Cancer Connections
Welcome to Cancer Connections, Clearity’s Podcast!
Cancer Connections is the podcast for anyone who has been impacted by a cancer diagnosis or is interested in learning from others who have.
In each episode, host Hillary Theakston, Clearity’s Executive Director, and her guests have conversations about cancer that don’t always happen, but maybe should, on topics like stress and wellness, clinical trials, “exceptional” patient responses, and more. We will not have all of the answers, but we hope you’ll connect with the ideas and inspiration that you need for life with cancer on your own terms.
Each episode is available at the links below and wherever you get your podcasts.
Tell us how we’re doing by rating Cancer Connections, taking our quick survey or contacting us a podcast@clearity.org.
Don’t forget to subscribe and tell your friends.
Learn more about Clearity and the no cost services and support we provide directly to people and families whose lives are impacted by ovarian cancer.
Most Popular:
The Link Between Stress and Cancer with Dr. Gabor Maté
TUE, 11 MAY 2021 ◦ 50 MINUTES
Join us as we talk with renowned public speaker and best-selling author Dr. Gabor Maté about the well-documented link between stress and illness.
In this episode, Dr. Maté and host Hillary Theakston discuss:
• How to talk about stress and illness in a compassionate way that doesn’t shame or blame
• Chronic stress and its impact on the body
• How the way we talk about illness influences the way we treat it
• Why we need to focus on the healing capacity of the individual in addition to traditional western interventions
• The health benefits of saying “no”Discovering your authentic self in the face of mortality Dr. Maté’s book, When the Body Says No: Understanding the Stress-Disease Connection, is available everywhere.You can also watch his free videos on this subject at the YouTube playlist, “Mind, Body & The Stress Disease Connection.
Visit Dr. Gabor Maté’s official website at drgabormate.com.
Other books mentioned on this episode:
“Cured” by Jeffrey Rediger, M.D.
“Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds” by Kelly A. Turner, Ph.D.
“Dying To Be Me: My Journey from Cancer, to Near Death, to True Healing” by Anita Moorjani
Can a Conversation About Death Bring Joy? with Dr. BJ Miller
WED, 26 MAY 2021 15:00:00 -0700 ◦ 49 MINUTES
It’s not just you—nobody wants to talk about death. Not only is it an uncomfortable topic to bring up, but also, as palliative care expert Dr. BJ Miller explains, it’s nearly impossible to capture in words the range of feelings one can have about such a momentous and personal life event.But if we don’t talk about it, what are we missing out on? Can we find joy and meaning in life by having a conversation about death?
In this episode, host Hillary Theakston and her guest Dr. Miller discuss the challenges and the benefits of opening up more to our loved ones about this universal experience.
Topics include:
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- The emotional and spiritual benefits of addressing mortality
- Ways one might broach the subject of death with loved ones
- Why you probably need to turn your To Do list upside down
Dr. BJ Miller is a physician, author, and expert on end of life care, as well as the founder of the online palliative care service Mettle Health. His book A Beginner’s Guide to the End is available at booksellers everywhere.
You can view BJ Miller’s popular TED Talk “What really matters at the end of life” on Youtube, and follow him on Twitter at @bjmillermd.
How to Increase the Peace: “Whole Brain Living” with Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor
THU, 30 SEP 2021 ◦ 45 MINUTES
Ever feel like someone else has taken over your brain? Ever wonder why sometimes you can be so focused and methodical and other times the complete opposite? The cancer experience can sometimes feel like a roller coaster with stress and uncertainty around each turn. Sometimes it’s hard to show up the way you’d like.
In this episode, Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D., Harvard-trained neuroanatomist and author of the best-selling memoir My Stroke of Insight, explains concepts from her most recent book, Whole Brain Living, including the four characters of the brain, how to recognize each one, and how summon them all when needed. This practice of calling a “Brain Huddle” can be particularly beneficial during times of great stress and uncertainty, as with a cancer diagnosis.
Dr. Taylor’s extensive knowledge of the brain is rivaled only by her incredible compassion.
We think this episode will leave you with a better understanding of what’s happening in your own brain, and inspire you to “hook into the love instead of the fear”.
Learn more about Dr. Taylor at www.drjilltaylor.com.
Hear from the Clearity Experts:
The Cancer Roadmap, Part 1: Diagnosis & Treatment
FRI, 03 SEP 2021 ◦ 52 MINUTES
This Cancer Connections episode is sponsored by:
Cancer Connections introduces “The Cancer Roadmap, Part 1,” the first of two episodes exploring the shared experience many cancer patients have.
Understanding the Cancer Roadmap may help to normalize the feelings and emotions associated with a cancer diagnosis as well as help patients know what to expect. Many people describe the feeling of not knowing, of dealing with the mystery of cancer, as being such a difficult aspect of their diagnosis. The Cancer Roadmap may help shine some light on the mystery not just for those diagnosed with ovarian cancer but other cancer diagnoses as well.
For these episodes Clearity’s Executive Director, Hillary Theakston talks to Susan Hess, the Program Director of Clearity’s Steps Through OC program, which offers one-on-one, individualized psycho-social support to women living with ovarian cancer and their caregivers. Susan talks about the need to develop support like Steps Through OC, and how we built the program.
Susan also developed Clearity’s Phase Model, a unique framework that the ovarian cancer counselors use within STEPS to help provide the right support at the right time for women on the ovarian cancer journey.
In this first half of our conversation, Susan takes us through the first two phases of the model:
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- Phase 1: The Crisis of Diagnosis
- Phase 2: Coping with Treatment
Be sure to tune in for part two of our conversation in the coming weeks, where Susan talks to us about the other two phases of the Phase Model of the cancer.
The Cancer Roadmap, Part 2: The New Normal
FRI, 17 SEP 2021 ◦ 40 MINUTES
Cancer Connections introduces “The Cancer Roadmap, Part 2,” the second of two episodes exploring the shared experience many cancer patients have.
Understanding the Cancer Roadmap may help to normalize the feelings and emotions associated with a cancer diagnosis as well as help patients know what to expect. Many people describe the feeling of not knowing, of dealing with the mystery of cancer, as being such a difficult aspect of their diagnosis.
The Cancer Roadmap may help shine some light on the mystery not just for those diagnosed with ovarian cancer but other cancer diagnoses as well.
For these episodes Clearity’s Executive Director, Hillary Theakston talks to Susan Hess, the Program Director of Clearity’s Steps Through OC program, which offers one-on-one, individualized psycho-social support to women living with ovarian cancer and their caregivers. Susan talks about the need to develop support like Steps Through OC, and how we built the program.
Susan also developed Clearity’s Phase Model, a unique framework that the ovarian cancer counselors use within STEPS to help provide the right support at the right time for women on the ovarian cancer journey.
In this episode, Susan takes us through the rest of the model.
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- Phase 3: Transitioning to a New Normal
- Phase 4: Managing Uncertainty
Be sure to check out part one of our conversation in the previous episode if you haven’t already, where Susan talks to us about the first two phases of the Phase Model of the cancer journey.
Talk Nerdy to Me, Part 1: The Evolution of Ovarian Cancer Therapies with Dr. Laura Shawver & Dr. Deb Zajchowski
THU, 15 JUL 2021 ◦ 44 MINUTES
On this episode of Cancer Connections, Clearity’s founder, Laura Shawver, talks with Clearity’s Scientific Director, Deb Zajchowski, about how much the field of cancer testing, treatment and research has changed in the 15 years since Laura was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2006.
These two women, pioneers in their field, explain topics like PARP inhibitors, immune oncology and the difference between “hot” and “cold” tumors.
Take a listen to learn more about the science and why we should all be hopeful about for the future.
Talk Nerdy to Me, Part 2: The Future of Cancer Treatment with Dr. Laura Shawver and Dr. Beth Karlan
WED, 04 AUG 2021 ◦ 44 MINUTES
Our guest this episode is Dr. Beth Karlan, recent recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS), and a surgeon who has three decades of experience treating women with ovarian cancer.
You’re going to want to find a quiet space to enjoy this interview, because it’s our most content-packed episode yet, covering topics that will be useful to anyone with an interest in the current and future state of cancer treatment, and particularly for gynecological cancers.
Some of the topics covered:
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- how precision medicine is moving beyond one size fits all chemotherapy
- how to make sure you’re getting the best care possible
- why it’s so important to find care that follows NCCN guidelines
- the untapped personal benefits of participating in clinical trials early in the course of treatment
- the differences between Phase 1, 2 and 3 clinical trials
- what PARP inhibitors are
- what germline testing is, and why it should be top of the list for any woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer
- the difference between high grade and low grade cancers and how they require different treatment approaches
- what’s important to know about the checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy drugs that you see advertised on TV
- how Avastin works
- information for those considering additional debulking surgery after recurrence
- why researchers and doctors are excited about ADCs, or antibody drug conjugates
- the importance of getting the right psychosocial support (like Clearity’s own Steps Through OC) during treatment
Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll:
Part 1: Dr. Saketh R. Guntupalli on Intimacy and Love After Cancer
MON, 22 NOV 2021 ◦ 26 MINUTES
Welcome to “Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll,” a multi-part series where we talk with experts about three topics that often do not get discussed during treatment.To begin with, we’re talking about sex and sexuality after cancer, which our participants tell us are very important topics for them but that they struggle to discuss with others.We’re dedicating two episodes to approach the subject of Sex and Cancer with two thought leaders who share their experience and the guidance they’ve given their patients.
In Part 1, we chat with Dr. Saketh R. Guntupalli, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology and in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Colorado, and the coauthor of “Sex and Cancer: Intimacy, Romance, and Love after Diagnosis and Treatment.” Dr. Guntupalli offers his experience and perspective as a physician who realized that his patients were in need of support and answers as they sought to establish a new normal in their sex lives after cancer.
Dr. Guntupalli’s book”Sex and Cancer: Intimacy, Romance, and Love after Diagnosis and Treatment”
Part 2: Leslie Heron on How to Talk About Sex After Cancer
WED, 24 NOV 2021 14:00:00 -0800 ◦ 44 MINUTES
Welcome to “Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll,” a multi-part series where we talk with experts about three topics that often do not get discussed during treatment.
This episode is Part 2 of our two-part conversation about sex after cancer. We talk to Leslie Heron, a nurse and a nurse practitioner with over 37 years of direct patient care experience. Leslie is board certified in family practice, and as a nurse coach, she works with individuals as well as community and professional groups on issues of cancer survivorship. She’s also the cofounder of The Green Labyrinth, a retreat for family & professional caregivers addressing grief, loss, and burnout.
Leslie’s perspective and guidance on the topic of sex and cancer takes into account a range of diagnoses and ages. She provides practical and encouraging advice people will benefit from wherever they are in their cancer experience or in the cancer experience of someone they love.
Part 3: Dr. Carey Clark on the Role of Cannabis in Cancer Care
FRI, 10 DEC 2021 ◦ 51 MINUTES
This episode is Part 1 of our two-part conversation about the use of two drugs in a person’s cancer journey which may be considered alternative to many people, cannabis and psilocybin. In this first episode we focus on cannabis by talking to Dr. Carey Clark, PhD, RN, and Chair of the Medical Cannabis Certificate Program at the Pacific College of Health and Science in San Diego. Dr. Clark is also the former president of the American Cannabis Nurses Association, and an expert on the many ways in which medical cannabis, synthetic THC, and CBD oil can be valuable medical tools.
As Dr. Clark makes clear during our interview, the decision to use medical cannabis should only be made with the professional guidance of medical experts; this is not a DIY treatment method. If you want to learn more about this subject, here are two resources she recommends:
Project CBD
https://www.projectcbd.org
National Cancer Institute
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/patient/cannabis-pdq
Part 4: Dr. Mark Geyer on the Role of Psilocybin in Cancer Care
SUN, 12 DEC 2021 ◦ 39 MINUTES
Synopsis
This episode is Part 2 of our two-part conversation about the use of two drugs in a person’s cancer journey which may be considered alternative to many people, cannabis and psilocybin. In this second episode we focus on psilocybin by talking to Mark Geyer, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Neurosciences Emeritus at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), who directs the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit of the VISN 22 Veterans Administration Mental Illness Research, Clinical, and Education Center.
For four decades, his group has had continuous funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to study the behavioral effects of psychedelics and entactogens. At UCSD, he is a founding member of the Consortium for Translational Research in Neuropsychopharmacology (CTRIN) and Translational Research in Psychophysiology, Exploration, and Cognition (TRIPEC) groups.
As Dr. Geyer makes clear during our interview, the decision to use psilocybin should only be made with the professional guidance of medical experts; this is not a DIY treatment method.
Part 5: Dr. Nimesh Nagarsheth on the Role of Music in Cancer Care
22 DEC 2021 ◦ 39 MINUTES
Welcome to “Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll,” a multi-part series where we talk with experts about three topics that often do not get discussed during treatment.
In this final installment of the series, we talk to surgeon, musician, and author Dr. Nimesh Nagarsheth about the role music can play in a patient’s journey. Dr. Nagarsheth is the author of “Music and Cancer: A Prescription for Healing,” and since 2008 has performed in the band N.E.D. (no evidence of disease) as part of an ongoing campaign to raise awareness of oncological cancers. He’s also the director of the Dizzy Gillespie Memorial Fund at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center in New Jersey.
Dr. Nagarsheth shares his perspective on how music may act as a foundation to help patients make their way through treatment and their overall cancer experience, whether or not they are already musicians or music-lovers.
More on Dr. Nimesh Nagarsheth:
For more information on the role of music in treatment:
American Music Therapy Association
Association for Music and Imagery
Healing:
What We Can Learn From Cases of Exceptional Healing With Dr. Jeffrey Rediger
TUE, 18 MAY 2021 ◦ 44 MINUTES
Are spontaneous healers medical flukes? Or is there something we can learn from them and apply to our own lives? Dr. Jeffrey Rediger, author of “Cured: The Life-Changing Science of Spontaneous Healing,” talks with us about what he’s learned from studying these kinds of cases for the past 15 years. Some of the topics we cover:
• Why it’s so important to explore the link between disease and mind
• How personal beliefs influence health and illness
• How connecting with intuition and living authentically could be the critical element for dramatic healing
• Why it’s so hard for us to talk about what really matters, and how to start those conversations anyway
You can buy “Cured: The Life-Changing Science of Spontaneous Healing” everywhere, or visit Dr. Rediger’s website drjeffreyrediger.com for more info.
What Happens When Biography Becomes Biology? A Survivor Explains
FRI, 11 JUN 2021 14:00:00 -0700 ◦ 38 MINUTES
In our first three episodes, we heard from expert physicians about the connection between stress and disease, people who have defied the odds in exceptional ways, and how addressing death thoughtfully may bring unexpected joy. But how do these ideas about the connection between stress and disease square with someone who is actually living with a cancer diagnosis every day?
In this episode of Cancer Connections, we talk with Cissy White, a journalist and advocate for PTSD and abuse survivors, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2019.Cissy shares her experience living with cancer, including how her work to heal from PTSD has helped inform how she manages stress today, and taught her how to authentically advocate for herself when choosing treatment options.
Cissy also talks about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and how the health impact of childhood trauma can linger into adulthood and even across generations.
For more information about ACEs, check out these sites:
ACES Too High – https://acestoohigh.com
PACES – https://www.acesconnectioninfo.com
You can find out more about Cissy and the work she’s doing at her website, Heal Write Now.
Finding the Healer Within with Kelly Noonan Gores
WED, 05 JAN 2022 ◦ 49 MINUTES
Healing is both a scientific and a spiritual journey, states Kelly Noonan Gores. She’s the writer, director, and producer of “Heal,” a documentary feature about the mind-body connection and the body’s innate ability to heal.
In this wide-ranging discussion, we touch on a lot of the topics covered in previous episodes of Cancer Connection, including cases of exceptional healing (see episode 2 with Dr. Jeffrey Rediger) and the rewards that come from acknowledging our mortality (see episode 3 with Dr. BJ Miller).
We also talk about the interconnectedness of science and spirituality; how our thoughts, beliefs, and emotions have a huge impact on our overall health and our ability to recover from illness and injury.
You can learn more about “Heal” at the film’s website, or check out Kelly Noonan Gores’ book of the same title.
HEAL (official website)
“Heal: Discover Your Unlimited Potential and Awaken the Powerful Healer Within” (book)
“The HEAL Podcast” features interviews with scientists, healthcare experts, spiritual leaders, and individuals with remarkable healing stories that prove almost anything is possible when it comes to healing.
Special Episode:
Special Episode: Clearity’s Deb Zajchowski on the Teckro Totally Clinical Podcast
Clinical trials are critical for advancing more effective treatment options for cancer, and participating in a clinical trial can be one of the most impactful steps a patient can take in the course of their treatment. That’s why the team at Clearity works to educate women diagnosed with ovarian cancer about clinical trial availability, enrollment, and participation.
Fortunately, many others share this commitment and partner with us to help spread the word and demystify the world of clinical trials. Our friends at Teckro (https://teckro.com) are doing more than demystifying. They’re transforming the way clinical trials are conducted to make participation more streamlined and realize outcomes more quickly.
Recently, Clearity’s Scientific Director, Dr. Deb Zajchowski, talked with Teckro on their podcast series, “Totally Clinical,” about promising treatments for ovarian cancer and why the science and research makes her hopeful for the future. With their kind permission, we’re sharing this episode of “Totally Clinical” with our own audience. We hope that you enjoy it and come away with more information about clinical trials, and more hope.
For more information about clinical trials for ovarian cancer, visit clearity.org/clinical-trials.
Introducing Cancer Connections
FRI, 07 MAY 2021 ◦ 1 MINUTES
Welcome to a new space where we can have the kinds of conversations that are not happening often enough alongside a cancer diagnosis—conversations about things like the connection between stress and wellness, or how to cope with death anxiety, or how clinical trials work today.
We’re sitting down with scientists, doctors, advocates, and patients for discussions that are thought-provoking, empowering and fact-based. We won’t have all of the answers, but we hope you’ll come away with some important perspectives that may make the cancer journey more manageable, whether you have been diagnosed or someone you care about has. Cancer Connections is brought to you by Clearity, an organization that provides services and support at no cost to people whose lives are impacted by ovarian cancer.
Disclaimer:
The guests interviewed for each Cancer Connections episode are presenting their own opinions and perspectives based on their areas of expertise, research and experience. Clearity as an organization is not endorsing any specific direction, guidance or option presented by our guests. We firmly believe in the uniqueness of each cancer experience and encourage our listeners use their own judgement in deciding which resources or ideas are right for them. Listeners are encouraged to delve deeper into subjects of interest and utilize the resources in the show notes to learn more.
