Episode 38

Health Uncensored with Dr. Drew

with Dr. Drew Pinsky and Susan Sabo-Wagner
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Health Uncensored with Dr. Drew

After our national spotlight on Health Uncensored with Dr. Drew Pinsky, we’re excited to share the full extended podcast version featuring bonus conversation with Dr. Drew you didn’t see on TV.

Darcie Wells, President & CEO of CanCare, joins Dr. Drew Pinsky on Health Uncensored and Susan Sabo Wagner, VP of Clinical Innovation at American Oncology Network (and a leukemia survivor), to show why emotional support isn’t extra—it's essential to cancer care. Listeners hear how CanCare’s survivor-to-patient matching, now powered by smart tech, brings calm, courage, and practical hope to patients and caregivers nationwide. SEO: emotional support for cancer, peer support, survivorship, American Oncology Network, young adult cancer.  

Susan shares her turning point—diagnosed with AML as a teen and treated with an autologous bone marrow transplant—underscoring why hope and connection matter at every stage. Darcie highlights rising diagnoses among younger adults and how whole-family support can steady spouses, kids, and grandparents when cancer collides with daily life.  

You’ll learn how peer support integrates with clinical care, why navigation and social needs (transportation, food security) affect outcomes, and how stories of long-term survivorship sustain belief on hard days. You’ll also hear how precision medicine changes treatment paths while human connection helps people endure them. The message is simple: you’re not alone, and a survivor can stand beside you—today.

Highlights:

00:00 – The power of human connection in cancer care
Darcie Wells opens with why no one should face cancer alone and how survivor support brings calm during chaos.

02:48 – How CanCare pairs patients with survivors who’ve been there
Learn how CanCare’s matching system works and why sharing lived experience makes emotional healing possible.

04:40 – Technology meets compassion: smarter survivor matching
Darcie explains how new tools and algorithms help CanCare connect patients with the right survivor faster.

05:40 – Building emotional support into oncology care
Susan Sabo Wagner shares how the American Oncology Network partners with CanCare to meet patients’ emotional needs alongside medical treatment.

06:36 – A leukemia survivor’s journey to leadership
Susan recounts being diagnosed with AML as a teen and how that experience shaped her mission to help others through innovation and empathy.

08:05 – Whole-family support: when cancer affects everyone
Darcie and Susan explore how caregivers, spouses, and children need guidance too—and why supporting them improves outcomes.

10:15 – “Having someone who understands is priceless”
Darcie reflects on the life-changing reassurance patients feel when talking to someone who’s walked the same road.

11:34 – Hope as powerful medicine
Darcie shares research showing patients with strong emotional support often experience better survival and recovery.

12:13 – Younger patients, more treatable cancers, new hope
Dr. Drew discusses how rising diagnoses in younger adults are met with advances in precision medicine and targeted treatments.

13:05 – Why connection matters more than ever
The conversation closes with a message that technology and science may guide treatment, but compassion carries people through it.

Mentioned Resources:

CanCare- www.cancare.org

Book – www.cancare.org/hopebook

About the Guest:  

Dr. Drew Pinsky is the host of Health Uncensored with Dr. Drew, where he brings medical insight and heartfelt conversation to today’s most important health topics. A board-certified physician and addiction specialist, Dr. Drew is known for making complex issues relatable and empowering audiences to take charge of their well-being.

Susan Sabo-Wagner is the Vice President of Clinical Innovation at American Oncology Network (AON) and a leukemia survivor.  With over 25 years in oncology care and leadership, she leads clinical strategy, program innovation, and partnerships that elevate patient outcomes nationwide. Her personal experience as a survivor fuels her commitment to advancing compassionate, equitable cancer care.

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Ep 45

One Man’s Breast Cancer Journey

with Rene Valdry
What does it look like when a man who is wired to strategize and stay in control faces a diagnosis he never expected? Male breast cancer is rarely discussed, yet it carries the same weight of fear, uncertainty, and identity shift as any cancer journey. In this thoughtful conversation, Rene Valdry shares what it was like to hear the words stage three breast cancer and begin navigating treatment while continuing to show up for work, family, and himself. Rene and Darcie explore the emotional reality men may struggle to express. They talk about the loss of control, the quiet anger, and the vulnerability of speaking the diagnosis out loud. They reflect on continuing to work during treatment, leaning on trusted friendships, and finding strength through support groups and shared experience. At its heart, this conversation centers on awareness, community, and the subtle ways cancer reshapes how a person listens, leads, and lives. His story is a reminder that even when life narrows to one step at a time, hope remains steady in connection and presence Highlights How noticing a subtle physical change during an ordinary workout led to a life-altering diagnosis Why male breast cancer often goes undetected and under-discussed What it means to surrender control when you are wired to strategize outcomes Hear how continuing to work during treatment created stability and purpose Discover the emotional complexity men may experience but struggle to express Learn why community, peer support, and shared experience change the cancer journey Mentioned Resources: CanCare- www.cancare.org Book – www.cancare.org/hopebook About the Guest: Rene Valdry is a male breast cancer survivor and advocate raising awareness about a disease most people don't realize affects men. Diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer in 2023 after noticing something unusual during a workout, his journey has deepened his faith and shaped his commitment to supporting others through cancer. Throughout treatment, Rene continued working while leaning on his faith, a support group, and his community. He describes a quiet intuition he's developed: the ability to recognize another cancer survivor before a word is spoken.
Ep 44

The Journey AFTER Cancer

with Marissa Henley
What does hope look like when a young mother hears the word cancer for the first time? Darcie Wells welcomes Marissa Henley, cancer survivor, author, speaker, and mother of three, to share her story of faith, fear, and long term healing after a rare cancer diagnosis. At age 34, Marissa was diagnosed with angiosarcoma, an aggressive and uncommon cancer, just one day before her birthday. With three small children at home, her world shifted instantly as she faced treatment decisions, uncertainty, and the weight of not knowing how much time she might have. Marissa shares the moment she discovered a lump, the shock of hearing a diagnosis she had never heard of, and the prayer that carried her through those early days. Her treatment led her to MD Anderson Cancer Center, where an unexpected clinical trial made continued chemotherapy possible. Through months of travel, separation from home, and intense care, she experienced both deep grief and unexpected peace. Now more than fifteen years cancer free, Marissa reflects on how her journey shaped her faith, motherhood, and calling to support others. Through writing and speaking, she offers honest encouragement for survivors, caregivers, and anyone walking through suffering. Her story is a reminder that while cancer changes everything, hope can still grow in the middle of it. Highlights: How Marissa navigated a rare cancer diagnosis while parenting three very young children What survivorship really feels like after treatment ends and the support fades Why specific help matters more than good intentions when loving someone with cancer How faith, grief, and joy can exist together during a cancer journey What it means to build a life after cancer without minimizing the loss that came before Shape Mentioned Resources: CanCare- www.cancare.org Book – www.cancare.org/hopebook Marissa Henley – www.marissahenley.com/ About the Guest: Marissa Henley is a cancer survivor, author, speaker, and spiritual leader. Diagnosed in 2010 with a rare cancer called angiosarcoma while raising three young children, her journey deepened her faith and shaped her passion for supporting others through difficult seasons. She is the author of Loving Your Friend Through Cancer and After Cancer: Thriving with Hope. Through her writing, speaking, and leadership in women’s ministries, Marissa offers honest reflections on grief, fear, and faith, helping women find hope and meaning beyond a cancer diagnosis.
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