Let's talk F*ng Cancer

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 develops * Why screening and HPV vaccination save lives * Common myths that still prevent people from getting protected * And 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 BASICS * How cervical cancer forms * Who is at higher risk * Why early detection makes such a difference Learn more: Cleveland Clinic – Cervical Cancer Overview https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12216-cervical-cancer [https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12216-cervical-cancer] 🩺 SCREENING GUIDELINES: WHAT YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO KNOW * Updated cervical cancer screening recommendations * Pap tests vs HPV testing * Why 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 [https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-advisory/articles/2021/04/updated-cervical-cancer-screening-guidelines] 💉 HPV VACCINE: SEPARATING FACTS FROM FEAR * What HPV is and how it relates to cervical cancer * Why the HPV vaccine is about cancer prevention, not behavior * Addressing 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 [https://www.sbm.org/healthy-living/7-hpv-vaccine-myths] CDC – HPV Vaccine Safety https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/hpv.html [https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/hpv.html] 🔬 NEW RESEARCH THAT’S CHANGING TREATMENT We break down results from a major phase 3 international study (KEYNOTE-A18 / ENGOT-cx11 / GOG-3047) that found: * Adding pembrolizumab (Keytruda) to standard chemoradiation * Improved overall survival and progression-free survival * For people with high-risk, locally advanced cervical cancer * With 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 MATTERS Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, yet people still fall through the cracks due to: * Misinformation * Barriers to screening * Limited access to care This episode centers education, compassion, and autonomy—because knowledge should empower, not scare. 📚 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES * American Association for Cancer Research – Cervical Cancer Awareness Month * https://www.aacr.org/patients-caregivers/awareness-months/cervical-cancer-awareness-month/ [https://www.aacr.org/patients-caregivers/awareness-months/cervical-cancer-awareness-month/]

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.

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 [https://www.etsy.com/shop/SeaWestStudio]

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]