Episodes

Dr. Stephanie Fries and Dr. Judy Tjoe sit down to examine what happens following a breast cancer diagnosis and how treatment decisions are tailored to each individual patient. They unpack how modern cancer medicine has moved away from a rigid, one-size-fits-all approach toward personalized care, explain how tumor biology and genomic testing guide choices around chemotherapy and endocrine therapy, and highlight the multidisciplinary teamwork and patient preferences that shape surgical options. “...

Dr. Tony Jaslowski and Dr. Edgar Badine sit down to examine the popular diets, detoxes, and natural remedies frequently marketed to cancer patients. They unpack why the physiological reality of the human body disproves viral trends like the alkaline diet and extreme fasting, explain why high-dose antioxidant supplements can inadvertently protect tumors from chemotherapy and radiation, and highlight the critical distinction between complementary supportive care and unproven alternative treatments...

A cancer diagnosis is an incredibly overwhelming experience, and it’s completely natural to search for hope, control and answers. It’s not hard to find claims of “miracle cures” and unproven therapies on social media and across the internet. While it’s understandable to want to explore every option, the viral nature of these testimonials can sometimes blur the line between supportive care and dangerous misinformation, leading people down paths that may do more harm than good. In this episode of...

Founding oncologist Dr. Paul Koch, second president Dr. Jules Blank, and current president Dr. David Groteluschen reflect on 50 years of Green Bay Oncology. They look back on the practice’s journey from a single physician working out of a hallway office in 1976 to a team of more than 90 employees caring for patients across 12 locations in Northeast Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula. From transporting chemotherapy in the trunks of cars to offering cutting-edge clinical trials, immunotherapies, a...

Oncologists Dr. Brian Burnette, Dr. Tony Jaslowski and Dr. Edgard Badine take an open, evidence-minded look at cannabis and cannabinoid use in cancer care. They explore what we know about potential benefits and risks, what we don’t know and why it’s important for patients and their care teams to talk openly about cannabis use during cancer treatment. The oncologists also explore COSMIC, an ongoing observational clinical trial following how people with cancer are using cannabis and cannabinoids ...

Every patient is like a puzzle box. And, just when you think you have things figured out, a new piece of the puzzle can emerge. In this episode of Cancer Covered, host Steve Slocum gets to know Dr. Stephanie Fries, a medical oncologist who joined Green Bay Oncology in the fall of 2025. Dr. Fries shares her journey into medicine, her “quarterback” approach to cancer care, and why treating patients in a tight-knit community setting offers a uniquely meaningful experience. She discusses how her tea...

If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer or a blood disorder, you’ll likely meet more than one provider throughout your care. In this episode of Cancer Covered, medical oncologist and hematologist Dr. Brian Burnette and nurse practitioner Megan Grimm, DNP, FNP-BC, AOCNP explain how physicians, advanced practice providers and the rest of the care team work together to deliver personalized, compassionate treatment. They discuss the difference between medical oncology and hematology, why nurse practiti...

When people hear the words palliative care, they often assume it means treatment has ended or that hospice is the next step. In this episode, Dr. David Groteluschen, Dr. Tony Jaslowski, and Dr. Alex Coffman explain what palliative care really means, why it can begin at any stage of cancer treatment and how managing symptoms like pain, fatigue, nausea and anxiety helps patients live better throughout their cancer journey. Together, they discuss how palliative care supports both patients and famil...

Cancer doctors spend their days caring for patients, but at home they’re also parents, teachers, mentors, and sometimes even karaoke singers. On this episode we sit down with a very special group, the children of several Green Bay Oncology physicians, to hear what it’s like growing up with a cancer doctor as a mom or dad. From favorite family traditions and funny quirks to lessons about perseverance, empathy and showing up for the people you love, these kids offer an honest and heartwarming look...

A cancer diagnosis affects more than just the patient. It impacts families, shapes relationships and can leave a lasting legacy for future generations. On this episode, Josh and Maggie Frank and medical oncologist Dr. Brian Burnette share the story of Josh’s mother, Patricia, and the choices she made throughout her breast cancer journey. They discuss the importance of patient autonomy, the role hospice played in helping Patricia spend her final weeks surrounded by family and how those experience...

Radiation treatment for cancer requires a team of people who are ready to help patients navigate side effects, recover fully, administer follow-up care and answer all the questions that come along the way. On this episode Taylor Stoffel, PA-C, MPAS and radiation oncologist Dr. Michael Guiou talk about how the radiation oncology team works together to support patients before, during and after treatment. They share the close communication that happens behind the scenes between physicians, physicia...

In this episode hematologist-oncologists Dr. Kamal Abbi and Dr. Brad Heraly invite Alan Frey to the studio to discuss how CAR T-cell therapy is changing the future of blood cancer treatment. Alan shares his deeply personal journey battling chronic lymphocytic leukemia, including the moment he realized traditional therapies were no longer working and how CAR T therapy ultimately gave him another chance at life. “Without CAR T, I wouldn’t be here. It gave me another chance.” — Alan Frey On this ...

In this episode of Cancer Covered, breast surgical oncologist Dr. Judy Tjoe and nurse practitioner Mikayla Petzke continue their conversation about what patients can expect after surgery and how team-based care helps patients feel supported every step of the way. They explain how preparation before surgery improves recovery afterward, how simple tools like support garments and heart-shaped pillows make a real difference and why ongoing follow-up care remains essential long after treatment ends. ...

Advanced practice providers play an essential role in helping patients move from diagnosis to treatment with clarity and support. In this episode of Cancer Covered, breast surgical oncologist Dr. Judy Tjoe and nurse practitioner Mikayla Petzke of Green Bay Oncology explain how they work together to guide patients through the early stages of a breast cancer diagnosis and surgical decision-making, helping patients understand their options, process complex information and feel supported from the fi...

Chemotherapy is one of the most recognized and most feared cancer treatments. In this episode of Cancer Covered, Dr. Edgard Badine, Dr. Kamal Abbi, and Dr. Matthew Ryan of Green Bay Oncology unpack one of the most common concerns patients share after a diagnosis: is chemotherapy worse than the cancer itself? Together, they explain how modern chemotherapy has changed, why supportive care has dramatically improved the patient experience, and how treatment decisions today are highly personalized to...

Dr. Edgard Badine, Dr. Kamal Abbi and Dr. Matthew Ryan of Green Bay Oncology unpack one of the most common fears patients face after a cancer diagnosis: Is this a death sentence? The physicians discuss why that perception still lingers and how advances in screening, treatment and supportive care have changed what a cancer diagnosis often means today. They also explain how oncologists guide patients through the uncertainty of early visits and why reframing the conversation from fear of death to u...

Dr. Fred Appelbaum, Executive Vice President of Fred Hutch Cancer Center, joins Green Bay Oncology physicians Dr. Brian Burnette, Dr. Kamal Abbi, and Dr. Evan Wenig, along with Dr. Brian Merkel, Professor and Chair of Human Biology at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, to reflect on one of the earliest eras of bone marrow transplantation through the eyes of both patient and physician. Dr. Merkel recounts his leukemia diagnosis at age 18, the reality of informed consent, and the life-or-death...

Dr. Fred Appelbaum, Executive Vice President of Fred Hutch Cancer Center, joins Green Bay Oncology physicians Dr. Brian Burnette, Dr. Kamal Abbi, and Dr. Evan Wenig, along with Dr. Brian Merkel, Professor and Chair of Human Biology at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. Together, they discuss how the patient experience of leukemia treatment has changed—and where it’s headed. From the psychological toll of isolation to the groundbreaking role of artificial intelligence in drug design, this con...

Dr. Fred Appelbaum, Executive Vice President of Fred Hutch Cancer Center, joins Green Bay Oncology physicians Dr. Brian Burnette, Dr. Kamal Abbi, and Dr. Evan Wenig, along with Dr. Brian Merkel, Professor and Chair of Human Biology at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, to reflect on the bold and uncertain early days of stem cell transplantation and how that work reshaped the treatment of leukemia. From experimental procedures in the 1970s to today’s highly refined transplant and cellular the...

Medical oncologist and hematologist Dr. Harsha Poola discusses his journey from a small town in southern India to joining Green Bay Oncology. He shares how witnessing his parents’ dedication to their patients and his own family’s experience with a cancer diagnosis shaped his holistic, patient-centered approach to medicine. “I strongly believe that the paternalistic approach to medicine is no longer valid. The days of a doctor telling you what to do and what not to do are not entirely appropriat...

Medical oncologists Dr. Brian Burnette and Dr. Kamal Abbi discuss how to bridge the gap between finishing treatment and finding a new normal. They dive into the overlooked complexities of survivorship, exploring how the end of clinical care often marks the beginning of a different, more personal battle with anxiety, physical recovery, and the shifting identity of life after a diagnosis. “We can sometimes get people to that spot where they don’t actually look at cancer as having been a bad thing...

Social worker Tom Bekkers joins oncologists Dr. David Groteluschen and Dr. Michael Guiou to peel back the curtain on the emotional weight of cancer care. They explore how the care team supports not only the patients and their families, but also one another, through the most difficult moments of the journey. “Acknowledging that…it takes a special person to work with patients day in and day out… making that an open time or giving them the free time to come and talk… It’s okay to come and share it...

A cancer diagnosis is more than physical; it requires sufficient nourishment to support the body through treatment and recovery. In this episode, Clinical Dietician Maddi Mleziva joins Oncologist Dr. David Groteluschen to discuss the alarming rate of food insecurity among cancer patients and the collaborative strategies the care team uses to ensure access to vital nutrition. “ Your calorie needs increase pretty significantly with treatment, and that goes in part with the cachexia. Your cells ar...

A cancer diagnosis is more than physical; it touches every part of a patient’s life. In this vital episode of Cancer Covered, social worker Tom Bekkers joins oncologists Dr. David Groteluschen and Dr. Michael Guiou to discuss the indispensable role of social work in providing comprehensive support for patients and families navigating the emotional, practical, and financial challenges of cancer care. “We address the emotional and psychosocial aspects… Just trying to help give them a chance to fe...