The Cracking Cancer Podcast

Challenges of Rural Cancer Care with Zack Schroeder and J.J. Singleton. Episode 53.

In this critical episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon reunites with co-host JJ Singleton and welcomes Zach Schroeder, a first-year intern at Wake Forest and the founder of the Rural Cancer Institute. Zach sharing his harrowing personal journey as a 21-year-old diagnosed with Stage III melanoma in a tiny Kansas town anchors the conversation. To receive life-saving surgeries and radiation at MD Anderson, Zach faced an 1100-mile round trip, waking up at 2:00 AM on treatment days to fly across state lines—all while balancing his junior year of college. The trio dives into the staggering statistics defining the "Rural Cancer Gap." They explore the reality that while cancer mortality is declining nationwide, urban survival rates are improving significantly faster than rural ones. From local hospital closures and severe screening shortages (like having only seven providers to perform colonoscopies across a 14-county region in western North Carolina) to systemic medical licensing laws that legally prohibit academic oncologists from billing for telehealth across state lines, this episode exposes the bureaucratic and geographic barriers holding back rural survival. But it also highlights a powerful cultural truth: the profound community support unique to small-town medicine, and how model frameworks like the "Rural Oncology Home" are blending high-tier academic decision-making with local, close-to-home infusion care.   Key Takeaways: 1. The Widening Rural Mortality Gap 2. The Telehealth "Billing Wall" 3. The "Rural Oncology Home" Model 4. Severe Screening Deserts 5. The Sibling/Caregiver Strain   Want to get more involved with cancer research and support the podcast? Visit the link below: ⬇️ (All proceeds go strictly towards furthering cancer research and supporting this podcast) Giving.CU.EDU/CrackingCancer [http://giving.cu.edu/CrackingCancer]    Chapters: (00:00) Zach Melanoma Journey (08:16) JJ Colon Cancer Travel (10:34) Rural Care Barriers Data (16:35) Rural Cancer Gap Explained (20:45) Rural Oncology Home Model (25:18) Telehealth and Licensing (39:41) Isolation and Culture Shock (49:45) Solutions Training and Teams (53:20) Second Opinions and Support (56:22) Final Advice and Wrap   To find out more about supporting the show and research endeavors, please go to the following website: www.crackingcancer.org [https://www.crackingcancer.org/]   Attributions The music track - Progression Pulse - is provided by Denys Brodovskyi through the Attribution 4.0 International License   X: (1) Cracking Cancer Podcast (@Cracking_Cancer) / X [https://x.com/cracking_cancer] IG: Cracking Cancer (@crackingcancerpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/crackingcancerpodcast/]

Does Ivermectin Target Cancer with Dr. Rob Swanda and Samantha Murrell. Episode 52.

Touching the Hot Stove: The Truth About Ivermectin and Cancer In this high-stakes episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by patient advocate Samantha Morrell and biochemist Rob, PhD, to dissect the data behind the Ivermectin "miracle cure" narrative. Samantha candidly shares her personal experience with the drug, including the social pressure that led her to try it and the subsequent disease progression she experienced while on it. The conversation moves from social media anecdotes to the hard science of the petri dish. Rob explains the actual mechanism of Ivermectin as an antiparasitic and why the "cancer is a parasite" theory is biologically incorrect. They deconstruct the preclinical studies often cited by proponents, revealing a massive dosing gap: the concentrations required to kill cancer cells in a lab are 10 to 100 times higher than what the human body can safely tolerate. From the dangers of DMSO as a solvent to the ICU-level risks of high-dose toxicity, this episode provides a grounded, peer-reviewed reality check for patients navigating the "what if" pressure of alternative therapies.   Key Takeaways: 1. The Dosing Disconnect 2. Cancer is Not a Parasite 3. The Danger of "False Hope" Time-Loss 4. The "Immune Cold to Hot" Myth 5. Repurposing vs. Folklore   Want to get more involved with cancer research and support the podcast? Visit the link below: ⬇️ (All proceeds go strictly towards furthering cancer research and supporting this podcast) Giving.CU.EDU/CrackingCancer [http://giving.cu.edu/CrackingCancer]    Want to learn more about Ivermectin? Watch Rob's quick explainer video in the link below! https://youtu.be/gpaowjmeiLc   Chapters: 00:00 Why Ivermectin Now 02:35 Samantha Tried It 04:55 Pressure and Regret 06:28 What Ivermectin Is 12:32 Why Trials Matter 20:31 Doses and Toxicity 29:47 Does It Kill Cells 34:31 DMSO As Alternative Therapy 38:26 Toxicity And Neuro Risks 43:18 Glutamate Cancer Metabolism 46:41 Why Petri Dish Misleads 51:29 If It Worked Pharma Would Pivot 53:36 Anecdotes And Missing Case Reports 55:41 Self Dosing And False Hope 57:44 Wrap Up And Key Takeaways   To find out more about supporting the show and research endeavors, please go to the following website: www.crackingcancer.org [https://www.crackingcancer.org/]   Attributions The music track - Progression Pulse - is provided by Denys Brodovskyi through the Attribution 4.0 International License   X: (1) Cracking Cancer Podcast (@Cracking_Cancer) / X [https://x.com/cracking_cancer] IG: Cracking Cancer (@crackingcancerpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/crackingcancerpodcast/]

Attending the American Association for Cancer Research National Meeting with Max Doppelt. Episode 51.

Inside the "Scientific City": Navigating the AACR Conference with Max Doppelt In this episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon and patient advocate Max Doppelt pull back the curtain on one of the world's largest oncology events: the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting. While clinical conferences focus on what drugs work now, AACR is a massive "scientific city" dedicated to the deep biology and technological breakthroughs that will define cancer care three to five years from now. From navigating the half-mile-long San Diego Convention Center to decoding posters filled with PhD-level jargon, Kyle and Max share the "sneakers-on-the-ground" reality of attending a conference where patients make up less than 1% of the audience. They discuss the striking knowledge gap between basic scientists and clinicians, the overwhelming pharmaceutical presence, and why the most valuable moments often happen over eclectic dinners rather than in lecture halls. Whether you are a researcher looking for a similarity-search algorithm for posters or a patient searching for a "seed of hope," this conversation offers a roadmap for making sense of pure scientific chaos.   Key Takeaways: 1. AACR is Preclinical, Not Clinical 2. The "Half-Mile" Planning Rule 3. Scientists Are Accessible 4. The "Similarity Index" Need 5. Networking is the Real Dividend   Want to get more involved with cancer research and support the podcast? Visit the link below: ⬇️ (All proceeds go strictly towards furthering cancer research and supporting this podcast) Giving.CU.EDU/CrackingCancer [http://giving.cu.edu/CrackingCancer]    Chapters: (00:00) Why AACR Matters (01:37) Conference Scale Tour (05:20) Planning and Navigating (08:41) Making Research Accessible (15:04) Patient Tracks and Lunch (16:10) Exon 20 and Relevance Gap (21:18) Basic Biology vs Clinic (27:57) Hope and Collaboration (30:51) AI for Smarter Networking (35:58) Best Moments and People (42:40) Booths and Home Base (44:11) Wrap Up and Next Year   To find out more about supporting the show and research endeavors, please go to the following website: www.crackingcancer.org [https://www.crackingcancer.org/]   Attributions The music track - Progression Pulse - is provided by Denys Brodovskyi through the Attribution 4.0 International License   X: (1) Cracking Cancer Podcast (@Cracking_Cancer) / X [https://x.com/cracking_cancer] IG: Cracking Cancer (@crackingcancerpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/crackingcancerpodcast/]

What is Small Cell Cancer with Misty Shields and Matt Baker. Episode 50.

Smashing the Stigma: New Hope and Breakthroughs in Small Cell Lung Cancer In this powerful episode, host Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by Matthew Baker, a never-smoker living with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and Dr. Misty Shields, a physician-scientist at Indiana University and founder of the "Small Cell Smashers." Together, they strip away the "Google-induced" terror of an SCLC diagnosis to reveal a rapidly changing clinical landscape. The conversation covers the grueling reality of standard "classic" chemotherapies, the emotional weight of radiation, and the traumatic side effects like ototoxicity (hearing loss) that Matt has navigated. Dr. Shields explains why small cell is uniquely "addicted to growth," making it highly sensitive to treatment but also prone to rapid resistance. However, the focus is on the future: the trio discusses the "transformative" rise of T-cell engagers (BiTEs), Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs), and the controversial shift away from prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI). It’s an episode about finding your "tribe," advocating for second opinions, and reclaiming hope in a field that is finally seeing its first major breakthroughs in decades.   Key Takeaways: 1. The "Neuroendocrine" Factor 2. The Platinum Standard 3. The "Silent" Side Effect—Ototoxicity 4. The PCI Controversy 5. The New Era of BiTEs and ADCs   Want to get more involved with cancer research and support the podcast? Visit the link below: ⬇️ (All proceeds go strictly towards furthering cancer research and supporting this podcast) Giving.CU.EDU/CrackingCancer [http://giving.cu.edu/CrackingCancer]    Chapters: (00:00) Meet the Guests (04:32) What Small Cell Is (06:03) Staging Confusion Explained (08:03) Chemo and Radiation Reality (14:00) Radiation Process and Support (18:48) Side Effects and Safety Tips (21:56) Hair Loss and Hearing Loss (25:05) Caregivers and Not Burdening (32:22) Extensive Stage Treatment Basics (37:57) Second Opinions Self Advocacy (39:55) PCI Controversy Explained (50:15) Transformative Trials New Drugs (52:03) Biomarkers Personalized Therapy   To find out more about supporting the show and research endeavors, please go to the following website: www.crackingcancer.org [https://www.crackingcancer.org/]   Attributions The music track - Progression Pulse - is provided by Denys Brodovskyi through the Attribution 4.0 International License   X: (1) Cracking Cancer Podcast (@Cracking_Cancer) / X [https://x.com/cracking_cancer] IG: Cracking Cancer (@crackingcancerpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/crackingcancerpodcast/]

What is radiation? With Dr. Tim Waxweiler and Bill Thach

Demystifying Radiation: From "Adult Coloring" to Molecular Smart Drugs In this enlightening episode of Cracking Cancer, host Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by academic radiation oncologist Dr. Tim Waxweiler and stage IV neuroendocrine patient Bill Thach. They strip away the "sci-fi" mystery surrounding radiation therapy, addressing common patient fears—such as "Am I radioactive?"—and explaining the meticulous physics behind modern treatment. The trio discusses the evolution of radiation from broad-beam "front-to-back" treatments to modern dose painting, where specialists use complex algorithms to steer energy toward tumors while sparing healthy organs. Bill shares his raw experience navigating 25 rounds of external radiation and the cutting-edge world of Radiopharmaceuticals (PRRT). Dr. Waxweiler breaks down the "Goldilocks" quest for the perfect dose, the nuances of Proton Therapy, and why staying physically active is the most powerful tool a patient has to combat radiation-induced fatigue. This episode is an essential guide for anyone facing a radiation referral, offering clarity on everything from simulation casts to the cumulative risks of diagnostic scans.   Key Takeaways: 1. Radiation is "Targeted Energy" 2. External Beam vs. Brachytherapy 3. The Rise of Radiopharmaceuticals (PRRT) 4. The Proton Therapy Debate 5. The Cumulative "Radiation Bucket"   Want to get more involved with cancer research and support the podcast? Visit the link below: ⬇️ (All proceeds go strictly towards furthering cancer research and supporting this podcast) Giving.CU.EDU/CrackingCancer [http://giving.cu.edu/CrackingCancer]    Chapters: (00:00) Radiation Basics Explained (07:47) Planning and Beam Shaping (17:59) Why Not Radiate Everything (29:10) Risks of Repeat Radiation (33:18) Lutathera Side Effects (41:39) How Targeted Particles Work (52:05) Choosing Treatment Together (58:35) Advice for New Patients     To find out more about supporting the show and research endeavors, please go to the following website: www.crackingcancer.org [https://www.crackingcancer.org/]   Attributions The music track - Progression Pulse - is provided by Denys Brodovskyi through the Attribution 4.0 International License   X: (1) Cracking Cancer Podcast (@Cracking_Cancer) / X [https://x.com/cracking_cancer] IG: Cracking Cancer (@crackingcancerpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/crackingcancerpodcast/]