Morning Medical Update

Removing part of his tongue and then rebuilding a new one! The warning signs that helped this firefighter catch oral cancer early, plus the techniques that help him speak again.

Robin Love's breast cancer had no FDA-approved treatment. 17 years later, she says access to a clinical trial saved her life. How an innovative treatment and a doctor-slash-scientist got robin from diagnosis to survivorship.

Scott Seetin was one step away from donating a kidney, then he found he needed a transplant just as urgently. The second chance that Scott calls his "second life" and using art to pay it forward.

From genetic testing to weight loss and even vaccines, the best way to fight cancer is to prevent it in the first place. Hear what physicians and researchers are doing to keep cancer rates trending down.

New season, new stadium, new healthcare provider! What does it mean to care for the Kansas City Current? Meet the doctors helping make right now the best time to be a female athlete.

It looks strange, but doctors say this is the best way to measure your metabolism. The bubble measures resting metabolic rate that helps you reach nutrition, weight loss, and overall health goals. Plus, the specific benefit for female athletes.

Emma stiles knows what it takes to compete, but when the collegiate diver switched sports, her body needed to switch too. How this athlete found the knowledge and support she needed to stay competitive on the national stage.

Psychedelic drugs could revolutionize psychiatry when they're in the right hands. Shaking off the "party drug" stereotype. How psychedelics can change brains for the better.

A breast cancer diagnosis couldn't shake Lisa Weatherspoon’s faith. Hear why she wanted to avoid chemo at all costs. How she balances her faith with hope and science.

Hearing aids down the hatch, and they didn't come out on their own! The mixup that sent one woman into emergency surgery. Where the hearing aids got stuck and what else she swallowed besides her pills!

When you train like a pro, you play like a pro. Meet a college football player bouncing back from a core muscle injury. The special surgery and the rigorous exercise that has him recovering from an often-misunderstood problem.

It's tough to talk about Alzheimer's, but we shouldn't shy away from such important conversations. We hear from a caregiver, and get and update on the newest Alzheimer's drugs.

Stroke care is improving. But can it keep up with the aging population? The growing burden of stroke. See the enormous impact on caretakers and what needs to improve to better care for baby boomers.

4 years into the COVID Pandemic and this shared traumatic experience has changed us. The deaths, the division and the uncertainty are still taking a toll mental health. Experts call it a collective trauma facing society.

Countless creams, gels and drugs promise to reverse the effects of menopause. Now doctors have a laser in their toolbox the five-minute treatment promising less dryness and pain.

Oncologists are calling it an epidemic people in their 20s and 30s, getting colon cancer. No one knows exactly why. The first warning signs that tipped off one survivor plus when it makes sense to request a colonoscopy.

Caffeine is a drug and whether we admit it or not, most Americans are addicted. How does your coffee habit impact your gut your heart and your sleep? Plus, the deadly effects of concentrated caffeine.

Carpal tunnel syndrome, leave it for too long, and it can lead to permanent damage, but several new surgical techniques offer relief. See how ultrasound leads to less pain, faster recovery and allows patients to stay awake and watch surgeons do the work.

Priscilla Brittine's DNA predicted her chances of getting cancer and it wasn't good. So, she took action, before ever getting a diagnosis. The decision to remove her breasts and stomach. And the dire story her genetics foretold.

A farm accident cost Conor Cox his hand. But "bionic" technology is letting him drive his tractor, feed his cows, and provide for his family again. We look at the special surgery that lets Conor’s own muscles communicate with his bionic hand.

It's one thing to find a tumor. Fully understanding it is another. When Allison Lackey got a second opinion, that understanding completely changed her treatment. The importance of pathology, where subtle distinctions can mean the difference between life and death.

Mila Ellsworth had two different types of cancer in a single breast and understanding the nuance meant everything for her treatment. How genetic testing guided treatment. Plus, how her great fitness limited her options for breast reconstruction. 

Micah Rainey watched his dad endure leukemia until Micah learned he could be part of the cure. What the high schooler had to sacrifice to make a life-saving donation. Visit our website, www.kansashealthsystem.com or findadoctor.kansashealthsystem.com.

Vaping can hurt your lungs, your blood vessels, even your stress levels and too many teens don't appreciate the risks. Meet researchers who see the first-hand effects of vaping and hear what it's like to be addicted.

More people than ever are surviving pancreatic cancer, but it remains one of the most challenging cancers to diagnose and treat. We learn what helped one survivor beat the odds.

Grace Lindsey never stopped searching for a solution to her seizures... until she found a team of specialists. The surgical solution offered by doctors... and the methods used to pinpoint the source of her seizures.

Happy Red Friday! We are dedicating today's program to the Kansas City Chiefs and the staff at The University of Kansas Health System keeping the players and all of Chiefs Kingdom in good health.

Waiting for a new kidney sapped Amy Reinhardt's energy, but it never shook the 27-year-old's faith. How Amy connected to a community of patients just like her and learned to endure life on the transplant list.

Head and neck cancers are on the rise, and doctors often know it's there, even if they can't see a tumor. This morning, we look at how oncologists decide between starting treatment, or searching for the cancer's source.

Courtney Walker was trying to cherish everyday despite looming kidney failure. See how a social media post finally helped convince an acquaintance to step up and be a donor.

A change of body requires a change of mind. Meet one woman who lost hundreds of extra pounds, but had to gain mental fortitude to keep the weight off.

When Anne Holzbeierlein learned she had leukemia, she had a great ally in her corner, in more ways than one. Her son Jeff is an accomplished oncologist here at the University of Kansas Health System. But even he ended up getting some guidance from his colleagues. Today we're learning how Anne got the life-saving treatment she needed, even if her bone marrow donor wasn't a 100 percent match.

Arctic air, plunging the Midwest into freezing temperatures. How to stay safe during this dangerous cold snap, especially for the football diehards bundling up for Arrowhead.

Cervical cancer, a silent threat that often goes unnoticed until it's too late. One survivor and her doctor describe the early warning signs, and the plan to put her into remission.

Gifts, guests, family, and food. There's a lot on our minds during the holidays. Sometimes we forget about that dry tree or dirty chimney. Easy tips for holiday safety from the experts who see the consequences of a carefree Christmas.

Gary gray was too sick to keep his job, so why wasn't he sick enough to get a liver from the national transplant list? The complicated rules that forced Gary to fly 1000 miles for care.

When Eric Moore was diagnosed with lymphoma and needed a stem cell transplant, he had no idea the man who would ultimately save his life… was his long-lost brother.

Working the bag, breaking a sweat, and fending off Parkinson’s disease. Movement as medicine. See what makes these kickboxing classes especially suited for movement disorders like Parkinson’s.

Kristin Halpin watched her mom collapse and knew exactly what to do. The life-saving act that earned Kristen an award and set her mom on a new mission.

How accurately can science predict who will get dementia? What should someone even do with that information? The blurry line between normal aging and cognitive impairment. We show you the science.

Chris Schwab collapsed on a cross-country flight. He needed a blood clot removed from his brain, and he needed it fast.

A young football player didn't realize he was in a medical emergency, but the expert on the sideline did! Athletic trainers and their critical role in high school sports. How they identified one young man's injury before anyone else even noticed.

As the days grow shorter, the winter blues can hit harder. Fighting Seasonal Affective Disorder. How can we protect the emotional warmth in ourselves, and our loved ones?

When Jennifer Osorio went for an elective surgery surgeons spotted something concerning inside her. Discovering cancer, just by chance! Plus the treatment that had Jennifer swallowing radiation.

A brother and sister's bond is amplified when he donates his bone marrow to save her life.

Watch all episode - Morning Medical Update Cancer: Choices, Hope and Science 

Lung Cancer experts have new tests and treatments at their fingertips, but by the time most patients show symptoms, it could be too late for most treatments. The best way to catch lung cancer early and the growing options to treat it, plus the first change in screening guidelines this decade.

Jim Dayton's symptoms started as a stuffy nose. When his arms started swelling, he realized he needed more than a decongestant. The sneaky first signs of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and the urgency that started Jim's treatment, and helped save his life.

Gary Shorman loves his Harley and the open road. His message is simple. Stay "Alive To Ride". The cancer survivor shares what he did and what he wants every man to do that likely saved his life.

Patrick Lanphier had his prostate removed but it wasn't enough to keep cancer at bay. Why he decided to switch doctors. Plus, the precision therapy he chose with minimal side effects.

Accepting your new body while fighting breast cancer, or after surviving it can be a battle in itself. Our patients share the emotional journey and how the care teams here guided them.

Her life's work, giving parents and their children comfort in the face of devastating news. But then, this Children's Mercy Hospital Chaplain faced her own frightening diagnosis.

Healing means more than medical care. See some of the amazing resources and support groups ready to help the millions of breast cancer patients and survivors.

She was 7 months pregnant, and something didn't feel right. Meet the woman who ignored doctors who said it was typical and got a second opinion that saved her life.

We are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the hospital with an array of very special guests, including President and CEO Bob Page discussing the evolution of patient care.

Linda Tagge used to struggle with diabetes. But meeting with experts turned her health around. You’ll find out what she learned about when to eat, what to eat, and other tips from patients and physicians. Guests include Dr. Kristin Grdinovac, endocrinologist, The University of Kansas Health System; director, Cray Diabetes Self-Management Center.

He used to play for the Chiefs. Now he's helping fight cancer...on a bike. You’ll meet this player and a mom riding Coast to Coast to help her son fight cancer. Guests include Dr. Roy Jensen, vice chancellor and director, The University of Kansas Cancer Center.

Mothers and daughters usually like to share things, except when it comes to an unexpected diagnosis. Learn how this duo faced two very different diagnoses, but shared the same dream team when it came to their treatment. Guests include Dr. Joseph McGuirk, director, hematologic malignancies and cellular therapeutics; medical director, blood and marrow transplant, The University of Kansas Cancer Center; and Dr. Elizabeth Muenks, PhD, onco-psychologist, The University of Kansas Cancer Center.

Meet a man whose nationwide search for a prostate cancer cure led him to a unique treatment right here at home. Guests include Dr. Ronald Chen, radiation oncologist; chair, radiation oncology, The University of Kansas Cancer Center.

An accident might have taken away his mobility, but Matt Bolig wasn't about to let it take away his ability to compete or to start a family. You’ll meet this Kansas City Chiefs para athlete and follow his journey through fertility treatments here at the University of Kansas Health System. Guests include Dr. Ajay Nangia, urologist, male infertility specialist.

Doctors say he is their miracle patient, not expected to live even days longer. Yet years later he's thriving and starting his own family. You’ll meet him and learn more about the life-saving immunotherapy that made it possible. Guests include Dr. Andrea Jewell, division director, gynecologic oncology, The University of Kansas Cancer Center.

Imagine- diagnosing your own cancer. That's how a young ultrasound tech discovered she had ovarian cancer. She shares her story, and the signs you need look out for. Guests include Dr. Andrea Jewell, division director, gynecologic oncology, The University of Kansas Cancer Center.

Doctors discuss the psychological toll of that is unique to multiple myeloma patients. They also talk about the special psychologists available to this special patient population. Guests include Elizabeth Muenks, PhD, onco-psychologist.

Meet the first patient in the U.S. to get treatment with a new type of drug that can find cancer and link it back to your immune cells. Guests include Dr. Marc Hoffman, medical oncologist and medical director of lymphoma & myeloma, and Dr. Nausheen Ahmed, medical oncologist, associate director of cellular therapeutics.

We’ll get an update from Dr. Douglas Burton, a spinal surgeon at the Health System who also happens to have glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. Learn more about his journey and push for awareness of one day finding a cure for this devastating diagnosis.

Have you heard of a kidney swap? That’s how one wife helped her husband get a new kidney when she was no match. Learn how her living kidney donation multiplied and saved several lives. Guests include nephrologist Dr. Mallika Gupta.

A mother accused of not bathing her baby enough after she developed yellow bumps on her skin, but a second opinion showed the real cause. We talk to the family who received lifesaving treated after she was diagnosed with a rare and severe genetic problem.

For Pam Wilson, the worst part of cancer was everything AFTER the treatment. Graft Versus Host Disease sent her back to the hospital again and again. Sometimes survivorship is the hardest part. We’ll talk about how Pam faced her complications -- both physical and psychological. Guests include Dr. Sunil Abhyankar.

Meet a hero who followed through on a bone marrow donation commitment and how he saved a stranger’s life. Guests include Dr. Sunil Abhyankar, hematologist with oncologist with The University of Kansas Cancer Center.

Two decades of pain led one patient to try a spinal cord stimulator that changed her life. Guests include Dr. Dawood Sayed, division chief, pain medicine, and Dr. Christopher Lam, interventional pain medicine specialist.

Mutant genes make some people almost destined to get cancer. One woman had her stomach removed in advance. Find out more about how genetics play a role in cancer risks. Guests include medical oncologist Dr. Lauren Nye and surgical oncologist Dr. Mazin Al-Kasspooles.

Lori Finnerty calls herself lucky. She never had trouble moving after suffering a major stroke. But speaking remains a challenge. What happens when words won't come? The challenges and rewards of speech therapy for stroke patients. Guests include Dr. Koji Ebersole.

One mom never realized her 4-year-old had a vision problem. Without treatment, it would have become much worse. Learn more about how a simple visit with the right experts can detect vision problems in kids early. Guests include Dr. Emily Broxterman.

Meet Billy Brimblecom, Jr., who had to lose a leg in order to save his life. Now the cancer survivor is helping others facing the same journey. Plus we’ll be live at the World War One Museum to explore a new exhibition on the past, present, and future of prostheses. Guests include Dr. Howard Rosenthal.

Bladder and bowel problems can be embarrassing. But that shouldn't stop people from seeking care. We explore pelvic health, where most problems tie back to your muscles. The exercises... breathing techniques... and diet tips that keep the groin healthy. Guests include Dr. Casey Kowalick, urologist specializing in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, and Dr. Trisha McCulloch, DPT, pelvic health physical therapist.

Mutant genes make some people almost destined to get cancer. Learn more about the genetic side of cancer and what it means for family members of oncology patients. Guests include Dr. Weijing Sun and Dr. Mazin Al-Kasspooles.

When cancer pills aren't enough, some patients turn to a spinal cord implant. Hear from one of the few surgeons in the country who performs this procedure. Guests include Dr. Usman Latif, pain medicine specialist.

As Father’s Day approaches, we’ll discuss the importance of the annual wellness check for men. Guests include Dr. Jennifer McRae, internal medicine specialist.

Learn more about medical stigmas and stereotypes that are hurting men’s health. Guests include urologist urologists Dr. Ajay Nangia and Dr. Jake Fantus and urologic oncologist Dr. Will Parker.