The Cancer Project

Stay informed and empowered as we explore the intersection of technology and medicine. Tune in for thought-provoking discussions, expert interviews, and practical advice to help you or your loved ones on the journey through cancer treatment and recovery.

The Cancer Project is a science podcast hosted by Oklahoma Proton Center, with 53 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Oklahoma Proton Center hosts The Cancer Project, a science show with 53 episodes published.

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  The Cancer Project

  The Mission Of Courage Tees: Shirts Designed For Comfort During Cancer Treatment with Katie VanArnam and Casey Glazer

  Aug 17, 202650 min

  Beginning in second grade, seven year old Katie VanArnam and her family knew something wasn’t quite right after she had been experiencing extensive pain throughout her body. After months of speculation and misdiagnoses, eight year old Katie’s test results revealed it was Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. On this inspiring episode of The Cancer Project Podcast, we are joined by the mother-daughter duo Katie VanArnam and Casey Glazer. Together, they took their experience from the cancer journey and channeled it into Courage Tees, a specialty t-shirt company designed for patients that require easy access to a chest port to receive treatment. On Katie’s first day of chemotherapy, her medical team needed extensive access to her port and had to lift her shirt all the way up to her neck. Katie’s mom Casey saw the sheer discomfort her daughter was in, and that night went home and made the first ever courage tee! Casey took an old pink soccer shirt and made a cut along the collar to where Katie’s port was located and added velcro. This design enabled Katie to receive the care she needed while still wearing a comfortable shirt. This was only the beginning for Courage Tees. Katie is now a student at the University of Southern California studying journalism and entrepreneurship. Today, Courage Tees now offers many colorful tee designs created for both children and adults. These shirts are carefully crafted to meet the many needs of someone receiving extensive medical treatment. They utilize plastic snaps at the collar to maintain modesty and comfort while still giving health care workers full access to the medical port. The use of plastic instead of metal also makes the shirt safe to wear to diagnostic screenings such as a PET or CT scan. In addition to speaking on the story and inspiration behind Courage Tees, Katie and Casey share the full experience of the long process of diagnosis, two years of cancer treatment, and the difficulties of navigating pediatric cancer and how it still affects them today. We are so grateful to both Katie and Casey for bravely sharing their journey and the mission of Courage Tees! Episode Resources: Courage Tees: https://www.couragetees.com/ https://www.instagram.com/courage_tees/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583604203162 https://www.tiktok.com/@courage_tees?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Oklahoma Proton Center https://www.okcproton.com/ https://www.instagram.com/okprotoncenter/ https://www.facebook.com/OKProtonCenter The Cancer Project Podcast https://www.instagram.com/the_cancerproject https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581844363126 https://

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  The Cancer Project

  Brachytherapy, Prostate Cancer, & Interventional Oncology with Dr. Ajay Bhatnagar

  Aug 10, 20261h 8m

  With over twenty years of experience, Dr. Ajay Bhatnagar joins The Cancer Project Podcast to discuss low-dose rate (LDR) Brachytherapy. His practice utilizes this unique procedure to treat localized prostate cancer for patients from all over the country. Dr. Bhatnagar shares where his passion for brachytherapy began back in medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, and how at his practice, patients can receive localized anesthesia for LDR brachytherapy and even drive themselves home after. He highlights the advantages of no operating room, no going under advanced anesthesia, reduced toxicity, and short recovery times, which can be very beneficial to the older demographics. Low-dose rate brachytherapy utilizes small rice-sized radioactive seeds that are planted near the tumor to give off high concentrations of radiation to cancerous cells while mitigating toxicity to healthy tissues. These seeds can stay permanently in the body, eventually losing all radioactivity. Dr. Bhatnagar explains this procedure and why he is so passionate about it for localized prostate cancer. He also touches on the three different types of radioactive seeds offered at his practice and the difference between each. While brachytherapy has become less common in the last two decades, Dr. Bhatnagar speaks on its continued value and the importance of always getting a second or third opinion. Advocating and educating for yourself has never been more important as new information from untrustworthy sources continues to show up in social media feeds and online. Host David Raubach and Dr. Bhatnagar discusses the mission of providing trustworthy information to those going through a cancer diagnosis, especially prostate cancer, which has many options for viable treatments and can be especially difficult to determine the best fit. Episode Resources: Dr. Ajay Bhatnagar’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Dose-Brachytherapy-Prostate-Cancer/dp/B0DGD483V2 https://prostatecancerusa.com/ Oklahoma Proton Center https://www.okcproton.com/ https://www.instagram.com/okprotoncenter/ https://www.facebook.com/OKProtonCenter The Cancer Project Podcast https://www.instagram.com/the_cancerproject https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581844363126 https://www.tiktok.com/@protonguy

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  The Cancer Project

  A Loved One's Glioblastoma Diagnosis: The Journey Of A Caregiver with Peyton Washington

  Aug 3, 202642 min

  On this sentimental episode of The Cancer Project Podcast, we welcome Peyton Washington! Peyton is the oldest daughter of Jenny Washington, former Vice President of Operations at the Oklahoma Proton Center who passed away from glioblastoma in June 2024. We are honored to have Peyton on our podcast as we reflect on Jenny’s exemplary character and her relentless pursuit of helping people, both in her role at the Oklahoma Proton Center and in everyday life. Jenny served as a pillar of the center and community, working her way up to Vice President of Operations after previously working as a dosimetrist and radiation therapist. One of her greatest joys in life was helping patients in any way possible as they navigate cancer treatment. Peyton Washington shares the patience and grace Jenny carried as a mom and grandmother to her son, Weston. She emphasizes the care and enthusiasm she brought to every corner of her life, especially her family. Peyton reflects on her mom’s diagnosis as symptoms very suddenly began to manifest. She walks us through the timeline of diagnosis, treatment, and eventually hospice prior to Jenny’s passing. As the oldest of four, Peyton speaks about the role the family played as caregivers throughout the journey and the difficulties of helping make decisions while actively trying to come to terms with the severity of the diagnosis. Today, the Oklahoma Proton Center has an award named after Jenny that is given out biannually to an employee who embodies her character: passionate, kind, caring, and goes above and beyond for patients. We love and miss you Jenny and strive to carry on your beautiful mission and legacy of helping patients everyday. Episode Resources: In Loving Memory Of Jenny: https://www.okcproton.com/what-remains-when-words-fall-away/ Oklahoma Proton Center https://www.okcproton.com/ https://www.instagram.com/okprotoncenter/ https://www.facebook.com/OKProtonCenter The Cancer Project Podcast https://www.instagram.com/the_cancerproject https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581844363126 https://www.tiktok.com/@protonguy

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  The Cancer Project

  Why Proton Therapy: Oklahoma Football Alum Karl Peter's Story

  Jul 27, 202629 min

  Pauls Valley native and former Oklahoma Football defensive back Karl Peters comes from a large family and is the second youngest of fourteen children. In this week’s episode of The Cancer Project Podcast, Karl reflects on his many fond memories growing up in a big family including following in his older brother's footsteps of playing defensive back for the University of Oklahoma. With a family history of prostate cancer, Karl was always diligent in his screenings and acted quickly after an increase in his PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels. After a confirmation of prostate cancer, his doctor recommended surgery as early as the next week. Karl upon hearing the recovery time for the procedure, researched prostate cancer treatment options and found proton therapy available in Oklahoma City. Karl went on to receive treatment at the Oklahoma Proton Center, and shares his experience from his intake appointment, insurance battle, receiving treatment, and even coming back months later to provide lunch to the entire staff! Karl emphasizes the family setting he experienced, and it reminded him of growing up in Pauls Valley which inspired the barbecue! Episode Resources: Oklahoma Proton Center https://www.okcproton.com/ https://www.instagram.com/okprotoncenter/ https://www.facebook.com/OKProtonCenter The Cancer Project Podcast https://www.instagram.com/the_cancerproject https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581844363126 https://www.tiktok.com/@protonguy

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  The Cancer Project

  In The Middle Of A Miracle: Pediatric Cancer, Philanthropy, & Purpose with Brooklyn Hawkins

  Jul 20, 202652 min

  In the summer before beginning her senior year of high school, Brooklyn Hawkins began experiencing daily fevers, shortness of breath, and overall physical fatigue. She found herself in-and-out of the doctors office, each time experiencing more concern for her growing symptoms. After continuing to advocate for herself, Brooklyn received scans that would reveal a Hodgkin's Lymphoma diagnosis at seventeen years old. While navigating life as a senior in high school, Brooklyn suddenly found herself in a whirlwind journey of being diagnosed with cancer and having a full treatment plan within a week. She courageously shares her day-to-day life receiving a rigorous schedule of chemotherapy and the many hospitalizations that accompanied cancer treatment. Brooklyn’s experience was unique in that she received treatment at both a children’s and adult hospital. She speaks about the feeling of not belonging at either hospital as a teenager. Brooklyn channeled these feelings of alienation and not being understood into “In The Middle Of A Miracle”, a nonprofit that provides love and support for Oklahoma pediatric cancer patients with an emphasis on teenagers. In The Middle Of A Miracle continues to grow today and was adopted as the local philanthropy for Brooklyn’s sorority at Oklahoma State University. Her non-profit organization hosts events, various programs, and even provides scholarships to pediatric cancer patients in need. To learn more about In The Middle Of A Miracle and the many ways to get involved or support please visit the resources below! Episode Resources: In The Middle Of A Miracle: https://www.inthemiddleofamiracle.org/ https://www.instagram.com/inthemiddleofamiracle https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092705070509 Oklahoma Proton Center https://www.okcproton.com/ https://www.instagram.com/okprotoncenter/ https://www.facebook.com/OKProtonCenter The Cancer Project Podcast https://www.instagram.com/the_cancerproject https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581844363126 https://www.tiktok.com/@protonguy

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