What if we could detect cancer before it even formed a tumor? That’s what Dr. Margaret Tempero is working on at the Cancer Early Detection and Interception Initiative at the University of California, San Francisco. Chuck talks with Dr. Tempero about advances in early detection through circulating tumor DNA and other approaches. They discuss how new early detection strategies could affect primary care, oncology, and most of importantly, those at risk for cancers.

The National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health is a lot more than a group of buildings in Bethesda, Maryland. It’s an institution that provides vital support for cancer research, and connects a national network of cancer centers that treat patients around the country. In this episode, Chuck and Alicia talk with outgoing NCI director, Dr. Kim Rathmell, about the role of the organization and some recent points of progress.

Over the past several years, more and more Americans have been vaccinated against HPV, a virus known to cause cervical cancer, head and neck cancer, anal cancer and vaginal cancer, among others. As a result of the HPV vaccine, the cancers caused by this virus have declined significantly, and many lives have been saved. In this episode, Chuck talks with Dr. Ashish Deshmukh about this major public health win.