We're going to cure cancer in our lifetime." It's a rallying cry at every charity event, every fundraiser, every race. But what does that actually mean?

Dr. Sonal Gandhi, a medical oncologist, joins Ditch the Labcoat to break down what most people don't understand: we already cure cancer. All the time. Early stage cancers like breast, colon, and skin cancer caught in time have cure rates approaching 90 to 100 percent.
The challenge is stage four cancer. Metastatic disease. Cancer that has spread to other organs. And even there, the conversation is shifting. Cancer is increasingly becoming a chronic illness. People are living longer with it, sometimes dying with it rather than from it, just like they do with heart disease or diabetes.

Dr. Gandhi walks through what "curing cancer" really means, how treatment has evolved beyond chemotherapy into targeted therapies and immunotherapy, and why prevention matters. Up to 40 percent of cancers are related to modifiable lifestyle factors: smoking, alcohol, obesity, lack of exercise. But even doing everything right doesn't guarantee you won't get cancer. Age is the number one risk factor, and we can't modify that.

She also challenges the guilt people carry when they're diagnosed and reframes the fear around the "C word." Maybe it's time to pull cancer back into the middle with the menu of other chronic illnesses we manage, not cure.

If you've ever wondered what "curing cancer" actually means, why some cancers are more treatable than others, or what you can do to reduce your risk, this episode will reframe how you think about one of medicine's most feared diagnoses.

If you've ever wondered why so many people have unexplained symptoms, why standard treatments fail them, or what actually works when medicine runs out of answers, this episode will reframe how you see chronic illness.

Dr. Sonal Gandhi's Linkedin

Episode Takeaways

1. We already cure cancer. Early stage cancers (stage 1 or 2) caught in time have cure rates approaching 90 to 100 percent, depending on the type.
2. Cancer is not one disease. It's dozens of diseases with different stages, treatments, and outcomes. We're better at treating some than others.
3. Stage four (metastatic) cancer is increasingly becoming a chronic illness. Treatments help people live longer with cancer, sometimes dying with it rather than from it.
4. Up to 40 percent of cancers are related to modifiable lifestyle factors: smoking, alcohol, obesity, and lack of exercise. Being a healthy weight matters for cancer prevention.
5. Age is the number one risk factor for cancer. Every decade you get older, cells get worse at repairing mistakes. We can't modify aging.
6. Only 10 to 20 percent of cancers are due to inherited genes. Most cancers happen because of the complicated interplay between lifestyle, environment, and cellular aging.
7. Immunotherapy works by preventing cancer cells from turning off the immune system, but it can cause severe autoimmune side effects that need rapid treatment.
8. Whole body scans and experimental blood tests sound appealing, but they often create more harm than good. Screening needs to be done in context with clear downstream action plans.

Episode Timestamps

03:51 – What Does "Curing Cancer" Actually Mean?
08:15 – Early Stage vs. Late Stage Cancer: The Critical Difference
12:42 – How Chemotherapy, Targeted Therapy, and Immunotherapy Work
18:35 – Prevention: Lifestyle Factors That Reduce Cancer Risk
21:50 – Why Immunotherapy Can Cause Severe Side Effects
30:48 – Cancer as a Chronic Illness, Not a Death Sentence
38:22 – Environmental and Occupational Cancer Risks
45:51 – Why Whole Body Scans Aren't the Answer

DISCLAMER >>>>>> The Ditch Lab Coat podcast serves solely for general informational purposes and does not serve as a substitute for professional medical services such as medicine or nursing. It does not establish a doctor/patient relationship, and the use of information from the podcast or linked materials is at the user's own risk. The content does not aim to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and users should promptly seek guidance from healthcare professionals for any medical conditions.

>>>>>> The expressed opinions belong solely to the hosts and guests, and they do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Hospitals, Clinics, Universities, or any other organization associated with the host or guests.

Disclosures: Ditch The Lab Coat podcast is produced by (soundsdebatable.com) and is independent of Dr. Bonta's teaching and research roles at McMaster University, Temerty Faculty of Medicine and Queens University.