Delivering a Cancer-Free Frontier
by Huntsman Cancer Institute
What is a cancer-free frontier? Huntsman Cancer Institute investigates the challenges and triumphs of delivering future where all patients throughout the Mountain West have access cutting-edge cancer treatment, leading to a cure or survival. Host Heather Simonsen encourages us to envision the bright future ahead by speaking with Huntsman Cancer Institute’s most brilliant minds in science and medicine. Links: https://healthcare.utah.edu/huntsmancancerinstitute/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntsmanCancerInstitute/ Instagram: huntsmancancerinstitute X: @huntsmancancer
Episodes
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Why Are More Young People Getting Colon Cancer?
Greg Barton is a typical Utahn who loves the outdoors. He rock climbs, he skis, and he loves to go fishing in Utah's Wasatch Mountains. But his adventure life was put on hold in 2025 when he was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer at just 31 years old. Greg is part of a generation of young…
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What is HIPEC?: A Conversation with Dr. Clark Gamblin
On today's episode, we're having a wide-ranging conversation with Huntsman Cancer Institute's head of surgical oncology, Dr. Clark Gamblin. We’ll discuss some of the specialized surgeries we offer here at Huntsman Cancer Institute, including HIPEC—short for hyperthermic intraperitoneal...
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The Harmony of Cancer Research and Cancer Care
On this episode, Huntsman Cancer Institute researchers and patients share how scientific discoveries, clinical trials, and targeted therapies extend lives—and offer hope.
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Am I High Risk? What Women Need to Know About Breast Cancer Prevention
In the United States, women have a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetime. But some women, due to genetic and biological factors, are at a higher risk. Most women are familiar with getting preventative, annual mammograms starting at 40, as risk increases with age. But what...
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Family Ties and Cancer Clues
More inherited genes for cancer have been discovered at Huntsman Cancer Institute than anywhere else in the world—thanks to one of our most valuable resources, the Utah Population Database (UPDB). UPDB director Nicola Camp, PhD, guides us through how this unique system works and how its…
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Mobile Medicine, Telehealth: Advancing Cancer Care Across Distances
In this episode, we discuss how Huntsman Cancer Institute is advancing cancer care in rural areas through mobile medicine and telehealth. We travel along with the mobile screening clinic to the Utah/Nevada border town of Wendover, and Dr. Tracy Onega tackles how telehealth can keep patients...
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Significant Discoveries in Understanding, Preventing and Treating Breast Cancer
In this episode, we explore significant discoveries in breast cancer screening, treatment, and research at Huntsman Cancer Institute. Jessica Rivera, a breast cancer survivor, shares her story. Dr. Phoebe Freer discusses advances in breast cancer screening, and Dr. Alana Welm explains her team's...
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Using AI to Diagnose and Treat Cancer
In this episode, we're talking artificial intelligence. What is it? And how are we using AI to push the limits of cancer care? Huntsman Cancer Institute's Dr. Jonathan Tward joins us for an in-depth conversation about the possibilities of AI. This episode also features Taylor Smedley, Director of...
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Preserving Dreams for Young Cancer Patients through Oncofertility
In this episode, we explore expanding efforts to offer fertility preservation options to adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients. Cancer treatment can affect many young patients' reproductive systems — but with planning and careful consultation, there is hope that they can still be parents.…
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Providing Care to All: Addressing Health Care Disparities in Areas Characterized by Persistent Poverty
Discover how poverty acts as a carcinogen and join Dr. Dave Wetter's groundbreaking mission. Engaging Huntsman Cancer Institute scientists, they're transforming care for low-income communities, tackling cancer at its root.
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Serving the Mountain West by training the Next Generation of Cancer Providers Part 2
As new immigrants to the United States from Mexico, Jose Hernandez’s family faced tough odds. His father was deported shortly after his birth, and his mother struggled to keep food on the table and raise him alone. Jose learned the power of resilience and determination at a young age, and when…
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Serving the Mountain West by Training the Next Generation of Cancer Providers Part 1
A special mentorship program gives bright students from tough circumstances a chance to work in the lab alongside cancer investigators. It also gives teachers the opportunity to learn creative ways to inspire their students. We talk with Don Ayer and Anna Marsden about the PathMakerprogram and…
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The Long Road to Treatment Part 2
Heather Simonsen interviews Jakob Jensen, PhD, member of the cancer control and populations sciences program at Huntsman Cancer Institute and professor in the department of communications and associate dean for research in the College of Humanities at the University of Utah.
About this show
What is a cancer-free frontier? Huntsman Cancer Institute investigates the challenges and triumphs of delivering future where all patients throughout the Mountain West have access cutting-edge cancer treatment, leading to a cure or survival. Host Heather Simonsen encourages us to envision the bright future ahead by speaking with Huntsman Cancer Institute’s most brilliant minds in science and medicine.
Links: https://healthcare.utah.edu/huntsmancancerinstitute/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntsmanCancerInstitute/
Instagram: huntsmancancerinstitute
X: @huntsmancancer
Hosted by
Huntsman Cancer Institute