In today’s episode, you’ll get to explore the world of early cancer detection with Dr. Azra Raza, a pioneering oncologist and professor of medicine. We discuss the anxiety-inducing issues surrounding current cancer screening methods like mammograms and colonoscopies and examine advanced alternatives such as GRAIL and Cologuard. Dr. Raza also shares her groundbreaking work in detecting “The First Cell” and explores the potential of biomarkers and wearable devices for early detection (check out her fascinating book on this topic for more invaluable information!).
In a deeply personal segment, Dr. Raza opens up about her late husband’s battle with leukemia and how it shaped her understanding of cancer. We’ll also discuss the flaws in the current cancer research model, the financial struggles for innovative scientists, and the urgent need for better funding to accelerate progress.
Dr. Azra Raza is the Chan Soon-Shiong Professor of Medicine and Clinical Director of The Edward P. Evans Foundation MDS Center at Columbia University in New York. A practicing oncologist seeing 30–40 cancer patients weekly, she directs a basic cancer research lab with hundreds of original publications in high-profile journals. Her life is dedicated to the prevention of all chronic diseases, including cancer, by early detection.
She worked with President Clinton, designing breakthrough developments in science and technology, and with President Joe Biden for the Cancer Moonshot initiative. Her latest book, The First Cell: And the Human Costs of Pursuing Cancer to the Last, is a national bestseller and has been translated into nine languages.
Dr. Raza is now involved in First Cell Therapeutics, which is developing a specific antibody to target and remove the tumor macrophage hybrid cells that act as The First Cell giving rise to cancer. She is the founder and chair of the Scientific Advisory Board.
Join us as we unravel the complexities of early cancer detection, drug development, and the stories that drive medical breakthroughs.
What I Discuss with Dr. Azra Raza:
Dr. Raza’s professional journey in cancer research, her latest book, and her husband’s battle with leukemia…06:08
How her intellectual curiosity and medical training, alongside her personal experience, transformed her approach to understanding and treating cancer…09:29
How her husband’s cancer deepened her commitment to early cancer detection, shifting her focus to identifying pre-cancerous conditions and understanding the high risk of secondary cancers in survivors…14:53
Her pioneering work on evaluating therapy-induced malignancies, revealing that some cancer treatments increase the risk of secondary cancers, and her research on identifying early biomarkers for cancer initiation…19:43
The concept of the “first cell,” which is a single cancerous cell that begins to proliferate uncontrollably due to various stresses, and how environmental factors, including climate change, can contribute to its development…22:53
Dr. Raza’s critique of current early cancer detection methods for their limited accuracy and inability to detect cancer before stage one…29:46
Advancements such as capturing abnormal cells from blood and innovative devices like a smart bra for early breast cancer detection…41:36
How with better early cancer detection, drug development will need to focus on gentler, targeted treatments for early-stage abnormalities, and how blood tests for Alzheimer’s and the potential benefits of Ozempic could impact the future of drug development…46:42
The translation of rodent studies to human models in drug development is problematic, as 95% of experimental cancer drugs fail in humans, exposing the costly and inefficient process for patients…51:44
Using rodent and even pediatric models often fails to reflect human disease accurately—there is a need for a shift toward studying human cancers directly and focusing on early-stage research…58:49
Outdated models in cancer research are driven by funding constraints—innovative, independent funding is needed to support original research…1:03:00
Dr. Raza’s efforts to unite top oncology experts who collectively support the need for early cancer detection…1:09:08
Full Show Notes:
Additional Resources:
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I couldn't sleep at a little after 5am I saw this notification and began to listen to it, wow how interesting, so informative. It intrigued me how Dr. Raza had 1 response out of 100 letters to billionaires non the less. I was doing the math and if even five thousand non millionaires like me lol were to donate $25 a month towards her research that would also help, and I'm sure that more than five thousand people in the United States can donate $25 towards cancer research. I will begin donating $25 monthly, not much, but it will add up if others do the same. My mom at 70 had kidney cancer, had 1 kidney, she passed at 93 from kidney failure and congestive heart failure, she lived a great life a strong loving woman who always looked younger than her age. My sister had breast cancer 6 years ago and so did several aunts, cousins as well as colon cancer and brain. So donating $25 monthly to Dr. Raza's research means a lot to me and I pray that more people non millionaires will also donate, is what we do with the little we have that counts 🙏❤️
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I just want the truth to be told ❤!
6th. Extinction 😢❤.
Nature's Source Code ❤Decentralization ❤. Lite, water, magnetism, TIME, TIME, TIME, oxygen and PLASMA ENERGY ❤. Don't die! ❤. Eyes mind heart and soul wide open. NO FEAR!❤