Cancer Rebranded

YOU SAVED MY LIFE - Dr. JONATHAN FINLAY - PART 2

Thu, 25 May 2023 18:36:17 GMT

Hello and welcome to Cancer Rebranded. I’m Craig Lustig. This is part two of my conversation with Dr. Jonathan Finlay. When I was diagnosed with a very rare brain cancer in 1992, Dr. Finlay was leading the only US clinical trial for this tumor type.

YOU SAVED MY LIFE - Dr. JONATHAN FINLAY - PART I

Thu, 25 May 2023 17:40:19 GMT

Hello and welcome to Cancer Rebranded. I’m Craig Lustig. In this two-part episode I speak with Dr. Jonathan Finlay. When I was diagnosed with a very rare brain cancer in 1992, Dr. Finlay was leading the only US clinical trial for this tumor type. The goal of the clinical trial wasn’t to test a new drug, but rather to use chemotherapy in place of radiation. Radiation to the brain can have a significant impact on various brain functions and Dr. Finlay sought cure patients and also give them an improved quality of life. Jonathan and I had a lengthy, in-depth conversation covering what has changed over 30 years in the treatment of children with brain tumors, how he got into this field and his personal cancer story. Let’s get to our conversation with Jonathan. Just a note, this is an audio-only episode. Thank you, thank you, for sharing your time, for listening. Simply by your participation, you are a cancer advocate.

Welcome to Cancer Rebranded

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 01:07:36 GMT

Hello and welcome to Cancer Rebranded. In 1992, I was diagnosed with brain cancer, a type of brain tumor usually seen in adolescents and young adults. My name is Craig Lustig and more than 30 years after hearing the words, “you have cancer,” I’m having conversations about what has changed in the cancer experience, what hasn’t and the work ahead.

When I meet newly diagnosed cancer patients, I encourage them, that regardless of their prognosis, remember that just because you have cancer, doesn’t mean that you are cancer. You have a family, friends, a community, a profession, hobbies and dreams. The impact of cancer is significant, but just because you have cancer, all of the elements that make you unique are still there.

This podcast aims to do a few things. First, take a big picture view of the cancer experience. Let’s talk about treatment decisions, side effects and clinical trials. But I also want to focus on questions like, what does it mean to be a young adult, a person of color, a queer person with cancer, an older person, a caregiver. In the US there are more than 18 million cancer survivors and growing. What does it mean to integrate the cancer experience into your life 1, 5, 10, 20 or 30 years after your diagnosis? These topics are complicated, because every person impacted by cancer is a unique and complex individual.

I want to engage you in the conversation. I’ve invited people I’ve met along the way in my life and cancer journey to discuss all sorts of things, and I welcome your ideas and input.