Let's talk F*ng Cancer

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 [https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mayoclinic.org%2Fdiseases-conditions%2Fcarcinoid-tumors%2Fsymptoms-causes%2Fsyc-20351039&data=05%7C02%7C%7C50c4ace0852944dda06d08de288e4a60%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638992788752835306%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=G4el8xgKKHIN9m3aJ7XPas7rNXaOavTbY02bf3rc9ns%3D&reserved=0] Cleveland Clinic Neuroendocrine Tumors [https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmy.clevelandclinic.org%2Fhealth%2Fdiseases%2F22006-neuroendocrine-tumors-net&data=05%7C02%7C%7C50c4ace0852944dda06d08de288e4a60%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638992788752858294%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=uHUw4nylpptcRjjYRZvQLs1gzhif05zHbByMd2VdzAQ%3D&reserved=0] AACR Old New Borrowed and Blue, approaches for non small cell carcinoma [https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aacr.org%2Fblog%2F2025%2F05%2F16%2Fold-new-borrowed-and-blue-clinical-trial-results-highlight-therapeutic-approaches-for-non-small-cell-lung-cancer%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7C50c4ace0852944dda06d08de288e4a60%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638992788752876103%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ffZM83cs6%2BOhAKqBxDQpcFNoRd35cV2Tcewwo3uDGcU%3D&reserved=0] The Lancet - Lung cancer treatment: 20 years of progress [https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thelancet.com%2Fjournals%2Flancet%2Farticle%2FPIIS0140-6736(24)01299-6%2Ffulltext&data=05%7C02%7C%7C50c4ace0852944dda06d08de288e4a60%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638992788752893904%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=4PnHYdE68qLL35yu8td4JkxK0MMrVBUoCfzkuBkkqss%3D&reserved=0] Pancreatic Cancer Breathrough [https://news.mit.edu/2025/biologists-identify-targets-new-pancreatic-cancer-treatments-0508?utm_source] The full research paper is titled: “Pancreatic cancer–restricted cryptic antigens are targets for T cell immunotherapy.” [https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adk3487]  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

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 [https://caratanamachi.com/cara-lockwood-books]" (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://caratanamachi.com/no-good-book-for-this] https://caratheauthor.com/ [https://caratheauthor.com/] Find Cara on Social Media https://www.instagram.com/cara.the.author/ [https://www.instagram.com/cara.the.author/] https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCaraLockwood/ [https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCaraLockwood/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-lockwood-563b5040/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-lockwood-563b5040/] https://www.tiktok.com/@caratanamachi [https://www.tiktok.com/@caratanamachi]

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 study [https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/lillys-blood-cancer-drug-meets-main-goal-late-stage-study-2025-09-08/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Daily Telegraph — 12-year-old Sydney boy’s inspiring brain tumour journey [https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/12yearold-sydney-boys-inspiring-brain-tumour-journey/news-story/44e1774e5a1808853c6e5c205ab673d0?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Fraunhofer — CAR-T cells fight solid tumors [https://www.fraunhofer.de/en/press/research-news/2025/september-2025/car-t-cells-fight-solid-tumors.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * New York Post — Cancer vaccine may prevent recurrence of pancreatic/colorectal tumors [https://nypost.com/2025/08/17/health/cancer-vaccine-may-prevent-recurrence-of-pancreatic-colorectal-tumors/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * The Australian — Prostate cancer guideline update [https://www.theaustralian.com.au/health/medical/tim-hopes-proposed-new-prostate-cancer-guidelines-mean-fewer-men-end-up-like-him/news-story/08e3be29097024166c07a86b450f57ee?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Wikipedia — Theranostics overview [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theranostics?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Reuters — BioNTech/Bristol Myers immunotherapy trial [https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/biontech-bristol-myers-immunotherapy-shows-encouraging-tumour-shrinkage-phase-ii-2025-09-08/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Cure Today — New clinical trials launch as cancer studies advance [https://www.curetoday.com/view/new-clinical-trials-launch-as-cancer-treatment-studies-advance?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * The Times — Remote-controlled synthetic cells for cancer treatment [https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/remote-controlled-synthetic-cells-cancer-treatment-cx3tgq5h3?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Penn Medicine — Pioneering strategy to prevent breast cancer recurrence [https://www.pennmedicine.org/News/pioneering-strategy-may-keep-breast-cancer-from-coming-back?utm_source=chatgpt.com]

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 [https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/cancer-care/recovery]

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 MRI * The impact of treatment on her independence, daily life, and family * Her visualization techniques during chemo that gave her strength and hope * The importance of her medical team, her grandchildren, and her work “babies” in keeping her fighting spirit alive * The 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 Brain * American Cancer Society – Understanding Brain Lymphoma * CancerCare – Support Services for Lymphoma Patients * Stanford Health Care – Stem Cell Transplant Information