The Comeback: A Cleveland Clinic Podcast

After being homeless and addicted to drugs and alcohol for 15 years, Waverly Willis decided to turn his life around. He became a barber –using his craft to better the community. His journey of setbacks continued after a screening test revealed he had kidney cancer. Join Waverly and one of his doctors, Dr. Charles Modlin, to hear how he’s using his experiences to inspire other men.

When a young woman needs chemotherapy it’s important to protect her fertility if she wishes to start a family in the future, as the side effects of chemo can make it difficult or impossible to have a baby. Join us as breast cancer survivor, Brittney Rinella, and her oncologist, Halle Moore, MD, tell listeners how a special treatment protected her ovaries – and her dream of becoming a mom.

Episode description: Ajit Tolani was living with a rare autoimmune disease called scleroderma, until his condition worsened and it started to affect his lungs. Doctors in India told him he had three months to live. He flew from India to Cleveland Clinic for a lifesaving lung transplant and innovative antireflux surgery. Join Ajit and one of his doctors, Dr. Atul Mehta, to hear how he how fought to get a second chance at life.

At 10 years old, a virus attacked Sophia’s heart. She went into cardiac arrest twice. Doctors had to treat her with a device that provided breathing and heart support. Join Sophia, her mother and one of her doctors, Dr. Gerard Boyle, to hear how she persevered to regain her health and went back to playing sports again.

Carole Motycka, a 44-year-old mother of four boys from western Ohio, never expected a trip to the hospital for back and shoulder pain to end up being stage 4 colorectal cancer. Join Carole and one of her surgeons, Dr. Cristiano Quintini, as they walk listeners through her shocking diagnosis and explain how a new treatment option – liver transplant – helped save her life.

Peggy Notman’s pulmonary hypertension was bringing her life to a screeching halt – that is, until an innovative procedure helped her breathe easy again. Join Peggy and her physician, Dr. Gustavo Heresi, as they describe a series of procedures that are allowing her to enjoy life, and her young grandson.

65-year-old Joyce McCain believes everything happens for a reason – even breast cancer. Join Joyce and her radiation oncologist, Chirag Shah, MD, as they talk about a special type of radiation treatment designed to treat Joyce’s breast cancer and protect her heart – and the pre-radiation testing that revealed another hidden cancer.

Al Sidoti, a 42-year-old plumber from Ohio, opted for a unique type of surgery to save his life after conventional treatments didn’t work in treating his bladder cancer. Doctors reconstructed Al’s bladder using tissue from his small intestine and he’s been cancer free for 5 years. Join Al and his surgeon, George Pascal Haber, MD, PhD, as they walk listeners through the robotic procedure that allowed him to continue living life to the fullest with a new wife and growing family.

Jennifer Buckland, a mother of two, knew battling breast cancer would be grueling. She was determined to protect her young family from one of the most visible signs of cancer treatment – hair loss. Join Jennifer and her oncologist, Jame Abraham, MD, and learn how she beat breast cancer while using an innovative device to keep her hair intact, preserve her identity and keep a sense of normalcy in her family’s daily life.