The Real Talk About Cancer Care Nobody's Having

Dr. Anjali Bharne has spent 15 years sitting across from patients who just heard the words "you have cancer." As a board-certified hematologist and medical oncologist at UC San Diego Health, she's witnessed the explosion of cancer treatment options—and the explosion of misinformation right alongside it. 

This conversation gets into territory most oncologists won't touch publicly. The patient who confessed to secretly taking ivermectin and fenbendazole because he read about it online. The desperate families spending tens of thousands on alternative treatments from providers who've lost their medical licenses. The real consequences when someone delays proven treatment to try something they heard about on a podcast. Dr. Bharne walks us through what's actually changed in cancer care since 2010. Precision oncology means doctors can now target specific mutations in your cancer. Immunotherapy has become a genuine game-changer for certain cancer types. 

And researchers have figured out that sometimes three drugs aren't better than two—more aggressive doesn't always mean more effective. 

 00:00 - Opening 08:57 - How a medical student discovered her calling on the bone marrow transplant ward 1

1:23 - Three major advances in cancer care over 15 years 

13:34 - Immunotherapy explained in terms that actually make sense 

15:02 - The first visit: navigating a new cancer diagnosis 

28:12 - Why patients pursue alternative treatments alongside standard care 

31:28 - The financial toxicity of unproven treatments 

34:02 - Red flags when researching alternative cancer providers 

37:55 - Real patient story: confessing to secret alternative treatment 

40:18 - The cost of delayed treatment nobody talks about 

About Dr. Anjali Bharne: Dr. Anjali Bharne discovered her calling on the bone marrow transplant ward at Cedars-Sinai, where she realized the power of building real relationships with patients during their most vulnerable moments. For the past 15 years, she's been a board-certified hematologist and medical oncologist at UC San Diego Health, treating everything from lung and breast cancer to complex hematologic malignancies while conducting research on cancer-related fatigue and patient care. 

The Kind Revolution podcast explores the intersection of medical expertise and genuine human connection. These conversations don't shy away from complexity—they embrace it. Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider about your specific situation.