What to Expect After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Your Surgical Team & First Decisions
Dr. Judy Tjoe and nurse practitioner Mikayla Petzke share how they help breast cancer patients understand their options, process complex information, and feel supported from diagnosis through surgery and beyond.
Is Chemo Worse than Cancer?
Dr. Edgard Badine, Dr. Kamal Abbi, and Dr. Matthew Ryan address the common fear that chemotherapy might be more damaging than the cancer it treats.
The discussion centers on dismantling outdated stigmas and highlighting how modern medicine has shifted the patient experience from one of endurance to one of managed care.
Is Cancer a Death Sentence?
Dr. Edgard Badine, Dr. Kamal Abbi, and Dr. Matthew Ryan discuss why the fear of cancer as a “death sentence” still persists, how modern advances in screening, treatment, and care have reshaped outcomes, and how shifting the conversation toward understanding a patient’s plan can replace fear with clarity and control.
From Patient to Professor: Dr. Brian Merkel and the Transplant Ripple Effect
Dr. Fred Appelbaum, Executive Vice President of Fred Hutch Cancer Center, joins Green Bay Oncology physicians Dr. Brian Burnette, Dr. Kamal Abbi, and Dr. Evan Wenig, along with Dr. Brian Merkel, Professor and Chair of Human Biology at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, to reflect on one of the earliest eras of bone marrow transplantation through the eyes of both patient and physician.
Medicare for Cancer Care 101
Financial counselors Jordan Karwedsky and Anne Baumgart join this episode of Cancer Covered to break down how Medicare covers cancer treatments, offering practical advice on navigating the system and accessing financial assistance.
Breast Radiation and Heart Disease
Drs. Michael Guiou and Alex Coffman, radiation oncologists, explain that patients with left-sided breast cancer have a higher risk of heart disease because of the heart’s proximity to the radiation field. They detail how modern techniques like deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) and prone positioning are now used to reduce this risk, a significant improvement over earlier methods that unintentionally increased heart exposure.
Cancer Treatment Safety: Smarter, Not Stronger
Dr. Michael Guiou, Dr. Matthew Ryan, and Dr. Kamal Abbi discuss the key factors that impact the safety and effectiveness of cancer treatments, emphasizing the importance of patient advocacy, understanding treatment options, and working with a multidisciplinary care team.
Tumor Markers
Dr. Alexander Starr and Dr. Matthew Ryan explain how tumor markers can help track cancer and treatment and emphasize that it’s crucial to look at a patient’s overall health, not just the numbers.
Do I still need to see my primary care provider or are you my primary care provider now?
You’ll still need a primary care provider to help manage your other medical issues. Your primary care provider is going to manage things like diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol better than your cancer care team, just like your cancer care team is going to manage your cancer care better than your primary care team.
How do I check if you’re in-network for me?
Please call your insurance or clinic to verify the provider and healthcare system you are going to is in-network.