Cancer Interviews

Jim Foster
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Biweekly

It is our sincere hope that however cancer may be impacting you or your loved ones, that you will find the Cancer Interviews podcast and our interviews with amazing cancer survivors, caregivers, oncology professionals and others, helpful, informative and encouraging! Our guests share their stories with things like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, stem cell transplants, bone marrow transplants, the emotional ups and downs of being a cancer patient, being a caregiver for a loved one fighting cancer, as well as cancer nutrition and allow them an opportunity to tell us about their life before, during and after their cancer journey. We do not provide medical advice on this podcast. Please remember, you are not alone and we invite you to be a part of our team, where together, everyone achieves more! We are sharing the journey together and we wish you the very best possible outcome, with your cancer journey!

  1. 9h ago

    179: Shannon Miller survived germ cell ovarian cancer | BEP chemotherapy | laparotomy | neuropathy

    Shannon Miller won seven Olympic medals as a gymnast in 1992 and 1996.  She did so against topflight competition, but years later, she faced a more formidable foe: a diagnosis of ovarian cancer.  Her tumor was successfully removed through a procedure called a Unilatera Salpingo-Oophorectomy, but two weeks after that, she learned it more malignant than originally thought.  Aided by the mental toughness she exhibited as an elite athlete, Shannon went on a grueling, nine-week regimen of BEP chemotherapy and reached survivorship.    In 2011, Shannon experienced bloating, stomach aches and weight loss.  She dismissed them as symptoms attached to her just having had a son.  When it came time for a checkup, she told her doctor she felt fine, but after a scan, Shannon was told she wasn't fine because the scan revealed a baseball-sized cyst in her left ovary, and that surgery was needed.  At that time it was not known if the cyst was benign or malignant.   At first she had to sit through an agonizing four to five weeks of 'wait and observe.'  Shannon underwent a laparotomy and a unilatera salpingo-oophorectomy, in which the left ovary was removed and with it, the tumor.  Shannon was a bit woozy from her various medications when she regained consciousness.  It was then that she was told the mass was cancerous.  Shannon and her husband felt like celebrating because the cancer had been removed.  However, bad news was around the corner.   About two weeks later, she received a call from her oncologist.  He said that the tumor had a higher degree of malignancy than originally anticipated.  This meant Shannon would have to undergo nine weeks of extremely aggressive chemotherapy, BEP chemotherapy. She said it was the hardest thing she had ever had to do.  In addition to the predictable hair loss, there was the nausea in addition to hydration issues, all this while was trying to raise a toddler.    In an early stage of the nine-week regimen, Shannon questioned whether she could complete it; but she called on the mental toughness that enabled her to excel as an elite athlete, finished the chemo on May 2, 2011, and was declared cancer free.  She was nauseous for another year and says to this day she sometimes has cognitive issues, but experienced continued progress and began to feel a little better and a bit more like herself with each passing day.   Shannon Miller says hers is a journey with no finish line.  She tries to survive each day and is grateful for the life she enjoys with husband and two children.   Additional Resources:   Shannon's website: Salto Health https://www.saltohealth.com

    23 min

  2. Jun 13

    178: Dale Atkinson survived Stage IV esophageal cancer | palliative care | endoscopy | CAPOX | cold neuropathy

    Dale Atkinson Description       In 2024, Dale Atkinson was diagnosed with Stage IV esophageal cancer.  His diagnosis preceded by the death of his mother and was preceded by his partner being diagnosed with lung cancer.  All this in the space of a few weeks.  Dale was active in sports and consumed a healthy diet, but in 2019 began to suffer chronic acid reflux.  His symptoms were repeatedly treated as acid reflux, but it wasn't until 2024 that he underwent an endoscopy, which immediately revealed a tumor and a diagnosis of Stage IV esophageal cancer.  Dale was told he didn't have long to live and was immediately placed in palliative care.  However, he did extensive research and essentially designed his own care plan, combining conventional chemotherapy and immunotherapy with non-mainstream remedies.  In 2025, the tumor shrank and he was declared to have No Evidence of Disease.   In 2019, Dale Atkinson was still in his twenties, was on a vegetarian diet and was active in four sports, including rugby.  Then he began to experience chronic acid reflux and heartburn.  Sleep was interrupted by rising into his throat.  He had difficulty swallowing.  Dale sought medical attention, but his symptoms were repeatedly treated as reflux.   In 2024, Dale was scheduled for an endoscopy.  Because his partner had just been diagnosed with lung cancer, she could not drive, and because of that, Dale was not anesthetized for the procedure.  As a result, along with his care team, he viewed the endoscopy, which showed a 9.2cm tumor and with it a diagnosis of Stage IV esophageal cancer.    Doctors told Dale he did not have long to live and that his only treatment option was palliative care.  He was diagnosed on October 12, 2024.  Nine days earlier, his partner was diagnosed with lung cancer and on October 27, his mother passed away.  Overwhelmed with devastating news, once it all sunk in, Dale decided he would let determination  spearhead his journey, determination and not fear.   His palliative care regimen was supposed to consist of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, but Dale said he approximately 5,000 research paper, concluded which non-traditional therapies could be of help and asked that his regimen include a combination of the non-mainstream medications along with chemotherapy and immunotherapy.   He learned in January 2025 his tumor decreased in size, he was able to swallow normally and could go hours at a time without any pain.  He was declared No Evidence of Disease, and thought things were getting back to normal.  He got off his protocol, but in March, cancer symptoms returned.  Dale got back on his protocol, and months later, again was declared NED.  He still suffers from chemo-related brain fog but enjoys life with his partner and two young sons.   Additional Resources:   Dale's charity: "Beyond the Standard."   Dale's blog: https://www.thelifeorganic.com   Dale's fitness center: https://www.peakhealthandfitness.co.uk

    27 min

  3. Jun 3

    177: Dr. Jessa Landmann provides care for cancer survivors in the post-treatment phase | naturopathy | complimentary therapies

    Early in Dr, Jessa Landmann's medical training, she discovered a need for attention given to those after they had received treatment for cancer.  The post-treatment phase can be difficult physically, mentally and emotionally.  Nutrition, what survivors eat, how much they eat and when they eat is where she starts in dealing with those going through the multi-layered challenges of post-treatment.  Dr. Landmann urges those in the post-treatment phase to be proactive and seek direction from healthcare professionals.   Dr. Landmann is by trade a naturopathic doctor.  At the forefront of her care for those who have been treated for cancer is what is known as complimentary therapies.  She says this is an "umbrella term" for everything from exercise to nutrition to acupuncture to mindfulness and meditation and herbal supplements.  When she encounters one in the post-treatment phase, the thing she sees most is fatigue.  Patients tell her the bulk of the treatment may be in the past, but they still feel exhausted.   She seeks to utilize the therapies in her toolbox to make post-treatment patients feel better physically, mentally and emotionally.  When there is improvement in all three areas, then she says survivors are more apt to as best as possible, return to the life they led before they were diagnosed.    Before her caring for survivors become more multi-faceted, Jessa starts by trying to improve their diet.  She says a lot of people experience eating problems during treatment, whether it is from nausea or a change in appetite or changes in taste or certain medications like steroids for example increase people's appetite, so maybe they are eating more than they usually do, maybe they gain some weight, or a lot of people want that comfort food, maybe they are not eating in the healthiest way.  That's when she takes a deep dive into the person's eating habits, making sure there is enough protein, enough fruits and vegetables, not a lot of processed food.  She also watches the time of day in which the person is eating.  For example, if someone eats late at night he or she can have more frequent night-time awakenings.  That might lead to poor sleep and fatigue during the day.  Dr. Jessa Landmann says the best thing a survivor can do is to look into ways in which they can improve the post-treatment phase of their cancer journey.  There is much more to optimized healing during this difficult time, but she says a great place to start is being proactive about diet and exercise and to try to do as many things as the survivor did before they were diagnosed.   Additional Resources:   Jessa's website: https://www.drjessalandmann.com   Jessa's Book: "Beyond Cancer Fatigue: A Path to Reclaiming Energy", available on Amazon, but Cancer Interviews listeners and viewers can take advantage of a 20 percent discount if they purchase the book on the Wiley Publishing website by entering the code BCF20 at checkout.

    17 min

  4. May 30

    176: Mike Fitzgerald survived pancreatic cancer | whipple procedure | nanoknife | lanreotide | cancer cachexia

    Mike Fitzpatrick was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 1999.  That he is still with us in and of itself is amazing; what is even more incredible is that he later learned he had been walking around with symptoms of the disease since 1986!  When he initially reported the symptoms to doctors, they performed some tests and claimed at worst he had a twisted bowel.  Mike went to a different doctor who ran an MRI and a CT scan and told Mike he had pancreatic cancer.   After discussing the diagnosis with his wife, they decided to be proactive and opted for a Whipple Procedure, a complex, 13-hour procedure that got rid of hundreds of tiny tumors on his pancreas.  However, in 2018, more tumors were back.  They were removed with a nanoknife procedure, but Mike was told for the rest of his life he would have to take lanreotide, a monthly injection to keep the tumors at bay.   His health seemed to be just fine until 1986, when Mike experienced pain shooting through his abdomen and back.  He found himself with severe diarrhea and sustained vomiting for twenty minutes at a time.  Mike sought medical attention.  Despite doctors running various tests, they said there was nothing wrong with him that indicated cancer, and that the worst possible scenario was twisted bowel.   In 1999, Mike went to another doctor who performed a CT scan and an MRI.  Shortly thereafter, he and his wife were called to the doctor's office where they were told Mike had pancreatic cancer.  The doctor urged Mike to undergo a Whipple Procedure to get rid of hundreds of small tumors on his pancreas.  When he asked the doctor of the consequences should Mike pass on the Whipple Procedure, Mike was told the consequences could be sudden death because the tumors could "explode."  Mike and his wife chose to go ahead with the Whipple Procedure.   It was a 13-hour surgery.  Mike had his gall bladder, bile duct and part of his pancreas removed.  Then the bile duct was re-attached to his small intestine so that he could eat and digest food.  Mike said his recovery from the procedure took close to one year, but the tumors were gone.   All seemed well for Mike until 2018 when two tumors were detected.  This time he underwent a nanoknife procedure.  He was told the tumors were gone, but in 2024, they reappeared.  His doctor told him that for the rest of his life, Mike would have to get a monthly injection of lanreotide, aimed at keeping the tumors from spreading.   Mike Fitzpatrick is glad to be alive, but suffers from neuropathy, which results in chronic fatigue and a loss of balance.    Additional Resources:   The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network: https://www.pancan.org   The Cancer Support Studio: https://www.cancersupportstudio.com   The One Cancer Place Institute: https://www.onecancerplace.org   Mike's Blog: 50 for Fitz, available on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram

    28 min

  5. May 15

    175: Michelle Reed survived bladder cancer | cystoscopy | gemcitabine | bcg immunotherapy | mitomychin

    Michelle Reed is still with us after being diagnosed with NMI bladder cancer in 2018; but she will stop short of saying she has survived the disease.  Since surgery to remove a 7mm mass, she has had ten recurrences.  Post-treatment included a chemotherapy regimen of gemcitabine, which she says she will be taking for the rest of her life.  Managing her cancer consists of making she comes in for her scheduled scans and listening to her body.  Michelle does much to help others as they battle cancer through her book and her website.   In 2018, Michelle Reed had a lot on her plate.  Her son had just been in an auto accident and while she was caring for him and working at a full time job, she noticed blood in her urine.  With all she had going on, she was slow to seek medical attention, but when the condition wouldn't go away, she went to an urgent care.  She made five such visits, each time being told she probably just had a urinary tract infection or mini kidney stones.  Michelle had friends who had suffered kidney stones, knew they were quite painful, and that tipped her off, that the diagnoses she had received at the urgent care were inaccurate.   She eventually saw a urologist who conducted a FISH test, which stands Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization urinalysis, which combined with a CT scan, revealed a 7mm mass on her bladder.  Her doctor said it was urgent that Michelle undergo surgery to remove the mass.  He added that a best-case scenario was complete removal of the mass after which she could go home, while a worst-case scenario would her being hooked up to a bag for the rest of her life.  Thankfully, the entire mass was removed.    However, Michelle Reed will never say she has 'survived' bladder cancer.  After the surgery, she was put on a chemotherapy regimen of gemcitabine.  She says she will always be on that regimen.  Michelle also says since her diagnosis, she has had no less than ten recurrences of bladder cancer, requiring several surgeries.  She also knows there is the possibility that another surgical procedure could be in her future.   Michelle says the quality of her urinary function varies from day to day, and that also will be with her for the rest of her life, as well as fatigue that is a byproduct of her treatment.   By way of advice to others who find themselves 'managing' their cancer, she says to be sure to be present for all your scheduled appointments and listen to your body.   Michelle Reed makes a steadfast effort to help others battling cancer with a book anda website.   Additional Resources:   Michelle's Book: Cancer Care Book   Michelle's Website: https://www.cancersupportstudio.com

    32 min

  6. May 12

    174: john pattison survived hodgkin lymphoma and bladder cancer | vincristine | prednisolone | mitomycin | cystoscopy

    John Walker Pattison is still with us despite two protracted battles with cancer.  He was diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin lymphoma in 1975 and relapsed three times.  Then in 2018, he was diagnosed with bladder cancer, a diagnosis after which he relapsed once.  After his lymphoma diagnosis, treatment included an aggressive chemotherapy regimen, which included nitrogen mustard, vincristine, procarbazine and prednisolone.  John said effects from the chemo hampered his fight with bladder cancer and still affect him today, although his urinary function is just fine.    John was in his late teens when he began to experience fatigue, night sweats, recurring cough and weight loss, among other symptoms.  He was doing heavy lifting in the shipbuilding business, had difficulty at work and one day on the job he collapsed.  Realizing he needed medical attention, he underwent scans and biopsies, and they led to a diagnosis of Stage IV Hodgkin lymphoma.  He was told his chances of recovery were slim.   In May 1975, his care team prescribed a chemotherapy cocktail of nitrogen mustard, prednisolone, procarbazine and vincristine, which only added to a high degree of fear he had for his future.    Things went from bad to worse when he was informed that the chemo regimen didn't work and he relapsed.  In April 1976, he was put on a different regimen with cyclophosphamide taking the place of nitrogen mustard.  That, too, was ineffective, resulting in another relapse.  In December of that year, his care team tried radiotherapy, again with no success.    In April 1977, John went on a regimen of palliative chemotherapy, with single agent vinblastine.  On a subsequent visit, his oncologist raised his arms in triumph and shocked John by telling him he was cancer free.   John Walker Pattison thought cancer was in his rear-view mirror, but in 2018, while traveling by air, he discovered blood in his urine.  He was a health care professional and immediately knew something was wrong.  Again seeking medical attention, he was diagnosed with Grade II Transitional Cell Bladder Carcinoma.  He underwent surgery, followed by bladder installation of mitomycin chemotherapy.  That was followed by transurethral laser ablation in 2020.  Not long after that procedure, again, John was told he was cancer free.   John Walker Pattison enjoys normal urinary function, but says he will be dealing with the side effects of the chemotherapy and radiotherapy he underwent in the seventies.   That said, John wants to help others diagnosed with cancer.  He has written a book, "Shadow of a Survivor," which he hopes will be a source of hope and inspiration.   Additional Resources:   John's Book, "Shadow of a Survivor," available on Amazon John's Website, https://www.johnpattison.co.uk

    25 min

  7. Apr 29

    173: Dr. Ben Evans is a colon cancer expert | colonoscopy | stool-based tests | rectal bleeding | polyps

    The average age in which people are diagnosed with colon cancer continues to drop.  Louisville-based gastroenterologist Ben Evans, MD says for decades the conventional wisdom was that one should begin getting screened for colon cancer at age 50.  Now, he says you should learn your family history with colon cancer and colon polyps, and with that as your guide, you should start screening as early as your twenties.  Dr. Evans says that while the colonoscopy remains the gold standard for colon screening, there are stool-based testing alternatives that can be done in the privacy of your home.  However, he notes that if one of the home-based tests reveal a positive result, you will need to undergo a colonoscopy.   Intense research has yet to come up with an answer as to why those being diagnosed with colon cancer are getting increasingly younger.  Dr. Evans says the mortality rate for those diagnosed with cancer continues to climb while to varying degrees, the mortality rate is dropping for all other types of cancer.   In addition to checking your family history with colon cancer, you can help yourself by living a healthy lifestyle.  Dr. Evans suggests quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake and consumption of processed foods, while being sure to load up on fruits and vegetables.   Dr. Evans says you should be aware of colon cancer symptoms.  They include bloody stool, rectal bleeding and abdominal pain.  If any of these symptoms materialize, he says you should not leave anything to chance and seek medical attention.   Additional Resources: Support Group: The Colon Cancer Prevention Project: https://www.coloncancerpreventionproject.org

    19 min

  8. Apr 23

    172: Cindy Koerner survived breast cancer | epirubicin | zoladex | cyclophosphamide | estradiol

    In 2018, for Cindy Koerner, pain in her right breast led to a diagnosis of Stage 3A breast cancer.  She was put on a three-pronged, high-dosage chemotherapy regimen of epirubicin, nab-paclitataxel and cyclophosphamide.  The cyclophosphamide compromised her immune system, resulting in fatigue and fever.  The chemo regimen shut down her ovaries, but when they became active about a year later, Cindy was told if they remained active, the possibility of a relapse would increase, so she opted to have them removed.  These days, Cindy believes her health is at approximately 80 percent of what it was before her diagnosis, but she admits she gets tired easily, which prevents her from doing activities that she thinks would leave her exhausted.   Cindy's cancer journey began in 2018 when she felt pain behind the nipple in her right breast.  The pain would leave, only to return when her menstrual cycle returned.  She saw her gynecologist, who called for an ultrasound, which the doctor said did not reveal anything abnormal.  When the pain continued to come and go, she went back to the gynecologist.  Another ultrasound, the gynecologist said revealed nothing unusual.   However, in 2020, she noticed a change in the shape of her breast and that it included a dimple.  Another trip to the doctor and another scan indicated a tumor and a diagnosis of Stage 3A breast cancer.  Cindy later learned that such a diagnosis should have provided her with multiple treatment options, but at the time her care team told her she would be going on an aggressive regimen of chemotherapy.  Because of the advent of COVID, treatment was made more difficult for Cindy from an emotional perspective because she had to remain in isolation.   The regimen included epirubicin, nab-paclitaxel and cyclophosphamide.  She had to come in for a dosage every two weeks.  Like many on chemotherapy, Cindy suffered hair loss, but she said the cyclophosphamide was the roughest.  It played havoc with her immune system, leading to fatigue, fever and depression.  However, this was not the only hurdle in her journey.   Cindy's tumor was hormone receptor positive, which reacted to the estradiol in her body.  This had implications for her ovaries.  The chemo had rendered them inactive, but about a year later, they became active again.  She was told when the ovaries are active, that increases the possibility of the cancer returning.  As a result, with injections of zoladex, a GnRH analogon, she opted to have her ovaries removed.   Cindy Koerner has returned to work as a cancer biologist with the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg.  She says her health is about 80 percent of what it was before her diagnosis and there are some activities she avoids because she fears they would leave her exhausted.   Cindy is also a cancer patient advocate.  Among her messages to patients is to have a heightened awareness of their treatment options, which she admits she didn't have at the time of her diagnosis.

    18 min
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out of 5
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About

It is our sincere hope that however cancer may be impacting you or your loved ones, that you will find the Cancer Interviews podcast and our interviews with amazing cancer survivors, caregivers, oncology professionals and others, helpful, informative and encouraging! Our guests share their stories with things like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, stem cell transplants, bone marrow transplants, the emotional ups and downs of being a cancer patient, being a caregiver for a loved one fighting cancer, as well as cancer nutrition and allow them an opportunity to tell us about their life before, during and after their cancer journey. We do not provide medical advice on this podcast. Please remember, you are not alone and we invite you to be a part of our team, where together, everyone achieves more! We are sharing the journey together and we wish you the very best possible outcome, with your cancer journey!

Information

  • Creator
    Jim Foster
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Cancer Interviews © 2020
  • Show Website
    Cancer Interviews