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Less Radical

Less Radical

By: Stacy Wentworth M.D.
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Summary
 Less Radical is the story of Dr. Bernie Fisher, the surgeon-scientist who not only revolutionized breast cancer treatment, but also fundamentally changed the way we understand all cancers. He was an unlikely hero-- a Jewish kid from Pittsburgh who had to make it past antisemitic quotas to get into med school. And the thanks he received for his discoveries? A performative, misguided Congressional hearing that destroyed his reputation and haunted him until his death. Over six episodes, radiation oncologist Dr. Stacy Wentworth will take you into operating rooms, through the halls of Congress, and into the labs where breakthrough cancer treatments were not only developed, but discovered. If you or someone you know has had breast cancer, Bernie is a part of your story-- and you’re a part of his.

cancerculture.substack.comCancer Culture Hygiene & Healthy Living Physical Illness & Disease World
Episodes
  • Episode 5: Bureaucrats, Administrators, and Politicians

    Episode 5: Bureaucrats, Administrators, and Politicians
    Nov 2 2026

    When a colleague’s misconduct is discovered, Fisher is forced to resign from the NSABP and becomes the subject of a Congressional investigation. As the walls close in, Fisher fights back. He spends the rest of his life trying to restore his reputation.



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cancerculture.substack.com
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    54 mins
  • Episode 4: Immovable Objects and Unstoppable Forces

    Episode 4: Immovable Objects and Unstoppable Forces
    Oct 26 2026

    We return to Washington, D.C. In the fall of 1974, the results of Bernie’s clinical trials promise to change the treatment of breast cancer forever... if only it were that easy.



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cancerculture.substack.com
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    38 mins
  • Episode 3: Microbe Hunters and Magic Bullets

    Episode 3: Microbe Hunters and Magic Bullets
    Oct 19 2026

    In 1958, Bernie Fisher participated in the first randomized clinical trial in patients with breast cancer. The trial was a disaster, leading most surgeons to abandon the idea of using chemotherapy to cure more patients. Bernie, however, noticed something different. This put him on a path that would change the course of cancer treatment forever.



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cancerculture.substack.com
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    30 mins
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