The Cancer Project

The Cancer Project The Cancer Project Podcast tells the stories of the people and events shaping the world of cancer.

We feature guests including patients, doctors, researchers, business leaders, politicians, and more who are impacting cancer diagnosis and treatment.

06/04/2026

This week, two-time cancer survivor Morgan Aquino joined us in the studio with one of her closest friends, Devin, by her side. As Morgan reflected on her cancer journey, Devin watched quietly from behind the scenes—a fitting reminder of the role she and so many others played throughout Morgan’s most difficult days.

As Morgan shares in this emotional conversation, it wasn’t just Devin who showed up for her. It was an entire circle of friends who walked alongside her through two cancer diagnoses in just over a year.

“They just showed up.”

Whether it was a text message, a meal, a ride to an appointment, or simply being present, Morgan’s friends found ways to lighten the burden she carried. Their support wasn’t always visible, but it was constant—offering encouragement, comfort, and strength when she needed it most.

This powerful moment serves as a reminder that cancer affects far more than the body. It touches every aspect of a person’s life, and the support of family and friends can make all the difference.

To hear Morgan’s inspiring story of perseverance, faith, and community, visit the link in our bio and watch her full episode of The Cancer Project Podcast.

06/03/2026

In this honest conversation, kidney and breast cancer survivor Morgan Aquino reflects on a moment no one can truly prepare for: hearing the words, “You have cancer.”

For Morgan, everything seemed to go quiet.

Many cancer patients and their loved ones describe a similar experience—a moment of shock where time seems to slow down and the weight of the diagnosis becomes difficult to fully process.

In her powerful episode, Two-Time Cancer Survivor Morgan Aquino’s Journey of Perseverance and Faith, Morgan shares the emotional reality of facing not one, but two cancer diagnoses. She also opens up about the faith, family, and friendships that carried her through some of the most challenging moments of her life.

To watch Morgan’s full story, visit the link in our bio.

06/03/2026

In life today, microplastics are everywhere.

Identified as plastic pieces 5 millimeters or smaller, they often can’t be seen by the human eye.

In this clip The Cancer Project Podcast Host David Raubach answers:

What are microplastics?

Where are microplastics found?

What do we know about the link between microplastics and cancer?

How can we avoid microplastics?

For more updates on cancer treatment, stories, and news, check out our socials listed in bio!

06/03/2026

In November 2024, Morgan Aquino was experiencing severe abdominal pain but insisted to her husband that she would be fine and didn’t need to go to the hospital.

He disagreed.

Seeing that she could barely walk, he urged her to seek medical attention.

That decision would prove lifesaving.

What doctors initially discovered was a ruptured ovarian cyst. But during the evaluation, they also found a cancerous mass on Morgan’s kidney. The painful and unexpected cyst ultimately led to the early detection of her kidney cancer—something that may have otherwise gone unnoticed until a much later stage.

In this clip, Morgan shares the events that led to her diagnosis and reflects on how one medical emergency revealed another, hidden threat.

Morgan’s journey didn’t end there. In the latest episode of The Cancer Project Podcast, she opens up about facing two cancer diagnoses in just over a year and the faith, resilience, and support system that carried her through both battles.

To hear her full story, visit the link in our bio.

This week The Cancer Project Podcast is joined by two time cancer survivor Morgan Aquino. In fall of 2024, Morgan’s husb...
06/01/2026

This week The Cancer Project Podcast is joined by two time cancer survivor Morgan Aquino. In fall of 2024, Morgan’s husband insisted she go to the hospital after experiencing severe abdominal pain.

They quickly discovered she had a burst ovarian cyst and found a mass in her kidney. As a mom of two and a wife, Morgan discusses her mindset while approaching the diagnosis. Caught early due to the burst cyst, she received surgery two months later to remove the mass and was pronounced cancer free.

A short ten months later, Morgan had just returned from a girls trip and found an unusual lump in her breast. With the support of her husband and friends, she promptly went to the doctor. Within 36 hours she would be diagnosed with breast cancer and preparing for a second battle with cancer only thirteen months after her kidney cancer diagnosis.

In this episode of perseverance and faith, Morgan speaks about her village full of her family, friends, and faith that continue to ground her throughout this long journey. In the studio, Morgan is joined by one of her best friends and vulnerably shares the role the entire friend group had in getting her through each day.

05/30/2026

As the use of GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound continues to grow, so does the research surrounding these drugs, which mimic hormones naturally found in the gut.

One recent observational study has drawn significant attention from oncologists nationwide after researchers found that patients taking GLP-1 medications appeared less likely to experience cancer progression compared to those not using the drugs.

In this clip, host David Raubach breaks down what researchers currently know about the ongoing studies and explores some of the possible explanations behind the observed decline in tumor growth among GLP-1 users.

It is important to note that this research is still in its early stages and is based on observational findings. At this time, GLP-1 medications are not approved or recommended as a cancer treatment.

For more information on the Cleveland Clinic research, visit: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/cancer/glp-1-drugs-may-reduce-risk-cancer-progressing-study-suggests-rcna346364

05/29/2026

In this clip, Dr. Shannon MacDonald discusses the ongoing Radiotherapy Comparative Effectiveness (RADCOMP) trial, a randomized study directly comparing proton therapy and traditional photon radiation for patients with locally advanced breast cancer who are at higher risk for heart disease.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis in the U.S., with an estimated 320,000 individuals expected to be diagnosed in 2025. Locally advanced breast cancer occurs when the cancer has spread beyond the breast tissue but remains confined to nearby lymph nodes or the chest wall. Standard treatment for these patients often includes surgery followed by external-beam radiation therapy, which plays a critical role in preventing cancer recurrence and extending survival.

She explains the trial’s focus on long-term patient outcomes and quality of life — an effort that requires significant time, research, and funding to fully evaluate.

RADCOMP is the largest study to date comparing proton and photon therapy, with additional long-term health and quality-of-life data expected in 2028 and 2032.

To learn more about the trial, visit the link in our bio to watch the full episode: “Photon vs. Proton Therapy for Breast Cancer: The RADCOMP Trial with Dr. Shannon MacDonald.”

In the second episode of our special two part installment, Dr. Shannon MacDonald, Senior Medical Director of the Southwe...
05/28/2026

In the second episode of our special two part installment, Dr. Shannon MacDonald, Senior Medical Director of the Southwest Florida Proton Center, rejoins host David Raubach to discuss the RADCOMP trial — the largest clinical study comparing proton therapy and traditional photon radiation for patients with locally advanced breast cancer who are at higher risk for heart disease.

One of the defining advantages of proton therapy is the Bragg Peak, which allows radiation to stop directly within the tumor, helping spare surrounding healthy tissue and organs. As proton therapy centers continue to expand across the United States, so does the need for research evaluating how the treatment compares to conventional radiation therapy.

Since proton therapy was first used to treat breast cancer in 2010, physicians and researchers have been especially interested in data examining long-term patient outcomes and side effects.

In September, Dr. MacDonald presented the phase III results of the Radiotherapy Comparative Effectiveness (RADCOMP) trial at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) annual meeting. In this episode, she explains the purpose of the trial and why its emphasis on long-term quality-of-life outcomes makes the research especially significant.

To watch both episodes featuring Dr. Shannon MacDonald, visit the link in our bio.
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05/26/2026

Professional traveling sports team physicians receive an exception for practicing medicine in other states. They are constantly on the road, and frequently find their athletes in need of specialized care.

In New Jersey, a patient receiving specialized treatment for a rare disease that may not be available locally to them must commute within state lines to consult with their doctor.

In this clip, Dr. Shannon MacDonald explains the current exception available to professional athletes receiving care, and the direct correlation it shares with her ongoing legal case challenging telehealth medicine.

The question being asked in federal court remains: should a rare disease patient be required to place further burden on themselves to receive the speciality care they require?

In the newest episode of The Cancer Project Podcast, Dr. Shannon MacDonald shares the story of the patient that began this legal case and how changing the restrictions could benefit rare disease patients. To watch the full episode or learn more about the case, please visit our bio.

After COVID-19 changed protocols for all day-to-day life, medicine was no exception. In every effort to stop and slow th...
05/25/2026

After COVID-19 changed protocols for all day-to-day life, medicine was no exception. In every effort to stop and slow the spread of COVID-19, many medical appointments previously in person, turned into virtual visits. This was seen in medicine, school, and life in general. During this period, doctors such as Shannon found one silver lining: patients did not have to travel while undergoing great physical stress due to a disease such as cancer.

As protocols slowly began to shift back to life before the pandemic, many patients suddenly found themselves having to commute to another state just to have a brief phone consultation with their doctor.

Dr. Shannon MacDonald joins The Cancer Project this week for a special two episode installment. In this episode, Dr. MacDonald dives into the ongoing legal case of Shannon MacDonald, M.D., et al. v. Otto Sabando. This case challenges the restrictions of telehealth medicine in New Jersey for rare disease patients who need specialized care that may not be available locally. The lawsuit seeks to eliminate the need for patients to have to commute to another state for what could easily be a video call while they battle rare and potentially fatal diseases.

Host David Raubach and Dr. MacDonald explain the different angles of the legal case and the adjacent lawsuit in California, also seeking mitigation of certain telehealth restrictions.

For more information about this ongoing legal case please visit https://pacificlegal.org/case/new-jersey-telehealth-pediatric-cancer/.

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