Caregivers carry cancer care far beyond the hospital walls. We sit down with Dr. Christian Capitini, acting director of the UW Carbone Cancer Center, to explore the unseen work families do—learning medical language on the fly, managing beeping pumps at 2 a.m., navigating insurance snags, and keeping life moving for kids and adults facing treatment. Our conversation pulls back the curtain on what a comprehensive cancer center actually does across prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and survivorship—and why earning an “outstanding” federal rating changes what’s possible for patients.

We dig into a vivid example from pediatric leukemia: transforming a month-long, 24/7 infusion into a safe, portable pump program so kids can go to school and sleep in their own beds. That pivot required meticulous protocols, caregiver training, reliable equipment, and clear after-hours pathways. We also talk frankly about the barriers families face—long rural drives that turn an hour visit into a day lost, limited rideshare access, and the mental load that doesn’t fit into a standard appointment. The fix isn’t heroic individualism; it’s teams. Social workers, nurse navigators, and case managers become the scaffolding that keeps home care stable, and a simple question—“Are you okay?”—can change the course of a caregiver’s week.

On the science side, Dr. Capitini traces how immunotherapy moved from pipe dream to standard care, including a landmark neuroblastoma trial that boosted survival by 20% and helped draw him to Wisconsin. We highlight the translational engine at Carbone, where engineering, nursing, pharmacy, and the veterinary school collaborate on next-generation treatments like natural killer cell therapies tested in canine cancers to accelerate learning and inform human trials. Along the way, we touch on the healing power of well-timed humor and the importance of inviting the public to see research up close.

Subscribe, share this episode with someone who supports a loved one through cancer, and leave a review to help more caregivers find practical tools and hope.

Dr. Monica Patel, medical oncologist at UW Health, shares her expertise on clinical trials in cancer care and the importance of ensuring equitable access for all communities. She challenges common misconceptions while providing practical guidance for patients considering clinical trials as part of their treatment journey.

• Clinical trials test new ways to prevent, find, and treat cancer, ensuring treatments are safe and effective
• Most clinical trials are available as first-line treatments, not just as a last resort
• Participation is completely voluntary, and patients can leave a study at any time
• Provider bias, system barriers, and patient concerns all contribute to inequitable access
• Building trust requires education and engagement with communities historically excluded from research
• Research teams provide additional support through the entire clinical trial process
• Diverse representation in trials ensures new treatments work effectively for everyone
• Patients should ask about risks, benefits, and how trials compare to standard care
• Family members can provide valuable support in navigating complex trial information

If you have questions about cancer clinical trials, ask your doctors about available options, even if they don't bring them up first. For more information, visit uwhealth.org/cancertrials or clinicaltrials.gov.

What happens when the person designing cancer treatment technology suddenly becomes the patient? In this powerful episode, software engineer Michael Wilson shares his journey from coding radiotherapy machines to battling stage 3 melanoma. He explains cancer in simple terms, reveals how immunotherapy and radiation work, and talks openly about his family’s experiences with leukemia and melanoma. Michael also discusses genetic screening, rare diagnoses, and the importance of prevention and support networks like Gilda’s Club. This is an honest, hopeful, and surprisingly relatable look at life, technology, and resilience.

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