From malaria to multiple sclerosis, plants have given us compounds which help treat countless conditions. But could a tree growing on your street hold the next life-changing drug?

From Madagascar to a Kew Gardens in London, we explore how scientists across the globe use indigenous knowledge and pharmaceutical science to help develop the treatments of tomorrow.

And in a world-first, a cannabis-derived drug, known as Sativex, is being trialled in combination with chemotherapy to see if it could be used to help people with a certain type of aggressive brain cancer.

The botanical history of medicine (2:04)How do we find the plant medicines of tomorrow? (6:10)The search for a chemical needle in a botanical haystack (9:09)Making drugs: converting cuttings into capsules (14:02)Is it more complex than putting a leaf in a pill? (18:28)Sativex: trialling a cannabis-derived spray on brain cancer (22:50)Do we know how cannabinoids work on brain tumour cells? (26:51)Cannabis and cancer: it's not that simple (28:43)
ARISTOCRAT is a randomised phase II study of temozolomide with or without cannabinoids in patients with recurrent glioblastoma.

It's being funded by The Brain Tumour Charity and co-ordinated by the Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit at the University of Birmingham.

ARISTOCRAT is due to begin recruiting just over 230 patients across all UK nations in early 2022.

To learn more about the ARISTOCRAT trial, you can check out:

World-first trial tests cannabis-based drug on aggressive brain tumours - University of LeedsGlioblastoma Research: Phase II Clinical Trial of Cannabis Derivatives - The Brain Tumour CharityIf you’d like to talk to someone, our nurses are available Monday to Friday 9-5pm on freephone 0808 800 4040.


Can we grow the treatments of tomorrow?

This episode, we're joined by Sigourney Bell, a researcher at the University of Cambridge, whose work looks to find new treatments for supratentorial ependymoma, a rare children's brain cancer.

Outside of the lab, Sigourney is the co-founder of Black in Cancer, a global organisation that aims to strengthen the network between Black people in the cancer space whilst highlighting Black excellence in cancer research and medicine.

During Black History Month, Black in Cancer runs a week of events across various social media platforms and organises webinars to help educate researchers, medical experts, and those affected by cancer.

We hear about what the challenges are of working on a rare children's cancer, find out what led to the founding of Black in Cancer, and learn what's on the agenda from October 10th - 15th for Black in Cancer Week 2021.

How to find out more about Black in Cancer:
Follow Sigourney at @siggs28 on Twitter and InstagramCheck out @blackincancer on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.Black in Cancer websiteCheck out #BlackinCancerWeek21
To read more about the topics discussed:
Delivering the future of paediatric brain tumour therapy - Cancer Research UKGilbertson Lab - Cancer Research UK Cambridge InstituteThe Legacy of Henrietta Lacks - Johns Hopkins MedicineHenrietta Lacks: science must right a historical wrong - NatureHenrietta Lacks’ estate sues drug company that sold her cells - The Guardian
You can listen and subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.



Black in Cancer

Globally, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women - 99% of cases worldwide are caused by a few high-risk strains of a common virus called human papillomavirus and in many countries around the world, people are given a vaccine to prevent HPV at an early age. 

Despite data from countries like Sweden and the UK showing that vaccination programmes reduce cervical cancer rates dramatically, there are still countries - such as the USA - that don't have universally accessible programmes. 

We hear from Public Health researcher Dr Ishu Kataria to find out what she and her team are doing in their quest to have more than 70 million girls in India vaccinated to reduce the rates of cervical cancer.


India’s journey to rolling out the HPV vaccine

Cancer has inhabited earth for longer than humans have, but we don’t have a one-fits-all, silver-bullet cure.&nbsp;

From Egyptian mummies and medieval wolves, to precision medicine and microscopic evolution, we take a look at the past to find out why curing cancer is more complex than we think, and what is needed next to get us closer to a future without cancer.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In this latest episode of That Cancer Conversation, we hear from Dr Alanna Skuse, Dr Mariam Jamal-Hanjani and Sir Leszek Borysiewicz to help us scratch the surface of the age-old question, “Why haven’t we cured cancer?”&nbsp;

Find out more about our three fantastic guests:&nbsp;
Dr Alanna Skuse&nbsp;&nbsp;Dr Mariam Jamal-Hanjani&nbsp;&nbsp;Sir Leszek Borysiewicz&nbsp;&nbsp;
Find out more about the research discussed:&nbsp;
A history of cancer – Construction of Cancer in Early Modern England&nbsp;TRACERx trial&nbsp;The PEACE trial&nbsp;&nbsp;
You can listen and subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts. 


Why haven't we cured cancer?

That Cancer Conversation is back for season 2!&nbsp;Join our digital news team, Amy, Jacob, Sophie, and Tim, as they bring together the stories and the science behind cancer every month.&nbsp;


That Cancer Conversation is back!

Kicking off the second season of That Cancer Conversation, we talk about sex, intimacy and cancer.

From chemotherapy to sex shops, we sit down with three amazing guests to discuss sexual wellbeing for those living with and beyond cancer.&nbsp;

Cancer nurse and psychosexual therapist, Dr Isabel White speaks about the various ways cancer can impact our sexual wellbeing and shares some tips on how to have conversations about sex with health professionals. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Sex with Cancer co-founder, Brian Lobel tells us about the online initiative he created with his friend Joon-Lynn Goh, and the vital resources that have been gathered along the journey.&nbsp;

And Tara shares her personal experience of having cervical cancer and exploring her body and sexuality beyond treatment.&nbsp;

If you’d like to learn more about sex and cancer, here are some resources:
About CancerSex with Cancer&nbsp;College of Sexual &amp; Relationship TherapistsLive Through This&nbsp;Perci health
For more cancer stories from us, check out Cancer news!

And if there are cancer conversations you want us to have or topics you want us to explore, send us an email at sciencesurgery@cancer.org.uk to tell us about your idea.

To get updated on more episodes subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.&nbsp;


Sex, intimacy and cancer

A year since first discussing it with his wife, Jason Tooley is about to get a vasectomy. We go  inside the operating theatre to hear what it's really like to get the snip.

Recorded at Nuffield Health Plymouth Hospital.

What is it like to get a vasectomy? | Nuffield Health

Nuffield Health

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