24. How Do Clinical Trials Work?

Traditionally, vaccines have been designed to prevent infectious diseases. But what if a vaccine could help the immune system recognize and attack cancer that is already there?Enter SurVaxM: an experimental vaccine developed for glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat forms of brain cancer.In this episode, Hajar speaks with Roswell Park researcher Michael Ciesielski, who helped create SurVaxM. They explore how the vaccine was developed, how it works alongside standard glioblastoma treatments, and how it could potentially be used to treat, or even help prevent, other cancers.Keep up with all things Smarter Than Cancer and let us know what you think of the show at https://www.roswellpark.org/smarterthancancer.

When you are under anesthesia, where exactly do you go? Are you sleeping? Time-traveling? Floating in space? In this episode, Hajar gets the run down on how anesthesia actually works and what an anesthesiologist’s role is pre-, intra- and post-op.With incredible insight from Roswell Park’s Dr. Rais Sroka, Dr. Renee Mapes and Dr. Patrick Seastedt, they will examine how preparation in each stage of the surgery process plays a vital role in a patient’s overall health and recovery. They’ll also do a little myth-busting for those who may be more on the anxious side when it comes to anesthesia.Keep up with all things Smarter Than Cancer and let us know what you think of the show at https://www.roswellpark.org/smarterthancancer.

Burn! Freeze! Zap! Sonic Blast! Words straight out of a science fiction movie. However, in the world of interventional radiology, those terms are exactly what the doctor ordered… In this episode, David turns up the energy as he explores how X-rays, ultrasounds and MRI helps physicians navigate cancer treatment in a fresh and precise manner.Along with Roswell Park’s Michael Petruzello (MD) and Dr. Omar Hasan (MD), they’ll discuss the creative technological advancements that make interventional radiology such a fascinating specialty.Keep up with all things Smarter Than Cancer and let us know what you think of the show at roswellpark.org/smarterthancancer.

Most of us have heard of clinical trials, but very few people know what actually happens inside one. Who gets to participate? How do researchers decide if a new treatment is safe? And what does it take for an experimental drug to become the new standard of care?With Dr. Eunice Wang, Hajar follows the journey of an acute myeloid leukemia drug from early research through clinical trials and, eventually, FDA approval.Keep up with all things Smarter Than Cancer and let us know what you think of the show at https://www.roswellpark.org/smarterthancancer

Post-surgical rehabilitation has become common practice for patients eager to get their lives back to normal after a procedure. But, what if those same patients could do a sort of advanced rehab, or “prehab”?In this episode, David speaks with Dr. Natalie Kaleta (PT, DPT, CLT) about what pre- and post-procedural rehab programs look like and how they impact the overall health of the patient, not just physically, but mentally as well. Listen as Dr. Kaleta shares her passion for the programs she and her prehab team have implemented and why being proactive with physical therapy can help patients feel more prepared and confident throughout their surgical journey.Keep up with all things Smarter Than Cancer and let us know what you think of the show at https://www.roswellpark.org/smarterthancancer

Psychedelic drugs have spent decades being treated as dangerous, mysterious, and probably best avoided. But what if some of them could help people facing one of life’s most difficult experiences? In this episode, David explores the growing research into psychedelics in palliative care for cancer patients. With insights from Dr. Amy Case and Dr. William Alexander, they look at how these substances might help ease not just physical pain, but the emotional and existential suffering that can come with a serious diagnosis.Keep up with all things Smarter Than Cancer and let us know what you think of the show at https://www.roswellpark.org/smarterthancancer

Cancer doesn’t just affect your body. It changes how you think, how you feel, and how you move through the world. In this episode, David sits down with Dr. Megan Pailler, a clinical psychologist at Roswell Park, to talk about the emotional realities of a cancer diagnosis. They explore why fear, grief, and uncertainty aren't problems to solve, but experiences to make room for, and how embracing the full range of human emotion can make it easier to find meaning, connection, and even moments of joy along the way.Keep up with all things Smarter Than Cancer and let us know what you think of the show at https://www.roswellpark.org/smarterthancancer

For patients, becoming cancer-free is the moment they've been hoping for since the day they were diagnosed. The scans are clear, the cancer is gone, and everyone expects life to return to normal. But for many survivors, that's just not how the story goes.In this episode, Hajar explores what it means to live beyond cancer. She looks at the physical and emotional challenges that can linger long after treatment, from anxiety about recurrence and lasting side effects to the complicated process of rebuilding a life after diagnosis. Along the way, she asks a question many survivors wrestle with: when cancer is gone, can life ever truly go back to the way it was before?Keep up with all things Smarter Than Cancer and let us know what you think of the show at https://www.roswellpark.org/smarterthancancer

First responders spend their careers running toward danger to protect their communities. The risks they face in the moment are obvious: raging fires, smoke inhalation, collapsing buildings. But another danger has only come into sharper focus in recent years: cancer.Researchers now know that repeated exposure to smoke, toxic chemicals, and contaminated gear can increase cancer risk. In fact, cancer is now the leading cause of death among retired firefighters.In this episode, Hajar and David learn about the growing evidence behind firefighter cancer risk, what's being done to better understand it, and how fire departments are working to make the profession safer for future generations.Keep up with all things Smarter Than Cancer and let us know what you think of the show at https://www.roswellpark.org/smarterthancancer

Nurses are burning out, and not because they can’t handle the job. In this episode, David explores the mounting pressures facing nurses today, from chronic understaffing to a workplace culture that often treats emotional exhaustion as part of the job.With insights from Roswell Park’s Pamela Pichon (MS, BSN, RN) and Amy Gallagher (PsyD, MSHCT, Resiliency Program Leader), we look at what burnout actually feels like on the ground and what hospitals can do differently to better support the people holding the healthcare system together.Keep up with all things Smarter Than Cancer and let us know what you think of the show at https://www.roswellpark.org/smarterthancancer