Episodes

How a positive attitude and biomarkers can guide your journey Hosts: Hildy Grossman with Jordan Rich Guests: Jill Feldman and Ivy Elkins with Dann Wonser, EGFR survivors Two of our other Podcasts have emphasized how important it is to get your tumor tested for biomarkers. We focused on one specific biomarker, EGFR, with two outstanding guests who were both diagnosed with lung cancer and had this mutation. Jill Feldman and Ivy Elkins, of the EGFR Resisters advocacy group return to share more a...

Jill Feldman and Ivy Elkins Hosts: Hildy Grossman with Jordan Rich Guests: Jill Feldman and Ivy Elkins Two outstanding and determined women share how their lung cancer diagnosis, along with the ability to detect a particular biomarker, EGFR, has had a significant effect on the course of their lives. Biomarkers indicate alterations in your DNA that may drive a tumor. Using biomarker testing, it’s possible to refine diagnostic information to help select treatments to target directly that altera...

HOST: HILDY GROSSMAN CO-HOST: JORDAN RICH GUESTS: Jacob Sands, MD, and Catherine Meador, MD, Ph.D. Small cell lung Cancer (SCLC) is often called the smoker’s lung cancer, since it is most often diagnosed in heavy smokers. While this type of lung cancer is less prevalent than non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), it’s more aggressive. Two dedicated and experienced physicians who specialize in treating lung cancer, Dr. Jacob Sands and Dr. Catherine Meador, offer their fascinating insights about t...

Host: Hildy Grossman Co-Host: Jordan Rich Guests: Jane Wilkinson, Tarek Fadel, Jesse Kirkpatrick, Christina Cabana Imagine the scene of a murder. Detectives are called in to figure out how to solve the case. Sherlock Holmes was created by Sir Arthur Canon Doyle. Holmes was the most famous mastermind detective, whose powers of observation led him to uncover clues and evidence that others would miss. Upstage Lung Cancer’s mission is to support research that develops innovative techniques to find...

Conversation with Survivors/Advocates, Physician and Researchers. Clinical trials are research studies aimed at evaluating a medical, surgical, or behavioral interventions. They are the primary way researchers find out if a new treatment, such as a new drug, is safe, effective and works best in certain groups of people. Our outstanding guests discuss the information and misinformation about clinical trials. Two courageous and inspiring women, Diane Legg and Linnea Olson, share their lung cancer ...

Survivors, Advocates, Performers & Scientists Talk Lung Cancer Host: Hildy Grossman with Jordan Rich, co-host and guest Guests: Bonnie Addario, cofounder and board chair of GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer; Jacob Sands, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Nian X. Sun, Ph.D., Northeastern University; John Berman, musician, Sao Paulo, Brazil Our podcast is a tête-à-tête that took place following Upstage Lung Cancer’s April, 2021 concert, “It’s a Small World, Right?” Performers, advocates, lung canc...

Facing Curve Balls in Times of Illness Emcee: Hildy Grossman Co-Host: Jordan Rich Guests: Ilyse Robbins, Director, Choreographer, Actor, Associate Artistic Director for Greater Boston Stage Company; John King, Deputy Manager–Hudson Theater, NYC, Actor; Leigh Barrett, Actor, Singer, Director Upstage Lung Cancer is unique in that we are the only lung cancer advocacy organization that uses music and the performing arts to accomplish our mission to create awareness and support early detection of ...

What are biomarkers, and why are they important? Host: Hildy Grossman with Jordan Rich, co-host Guests: Jill Feldman, Lung Cancer Patient and Activist and Jo Ellen Murphy, PhD, Medical Science Liaison, Foundation Medicine This podcast suggests that listening to our guests could save your life. Our first guest, Jill Feldman, discusses how, when she was 13 years old, she lost her father and two grandparents to lung cancer within months of each other. Fourteen years later, her mom and beloved au...

The focus of this episode is to raise awareness and inform the public that young people get lung cancer, too. It’s not just a disease of old people. It’s not a disease tied specifically to smokers. Corey Wood, a college student, marathon runner, and successful mountain climber was diagnosed with advanced stage lung cancer at 22, with an unusual symptom. She discusses her experience and shows the fortitude of a remarkable young person with lung cancer. A brief description by Dr. Barbara Gitlitz d...

This podcast celebrates the lives of musicians, composers, lyricists and actors who faced lung cancer. Ron Della Chiesa is our distinguished guest. He’s a member of the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame, the voice of the Boston Symphony Orchestra broadcasts, host of the popular radio show, Simply Sinatra and author of “Radio My Way”. Both Ron and Jordan are well known raconteurs, and their remembrances and witty conversation enrich the celebration of the lives and works of some of our most...

On today’s episode of “Backstage@Upstage,” Hildy talks about the impact of big pharma on lung cancer treatment and health care in general, and the misconceptions that many have about the industry. Joining her are Cheryl Davis, founder of Red Thread Solutions, helping patients better navigate their way through the medical system, caregiver Christie Leonard, mother of five, who relates a moving, personal story of patient advocacy for her late husband, and former pharmaceutical company executive Ga...

Hildy welcomes former NFL star and longtime Upstage Lung Cancer supporter Chris Draft to the podcast. The Chris Draft Family Foundation, empowering families to lead healthy lifestyles, is inspired by Chris’s late wife Keasha who creatively faced lung cancer, showing us all that with every breath we need to hold onto life. Hildy and Chris discuss the stigmas associated with lung cancer, prevention, the attention to smoking and more. To learn more, visit upstagelungcancer.org.

Upstage Lung Cancer uses the performing arts to raise awareness and funding for lung cancer research. In this premier “Backstage@Upstage” podcast episode, host Hildy Grossman welcomes three friends from the world of media and entertainment who have teamed up with her to help raise much needed money for cancer research. Nationally renowned film and theatre critic Joyce Kulhawik, vocalist and award-winning podcaster Candy O’Terry and Boston radio personality Jordan Rich join Hildy, sharing inspiri...

This podcast is an interview format with guests to talk about Entertainment, Medicine, Thrivers and Survivors of lung cancer. Broader topics include how to cope with adversity, strategies to optimize life, lung cancer in the family, misconceptions about big pharma, how to help when you feel helpless, stigma, why research is important, and personal rewards from being an entertainer. To learn more, visit upstagelungcancer.org.