1 Intro and Who Is Dr. Stegall.mp3: Audio automatically transcribed by Sonix
1 Intro and Who Is Dr. Stegall.mp3: this mp3 audio file was automatically transcribed by Sonix with the best speech-to-text algorithms. This transcript may contain errors.
Speaker1:
Welcome to the Cancer Secrets podcast. Changing the Cancer Paradigm. Hosted by Dr. Jonathan Steagall, a medical doctor and cancer specialist practicing in Atlanta, Georgia, deeply affected by his grandmother's death from stomach cancer, as well as patients he cared for in medical training, he realized there has to be a better way to treat cancer. Dr. Stegall has a unique and innovative approach to treating cancer called integrative oncology, combining modern medicine with alternative therapies personalized to each patient. This podcast is designed to educate, support and give you a positive voice you can trust. We invite you to join us on this journey as we seek to change the cancer paradigm.
Speaker2:
Welcome to the Cancer Secrets podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Jonathan Stegall. And in today's introductory episode, we're going to get to know one another. Learn more about what cancer is and explore ways we can treat it better. I want to start our episode today by telling you more about who I am. I'm a medical doctor and a cancer specialist practicing in Atlanta, Georgia. I have a unique and innovative approach to treating cancer known as integrative oncology. It is a medical specialty which combines modern medicine with alternative therapies. This best of both worlds approach utilizes a science based approach to treatment, using any and all tools available to us to personalize as much as possible to each patient. I became interested in cancer as a young boy when my grandmother was diagnosed with stomach cancer. I was only five years old and she was the first person I ever knew with cancer. I remember my mom, who was a doctor, explaining to me that grandma had cancer and that the tumor was making her sick and that she would be having chemotherapy and radiation for treatment. When my mom went to buy a wig for Grandma, she also bought me a wig so we could wear our wigs together. Grandma's a tasteful brown one and mine a multicolored clown wig. Over the months that followed, I saw my grandma endure nausea, vomiting and weight loss. Her health gradually declined and she passed away.
Speaker2:
I never forgot the effect cancer had on my grandmother, as well as on my mom and our entire family. Years later, when I was a medical student, I realized that I was drawn to cancer patients. I enjoyed getting to know them and their families well. In my post-graduate training, working on the oncology unit of the hospital, I was heavily involved in treating a wide variety of cancers. In each case, I saw some patients who did well with their treatments. They had good outcomes. More commonly, however, I saw patients who did poorly. Some died as a result of their cancer, while others died due to side effects from the harsh treatments they received. One patient in particular really made an impact on me. She was 30 years old and had a wonderful attitude, despite her disease greatly affecting her life in the process of caring for her. I met a cute nurse who eventually became my wife. She and I commented to each other that there has to be a better way to treat cancer. Sadly, we saw this patient gradually decline and then pass away despite her best efforts. I've made it my mission since then to improve the way we treat cancer. The result is integrative oncology. For me, cancer is a calling. I feel glad to be a cancer specialist and to do my best to not only help patients on a physical level, but on an emotional and spiritual level as well.
Speaker2:
Through this podcast, I will share the results of my many years of education, training and research. I feel that I have a wonderful, life changing collection of information to share, and a podcast is an ideal way to disseminate that information to the masses. Now I would like to tell you more about my background and training. I was born in Greenville, South Carolina, to two wonderful parents. My birth story is important because I was not supposed to survive. I was born nearly three months prematurely and weighed just £1 and 14 ounces. Miraculously, I survived. I went home from the hospital after spending the first two and a half months of my life in the neonatal intensive care unit. I was reminded by my parents on a regular basis that I was put on Earth for a significant reason. They instilled a sense of purpose and self confidence in me that I so appreciate. It is why I dream big and refuse to put limits on myself or my patients. I have a bachelor's degree from Clemson University and as an undergraduate I was actually a business major with no intention of becoming a physician. However, as I reflected more on my life and my purpose for being here, I realized that I was meant to be a physician. However, I knew that I needed additional science courses prior to medical school.
Speaker2:
So I obtained a master's degree from Georgetown University, and during this master's program in physiology, I took courses in complementary and alternative medicine. This was of particular interest to me because my mom was an integrative physician many years before it became popular. She raised me on good nutrition, supplementation and healthy lifestyle. The opportunity to learn more about herbs, dietary supplements and nutrition along with physiology and biochemistry was one that I could not pass up. I spent a summer as a research intern at Harvard Medical School, and while there, our research, the doctor patient relationship and how it impacts the response to treatment. Not surprisingly, patients who have a strong relationship with their doctor tend to have better outcomes. Following my internship, I began medical school at the Medical University of South Carolina. These years taught me a lot not only about the human body and disease, but also about myself. I relied heavily on my family and my belief in myself to overcome significant obstacles during this time. After graduating from medical school, I moved to Connecticut, where I completed residency in internal medicine through the Yale University School of Medicine. I wanted to further specialize in cancer treatment, so I subsequently completed a fellowship in integrative oncology through the Metabolic Medical Institute affiliated with the University of South Florida. However, my education didn't end there. I'm a big believer in the importance of being a lifelong learner.
Speaker2:
I not only attend conferences and trainings regularly, but also read and study a great deal on my own. However, the greatest learning opportunities come from my patients. I am grateful for all that they teach me. Many times without even realizing it. Let's spend some time talking about cancer. The term cancer is actually used to categorize a collection of over 100 diseases. When most people think about cancer, they think of a tumor. But cancer is best thought of on a cellular level. The body has over 40 trillion cells, and some estimates put that number at 100 trillion. These cells all carry on a variety of functions, and over time, these cells can wear down when a cell becomes compromised as a result of normal wear and tear, as well as environmental stressors and triggers. It has two options The cell can either die or it can mutate in order to stay alive. This mutation is what we know is cancer. And when a normal cell becomes cancerous, it develops characteristics we refer to as the hallmarks of cancer. These hallmarks include rapid growth, the ability to invade other structures, and even the ability to form arteries and veins to supply itself. Nutrients and growth factors. Cancer is not a new problem. Mummies from ancient Egypt revealed the presence of tumors. However, cancer is largely a manmade disease.
Speaker2:
As recently as 1900, cancer was relatively uncommon. Sadly, an increasingly polluted environment with a decline in the quality of our air, water and soil has created a staggering number of toxins and pollutants for our bodies to withstand. It is no surprise that the incidence of cancer has increased significantly over the last 100 plus years. The lifetime risk of developing cancer is now one in two for men and one in three for women. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, and many experts predict that it will soon be number one. Sadly, the cancer epidemic has occurred despite billions of dollars spent on cancer research. In 1971, Richard Nixon declared war on cancer with the intent of finding a cure. Nearly 50 years later, we are no closer to finding a cure. My belief is that we are looking in the wrong places. Patients come to me for one of two reasons. The first is that they have tried a purely conventional approach to cancer treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, and they still have cancer. Perhaps those treatments did not work for them, or they experienced significant side effects from therapy. The second reason patients come to see me is they know that there are other valuable treatments out there. They feel that nutrition supplementation, stress reduction and a variety of other therapies alternative, natural, holistic or whatever you want to call them, have value.
Speaker2:
In integrative oncology. We are open to all of these treatments, but we also require a scientific basis for any treatment that we use. I refer to this approach as open minded skepticism. This approach is lacking in so many health care providers today. When we expand our horizons and show a willingness to use a variety of therapies and treatment modalities, we will have better results. I know because I see them in my office every day. The trick is not to avoid proven therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, but to use them more intelligently and combine them with supportive, natural and alternative treatments in the process. And of course, we do this in a very personalized way, tailored to each patient and his or her own unique health history and treatment goals. In conclusion, I am very excited to have you join me on this journey in future episodes of this podcast. We will be delving deeper into what cancer is, how we can better prevent it, and how we can more effectively treat it. We've all been impacted by cancer, whether as a patient or a patient's loved one. My goal is to give you the tools and resources so that your life, as well as the lives of those around you is enriched. We can improve the dismal statistics on cancer, and I truly believe we will. Until next time. This is Dr. Stegall.
Speaker1:
Thank you for listening to the Cancer Secrets podcast. If you were encouraged by this show, please share it with a loved one or friend. Help support the show by leaving us a rating and review on iTunes. The more reviews, the more friends like you can find the show. Finally, to learn more, visit us online at Doctor Stay Google.com. The Cancer Secrets Podcast. Changing the Cancer Paradigm.
Sonix is the world’s most advanced automated transcription, translation, and subtitling platform. Fast, accurate, and affordable.
Automatically convert your mp3 files to text (txt file), Microsoft Word (docx file), and SubRip Subtitle (srt file) in minutes.
Sonix has many features that you’d love including advanced search, automated subtitles, upload many different filetypes, automatic transcription software, and easily transcribe your Zoom meetings. Try Sonix for free today.