Welcome to Season 4 of Tumor Minutes, where we shift our focus to the most complex organ in the human body: the brain.

After a short break due to technical difficulties, we’re back and diving into a brand-new theme: brain diseases. This season will explore conditions that affect memory, movement, cognition, and identity, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, strokes, and more.

In this first episode, we focus on Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia worldwide. We break down what Alzheimer’s actually is, how it differs from dementia, and what is happening inside the brain as the disease progresses. From the breakdown of memory formation in the hippocampus to the buildup of amyloid plaques and tau tangles, we explore how this condition slowly changes the brain over time.

We also discuss current treatments, ongoing research, and why understanding Alzheimer’s is crucial for the future of neuroscience and medicine.

This is the beginning of a new season, and a deeper look into how the brain shapes who we are.

Lobotomies. The medical procedure that somehow went from “this might help” to “why did we ever think this was okay?”

In this episode of Tumor Minutes, we break down one of the most controversial treatments in medical history. From Nobel Prize-winning beginnings with Egas Moniz to the cross-country “lobotomobile” era of Walter Freeman, this episode covers how lobotomies became popular and why they ultimately failed.

We also talk about real patient outcomes, including the tragic case of Rosemary Kennedy, and explore the ethical questions this chapter of medicine raises.

It is part history lesson, part reality check, and a reminder that “doing something” is not always better than doing nothing.

What happens when there is no time to wait?

In this episode of Tumor Minutes, we dive into the fast-paced, high-stakes world of emergency surgery. From the moment a patient enters the emergency room, medical teams must make rapid decisions under pressure, often with incomplete information. This episode explains how doctors assess urgency, stabilize patients, and determine whether immediate surgery is necessary.

We also explore what happens inside the operating room, why emergency surgeries are often more complex and unpredictable than planned procedures, and how recovery can vary depending on the situation. Since this is Tumor Minutes, we also highlight how tumors can lead to sudden complications that require urgent surgical intervention.

With a mix of clear explanations and a touch of humor, this episode helps you understand not just the “what,” but the “why” behind emergency surgery—and why paying attention to your body’s warning signs matters more than you think.

In this episode of Tumor Minutes, we dive into one of the most unconventional procedures in medicine: the osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis, more commonly known as “tooth in eye” surgery.

Used as a last-resort treatment for severe corneal blindness, this multi-stage procedure involves removing a patient’s tooth, embedding a lens inside it, temporarily implanting it in the cheek to develop a blood supply, and eventually placing it into the eye to restore vision.

Through a mix of humor and clear explanations, this episode explores how and why this surgery works, who it’s for, and what it reveals about the creativity of modern medicine. While it may sound unbelievable, this procedure has helped restore functional vision to patients who had no other options.

As always, Tumor Minutes keeps things informative, accessible, and just a little sarcastic—because sometimes the weirdest science is the most impactful.

Can you live with half a brain?

No, this is not an insult. It’s a real medical question.

In this episode of Tumor Minutes, Netra dives into hemispherectomy, a procedure where doctors remove or disconnect one half of the brain. It sounds like something that should absolutely not work… and yet, it does.

Used mainly for severe, drug-resistant epilepsy and sometimes for major brain tumors, this surgery can stop hundreds of seizures a day and completely change a patient’s life.

The episode covers:

• Why doctors would even consider this
• What actually happens during surgery
• How the brain somehow figures things out afterward

Spoiler: your brain is doing a lot more teamwork behind the scenes than you think.

If you’ve ever complained about being “half asleep” during class, just know… your brain could technically do a lot more with a lot less.

Sweating is normal. It keeps your body cool and helps regulate temperature. But what happens when your body sweats far more than it needs to?

In this episode of Tumor Minutes, Netra explores Hyperhidrosis, a condition that causes excessive sweating even when the body does not need to cool down. For people with severe hyperhidrosis, everyday things like shaking hands, holding a pencil, or using a phone can become surprisingly difficult.

The episode focuses on Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy, a procedure that targets part of the Sympathetic Nervous System responsible for triggering sweat glands. By interrupting these nerve signals, surgeons can dramatically reduce sweating in certain areas of the body.

Netra explains how the surgery works, why doctors usually try other treatments first, and what patients may experience after the procedure. Along the way, she breaks down complex medical concepts into simple explanations and adds a few light jokes about the human body’s very enthusiastic cooling system.

If you have ever wondered why we sweat, how the nervous system controls it, or how surgery can change nerve signals, this episode answers those questions in a clear, engaging, and approachable way.

Plastic surgery is everywhere, but no one talks about it honestly. In this episode, Netra explains what plastic surgery actually involves, from reconstructive to cosmetic procedures, and what the experience is really like. The episode also dives into the pressure celebrities face, including the Kardashians and Korean idols, who are judged both for getting surgery and for not getting it. If you have ever wondered how it works or why society cares so much, this episode answers all your questions with a mix of science, honesty, and humor.

Eye surgery sounds terrifying.
But what actually happens when doctors operate on something the size of a marble?

In this episode of Tumor Minutes, we break down the science behind eye surgery, from common procedures like cataract surgery and LASIK to delicate retinal operations that take place within millimeters. You will learn how surgeons use lasers, microscopes, and incredibly precise tools to restore vision safely and effectively.

We also explore how eye surgery plays a critical role in treating cancers like Retinoblastoma and Uveal Melanoma, and why early detection can make all the difference.

If the idea of anything going near your eye makes you blink aggressively, this episode is for you.