Going Viral - No one should die from embarrassment

Eric Ganz, MD and Mary-Jo Murphy, RN
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Medicine

How do you find a disease that no one is looking for? This podcast explores the conundrum of anal cancer and pre-cancer; an HPV-related disease that is misunderstood and often misdiagnosed. The anus is a topic that we don't talk about…perhaps because this part of our body creates an odd sense of uncleanliness, taboo, and shame. Our podcast will be frank, practical discussions with international medical experts, patients and advocates. We will break through the shame, blame, and denial, and bring awareness to anal cancer and pre-cancer, ultimately saving lives! Please join us for 25 minutes of stimulating, interesting, factual, and life-changing discussion on anal canal and precancer sponsored by IANS (the International Anal Neoplasia Society)!

  1. Apr 26

    Hablar e Falar Claro: Anal Cancer Screening in Latin America

    There is a clear call to create a space for sharing experiences in IANS' many languages, where exchange is often richer and more precise. This open and honest exchange, with the help of two talented interpreters, taught us that opportunities exist for IANS to rethink how to move toward more inclusive, multilingual exchanges that reflect the international community it serves. Drs. Valéria Uellner and Luciana La Rosa, from IANS' Spanish/Portuguese Task Force, underscore the global reach of our podcast audience. From Brazil and Argentina, the doctors discuss the challenges of practicing this specialty across vastly different settings. From rural to urban, resources vary widely. The conversation, our first trilingual attempt, evolves to illustrate how real-time dialogue can shift meaningfully when people can express themselves without restraint. It highlights the beauty of allowing clinicians to present themselves more authentically when speaking in their own language. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Há um apelo claro para a criação de um espaço de compartilhamento de experiências nas diversas línguas da IANS, onde o intercâmbio é, muitas vezes, mais rico e preciso. Esse intercâmbio aberto e honesto — viabilizado com o auxílio de duas talentosas intérpretes — nos ensinou que existem oportunidades para a IANS repensar seu caminho rumo a intercâmbios mais inclusivos e multilíngues, que reflitam a comunidade internacional à qual serve. As Dras. Valéria Uellner e Luciana La Rosa, integrantes da Força-Tarefa de Espanhol/Português da IANS, ressaltam o alcance global da audiência do nosso podcast. A partir do Brasil e da Argentina, as médicas discutem os desafios do exercício dessa especialidade em contextos amplamente distintos. Do meio rural ao urbano, os recursos variam consideravelmente. A conversa — nossa primeira experiência trilíngue — evolui para ilustrar como o diálogo em tempo real pode adquirir um novo significado quando as pessoas têm a liberdade de se expressar sem restrições. O episódio destaca a beleza de permitir que os profissionais clínicos se apresentem de forma mais autêntica ao se expressarem em sua própria língua. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Há um apelo claro para criar um espaço para o compartilhamento de experiências nos muitos idiomas da IANS, onde a troca é frequentemente mais rica e precisa. Essa troca aberta e honesta, com a ajuda de dois intérpretes talentosos, nos ensinou que existem oportunidades para a IANS repensar como avançar em direção a intercâmbios mais inclusivos e multilíngues que reflitam a comunidade internacional que ela atende. As Dras. Valéria Uellner e Luciana La Rosa, da Força-Tarefa Espanhol/Português da IANS, ressaltam o alcance global do nosso público de podcast. Do Brasil e da Argentina, as médicas discutem os desafios de praticar esta especialidade em cenários muito diferentes. Do rural ao urbano, os recursos variam amplamente. A conversa, nossa primeira tentativa trilingue, evolui para ilustrar como o diálogo em tempo real pode mudar significativamente quando as pessoas podem se expressar sem restrições. Destaca a beleza de permitir que os clínicos se apresentem de forma mais autêntica ao falar em sua própria língua.

    52 min

  2. Feb 23

    The Screening Nobody Mentions: Anal Cancer. A Conversation with Dr. Tamzin Cuming

    Dr. Tamzin Cuming — a colorectal surgeon and the second woman president of the International Anal Neoplasia Society (IANS) — discusses teamwork, gender bias, and the urgent need to destigmatize conversations about anal cancer. She highlights IANS's impact on her career and its commitment to structured training and organized prevention, urging clinicians to listen carefully, examine thoroughly, and speak openly about symptoms and risk factors. Addressing misconceptions about women's risk, she envisions a future in which screening is routine and cross-specialty collaboration is standard. Though decades away, she imagines a time when these efforts will succeed in "putting ourselves out of business." Dr. Cuming is also working on a book, Bottoms Up: Tales from Surgery's Back End.

    37 min

  3. 07/07/2025

    PERSEVERANCE, CREATIVITY, AND TEAMWORK "WHERE IT'S HAPPENING"

    With a background in colorectal surgery and health informatics, as well as a passion for promoting prevention within the LGBTQ+ community, Dr. Elliot Aroniadis accomplished something unprecedented. At the Twin Cities Pride Event in 2023, his group, Save The Bottoms, provided on-site self-screening for anal pre-cancer and cancer. A few days later, his presentation about the success of this event at Grand Rounds impressed his professional community. This led to a collaboration with the Masonic Cancer Center, the University of Minnesota, and The Randy Shaver Research and Community Fund.   A team builder and innovator with experience in health informatics, Aroniadis understands how to leverage technology in daily life. By partnering with community influencers, Save The Bottoms effectively uses social media to reach underserved communities in Minneapolis and throughout Minnesota. Resourceful and visionary, his unique skills are enhancing awareness and prevention of anal cancer and its precursors. His team describes working with him as "fun," which is how we would characterize this interview!

    42 min

  4. 05/24/2025

    BOTTOM LINE: Preventing colorectal and anal cancers - A frank discussion with two influential pioneers who are making a difference

    Bottom Line A candid and delightful discussion with two pioneers who are shaping the awareness of anal and colorectal cancer in the LGBTQ+ community. What do an entrepreneur and a stand-up comic have in common?  A desire to raise awareness for the LGBTQ+ community about anal and colorectal cancers. David founded Cheeky Charity following his own health scare with colorectal cancer in 2021. Daniel has been HIV positive for fourteen years and was engaged in advocacy when he was diagnosed with anal cancer. The two began collaborating only a year ago, providing special sensitivity to mental health issues. Their approach is to educate, entertain, and inspire. With an awareness of cancer's psychological, physical, and spiritual effects, Cheeky Charity combines humor with education, creating a unique and effective strategy. Talking about cancer at Pride events across the country, Cheeky Charity strives to keep the community healthy by addressing the risks openly. With ease of conversation that encourages people to lower their guard, they convey their message through excellent website design and honest dialogue. Stigma is a struggle. Unapologetically irreverent, Cheeky Charity fosters an environment that promotes prevention through awareness and early detection. Their myth-busting, empowering message of support is straightforward: Love your body. Love yourself. Recognize your risk. Get screened. Cheeky Charity https://www.cheekycharity.org/ Christian and Daniel Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weUpUE7ZDGU

    41 min

  5. 01/27/2025

    Radical Feminism, Bravery and Vision: The Creation of Two Giants in the Field of Anal Dysplasia and Screening

    Today, gender care is fluid, but in 2012, in the early days of ANCHOR, it took the NY Times and a brave Boston gynecologist to shift the direction of focus of anal cancer prevention. On the other coast, a self-described radical feminist was told that "the anus is just like the cervix," and a historical career began. In this podcast, Drs. Beth Stier and Naomi Jay discuss how they collaborated to build consensus from a large group with diverse expertise to create the first Consensus Guidelines for Anal Cancer Screening (2024). This project is changing the course of anal cancer screening. Looking toward the future, the next big step will involve an Implementation task force. "No one is willing to wait another seventeen years for the changes to occur." The speakers' challenge, "Get involved.  There's so much work to be done."

    34 min

  6. 09/02/2024

    Anal Cancer Foundation - Passion, Determination & Love: A Conversation with Justine & Camille Almada

    Anal Cancer Foundation - Passion, Determination & Love:  A Conversation with Justine & Camille Almada For Justine, Camille, and Tristian Almada anal cancer is personal. After losing their dear mother, Paulette, to Stage IV HPV-related anal cancer in 2010, the siblings set out to change the course of this disease. In her honor, they created what they wished had been available to them, The Anal Cancer Foundation. For over a decade, their work has improved awareness as they advocate for policies that help eradicate the disease and educate about the importance of early detection and HPV vaccination uptake. In this interview, the two sisters describe not only their frustration with the lack of research and treatment options when their mother was diagnosed but also their vision that provides peer support and contributes to long-overdue research. In this moving and inspiring interview Camille a nurse practitioner in oncology expresses her hopes to cast a wider to all HPV – related cancers. With the message "You are not alone," Justine discusses the victories that have changed the face and experience of anal cancer, offering hope to thrivers whose lives are made better by the Anal Cancer Foundation's gallant vision. Camille's expressed views are her own and do not reflect those of her employer, Mount Sinai Health System. The Anal Cancer Foundation was a strong financial support for the establishment of IANS.

    35 min

  7. 05/05/2024

    Improving Barriers to Intimacy - A Toolbox

    IMPROVING BARRIERS TO INTIMACY – A TOOLBOX Irena Nurkic is a specialist in continence and pelvic health physiotherapist at the Royal Perth Hospital in Western Australia. With over fifteen years of in-depth clinical expertise in management of pelvic health conditions in women, men and transgender persons, she lectures and serves as a clinical tutor at Curtin University. In this interview Irena generously shares her passion for learning and translating science into patient care. She applies her expertise to improve and manage often ignored biological changes of post-pelvic radiation. Her approach is person-centered, supporting the patient in identifying hard-to-discuss sexual, incontinence and pelvic pain issues. She discusses her team's interdisciplinary approach and her role as a PT in guiding her clients in what to expect after treatment and in setting short and long-term personal priorities and aspirations. Her expressed expertise is filtered through her approachable, kind, and sensitive demeanor. All patients' issues and goals are different. She offers hope for often ignored post-treatment quality-of-life concerns. She validates that "bowel, bladder and sexual dysfunction post-radiation are a problem, and we have tools."

    33 min

  8. 04/08/2024

    Dr. Andrew Wong -- Leading Hong Kong's Anal Pre-Cancer Programs

    In this podcast Dr. Wong discusses how a talk he heard about HRA, high resolution anoscopy, piqued his interest in something he knew nothing about. He reasoned because he was caring for HIV patients that he should know more. He found his way to places where HRA was done and where he could be trained. His interest and dedication took him from his home in Hong Kong to Australia, to New York and San Francisco, where he learned from the experts. In a compelling interview, Dr. Wong shares the challenges and successes of his impressive professional journey. He discusses his fascination with this specialty and his commitment to bringing more trained specialists to Asia.

    30 min
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About

How do you find a disease that no one is looking for? This podcast explores the conundrum of anal cancer and pre-cancer; an HPV-related disease that is misunderstood and often misdiagnosed. The anus is a topic that we don't talk about…perhaps because this part of our body creates an odd sense of uncleanliness, taboo, and shame. Our podcast will be frank, practical discussions with international medical experts, patients and advocates. We will break through the shame, blame, and denial, and bring awareness to anal cancer and pre-cancer, ultimately saving lives! Please join us for 25 minutes of stimulating, interesting, factual, and life-changing discussion on anal canal and precancer sponsored by IANS (the International Anal Neoplasia Society)!

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