Let's talk F*ng Cancer

Colette Hoang
  • 5.0 (22)
  • MEDICINE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to the Let's Talk F*ng Cancer podcast. Where we will be covering all things in the cancer world. With our 4 monthly topics covering professionals from the cancer world, tips& tricks to get through your chemotherapy, radiation and more. We will also be having spotlight episodes speaking with cancer survivors and thrivers, as well as a grief and remembrance segment focusing on saying the names of loved ones passed.

  1. FEB 3

    Ep. 89 - "What's New" in cancer news and research: January, Cervical Cancer Awareness

    January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, and today’s episode is about what we can do now and what’s finally changing for the better. In this conversation, we break down: What cervical cancer is and how it developsWhy screening and HPV vaccination save livesCommon myths that still prevent people from getting protectedAnd a practice-changing clinical trial that’s redefining treatment for people with high-risk cervical cancer We also dive into newly released data from a major international phase 3 trial showing that adding immunotherapy to standard chemoradiation helps people with high-risk, locally advanced cervical cancer live longer and lowers the risk of recurrence—a breakthrough that’s been decades in the making. This episode is about access, prevention, informed choice, and real hope, without fear-based messaging or medical jargon. 🎗️ Cervical Cancer BasicsHow cervical cancer formsWho is at higher riskWhy early detection makes such a difference Learn more: Cleveland Clinic – Cervical Cancer Overview https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12216-cervical-cancer 🩺 Screening Guidelines: What You Actually Need to KnowUpdated cervical cancer screening recommendationsPap tests vs HPV testingWhy screening intervals have changed—and why that’s a good thing Source: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Updated Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-advisory/articles/2021/04/updated-cervical-cancer-screening-guidelines 💉 HPV Vaccine: Separating Facts from FearWhat HPV is and how it relates to cervical cancerWhy the HPV vaccine is about cancer prevention, not behaviorAddressing common myths with science, not shame Sources: Society of Behavioral Medicine – 7 HPV Vaccine Myths https://www.sbm.org/healthy-living/7-hpv-vaccine-myths CDC – HPV Vaccine Safety https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/hpv.html 🔬 New Research That’s Changing TreatmentWe break down results from a major phase 3 international study (KEYNOTE-A18 / ENGOT-cx11 / GOG-3047) that found: Adding pembrolizumab (Keytruda) to standard chemoradiationImproved overall survival and progression-free survivalFor people with high-risk, locally advanced cervical cancerWith a manageable and well-understood safety profile This research is now being recognized as practice-changing and is expected to redefine the standard of care. 💙 Why This MattersCervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, yet people still fall through the cracks due to: MisinformationBarriers to screeningLimited access to care This episode centers education, compassion, and autonomy—because knowledge should empower, not scare. 📚 Additional ResourcesAmerican Association for Cancer Research – Cervical Cancer Awareness Montha...

    22 min

  2. JAN 13

    Ep. - 88: Community Discussion, Awkward Words, Real Impact: Talking About Cancer (Better)

    Happy New Year!!!! To kick off 2026 the ladies bring back some amazing friends Abby — Episodes 22 & 52, Stacey — Episodes 24 & 64, Molly — Episode 36, Alison — Episodes 38 & 39, Cara — Episode 85 for a community discussion. This episode held space for both the heavy and the hopeful. Together, we dove into the awkward, often painful moments of communication that cancer patients experience, even when the intentions behind the words are good. Through honest conversation, shared laughter, and real vulnerability, we unpacked phrases that stuck with us for all the wrong reasons, explored how they made us feel, and offered guidance on how supporters can communicate with more care, awareness, and empathy. This was a learning experience for us all. We shared our hurts openly, but just as importantly, we talked through how those same sentiments could have been expressed differently, giving our listeners practical, compassionate tools to better communicate. What made this conversation especially powerful was how often our experiences overlapped. Many of us had heard the same phrases, felt the same reactions, and carried similar emotional weight, proof that these moments are common, and that small changes in language can make a meaningful difference.

    1h 33m

  3. 12/30/2025

    Ep. 87 - Spotlight: Dee Dee colon cancer survivor and advocate

    In this episode of Let’s Talk Fng Cancer Spotlight episode, we sit down with Dee Dee West, a colon cancer survivor whose journey reshaped not only her life, but her purpose. Dee Dee takes us back to life before cancer. The routines, the assumptions, and the moments she now looks at differently. She shares how she discovered her cancer, what the diagnostic and treatment process really looked like, and the physical and emotional toll that came with it. We talk candidly about mental health during and after cancer, the realities of survivorship, and how relationships can shift when illness enters the picture. Beyond survival, Dee Dee has become a powerful voice in colon cancer advocacy, using her platform to educate, raise awareness, and encourage others to listen to their bodies and advocate for their health. Through her advocacy work, she is helping change the narrative around colon cancer . We also explore how creativity became part of Dee Dee’s healing. She shares how launching her jewelry business allowed her to reconnect with herself, channel meaning into creation, and turn survival into something tangible and beautiful. This episode is honest, grounding, and deeply human — a reminder that survivorship is not an endpoint, but an ongoing journey of rebuilding, redefining, and reclaiming your life. Follow Dee Dee’s advocacy journey on Instagram: @colonfluencer Dee Dee's Etsy Shop: Sea West Studio

    1h 18m

  4. 11/21/2025

    Ep. 86 - November "What's New" in cancer news and research AND Congratulations Julia and Matt!

    In this month’s “What’s New” episode, we kick things off with some joy — catching up on life, sharing big updates, and celebrating JULIA AND MATT GETTING MARRIED! 🥂✨  From there, we dive into the latest breakthroughs happening across the cancer research world. Each of us covers a different area of emerging science, treatment advancement, or clinical insight — and as always, we break it down in a way that’s real, relatable, and rooted in hope. 🧬 Julia: Understanding Carcinoid Tumors, 💨 Leah: How Far Lung Cancer Treatment Has Come — Especially in the Last 2 Years, 🔬 Colette: Pancreatic Cancer Breakthrough — Cryptic Peptides Reveal New Targets Sources Below: Mayo Clinic Carcinoid Tumors Cleveland Clinic Neuroendocrine Tumors AACR Old New Borrowed and Blue, approaches for non small cell carcinoma The Lancet - Lung cancer treatment: 20 years of progress Pancreatic Cancer Breathrough The full research paper is titled: “Pancreatic cancer–restricted cryptic antigens are targets for T cell immunotherapy.”  Published in Science.  DOI: 10.1126/science.adk3487  Lead authors: Zackery Ely and Zachary Kulstad  Senior authors: Tyler Jacks and William Freed-Pastor This was summarized in the MIT News article: “Biologists identify targets for new pancreatic cancer treatments”  Written by Anne Trafton  Published May 8, 2025

    44 min

  5. 10/28/2025

    Ep. 85 Cara Lockwood bestselling author and cancer survivor

    When bestselling author Cara Lockwood was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer in 2023, she didn’t look for inspiration in solemn pamphlets or dusty medical books. She looked for laughter, swearing, and straight talk — the kind of encouragement you get from your funniest, most unfiltered friend. In "There’s No Good Book for This but I Wrote One Anyway: The Irreverent Guide to Crushing Breast Cancer" (Oct. 1, 2025), Cara shares the gritty, absurd, and often hilarious truth about treatment, recovery, and life after a double mastectomy, chemo, and reconstruction. Part Memoir. Part Pep Talk. Part Screaming Into the Void. For Patients, Survivors, and the People Who Love Them Laugh, Cry, and Then Laugh Again Fighting for a Cure — One Book at a Time Get your copy Below: https://caratanamachi.com/no-good-book-for-this https://caratheauthor.com/ Find Cara on Social Media https://www.instagram.com/cara.the.author/ https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCaraLockwood/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-lockwood-563b5040/ https://www.tiktok.com/@caratanamachi

    53 min

  6. 10/01/2025

    Ep. 84 - "Whats New In Cancer News and Research" September Childhood cancer, Blood cancer, Thyroid cancer, Ovarian and Gynecological cancers

    🌟 September is HUGE for cancer awareness 🌟 This month shines the spotlight on: 🩸 Blood cancers 🎗️ Childhood cancer 🌸 Gynecologic & ovarian cancers 👨 Prostate cancer 🦋 Thyroid cancer In my latest What’s New solo episode, I’m diving into: ✅ Breakthrough drugs giving blood cancer patients longer remissions ✅ A 12-year-old’s inspiring story of targeted therapy success ✅ CAR-T therapies expanding into ovarian cancer ✅ New prostate cancer screening guidelines ✅ The rise of precision medicine & theranostics ✅ Futuristic innovations like synthetic drug factories inside the body 🤯 💪 Research is moving fast, and awareness saves lives. Tune in to learn, get inspired, and spread the hope.#LetsTalkFnCancer #CancerAwarenessMonth #CancerResearch #Podcast #CancerBreakthroughs sources: Highlights in this episode:Blood cancers: Eli Lilly’s Jaypirca helps CLL/SLL patients live longer without progression; CAR-T therapy delivers remission for aggressive lymphoma 【web†source】.Childhood cancer: A 12-year-old’s brain tumor stabilized after a targeted melanoma drug via the ZERO program in Sydney 【web†source】.Gynecologic & ovarian cancers: CAR-T therapy expands into solid tumors; Eli-002 cancer vaccine shows strong KRAS-targeted immune responses 【web†source】.Prostate cancer: Proposed guidelines could lower PSA screening age to 40, paired with MRI for more precise detection 【web†source】.Thyroid cancer: Theranostics—blending diagnostics and therapy—emerges as a precision medicine frontier 【web†source】.Broader innovations: New immunotherapies, remote clinical trials, synthetic drug factories, and research to prevent recurrence in breast cancer 【web†source】. Sources:Reuters — Lilly’s blood cancer drug meets main goal in late-stage studyDaily Telegraph — 12-year-old Sydney boy’s inspiring brain tumour journeyFraunhofer — CAR-T cells fight solid tumorsNew York Post — Cancer vaccine may prevent recurrence of pancreatic/colorectal tumorsThe Australian — Prostate cancer guideline updateWikipedia — Theranostics overviewReuters — BioNTech/Bristol Myers immunotherapy trialCure Today — New clinical trials launch as cancer studies advanceThe Times — a...

    28 min

  7. 09/02/2025

    Ep. 83 - Spotlight: Anne, Triple Positive Breast Cancer, a journey of Nerve Blocks a Divorce, Curling and 5 yrs CANCER FREE

    🌟 Spotlight Episode: Anne’s Story 🌟 This week on Let’s Talk Fng Cancer*, we spotlight Anne — a triple positive breast cancer survivor with an incredible story of strength and healing. Anne began her treatment right at the start of COVID, enduring her diagnosis during one of the most isolating times imaginable. After completing treatment, she faced another life-altering challenge: a divorce. Through it all, Anne found her path forward. She embraced therapy, focused on her health, and — during recovery — discovered the sport of curling, which gave her both joy and community. Today, she’s standing stronger than ever, with a powerful message about resilience and rebuilding life after cancer. Her journey shows us that survivorship is about more than getting through treatment — it’s about finding new strength, purpose, and connection. 💪✨ Kaiser, Dr Bodai- Cancer Recovery and Survivorship

    1h 33m

  8. 08/20/2025

    Ep. 82 – Karen’s Journey: Brain Lymphoma & One Year in Remission

    In this powerful episode of Let’s Talk Fng Cancer*, Colette and Julia sit down with Karen, who was diagnosed in April 2024 with lymphoma of the brain. What followed was months of intensive chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant at Stanford, and the battle of a lifetime. Karen courageously shares her journey — from the frightening first symptoms to the shock of diagnosis, the grueling treatment process, and ultimately celebrating her one-year remission anniversary. She opens up about: How her diagnosis was discovered after unusual tremors led to an MRIThe impact of treatment on her independence, daily life, and familyHer visualization techniques during chemo that gave her strength and hopeThe importance of her medical team, her grandchildren, and her work “babies” in keeping her fighting spirit aliveThe emotional shift of going from “cancer patient” to reclaiming her life after treatment Karen’s story is one of resilience, gratitude, and the power of never giving up. 🎧 Tune in for this inspiring conversation — and a reminder to celebrate every milestone, no matter how small. Resources for Listeners: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – Lymphoma of the BrainAmerican Cancer Society – Understanding Brain LymphomaCancerCare – Support Services for Lymphoma PatientsStanford Health Care – Stem Cell Transplant Information

    44 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Let's Talk F*ng Cancer podcast. Where we will be covering all things in the cancer world. With our 4 monthly topics covering professionals from the cancer world, tips& tricks to get through your chemotherapy, radiation and more. We will also be having spotlight episodes speaking with cancer survivors and thrivers, as well as a grief and remembrance segment focusing on saying the names of loved ones passed.

Information

  • Creator
    Colette Hoang
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    93
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Colette Hoang
  • Show Website
    Let's talk F*ng Cancer