The Onco Life Podcast

Welcome to Onco Life Centre Podcast.

A European regulatory committee has recommended a new treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer, a once-daily oral pill for adults who have already tried one therapy. This episode explains what the trial results show, what the side effects are, and what happens next.

You'll learn:
- What the European committee recommended and who it would treat
- Why a final decision from the European Commission is still needed
- How patients on the pill lived longer than those on chemotherapy in a 500-patient trial
- How...

Welcome to Onco Life Centre Podcast.

This episode looks at why gallbladder cancer symptoms so often get confused with a gallstone attack. We cover the gallstone connection, the real warning signs, and how doctors reach a diagnosis.

You'll learn:
- Why this cancer so often gets mistaken for a gallstone attack
- How gallstones and chronic inflammation connect to the disease over time
- Basic anatomy of the gallbladder, including where it sits and what it does
- The symptom list, including abdominal pain, nausea, jaundice, and weight loss
...

Welcome to Onco Life Centre Podcast.

This episode looks at kidney cancer symptoms and why they're so often mistaken for something else. We walk through the real warning signs, the risk factors, and how doctors reach a diagnosis.

You'll learn:
- Why early signs so easily get blamed on a UTI, a strained back, or blood pressure trouble
- The full symptom list, including blood in urine, a back or side lump, flank pain, fatigue, and weight loss
- What blood in the urine specifically can mean, and why it deserves attention...

Welcome to Onco Life Centre Podcast.

This episode looks at blood in urine and what it can mean. We cover why it happens, when it points to bladder cancer, and when it usually does not.

You'll learn:
- What hematuria is, and the difference between visible and microscopic blood in urine
- The common non-cancer causes, including a urinary tract infection, kidney stones, and an enlarged prostate
- The other symptoms of bladder cancer beyond visible bleeding
- How a urine test helps doctors spot early warning signs
- How...

Welcome to Onco Life Centre Podcast.

This episode looks at how a Bradford skin clinic is using AI to review photos of suspicious skin lesions, and what the early results show. We also cover what independent research says about whether AI can work without a clinician checking its results.

You'll learn:
- How a healthcare assistant photographs a skin lesion and how the AI tool called DERM reviews the images within minutes
- What happens next for benign results and for suspicious results at the one-stop clinic
- Why a clinician still...

Welcome to Onco Life Centre Podcast.

This episode looks at fluid buildup around the lungs, also known as pleural effusion. We cover why it happens, what symptoms to watch for, and how doctors diagnose and treat it.

You'll learn:
- What fluid buildup around the lungs is and where it collects
- The main causes, including heart failure, infection, lung cancer, blood clots, and kidney or liver disease
- The most common symptoms, including breathlessness and chest pain
- How a CT scan and a fluid sample confirm the diagnosis
...

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This episode looks at what it's really like to live with a stoma after colorectal surgery. We walk through the first weeks of recovery, daily pouch care, and how most patients settle into a steady routine.

You'll learn:
- What a stoma is and why colorectal surgery sometimes requires one
- The difference between a temporary and a permanent colostomy
- What to expect in the first weeks after surgery, including stoma nurse support
- How to care for your stoma and pouching system day...

Welcome to Onco Life Centre Podcast.

This episode looks at male breast cancer, a diagnosis many people don't expect because breast cancer is so often framed as a disease that only affects women. We walk through the warning signs, the main risk factors, and when a chest change is worth a doctor's visit.

You'll learn:
- Why men have breast tissue that can develop cancer, even though the disease is rare in men
- The most common early symptom: a painless lump behind the nipple
- Other warning signs, including nipple discharge...

Welcome to Onco Life Centre Podcast.

A new NHS England pilot will let surgeons identify a brain tumour's type during an operation, using a nanopore DNA test developed in Nottingham. This episode explains how the test works and how doctors hope to diagnose brain tumours faster.

You'll learn:
- How nanopore sequencing reads DNA from small tissue samples
- What methylation tags reveal about the type of tumour
- Why the two-hour figure is an early result and not a final diagnosis
- What the 2025 Neuro-Oncology study found across 50 operations
...

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This episode explains why chemo brain happens during or after cancer treatment, and the everyday strategies that can genuinely help with the cognitive impairment it causes.

You'll learn:
- Why chemo brain happens, and the factors that can contribute beyond chemotherapy itself
- Common chemo brain symptoms, like forgetfulness, trouble concentrating, and mental fog
- How chemo brain can differ from person to person, and how long it typically lasts
- Practical day-to-day strategies that help, like routine, sleep, and lists
- Why breaking...

Welcome to Onco Life Centre Podcast.

This episode explains when a nagging cough is worth medical attention, and which cough patterns point toward lung cancer rather than a common cold or reflux.

You'll learn:
- What counts as a persistent cough versus a chronic cough, and when three weeks matters
- Cough patterns that raise more concern, including coughing up blood
- Other symptoms that often appear alongside, like breathlessness, chest pain, and weight loss
- Who faces higher risk, including smokers, former smokers, and people who have never smoked
...

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This episode walks through what happens during a colonoscopy, from prep to recovery, using a flexible tube to examine the colon and rectum.

You'll learn:
- What happens at each step of a colonoscopy, from check-in to recovery
- How IV sedation works and why most patients remember little of the exam
- How to prepare with a liquid diet and prep solution in the days before
- What to expect the morning of the procedure
- What recovery feels like and how soon...

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This episode looks at multi cancer early detection, a blood test that scans for signals from dozens of cancers in a single draw. We explain why a US FDA advisory panel supported it in September 2026 and why oncologists remain divided.

You'll learn:
- How a multi cancer blood test looks for DNA fragments shed by cancer cells
- Why the FDA panel voted 7 to 2 on benefits versus risks, and 6 to 4 on effectiveness
- What large US and UK trials found, including a positive predictive value near 60...

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This episode explains what a DCIS, or ductal carcinoma in situ, diagnosis means when a pathology report reads "stage 0," and what typically happens next.

You'll learn:
- What "stage 0" and "in situ" actually mean for a DCIS diagnosis
- Why DCIS rarely causes symptoms and how it is usually found on a routine mammogram
- The three steps doctors use to confirm a diagnosis: mammogram, biopsy, and receptor testing
- How DCIS differs from LCIS, lobular carcinoma in situ
- Surgery and radiation options...

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Stomach cancer often causes no symptoms early on, which is why persistent stomach discomfort deserves attention rather than a wait-and-see approach. This episode covers the warning signs to watch for and the risk factors that raise the odds.

You'll learn:
- Why stomach cancer can grow for months before causing obvious trouble
- The warning signs to watch for, including persistent abdominal pain, feeling full after only a few bites, and unexplained weight loss
- Why nausea, vomiting, or trouble swallowing are also worth mentioning to...

Welcome to Onco Life Centre Podcast.

A mouth ulcer usually heals within a week or two, but one that lingers can be an early warning sign of mouth cancer. This episode looks at when a persistent sore needs a doctor's attention and what else to watch for.

You'll learn:
- Why a mouth ulcer lasting more than three weeks needs a checkup, even without pain
- Other warning signs to watch for, including red or white patches, a new lump, and numbness
- The risk factors that raise the chance of oral...

Welcome to Onco Life Centre Podcast.

New geriatric oncology guidelines released in September 2026 are changing how doctors plan cancer care for people over 65. This episode breaks down what the guidance means for older patients and the families supporting them.

You'll learn:
- Why fitness, not age, now guides treatment decisions for older patients
- How doctors use short screening tools to measure a patient's strength, memory, and daily function
- What the two new NCCN guides cover, one for patients and one for doctors
- How doctors weigh side effects and...

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This episode looks at why cholangiocarcinoma so often stays silent for years, its three main tumor types, and the risk factors and treatment options worth knowing about.

You'll learn:
- Why cholangiocarcinoma often causes no symptoms until it blocks bile flow
- The three main tumor types and why their location matters for treatment
- The most common signs, including jaundice, itching, pale stools, and dark urine
- Why liver fluke infection is one of the strongest known risk factors in parts of Southeast Asia<...

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This episode looks at how to tell ordinary heartburn apart from warning signs that need a doctor's attention, and what happens between GERD, Barrett's esophagus, and cancer risk.

You'll learn:
- How GERD develops from long-term acid exposure
- How Barrett's esophagus fits into that pathway, and why most people with it never develop cancer
- The warning signs that go beyond typical reflux: difficulty swallowing, unexplained weight loss, and persistent chest pain
- Why a hoarse voice or a feeling of food sticking in...

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This episode looks at why ovarian cancer is so often diagnosed late, the everyday signs that get overlooked, and what the numbers show about catching it early.

You'll learn:
- Why ovarian cancer earned the nickname "silent killer"
- Why there is no reliable screening test for ovarian cancer
- The most commonly reported signs, including bloating, pelvic pain, and feeling full quickly
- How urinary changes can also signal a problem
- Why five-year survival rates drop sharply by stage, from around 89% at...

Welcome to Onco Life Centre Podcast.

A major 2026 update to U.S. bladder cancer guidelines reshapes how often patients should be checked after treatment. This episode looks at what changed and why.

You'll learn:
- A 2026 AUA and SUO guideline update refreshed how often bladder cancer checkups should happen
- Checkup frequency depends on original risk group, from low risk to high risk and carcinoma in situ
- Cystoscopy and urine cytology remain the two most common tests used to monitor for recurrence
- CT imaging of the upper urinary tract...

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This episode covers the most common signs of a brain tumour, from headache patterns to vision changes, and when they warrant a doctor's attention.

You'll learn:
- Why symptoms depend heavily on the tumour's location and size
- What sets a tumour-related headache apart from an ordinary one
- The vision changes and eye problems that can signal a tumour
- Other signs to watch for, including weakness, seizures, and personality changes
- The difference between primary and secondary brain tumours
- Who...

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This episode looks at inherited cancer risk, including which family history patterns point toward genetic testing and what to expect from the process.

You'll learn:
- Roughly how many cancer diagnoses come from an inherited gene mutation
- The family history patterns that suggest genetic testing is worth considering
- What a genetic test actually looks for, and how long results take
- Why speaking with a genetic counselor first matters before ordering a test
- How two of the most common hereditary cancer...

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This episode looks at gastrointestinal stromal tumors, including why they so often cause no symptoms and how doctors find and treat them.

You'll learn:
- What a gastrointestinal stromal tumor is and where it typically grows
- Why roughly one in five of these tumors cause no symptoms at all
- What symptoms to watch for when they do appear
- How doctors diagnose a GIST using imaging and biopsy
- Why tumor size and mitotic rate matter for evaluating risk
- Who...

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In this episode, we break down the FDA's new accelerated approval for a breast cancer treatment guided by an early resistance blood test, and what it could mean for patients already in treatment.

You'll learn:
- Why the FDA called this the first cancer approval guided by a resistance mutation found in blood before a scan shows progression
- How a blood test for circulating tumor DNA works
- Why fewer than 5 percent of patients carry this resistance mutation at diagnosis, while nearly 40 percent develop it...

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This episode explains the symptoms of uterine cancer, especially abnormal bleeding, and when they're worth getting checked.

You'll learn:
- Why bleeding that is heavier, longer, or oddly timed is the clearest early sign of uterine cancer
- Why post menopausal bleeding in particular needs urgent attention, even light spotting
- Other symptoms beyond bleeding, including pelvic pain, unusual discharge, and bloating
- What raises the risk of uterine cancer, including Lynch syndrome and other inherited factors
- The difference between endometrial cancer and...

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This episode explains the difference between an HPV test and a Pap smear, who needs which one in Malaysia, and how often screening should happen.

You'll learn:
- Why cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that regular screening can catch before it ever develops
- The real difference between an HPV test and a Pap smear
- Why Malaysia's national guidelines now favor the HPV test as the primary screening tool for most women
- What actually happens during either test, and why...

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This episode walks through what actually happens during a biopsy, the different procedure types, and how a small tissue sample becomes a confirmed diagnosis.

You'll learn:
- Why a biopsy is usually the final step toward a diagnosis, not the first
- The difference between needle biopsies and interventional (image-guided) biopsies used for internal organs like the lung, liver, and pancreas
- When doctors choose a surgical or excisional biopsy instead
- What a bone marrow biopsy involves and why it's used for blood-related cancers<...

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This episode looks at ASCO's August 2026 guideline update on endocrine therapy for breast cancer, including when this treatment alone is enough and when doctors consider adding more.

You'll learn:
- Why ASCO updated its breast cancer treatment guidance in August 2026
- How doctors now estimate individual risk instead of relying on trial resemblance
- Why endocrine therapy remains the treatment foundation for hormone receptor-positive disease
- What the risk thresholds are for considering additional treatment
- How ovarian suppression works for premenopausal women
...

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This episode explains why chronic hepatitis B carriers face a much higher risk of liver cancer, and walks through what regular screening for it actually looks like in practice.

You'll learn:
- Why chronic hepatitis B raises liver cancer risk by 15 to 20 times compared with people who are not infected
- Why liver cancer often causes no symptoms until it is already advanced
- What an abdominal ultrasound and an AFP blood test each check for, and why doctors combine them
- Who the World...

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This episode walks through what it means when a lung nodule turns up on a scan, why it's common, and what the follow-up process usually looks like.

You'll learn:
- Why a lung nodule is a common finding and does not automatically mean cancer
- The difference between a solid nodule and a ground-glass nodule
- What chest x-rays, CT scans, and PET scans each check for
- What makes a nodule more or less concerning, including size, shape, and growth over time
...

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This episode breaks down how cancer insurance actually works in Malaysia, from what a typical policy covers to the fine print that catches people off guard.

You'll learn:
- What cancer insurance typically covers, including hospital stays, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy
- The difference between lump sum payouts and reimbursement based policies
- Why waiting periods, often around 60 days, can delay a claim
- How pre-existing conditions are commonly excluded from coverage
- What a lifetime limit means for your total payout over time<...

Welcome to Onco Life Centre Podcast.

This episode looks at ASCO's August 2026 guideline update for HER2-positive gastric cancer, including what changed for first-line treatment and why biomarker testing now happens earlier.

You'll learn:
- Why ASCO updated its HER2-positive gastric cancer guideline in August 2026
- What the four newly recommended biomarker tests are
- How new trial results changed first-line treatment options
- What second-line options exist if first-line treatment stops working
- Why the timing of biomarker testing matters for patients
- Roughly what percentage of...

This episode breaks down who faces the highest risk of nasopharyngeal cancer in Malaysia, and why the country sees rates far higher than most of the world.

You'll learn:
- Why nasopharyngeal cancer risk varies so sharply by ethnicity in Malaysia
- Why Chinese Malaysians and indigenous communities in Sarawak and Sabah face some of the highest rates in the world
- How Epstein-Barr virus infection connects to the most common local subtype
- Which diet, lifestyle, and occupational factors raise risk, including salt-preserved foods and wood dust exposure
- How age...

This episode breaks down what the numbers actually mean when it comes to pancreatic cancer, and why stage at diagnosis makes such a dramatic difference.

You'll learn:
- How large population databases like SEER calculate a 5-year relative survival rate
- What the current numbers are for localized, regional, and distant pancreatic cancer
- Why the combined survival figure sits so much lower than the localized one
- What the CA 19-9 tumor marker is and how doctors use it
- How TNM staging, stage I through stage IV, relates to the...

This episode looks at what the numbers really mean when it comes to nasopharyngeal cancer survival, and what shapes outlook beyond stage alone.

You'll learn:
- How large population databases like SEER calculate a 5-year relative survival rate
- What the current survival rates are for localized, regional, and distant nasopharyngeal cancer
- Why EBV DNA levels in the blood can influence prognosis
- How the WHO classifies nasopharyngeal cancer subtypes, and why that matters
- How TNM staging, stage I through stage IV, relates to the SEER categories
- Why...

This episode breaks down two of the most common non-small cell lung cancer subtypes, adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, and explains why getting the subtype right shapes the entire treatment plan.

You'll learn:
- Why adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are subtypes of NSCLC, not competing diagnoses
- Where each subtype typically starts in the lung and how they relate to smoking history
- Why targeted therapy is more often an option for adenocarcinoma than for squamous cell carcinoma
- How doctors confirm the subtype through biopsy, biomarker testing, and imaging
...

This episode looks at ASTRO's 2026 update to its pancreatic cancer radiation guideline, the American Society for Radiation Oncology's first revision since 2019. We break down what changed, what the evidence shows, and what still needs to be proven.

You'll learn:
- Why ASTRO updated its pancreatic cancer radiation guideline for the first time since 2019
- How the new guideline supports dose escalation with stereotactic body radiation therapy
- Why online adaptive radiation planning is now recommended whenever that dose is escalated
- What the PREOPANC-2, CONKO-007, and SABER trials found about local tumor control...

Choosing the right uterine cancer treatment plan depends on the cancer’s stage, type, genetic features, and the patient’s overall health. This episode explains how specialists evaluate uterine cancer and create a personalized treatment plan using surgery, radiation, systemic therapies, and other options.

Lear...

When uterine cancer returns after treatment, the next steps depend on where the cancer has come back, its type, and your overall health. This episode explains the main treatment options for recurrent uterine cancer and what patients can expect during care.

Learn how specialists build personalized treatment plans for recurrent uterine...