In this heartfelt episode of The Cancering Show, Dr. JYP welcomes back Chaplain Kim Crawford Meeks to discuss the complexities of celebrating the holidays while dealing with cancer. They explore the bittersweet nature of the season, emphasizing the importance of modifying expectations, planning ahead, and cherishing moments with loved ones. Chaplain Kim shares practical advice on managing emotions, supporting family members, and including children in celebrations. They also discuss commemorating a loved one who is no longer present, and ensuring everyone feels valued and included. Whether it's about adjusting holiday plans or creating meaningful memories, this episode offers valuable insights for cancer patients and their families navigating the festive season. Happy holidays from The Cancering Show team.

3 Key Episode Takeaways

Adjust expectations: The holidays may not be the same as they always have been, and that’s OK. Modify your expectations and find new traditions that bring joy.

Plan ahead: Create multiple plans (A, B, C) to accommodate fluctuating energy levels and unexpected changes. This helps to reduce stress and ensures you have fallback options.

Embrace emotions: Allow yourself and your loved ones to feel and express emotions freely. Whether it's sadness, anger, or joy, acknowledging these feelings can lead to more meaningful holiday experiences. Also, don't forget to take photos and videos to capture these precious moments!

In this episode, Dr. JYP speaks with Leah Phillips, a nonsmoker diagnosed with stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer in 2019. Leah emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and self-advocacy in health, sharing her journey from initial misdiagnosis to targeted therapy success. Despite an initial prognosis of six to 12 months to live, Leah has surpassed expectations with a targeted drug that led to significant tumor reduction and stability for over four years. Leah discusses her participation in clinical trials, the benefits of multimodal therapy, and her role in the Young Lung Cancer Initiative. For more about Leah, see her blog, "Unfiltered Life: A Mother’s Stage IV Lung Cancer Journey."

3 Key Episode Takeaways

Trust your instincts: Leah's insistence on further testing, even when initial medical opinions downplayed her symptoms, led to a crucial diagnosis. Her advocacy for her health underscores the importance of listening to your body and pushing for answers when something just feels wrong.

Value of targeted therapies: Leah's treatment journey with a targeted therapy has been remarkable. Her primary tumor shrank by 70%, and she has maintained stability for more than four and a half years. Her journey highlights the transformative impact of advancements in cancer treatment.

Advocacy and positivity: Maintaining a hopeful outlook and actively participating in cancer research and communities such as the Young Lung Cancer Initiative have been vital for Leah. They've empowered her to fight her battle, and provide solidarity and support to others facing similar challenges.

Show Overview

03:11 Leah's husband survived cancer; then she develops symptoms.

06:44 Her symptoms persist, despite treatment for various conditions.

09:55 Leah is admitted to the hospital with pneumonia but improves with steroids.

15:14 Leah is diagnosed with stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer.

15:56 How can a nonsmoker develop lung cancer?

21:36 Multimodal therapy includes chemo, radiation, and surgery.

28:26 Targeted therapies offer promise of a longer life.

30:04 Leah embraces acceptance and lives life fully.

35:05 A blogger, Leah also founded the Young Lung Cancer Initiative.

36:37 Leah's resilience should inspire us all.

In this episode, Dr. JYP and guest Susan Crutchfield discuss the complexities of tobacco addiction and strategies for quitting smoking. They highlight the importance of nonjudgmental support, individual motivations ("your why"), and the availability of various medications and therapies. The dangers of vaping, especially among youth, are also covered, emphasizing nicotine's addictive nature and health risks. The Great American Smokeout is promoted as an event that encourages smoking cessation through peer-to-peer engagement. The significance of early lung cancer detection, particularly through low-dose CT scans, is discussed, alongside lifestyle changes to reduce cancer risk. The episode underscores the need for continued research, prevention, and early detection in the fight against lung cancer.

3 Key Episode Takeaways

1. Compassionate approach: Encourage tobacco users to quit with a nonjudgmental approach, perhaps with personalized medications and therapies.

2. Youth and vaping concerns: Vaping is not only harmful, but it is also a gateway to traditional smoking, with significant health risks. Early interventions and targeted messaging can help curb this trend.

3. Great American Smokeout: Engage in the Great American Smokeout event to support smoking cessation. Sign a pledge to quit smoking or motivate someone else to take the first step.

Show Overview

01:23 Everyone knows someone who has had lung cancer.

09:00 Quitting smoking is hard, but resources can help.

11:02 One woman’s “why” was to live to enjoy her grandchildren.

14:47 Many people don’t realize that nicotine itself is a carcinogen.

17:19 The Great American Smokeout is coming to the University of South Alabama.

21:30 Who should get screened for lung cancer, and how?

25:24 Screenings and small behavior changes can make all the difference.

26:55 New drugs bring hope for many lung cancer patients.

Dr. JYP concludes a three-part series focused on understanding the most common medical reports received by Cancering patients. This episode delves into pathology reports and how patients can use them to better understand their condition. Dr. JYP describes the key elements of pathology reports and defines terms such as "benign," "malignant," “carcinoma,” and “sarcoma.” She discusses how detailed reports from biopsies aid in staging cancer and the implications for treatment options. She reminds listeners that pathology reports should always be discussed with a doctor, and that reviewing a report ahead of time can help a patient decide what questions to ask.

Key Episode Takeaways

- How to identify the location and type of tissue biopsied

- Key vocabulary terms: benign, malignant, carcinoma, and sarcoma

- Understanding the difference between grades of cancer cells

- The critical role of lymph or vascular space invasion

- Factors considered in TNM staging

Show Overview

02:20 Pathology reports can be distressing, but don’t starting Googling just yet.

05:17 Metastatic cancer is cancer that has spread from somewhere else.

06:22 Grade refers to how the cells look under a microscope.

07:45 Comments section may provide insight into the cancer’s origin.

10:28 The pathologist details cancer staging factors and criteria.

12:30 Regardless of stage, there’s always a treatment option.

14:08 Use your report to craft questions for your physician.

Dr. JYP continues a three-part series focused on understanding the most common medical reports received by Cancering patients. In this second episode, she discusses blood chemistry panels. She explains common abbreviations suck as BNP (basic metabolic panel) and CNP (comprehensive metabolic panel), guiding listeners through key components including sodium (NA), potassium (K), magnesium (MAG), kidney function tests (BUN and creatinine), and glucose levels. She discusses the importance of understanding normal ranges, the potential causes for abnormalities and the most common questions patients ask their doctors.

3 Key Episode Takeaways

1. The basics of metabolic panels: Learn the abbreviations and symbols for NA (sodium), K (potassium), and MAG (magnesium), and how they relate to your overall health.

2. Kidney function explained: Understand the importance of BUN and creatinine levels, and what they can indicate about your hydration status and kidney health.

3. Liver function and more: Get insights into ALT, AST, and bilirubin levels, and learn about the significance of albumin and glucose in your metabolic panel.

Show Overview:

02:15 What to know about results within the normal range and outside the range.

4:40 How could I be dehydrated from drinking too much “free water?”

06:15 How your kidneys manage sodium, potassium and magnesium.

09:18 Numbers that indicate pre-diabetes or result in an immediate diagnosis of diabetes.

12:01 Liver function tests and what they mean.

15:59 Hemoglobin A1C measures blood glucose levels over the past three months.

19:00 Check out the previous episode of reviewing CBC results. Next up, pathology reports.

Dr. JYP kicks off a three-part series focused on understanding the most common medical reports received by Cancering patients. In the first episode, she discusses the basics of the Complete Blood Count, or CBC, which shows levels of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets, highlighting the implications for high or low counts, especially for cancer patients. She also addresses treatments and precautions for those with low blood counts, urging listeners to feel empowered to understand their lab reports and to ask questions of their healthcare providers.


3 Key Episode Takeaways

1. Understanding your CBC: Dr. JYP breaks down the importance of the white blood cell count (WBC), red blood cell count (RBC), and platelets (PLT) — what these numbers mean and why they matter in the context of cancer treatment.

2. Patient portals matter: Learn why signing up for a patient portal is important for managing your health records, ensuring effective communication with your healthcare team, and staying informed about your test results.

3. Empower yourself with knowledge: From recognizing signs of infection to understanding anemia and its treatments, Dr. JYP arms you with the information you need to confidently discuss your lab results and their ramifications with your doctor.

Show Overview:

01:23 Welcome to the series: How to Read Your Lab Results.
04:32 Communicating with your care team on a patient portal.
10:16 When your numbers say wear a mask and avoid crowds.
11:35 What critically low neutrophils can mean.
16:58 Everything you wanted to know about anemia.
19:39 Platelets and chemotherapy and time.
22:27 Cutting-edge cancer research at the Mitchell Cancer Institute.

In this episode, Dr. JYP talks with USA Health urologist Dr. Christopher Keel, D.O about prostate cancer and men's health. They start by weighing the reasons for why some men avoid seeing a physician and discuss how the advent of Viagra for erectile dysfunction helped motivate many men to go to a doctor’s office. Dr. Keel highlights the importance of screening for prostate cancer starting at age 40 or 45 depending on family history. He explains how robotic surgery has improved treatment outcomes and reduced side effects.

Dr. Keel also explores the usefulness of genetic testing for high-risk patients and how new drugs are revolutionizing cancer treatment. He and Dr. JYP stress the importance of maintaining a healthy weight to reduce cancer risk. Dr. Keel discusses the option of active surveillance for managing low-grade prostate cancer, pointing out that not every diagnosis requires immediate treatment. They wrap up by emphasizing the importance of getting checked during September, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. The key message: Get those check-ups, because early detection saves lives.

1. Changing attitudes about screening: PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) testing is crucial for early detection of prostate cancer; yet many men avoid screening due to fear or misconceptions about the test and potential diagnosis. This episode encourages men to use football season in September as a reminder to take care of their health and make an appointment to get tested.

In this episode of the Cancering podcast, Dr. JYP discusses how to avoid illnesses such colds, flu, and COVID while undergoing cancer treatment. She offers practical tips such as handwashing, using up-to-date hand sanitizer, and avoiding others who are ill. Dr. JYP gives advice on when to wear a medical mask and when to use an N95 to reduce the risk of infection. She also talks about the importance of home testing for COVID and flu, as well as when to call the doctor's office for certain symptoms.

This episode covers the usefulness of supplements such as vitamin D and zinc, which can help boost immunity, but warns against high doses of vitamin C during cancer treatment. Dr. JYP also mentions the potential benefits of chicken soup, which can help alleviate respiratory symptoms. Finally, she emphasizes the importance of self-care and staying hydrated.

3 Key Takeaways

1. Hygiene and Avoidance: Dr. JYP emphasizes the importance of basic hygiene practices such as washing hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap or using hand sanitizer. She stresses the necessity of avoiding close contact with people who are sick, even if that means declining invitations.

2. Effective Mask Usage: Dr. JYP stresses the need to wear a medical mask or N95 during periods of low immunity related to chemotherapy cycles – particularly in higher-risk environments such as airplanes. She comments on the effectiveness of cloth masks, medical masks and N95s for preventing the spread and contraction of viral illnesses.

3. Supplements and Nutrition during Cancer Treatment: Dr. JYP provides clear guidance on the use of dietary supplements and nutrition. While vitamin D and zinc can be beneficial in boosting the immune system and aiding recovery, she cautions against high doses of vitamin C during active cancer treatment as it can interfere with cancer medication. She also recommends chicken soup, which has been shown to have mucus-thinning properties and other health benefits during respiratory illnesses.

Show Overview

02:00 Key rules: Wash hands and avoid people who are sick.

03:21 Limit large group exposures and wear a mask.

06:48 Home testing and preventive medication to stay out of the hospital.

11:03 Why high doses of vitamin C can interfere with cancer treatment.