Kat on the Loose – Dr. Rachel Wellner, MD

Episode Date: September 11, 2024
Host: Kat Zammuto
Guest: Dr. Rachel Wellner, M.D., CEO/Founder of Calym Diagnostic Solutions, author of the Dr. Roo children’s book series

Overview

In this engaging and wide-ranging episode, Kat sits down with the remarkable Dr. Rachel Wellner, a breast cancer surgeon, med-tech innovator, and children’s author. Broadcasting from Dr. Rachel’s creative home studio in Marina del Rey, they go deep into urgent topics: ending agonizing biopsy result waits with rapid AI diagnostic tech, debunking health myths around cancer and sun safety, battling the stigma of men’s health checks, and using the power of children’s literature to make health lessons stick for the next generation. It’s a raw, empowering, and surprisingly fun exchange packed with wisdom and memorable moments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Calym Diagnostic Solutions: Revolutionizing Biopsy Results

[06:35–10:15]

• Dr. Rachel explains the critical “pain point” in her career as a breast cancer surgeon: the excruciating waiting period for biopsy results.
  • “So often, unbeknownst to the patient...then that patient’s told to go home, come back in several days, anywhere from three days, ten days, sometimes weeks...during that time, that patient is so full of anxiety, it’s very hard to describe.” (Dr. Rachel, 07:20)
• 80% of biopsies are benign, but the waiting period is often the most traumatic part, even worse for those who do have cancer.
• Calym Diagnostic Solutions aims to cut result times from days/weeks to just five minutes using AI-powered autofluorescence technology.
  • “While the patient is actually there in the procedure room, there’s a printout...the patient can learn right away whether she has cancer.” (Dr. Rachel, 08:09)
  • Not just for breast: Calym is targeting skin, colon, prostate, and lung as well.
• Kat shares her personal story of the “paralyzing” anxiety she felt during her own three-week wait for biopsy results.
  • “All those three weeks, my life was on pause...Your life is in the balance. And it’s just one of the most horrible feelings in the world.” (Kat, 11:30)

Notable Quote

• “You let that cancer sit there and not do anything, the cancer is going to grow, it is going to spread, and it is going to kill. And that’s what Calym is all about—trying to stop that process as early as possible.” (Dr. Rachel, 09:55)

2. Mammogram Myths & Best Practices

[12:09–16:20]

• Dr. Rachel clarifies sizing myths: Large breasts aren’t a major risk factor; “dense breasts” are more significant because “mammogram is hard to see through it.”
• On mammogram timing:
  • “The American Society of Breast Surgeons, we recommend every year...once you are about forty years old, you should start getting mammograms once a year.” (Dr. Rachel, 14:43)
  • Some guidelines mention every two years, but annual is safest.
• Pain/sensitivity is real, but early detection is critical.
  • “One out of eight women in this country get breast cancer. That’s 12%...Endure it. Because for a few moments while you’re having that test, you could be saving your life.” (Dr. Rachel, 15:14/15:21)

Memorable Exchange

• Kat: “It’s hard, but it’s only a few seconds. It’s not like you’re there for many minutes—only a few seconds, right?”
• Dr. Rachel: “Everybody’s different…But it is. Early detection is known to be one of the most important factors in determining survivability in breast cancer.” (15:46–16:20)

3. Technology Roadmap: From Labs to Lives

[16:33–17:40]

• Calym’s rapid biopsy device is currently in testing:
  • No extra harm to removed tissue, still pathologist-confirmed, but provides actionable answers right away.
  • Regulatory approval (FDA etc.) is in progress.
  • “You get an actionable answer right away...the physician...can operate or get the chemo or do whatever needs to be done almost immediately. No more waiting.” (Dr. Rachel, 17:28)

4. Men’s Health: Breaking the Silence on Prostate Checks

[20:35–22:49]

• Cultural difference: Women are highly organized, vocal about breast cancer; men are less likely to seek support or talk about fears—especially around impotence or incontinence linked to prostate cancer.
  • “It’s a very touch...men tend to be a little more introverted about it and they don’t want to talk about it.” (Dr. Rachel, 21:58)
• Kat’s male listeners frequently message her about embarrassment or fear of testing.
• Dr. Rachel on importance of routine checks:
  • “Get what you need. Get the treatment that you need. And you’re not alone.” (22:15)

5. Skin Cancer & Sun Safety: Mythbusting

[25:17–33:20]

• Kat raises growing media/influencer claims that sunscreen causes cancer. Dr. Rachel is unequivocal:
  • “You need to wear your sunblock. It’s important. OK? Sunblock does not cause cancer...But it’s very unusual for sunblock to cause skin cancer. The sun, though, does.” (Dr. Rachel, 26:04 & 27:22)
• Fun excerpt of her Dr. Roo book’s sun safety poem:
  • “SPF 30 hula / Smear it here, rub it there, spread or squirt it everywhere...Sunblock keeps bad rays away…” (27:22)
• Both share stories of dangerous pre-sunscreen beauty culture—tanning machines, baby oil, etc.
• Dr. Rachel insists on SPF 36 or higher, every day, emphasizing face, hands, chest.
• She also points out the practical perfectionism fallacy:
  • “Nothing in this world is perfect. The food we eat is not perfect...the air we breathe is not perfect...Do your best to be intuitively smart about things and don’t just completely drop something that’s important.” (Dr. Rachel, 31:14)
• Dr. Rachel describes how Calym’s five-minute tech could also help in Mohs surgery for skin cancer—saving hours for both patients and doctors.
  • “Instead of a three-to-five-hour wait, in five minutes, you can tell if you cleared the cancer.” (31:51)

Notable Quote

• “Melanoma is one of the deadliest forms of cancer...skin is the largest organ in the body—people don’t realize that.” (Dr. Rachel, 33:21)

6. Holistic Health: Control, Luck, and Lifestyle

[33:53–35:40]

• Dr. Rachel addresses “perfect” lifestyle fallacy: even the healthiest people can get cancer.
  • Relays a friend’s story: “I have a very good friend who has been vegan, gluten-free, and organic...then she had breast cancer at 42...I support what she’s doing, but it didn’t prevent the cancer.” (34:27)
  • “We as humans have to understand that we can’t control everything. We can control some things…but we can’t control it all.” (34:49)
• Kat follows the “80/20” rule—clean living, but with space for joy (wine, burgers, etc.).
  • “Most of the time you’re not doing anything...the human body in general is pretty good healing itself...it’s usually not going to sit in your body. Your body can detox.” (Dr. Rachel, 35:40)

7. Why Is Cancer on the Rise?

[36:02–37:30]

• Dr. Rachel comments on progress in public health—cancer is now more visible because we’re living longer, and the repair genes in DNA break down slightly with age.
  • “Cancer is your own body that starts to betray you...We’re living longer and cancer...starts to happen. It also happens in younger people...My theory...pollution, our food could be better.” (Dr. Rachel, 36:40–37:27)

8. Teaching Health with Dr. Roo: Children’s Books with a Mission

[37:36–45:28]

• Dr. Rachel’s Dr. Roo series makes health lessons stick for ages 4–8 by featuring a “magic pouch” kangaroo doctor and friends solving health mysteries.
  • “So she’s got those medical supplies in her pouch, and whenever she gets the call to duty, it sparkles and becomes kind of magical...she becomes Dr. Rue.” (Dr. Rachel, 38:56)
• Nutrition-focused book introduces the “Pyramid Rap” to teach kids healthy eating—in the podcast, Dr. Rachel performs the rap. (40:32)
• Each book is location-based (Hawaii, D.C., Australia), so readers learn about both health and geography.
• Books are available on Amazon, and Dr. Rachel shouts out her Ukrainian illustrator, Irina Dringova, who created the artwork “in the middle of the war...it got her through some really dark times.” (Dr. Rachel, 43:58)
• The books are designed to be fun for kids and adults, blending comedy, songs, and illustrations.

Memorable Moment:

• Dr. Rachel wraps up with a handwashing song:
  • "Don't just stand there, let's get to it—wash your hands, there's nothing to it!" (46:10)

Resources & Contact

• Calym Diagnostic Solutions: www.kalymds.com
• Dr. Roo Book Series: www.doctoroo.health (connects to Amazon)
• Instagram: @rachelwellner
• Host’s socials: @realkatontheloose

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On the pain of waiting:
  • “That patient is so full of anxiety, it's very hard to describe.” (Dr. Rachel, 07:29)
• Why quick diagnosis matters:
  • “Cancer is a time-sensitive problem...the earlier you diagnose it and treat it, the better the outcome.” (Dr. Rachel, 09:55)
• On men’s health stigma:
  • “Men tend to be a little more introverted about it...Prostate cancer could mean...impotence and incontinence. These are...very big fears for men.” (Dr. Rachel, 21:58)
• On sunscreen myths:
  • “Sunblock does not cause cancer...the sun, though, does cause skin cancer. Wear your sunblock.” (Dr. Rachel, 27:22)
• Power of children’s literature in health:
  • “Every chance to educate kids, you know…I could find.” (Dr. Rachel, 40:25)
• Handwashing musical sign-off:
  • “Don’t just stand there, let’s get to it. Wash your hands, there’s nothing to it!” (Dr. Rachel, 46:10)

Conclusion

Dr. Rachel Wellner’s passion for transforming patient care—through scientific innovation and creative education—shines throughout this episode. She demystifies critical cancer questions, busts harmful health myths, and shares her belief that compassion, common sense, and early detection are our best tools. Whether you’re a parent, patient, or just someone seeking healthy inspiration, this episode is a must-listen for hope, humor, and hard-earned insight.

Be safe out there. Go get tested. Wear sunscreen. Wash your hands. And if you have kids, check out Dr. Roo!

(For further information, consult Kat’s episode notes or connect via provided links.)