Leever Cancer Conversations

Join Dr. Vadim Zarbin as he talks about chemotherapy, including what it is, how it works, and how often it is administered. He also discusses potential side effects of chemotherapy—including fatigue, risk of infection, bleeding risk, nausea, diarrhea, and hair loss—and how to manage them.

Dr. Alina Guseynova is a board-certified hematology and oncology specialist with Trinity Health Of New England Oncology Center with offices at The Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center. In this episode, she explores the initial steps in beginning cancer treatment and the journey forward. 

Join Dr. David Hill, MD, FCCP, as he explores the powerful health benefits of quitting smoking and shares practical strategies and resources to help individuals overcome nicotine addiction. Learn about the tools, treatments, and support available to make your journey to a smoke-free life successful.

Dupuytren’s Contracture is a disease of the hands affecting fibrous connective tissue beneath our skin called fascia. This progressive process can tighten the tendons, resulting in flexion of the fingers. Dr. Joseph Ravalese, III, radiation oncologist at The Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center discusses how radiation therapy may be a treatment option for patients with Dupuytren’s Contracture.

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. In this episode of Cancer Conversations: A Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center Podcast, we're joined by Dr. David Hill, director of clinical research at Waterbury Pulmonary Associates and chairperson of the National Board of Directors of the American Lung Association. Dr. Hill shares important information about lung cancer prevention, symptoms, screening, diagnosis, and treatment. For more information, visit our website: https://www.leevercancercenter.org/

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. In this episode of Cancer Conversations: A Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center Podcast, we're joined by Dr. Sagar Phatak, a board-certified urologist, who shares important information about prostate cancer, including screening, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. For more information, visit our website https://tinyurl.com/bdhemf3h.

Join us as we speak with Debbie Mendez, ATR-P, LPX, about Ann's Place, a community-based cancer support team that provides comfort, support, and resources to those living with cancer and their loved ones. In this episode of Cancer Conversations: A Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center Podcast, we discuss two Ann's Place support groups for cancer patients offered in partnership with the Leever Cancer Center: the Mindfulness Practice Support Group (2nd/4th Tuesday of the month, 1:30–3 p.m.) and the Art Therapy Cancer Support Group (2nd/4th Tuesday of the month, 1:30–3 p.m.). For more information, visit our website: https://tinyurl.com/yc23htwe

Join us as we speak with Dr. Elizabeth Riordan about breast cancer. In this episode of Cancer Conversations: A Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center Podcast, we discuss breast cancer topics including how to prevent breast cancer, what symptoms to watch for, how breast cancer is detected, who should be screened for breast cancer, what treatment options are available, and how surgical options have changed in the last 30 years. For more information, visit our website: https://tinyurl.com/2xr64sct

Join us as we speak with Yvonne Ruddy-Stein, a nurse practitional and certified advanced genetic nurse, about genetic testing. In this episode of Cancer Conversations: A Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center Podcast, we discuss topics including how genetic testing works, who should have genetic testing, how much it costs, and how genetic testing can provide valuable information about a person's risk of being diagnosed with certain types of cancer. For more information, visit our website: https://tinyurl.com/yuph5byr 

Join us as we speak with Dr. John Zhang, renowned colorectal surgeon about colorectal cancer. We discuss topics including prevention, symptoms, screening and treatment of colorectal cancer during this episode of Cancer Conversations: A Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center Podcast. For more from our resource library, visit our website: https://tinyurl.com/56zxtfjs