This is Cancer

The Physical and Mental Toll of Breast Cancer: Part 2

In Part 2 of our Season 2 premiere we hear from Chelsea, who was diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer at age 37. She talks about why the one treatment she didn’t want – five months of chemotherapy before undergoing her mastectomy – became her only option. Chelsea also reflects on how daily life as a mom of three became much more difficult. She reached her lowest point but pulled through with support from family and friends. Washington University breast surgeon Katherine Glover-Collins, MD, PhD, and Washington University plastic surgeon Terence Myckatyn, MD, join to explain why Chelsea’s treatment plan required aggressive chemotherapy, and the strategy behind her reconstructive surgery. 
 
“This is Cancer” is brought to you by Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and produced at Spot Content Studio in St. Louis, MO.
 
For more information on topics discussed in this episode, go to:
https://siteman.wustl.edu/treatment/cancer-types/breast-cancer/
https://siteman.wustl.edu/prevention/8-ways/8-ways-to-prevent-breast-cancer/
https://siteman.wustl.edu/treatment/cancer-types/breast-cancer/patient-stories/
https://siteman.wustl.edu/treatment/siteman-psychology-service/
https://siteman.wustl.edu/treatment/survivorship/
https://siteman.wustl.edu/visiting/patient-and-family-services/
https://siteman.wustl.edu/visiting/patient-and-family-services/virtual-support-services/
https://siteman.wustl.edu/treatment/siteman-approach/chemotherapy/scalp-cooling/
 

Hearing, Processing, and Sharing “the News”

Aleta joins the show to share her battle with breast cancer. Her story begins with her diagnosis and what it was like to share the news with her family. She continues on to talk about going through treatment, only to have the cancer come back and eventually lead her to have a double mastectomy. Washington University radiologist Debbie Bennett, MD, chief of breast imaging, and Washington University clinical psychologist Jennie Romo shed light on the importance of mental and emotional support during those hard days, as well as the therapeutic resources Siteman offers.
 
“This is Cancer” is brought to you by Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and produced at Spot Content Studio in St. Louis, MO.
 
For more information on topics discussed in this episode, go to:
https://siteman.wustl.edu/
https://siteman.wustl.edu/prevention/mammography/locations/mammography-van/ 
https://siteman.wustl.edu/visiting/patient-and-family-services/siteman-psychology-service/
 
 

3x Cancer Survivor: “I adjusted my attitude, my pace and my face.”

Siteman Cancer Center patient, Cheryl, shares the motivation that helped her endure three separate cancer diagnoses, a stem cell transplant and CAR T-cell therapy. Her Washington University medical oncologist, Amanda Cashen, MD, joins to explain the scientific advancements that saved Cheryl’s life and allowed Cheryl to hold her first grandchild. Dr. Cashen also highlights new positive trends in treating all blood cancers.
 
“This is Cancer” is brought to you by Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and produced at Spot Content Studio in St. Louis, MO.
 
For more information on topics discussed in this episode, go to:
https://siteman.wustl.edu/
https://siteman.wustl.edu/treatment/specialized-programs/stem-cell-transplant-and-cellular-therapies-center/
https://siteman.wustl.edu/treatment/cancer-types/lymphoma/

Fertility and Cancer: What to Expect When You’re (Not) Expecting

Diagnosed with cervical cancer at age 28, Mindy faced the emotional turmoil not just of surviving her diagnosis but also of how treatment could affect her plans for making a family. In this episode, she sits down with her Washington University Physicians, gynecologic oncologist Lindsay Kuroki, MD, MSCI and reproductive endocrinologist Kenan Omurtag, MD, to discuss the surgery that saved her life, as well as the physical and emotional complexities of fertility preservation and options available to women and men who face cancer.
 
“This is Cancer” is brought to you by Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and produced at Spot Content Studio in St. Louis, MO.
 
For more information on topics discussed in this episode, go to:
https://siteman.wustl.edu/treatment/cancer-types/cervical/
https://siteman.wustl.edu/treatment/specialized-programs/gynecologic-oncology/
https://siteman.wustl.edu/facts-about-hpv-cervical-cancer/
https://siteman.wustl.edu/treatment/survivorship/infertility-fertility-preservation/
https://siteman.wustl.edu/visiting/payment-information/
 

A “PSA” on PSA Tests for Prostate Cancer: Saving Men’s Lives

“If I can save one man’s life, I’ll have done my job.” In this episode, Kevin, prostate cancer survivor, talks about his crusade to save lives through awareness, with Washington University surgeon and urologist Arnold Bullock, MD, and Washington University medical oncologist Russell Pachynski, MD. They talk openly about a topic that many men find taboo to dispel myths and lay out facts about the No. 2 cause of cancer deaths among men.
 
“This is Cancer” is brought to you by Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and produced at Spot Content Studio in St. Louis, MO.
 
For more information on topics discussed in this episode, go to:
https://siteman.wustl.edu/treatment/cancer-types/prostate/our-approach/
https://getscreenednow.com/prostate-cancer/
https://siteman.wustl.edu/for-your-health-understanding-prostate-cancer-screening-and-prevention/

Addie’s Buckets of Joy: A Siteman Kids Journey

In 2022, 11-year-old Addie traveled from central Illinois to Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital with a brain tumor so rare that the type wasn’t widely known anywhere. Addie and her mom, Ashley, are joined by Addie’s child life specialist, Nikki, to discuss the surgery, proton therapy and emotional support that saved Addie’s life – and the joy they found along the way. 
Later in the episode, Washington University radiation oncologist Stephanie Perkins, MD, and Washington University hematologist-oncologist Margaret Shatara, MD, discuss childhood cancer, the latest advancements and the future of treating pediatric patients. 
“This is Cancer” is brought to you by Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and produced at Spot Content Studio in St. Louis, MO.
 
For more information on topics discussed in this episode, go to:
https://siteman.wustl.edu/treatment/cancer-types/childhood-cancers/
https://siteman.wustl.edu/visiting/kids/
https://siteman.wustl.edu/
https://siteman.wustl.edu/prevention/8-ways/8-ways-to-better-health-and-a-lower-risk-of-cancer-for-early-adults/

Nurses: Teachers, Counselors & Friends in Cancer Care

When patients describe their nurse, they often use words such as caregiver, teacher, counselor or friend. Three nurses at Siteman Cancer Center (Shannon, Pam and Julie) join the podcast to share their passion for taking care of cancer patients. Hear what inspired each of these nurses to get into the field – and the advice they share with patients.
 
“This is Cancer” is brought to you by Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and produced at Spot Content Studio in St. Louis, MO.
 
For more information on topics discussed in this episode, go to:
https://siteman.wustl.edu/treatment/patient-experience/ 
https://siteman.wustl.edu/treatment/siteman-approach/
https://siteman.wustl.edu/visiting/

It Takes Two: One Diagnosis Becomes a Journey for Partners

It wasn’t Pam’s first cancer diagnosis. In fact, because of a rare genetic disorder she has, Pam and her husband, Charlie, expected she would be diagnosed more than once. Together, they faced routine screenings and tests. But pancreatic cancer wasn’t expected. An evening call in the fall of 2021 began Pam and Charlie’s journey. While she received treatment, he supported her. Washington University medical oncologist Kian-Huat Lim, MD, PhD, and Washington University gastroenterologist Koushik Das, MD, explain how clinical trials, chemotherapy, surgery and new daily med
ication make surviving pancreatic cancer possible.
 
“This is Cancer” is brought to you by Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and produced at Spot Content Studio in St. Louis, MO.
 
For more information on topics discussed in this episode, go to:
https://siteman.wustl.edu/treatment/cancer-types/pancreatic/
https://siteman.wustl.edu/research/learn-about-clinical-trials/
https://siteman.wustl.edu/prevention/genetic-counseling/

A Shot at Prevention: HPV and Head & Neck Cancers

Ron had referred patients for biopsies before, but the dentist didn’t expect the lump in his own neck to be cancer. As one of a growing number of people diagnosed with HPV-related head and neck cancer, Ron shares about his treatment and why he advocates children being vaccinated against it. Though these cancers are on the rise, Washington University Otolaryngologist, Chief of Surgery at Siteman Cancer Center, Sidharth Puram, MD, PhD explains how HPV vaccines are key for preventing them entirely.
 
“This is Cancer” is brought to you by Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and produced at Spot Content Studio in St. Louis, MO.
 
For more information on topics discussed in this episode, go to:
https://siteman.wustl.edu/treatment/cancer-types/head-and-neck/
https://siteman.wustl.edu/treatment/cancer-types/head-and-neck/hpv-head-and-neck-cancer/
 https://siteman.wustl.edu/prevention/8-ways/8-ways-to-better-health-and-a-lower-risk-of-cancer-for-early-adults/

The Physical and Mental Toll of Breast Cancer: Part 1

Do I need to have my breast removed? Will I lose them both? What about my nipples - will I get to keep them? How long before I can get reconstruction? Will I ever feel the same again? The unknowns women face after getting a breast cancer diagnosis are staggering. Our Season 2 premiere launches into the physical and emotional toll that breast cancer survivors endure. The experience and honesty they share took two whole episodes to convey. In Part 1, survivors Melanie and Tamara open up about their mastectomies, the challenges they were prepared for and the impact(s) they didn’t expect.
 
“This is Cancer” is brought to you by Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and produced at Spot Content Studio in St. Louis, MO. 
For more information on topics discussed in this episode, go to:
https://siteman.wustl.edu/treatment/cancer-types/breast-cancer/ https://siteman.wustl.edu/prevention/8-ways/8-ways-to-prevent-breast-cancer/ https://siteman.wustl.edu/treatment/cancer-types/breast-cancer/patient-stories/ https://siteman.wustl.edu/treatment/siteman-psychology-service/ https://siteman.wustl.edu/treatment/survivorship/ https://siteman.wustl.edu/visiting/patient-and-family-services/ https://siteman.wustl.edu/visiting/patient-and-family-services/virtual-support-services/
https://siteman.wustl.edu/treatment/survivorship/body-image/ https://psychiatry.wustl.edu/patient-care-3/services-treatments/