In this episode, we follow the story of Mr. Patel, who underwent life-changing surgery after an oral cancer diagnosis that affected his tongue. Mr. Patel offers an unfiltered look at his recovery and reflects on how stigma shaped his experience with diagnosis and healing. Alongside him, we hear from Dr. Christopher Yao, a head and neck reconstructive surgeon advancing innovations in cancer care and reconstruction, and Dr. Rosemary Martino, a speech-language pathologist and researcher leading new approaches to swallowing recovery and rehabilitation for patients like Mr. Patel.

Thank you to our production team: Vicky Li (Audio Engineer), Areej Mir (Social Media), and Noor Al Kaabi (Show Host and Executive Producer)

Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University Health Network

UHN Otolaryngology Instagram

Swallowing Lab

In this episode, Noor sits down with Dr. Tony Eskander, head and neck surgeon and scientist at the University of Toronto, to unpack the evolving landscape of head and neck cancers. Once primarily associated with smoking and alcohol, these cancers are increasingly linked to HPV, particularly in younger patients, a shift that’s reshaping how we think about risk, equity, and prevention.

Dr. Eskander breaks down the various kinds of head and neck cancers, from oral cavity to nasopharyngeal cancers, and highlights how different populations are disproportionately affected. Tune in for the first episode of our Head & Neck Cancer series.

Production Team: Noor Al Kaabi (Show Host and Executive Producer), Vicky Li (Audio Engineer), Areej Mir (Promotions)

Eskander Lab

The idea of a vaccine against cancer may seem like science fiction, but in the case of HPV vaccines, it is a reality that has existed for over a decade. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common type of sexually transmitted infection and can cause 6 different types of cancer, affecting people of all genders. HPV vaccination programs have been implemented in many countries worldwide in an effort to reduce cancer incidence, with some very newsworthy results. In this episode, hosts Braeden and Hannah describe a population study that made headlines in 2024 for reporting zero cases of cervical cancer in women vaccinated as part of Scotland's national vaccination program that began in 2008. To learn more about HPV vaccines in the Canadian context, Braeden and Hannah interview Dr. Nancy Durand, associate professor at the University of Toronto and specialist in HPV-related diseases. Dr. Durand reviews the link between HPV and cancer and the history of the HPV vaccine. She discusses HPV vaccination programs in Canada, barriers to vaccine uptake, and the strategies being implemented to increase vaccine coverage across the country. Tune in to hear about the remarkable impact of the HPV vaccine and the ongoing effort to eliminate HPV-related diseases.