and Spotify.

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And we’re back for 2025. We thought we’d ease into this season with some medical stories. From the Manhattan project and the demon core to the inspirational stories of Dr Elizabeth Blackwell, Dr Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, and Dr Emma Constance Stone. We are reaching back into the medical archives.

Our special guests:

Dr Travis Brown, himself!

This Medical Life podcast is available on all podcasting services and Spotify.

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Patients with colorectal cancer often have their diagnosis, treatment, and care discussed at a regular multidisciplinary team meeting. This includes: gastroenterologists, surgeons, oncology, radiation oncology, pathologists, home care nurses, oncology nurses, genetic councillors, care coordinators plus others.

This is the third episode of a three part series on colorectal cancer.

This episode focuses on management.

Many thanks to Dr Tristan Rutland who helped organise this series.

This is the story of colorectal cancer (part 3).

Our special guests:

Dr Stephanie Lim: medical oncologist who works at GenesisCare and Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre

Dr Meredith Johnston: radiation oncologist who works at Liverpool hospital

Dr Emilia Ip: medical oncologist and cancer geneticist at Liverpool hospital

This Medical Life podcast is available on all podcasting services and Spotify.

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The lifetime risk for colorectal cancer is 1 in 23 men and 1 in 25 women. Detecting and diagnosing cancer is a critical step in managing a patient’s health as well as the multidisciplinary team where their care is discussed.

This is the second episode of a three part series on colorectal cancer.

This episode focuses on diagnosis.

Many thanks to Dr Tristan Rutland who helped organise this series.

This is the story of colorectal cancer (part 2).

Our special guests:

Dr Milan Bassan: gastroenterologist and Director of Endoscopy at Liverpool Hospital and returning guest

Dr Scott Mackenzie: surgeon and senior lecturer at the Liverpool Hospital and returning guest

Dr Tristan Rutland: lecturer, award winning anatomical pathologist for teaching and regular guest

This Medical Life podcast is available on all podcasting services and Spotify.

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Colorectal cancer accounts for ~10% of all new cancer diagnoses. Fortunately, over the last three decades, the 5 year patient survival has increased from 56% to 71%. As with most cancers, the key to good outcomes is early detection. This is the first episode of a three part series on colorectal cancer. This episode focuses on screening.

Many thanks to Dr Tristan Rutland who helped organise this series.

This is the story of colorectal cancer (part 1).

Our special guests are:

Professor Ken Sikaris: chemical pathologists, Director of Chemical Pathology at Dorevitch Pathology and regular guest

Dr Milan Bassan: gastroenterologist and Director of Endoscopy at Liverpool Hospital and returning guest

Dr Tristan Rutland: lecturer, award winning anatomical pathologist for teaching and regular guest

This Medical Life podcast is available on all podcasting services and Spotify.

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Troponin is a protein found in heart muscle that was a game changer when it came to diagnosing heart attacks and myocardial injury in the late 1990s. Three decades later, it is an invaluable test with widespread use throughout medicine.

Troponin assays are venturing into their 5th generation with high-sensitivity and Point-Of-Care (POC) devices. However, there are important exceptions, caveats and pitfalls for doctors to know.

This is the story of troponin.

Our special guest:

Our special guest is Dr Christina Trambas who is a chemical pathologist, Medical Director at St Vincent’s Pathology and chair of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australiasia (RCPA) Troponin Working Party.

This Medical Life podcast is available on all podcasting services and Spotify.

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Our eagle-eyed This Medical Life podcast listeners will wonder why we have called this episode 100 … is that right?

Well, it kinda is.

If you add up both This Pathological Life and This Medical Life podcasts episodes, it’s well over 100 episodes.

This is a small milestone for this ‘Trav and Steve’ dynamic duo who have never resolved the question: which one is Robin?

In honour of this achievement, we reflect upon the life and death of an amazing poet and author Oscar Wilde. We dive back into the 1850s to 1900s when modern medicine was at its infancy and the ‘love that dare not speak its name’ was a crime.

This is the story of Oscar Wilde

Our appreciation goes out to our listeners who we hope will enjoy this flight of fancy episode and reflect on where we have come from, where we are, and where we are heading.

Our special guest:

We have no special guests this episode, other than some choice quotes from the man of the hour, Oscar Wilde.

This Medical Life podcast is available on all podcasting services and Spotify.

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Throughout history, humanity has been captivated by heroes overcoming immense challenges—from ancient legends to modern Marvel icons.

In this episode, Dr Travis Brown and Steve Davis are honoured to have Janine Watson, a Paralympian athlete who reached out to us after our episodes on Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) (Episode 53 and Episode 54) opened her eyes to the unrecognised trauma her brain and body have endured.

This is the story of Janine Watson’s journey from MS diagnosis to history making Paralympian. And how listening to a particular episode of This Medical Life changed her future.

Our special guest:

Paralympian, Janine Watson.

This Medical Life podcast is available on all podcasting services and Spotify.

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In this episode, Steve Davis and Dr. Travis Brown reflect on the journey through Series 5 of This Medical Life.

From discussing the impact of episodes on medical professionals to revisiting significant stories and breakthroughs, this episode provides a retrospective on the memorable moments and invaluable lessons learned.

Whether it's the exploration of vitamin B6's role in patient care or the unexpected feedback from a Paralympian, this recap offers you a chance to catch up on episodes you might have missed and gain deeper insights into the world of medicine.

Our special guest:

We do include an excerpt of Dr Adam Cifu from the podcast, Econtalk, What's Happening Inside Your Doctor's Head And Heart.

This Medical Life podcast is available on all podcasting services and Spotify.

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