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The discussion centers on dismantling outdated stigmas and highlighting how modern medicine has shifted the patient experience from one of endurance to one of managed care.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.

The Leukemia Patient Experience

Dr. Fred Appelbaum joins Green Bay Oncology physicians Dr. Brian Burnette, Dr. Kamal Abbi, Dr. Evan Wenig, and UW–Green Bay professor Dr. Brian Merkel to explore how leukemia treatment has evolved—highlighting rising survival rates, the emotional realities of care, and the innovations reshaping hope for patients and families.

Supporting Patients with Food Insecurity

Oncologist Dr. David Groteluschen and Clinical Dietician Maddi Mleziva discuss the alarming rate of food insecurity among cancer patients, which significantly increases calorie needs and the risk of complications like cachexia during treatment, and the collaborative strategies used by the care team to ensure access to vital nutrition and maximize caloric intake over nutritional perfection.

Social Work Services in Cancer Care

In this vital episode of Cancer Covered, social worker Tom Bekkers joins oncologists Dr. David Groteluschen and Dr. Michael Guiou to discuss the indispensable role of social work in providing comprehensive support for patients and families navigating the emotional, practical, and financial challenges of cancer care.