All Things Cancer | National Foundation for Cancer Research
Join Dr. Sujuan Ba, CEO of the National Foundation for Cancer Research, as she interviews leading scientists, advocates, researchers, and patients shaping the future of cancer research and care. Each episode explores groundbreaking discoveries, personal stories, and transformative ideas in the fight against cancer, from lab innovations to patient resilience.
Episodes
The Awkward Mistake That Sparked a 25-Year Cancer Research Partnership
From a graduate student who couldn't reliably spell "genetics" to the scientist who provided the first experimental evidence for the class of gene now called "tumor suppressors" — Dr. Webster "Web" Cavenee's career changed how we understand and treat cancer.In this episode, Dr. Cavenee sits down with NFCR President & CEO Dr. Sujuan Ba to trace a friendship
From Frogs to Algorithms: The Unlikely Duo Rewriting Breast Cancer Research
What happens when a cancer biologist and a mathematician become research partners?In this episode of All Things Cancer, Dr. Lisa Coussens and Dr. Elana Fertig sit down to talk about the unlikely collaboration transforming how we understand breast cancer. Lisa's path wound through art school, marine biology, and an early stint at Genentech before she became a leading cancer biologist. Elana cam
He Held Her Foot Through Every MRI For 7 Years — Then She Was Gone
When Tom Clark's wife Bernadette — a nurse and his high school sweetheart of over 50 years — began showing subtle, out-of-character symptoms, she was the one who suspected something was seriously wrong before any scan confirmed it. She was right: a brain tumor, later diagnosed as glioblastoma (GBM), one of the most aggressive cancers there is.In this episode of All Things Cancer, Tom sits down
The Cancer That Has No Symptoms — Until It's Too Late
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the world — and the most survivable, if you catch it early. Dr. Ron Shore has spent 34 years and 28,000 patient screenings proving it. In this episode, he breaks down the three types of skin cancer, why melanoma can be silent until it's deadly, and the simple screening habits that could save your life. If you've ever skipped your annual skin check, listen t
He Spent 3 Weeks Unplugged at the Bottom of the Grand Canyon — While Accidentally Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment
What happens when a curious biochemist follows his wife to California, falls in love with whitewater rafting — and accidentally makes one of the most important cancer discoveries of the 20th century?In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Tony Hunter, the 2025 St. Gyorgi Prize winner and Salk Institute legend, whose 1979 discovery of tyrosine phosphorylation laid the foundation for over 80 cancer dr
Your Mammogram Can Now Predict Cancer Before You Have It -- Here's the Doctor Making It Happen
What if you could know your breast cancer risk at 25 and actually do something about it? Dr. Funmi Olopade, a trailblazing oncologist at the University of Chicago, has spent 30 years rewriting the rules of breast cancer care, and she believes we can eradicate it as a cause of premature death within a decade. In this episode, she breaks down how AI, genetic testing, and a simple blood test are tran
Doctors Gave Her 3 Years to Live. She Changed Cancer Research Instead.
At age 37, Kathy Giusti was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and told she had just three years to live. Instead of accepting that fate, she turned urgency into action and founded the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF), transforming how cancer nonprofits accelerate drug development. Today, more than 15 therapies have been approved for multiple myeloma and survival rates have more than doubl
Why Was Half This Village Dying of Cancer— And No One Stopped It?
Half a village was dying of cancer. No one could explain why.For the Season One finale of All Things Cancer, we’re ending with a story that changed the trajectory of cancer research — and saved generations of lives.What began as a keynote trip to Turkey turned into one of the most extraordinary cancer investigations in modern medicine.In this episode, Dr. Michele Carbone shares how he uncovered a
We’re Drowning in Cancer Data — And Still Missing Cures
In this episode, Dr. Sujuan Ba is joined by Dr. Ann Barker, one of the most influential architects of modern cancer research, for a wide-ranging conversation on where the field is headed and what must change to accelerate progress.Dr. Barker shares why cancer research is at a critical inflection point, driven by an explosion of data, the rise of artificial intelligence, and the urgent need to move
One Diagnosis. Seven Years. A Lifetime of Impact.
In this heartfelt episode of All Things Cancer, NFCR CEO Dr. Sujuan Ba sits down with Shereen Pavlides and her daughter, Isabella Pavlides, to explore how personal loss can spark powerful action.From Isabella’s leadership through Play4TheCure and her growing Dine & Donate initiative to the lasting influence of her grandmother Esther’s seven-year journey with pancreatic cancer, this conversatio
Cancer Research Is at Risk: Dr. Bertagnolli Reveals What Washington Isn’t Saying
In this episode of All Things Cancer, Dr. Sujuan Ba sits down with Dr. Monica Bertagnolli — surgeon, scientist, former Director of the National Cancer Institute and former Director of the National Institutes of Health — for one of the most candid and forward-looking conversations we've ever shared. Dr. Bertagnolli reflects on her journey from a cattle ranch in rural Wyoming to leading the nation’s
The Next Frontier: Can CAR-T Therapy Finally Conquer Solid Tumors?
What happens when a pioneering oncologist and a next-generation immunotherapy researcher sit down to talk about the future of cancer care?Join NFCR President and CEO Dr. Sujuan Ba as she moderates an eye-opening discussion between Dr. Brian Leyland-Jones and Dr. Avery Posey. From early detection and sequencing to CRISPR and CAR-T breakthroughs, this episode dives into the science — and the human d
Beyond the Tumor: Dr. Isaac Witz’s Vision for the Future of Cancer Treatment
In this episode of All Things Cancer, NFCR CEO Dr. Sujuan Ba sits down with Dr. Isaac Witz, the 2023 Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research laureate and a pioneer in tumor microenvironment science. Decades before it became a central focus of oncology, Dr. Witz recognized that cancer is not just about tumor cells—it’s about the environment that surrounds them.Dr. Witz shares how he cha
From Aha Moments to Breakthroughs: Dr. Drew Pardoll on Immunotherapy
In this episode of All Things Cancer, NFCR President and CEO Dr. Sujuan Ba sits down with Dr. Drew Pardoll, a pioneer in cancer immunology, to explore the breakthroughs reshaping cancer research. From harnessing the immune system and advancing protein, cell, and microbial engineering to launching biotech startups that translate discoveries into real treatments, Dr. Pardoll shares how innovation an
From Terminal to Triumph: Cheryl’s Journey Through Stage 4 Melanoma
Continuing our Survivor Mini-Series: In this powerful episode of All Things Cancer, NFCR President and CEO Dr. Sujuan Ba sits down with Cheryl, a stage IV melanoma survivor whose determination and persistence changed the course of her life. Told she might not live to see another holiday, Cheryl refused to accept “no” for an answer. Her relentless search led her to a groundbreaking clinical trial t
Early Detection Isn’t Enough: How Experts Are Changing the Future of Cancer Care
In this powerful episode of All Things Cancer, host Dr. Sujuan Ba convenes some of the most forward-thinking voices in oncology to explore how early detection and early intervention are reshaping the future of cancer care. Featuring insights from Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, Dr. Samir Hanash, Dr. Steven Lipkin, Dr. Sapna Syngal, Dr. Ajay Goel, and Dr. Carlos Doti, this conversation dives into breakth
Real Talk, Real Resilience: Hope Stewart on Facing Cancer and Giving Back
In this inaugural episode of our special Survivor Series on All Things Cancer, NFCR President and CEO Dr. Sujuan Ba sits down with breast cancer survivor and NFCR Community Ambassador, Hope Stewart. With honesty, warmth, and insight, Hope shares her journey from diagnosis to recovery—highlighting the moments that tested her, the community that uplifted her, and the research that saved her life.Fro
When the Money Stops: What’s at Risk in Cancer Research
Every cancer breakthrough begins with a single step—funding. In this episode of All Things Cancer, NFCR CEO Dr. Sujuan Ba speaks with leading researchers about the funding crisis threatening cancer research across the U.S. and beyond. From early-stage, high-risk studies to game-changing therapies now approaching clinical trials, these conversations reveal what’s possible when bold science is backe
Engineering a Cure: Dr. Rakesh Jain on Tumor Biology and Bold Ideas
This special edition of All Things Cancer features a powerful conversation with Dr. Rakesh Jain—pioneering scientist, educator, and longtime NFCR-supported researcher—on the eve of receiving the 2025 AACR Lifetime Achievement Award.In this inspiring episode, Dr. Jain sits down with NFCR President and CEO Dr. Sujuan Ba to reflect on his decades of groundbreaking work, including his revolutionary co
Curiosity, Controversy, and the Cancer Breakthrough
In this episode of All Things Cancer, we sit down with Nobel Laureate Dr. James Allison—the trailblazing scientist who changed the course of cancer treatment by harnessing the power of the immune system. From his early curiosity about T cells to the groundbreaking discovery of immune checkpoint inhibitors, Dr. Allison shares the story behind one of the most important cancer breakthroughs of our ti
The HER2 Breakthrough: Dr. Dennis Slamon on Changing the Course of Cancer Treatment
A Conversation with Dr. Dennis Slamon: The Breakthrough Behind Herceptin and the Future of Cancer ResearchIn this special episode, Dr. Sujuan Ba, CEO of the National Foundation for Cancer Research, sits down with Dr. Dennis Slamon, recipient of the 2024 Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research. Together, they explore the pioneering research and collaborations that eventually led to the
Are We Fighting Cancer the Wrong Way? – A Conversation with Dr. Azra Raza
Are we fighting cancer the wrong way? In this powerful episode of All Things Cancer, Dr. Azra Raza—renowned oncologist, researcher, and author of The First Cell—sits down with NFCR’s Dr. Sujuan Ba to challenge the status quo of cancer treatment.Dr. Raza argues that instead of chasing the last cancer cell with toxic treatments, we must shift our focus to detecting and eliminating the first cancer c
Breaking Barriers in Cancer Research: A Conversation with Dr. Margaret Foti | All Things Cancer
In this inspiring episode, Dr. Sujuan Ba, CEO of the National Foundation for Cancer Research, sits down with Dr. Margaret Foti, CEO of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), to discuss her remarkable career, the evolution of cancer research, and the critical challenges facing the field today.
Dr. Foti reflects on her early journey, from being mentored in academia to leading AACR for
