In this episode we will focus cancer and communications. Long gone are the days when we whispered the word, "cancer." But even as people with cancer are more vocal in talking about the challenges they face, the stigmas are still there. "Cancerspeak" is a foreign language and patients and caregivers can be at a real disadvantage in understanding the complexity of cancer care and lexicon that healthcare providers may use. Patients and their caregivers may want to say, "it's Greek to me," throw up their hands. How do we empower them to ask the questions that are important to them, require oncologists to not default to "doc speak," and make sure the patient's voice and priorities are the focus.

For this episode I am joined by my friend and colleague, Jackie Nedell. Jackie is a communications executive who brings expertise to clients in her media training, messaging and strategy, from her roles in television newsrooms, public relations agencies and as a senior communications role in the Clinton Administration. Her roles in tv newsrooms, in front of the camera as a reporter and anchor , give her clients real world experience through her hands-on media and presentation training.

Jackie has traversed the bumpy cancer road more than once. She brings honesty, humor, intelligence, and a no-nonsense approach to talking about her cancer.d

In this episode we will focus on rare cancers. These are the step children of cancer. They get fewer dollars for research, patients may have more limited treatment options and the challenges for advocates to raise awareness and build support can be daunting. Let’s talk about the unique experience of people with rare cancers.

For this episode I am joined by Jim Palma and John Hopper. Jim and John are colleagues and friends, and are both leaders in the rare cancer community, leading research and advocacy efforts, bringing focus and improved outcomes for this underserved group patients. Jim Palma is the Executive Director of the Target Cancer Foundation. Jim joined TargetCancer in 2010, Jim has overseen its growth from a small start-up to a nationally recognized foundation supporting comprehensive rare cancer research programs and patient support services. Jim is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), and is a founding Co-Chair of the NORD Rare Cancers Coalition.

In addition, Jim is a Steering Committee member at the GI Cancers Alliance and the Global Cholangiocarcinoma Alliance.

CancerRebranded Episode #3 – BEING QUEER AND HAVING CANCER

Hello and welcome to Cancer Rebranded. I’m Craig Lustig. In this episode we will focus on the intersection of being LGBTQ and having cancer. How have the issues and challenges that I faced in 1992 as a late-twenty-something gay man with cancer changed and what are the current challenges?

For this episode I am joined by someone who brings a wealth of professional and personal experience and expertise to this topic, Scout. Scout is the Executive Director of the National LGBT Cancer Network. Scout serves as the principal investigator of both the CDC-funded LGBTQ tobacco-related cancer disparity network and Out: The National Cancer Survey. Scout spends much of his time working with various agencies to expand their reach and engagement with LGBTQ+ populations. Scout works in health policy analysis and has a particular interest in expanding research in the LGBTQ+ community. He has faculty appointments at both Brown University and Boston Universities’ Schools of Public Health. Scout is an openly nonbinary and trans father of three.