What happens when vaccine hesitancy and medical misinformation evolve into an anti-science aggression? While navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, we found ourselves facing daily monumental decisions regarding our health. As the pandemic continued, many of us became well-informed about viral loads, the effectiveness of masks in preventing transmission, and the critical question of whether the vaccine would benefit or potentially harm us. The introduction of the COVID vaccine brought these decisions to the forefront of our lives along with a debate about politics, identity, and privacy. We spoke with Peter Hotez, MD, PhD, scientist, pediatrician, and the author of The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science: A Scientist's Warning, about the origins of vaccine skepticism, the impact of community outreach and patient education, and lessons learned in countering the spread of medical misinformation.

Forty years ago, the idea that HIV would shift from a terminal illness to a chronic manageable disease was almost unthinkable. In recent years, another health crisis, COVID-19, much like HIV, was wrought with fear, stigma, and misinformation. In honor of World AIDS Day, we'll discuss key terminology, misconceptions, and advancements in HIV, including U=U undetectable equals untransmittable, the life-changing impact of current treatments and medical breakthroughs, and how science has prepared us with tools to navigate future pandemics. Joining us in this conversation is Michael Saag, MD, physician and prominent HIV/AIDS researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and author of Positive: One Doctor's Personal Encounters with Death, Life, and the US Healthcare System. This episode is dedicated to people living with and affected by HIV and those who lost their lives to AIDS.

Have you ever been in a stressful situation where it feels as if you are losing control of your body? Activation of the sympathetic nervous system may cause our chest to tighten, our thoughts to race, and our breathing to become shallow. What are our options in these moments? What can we rely on to bring us back to center when we experience dysregulation? Breathwork, belly breathing, or paced respiration is an intentional manipulation of how we breathe to achieve specific mental, emotional, or physical benefits. We spoke to Ana Lilia, a certified breathwork teacher, about various breathwork techniques, from breath of fire to box breathing, and the powerful advantages of breathwork, including relaxation, stress reduction, and overall well-being. Through this discussion, we learn how consciously incorporating our breath is a pathway for transformation.

In 2023 alone, an estimated 64,050 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, accounting for 3% of all cancers in the U.S. and 7% of all cancer deaths. The most concerning thing about pancreatic cancer is that detection often occurs in later stages when it has spread beyond the pancreas. For this reason, pancreatic cancer is often referred to as the "silent killer." To explore the myths and facts of pancreatic cancer, we spoke with Malini D. Sur, MD, FACS, a board-certified surgical oncologist. Dr. Sur explains the signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer, current treatment options available, and the best way for patients to advocate for themselves while navigating this diagnosis.

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States. An estimated 238,340 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2023, and 64% of lung cancers are diagnosed at stage III or IV. With all of these facts, it’s surprising that lung cancer screening, a tool that could save lives, is rarely used. Why is that? Who does that impact the most? And what changes can be made? We spoke with Jeff Yang, MD, a thoracic surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital and founder of the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative, about symptoms, recommended lung cancer screenings, and available treatment options. We then spoke with Narjust Florez, MD, associate director of the Cancer Care Equity Program and a thoracic medical oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, about the stigma and lung cancer patients experience and how patients can better advocate for themselves. Read WebMD Centerpiece: Catching A Killer

Explore the myths and facts of type 1 diabetes, including the challenges faced and breakthroughs in treatment and technology. Hear from a medical expert and a medical student living with type 1 diabetes. Discover the importance of early screening and support resources for managing this condition. Gain insights on continuous glucose monitoring and find advice on managing mental health and finding support.

Sexual health is crucial to our well-being. Despite its impact on our lives, it’s still not something we commonly discuss with our doctors. This is particularly true for cancer survivors, both during treatment and in the post-treatment phase. What are some of the challenges that cancer survivors have when it comes to sexual wellness? How do the mental, physical, emotional, and financial burdens of cancer impact connection and intimacy? How can doctors, patients, and caregivers foster a better conversation surrounding this topic? We spoke with Sage Bolte, PhD, LCSW, CST, Chief Philanthropy Officer and President of the Inova Health Foundation, certified sex therapist, and respected leader in the field of oncology social work. Our conversation with Dr. Bolte explored ways to navigate sex and body image changes in cancer survivorship, inclusive conversations surrounding sexual wellness and intimacy, how to communicate wants, needs, and fears with your partner, and the sexual wellness resources available to cancer survivors.

There are many misconceptions about what people experience following a breast cancer diagnosis. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we decided to look at breast cancer through the eyes of a survivor. We spoke with Bossi, a two-time breast cancer survivor, founder of House of Bossi, and singer/songwriter of the 2022 EP titled Run with Lions, inspired by her battles with cancer. Bossi highlights the often unseen experience of breast cancer survivors. She shares her first thoughts post-diagnosis, things she wished she had known then, and the importance of advocating for yourself through treatment. Through transparent sharing of her experience, we explored how a breast cancer diagnosis impacts relationships, family planning, goals, and dreams, which resources were most helpful, how friends and loved ones can show their support, and treatment options she learned about through other breast cancer survivors.

More than 5% of the US population, 18.1 million people, are cancer survivors. Over the next decade, the number of people who have lived 5 or more years after their cancer diagnosis is projected to increase by approximately 30%. How do we define cancer survivorship? What does cancer rehabilitation look like? And what are lifestyle prevention strategies? We spoke to Amy Comander, MD, medical director of the Mass General Cancer Center-Waltham and director of the Breast Oncology Program at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, about her program PAVING the Path to Wellness in collaboration with Beth Frates, MD, the six key pillars of lifestyle medicine, how you can support your loved one going through a cancer diagnosis, and the long-lasting power of social connection in cancer survivorship.

Each year in the United States, about 240,000 women and 2,100 men are diagnosed with breast cancer. The average risk of a woman in the United States developing breast cancer sometime in her life is about 13%. This means there is a 1 in 8 chance she will develop breast cancer, which is why breast cancer awareness and screening are so important. In May 2023, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) lowered the breast cancer screening age from 50 to 40 – but do these age screenings apply to everyone? What factors contribute to a high-risk classification for breast cancer, and how do we identify if we are at genetic risk? We spoke with Lauren Nye, MD, board-certified oncologist at the University of Kansas Cancer Center and Clinical Medical Director of Breast Cancer Prevention, about the importance of assessing your cancer risk, learning your genetic history, and prioritizing your overall health.