Lung Cancer

04/04/25 • 46 min

Ninja Nerds,
Welcome to the Ninja Nerd Podcast with Zach and Rob! In this episode, we discuss Lung Cancer, a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. We explore the pathophysiology, risk factors, and key differences between non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) to help you master this complex topic.
Our discussion covers the clinical presentation of lung cancer, including subtle early symptoms like cough, hemoptysis, and chest pain, as well as advanced findings such as pleural effusions, superior vena cava syndrome, and paraneoplastic syndromes.
Finally, we break down treatment strategies based on staging and tumor type, covering surgical interventions, chemotherapy regimens, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies such as EGFR and ALK inhibitors. We also review the latest advancements in precision medicine and the evolving role of molecular markers in guiding therapy.
Whether you’re preparing for exams or rotations or seeking a deeper understanding of lung cancer, this episode is packed with high-yield insights to boost your clinical knowledge and critical thinking.
Enjoy the episode and support us below! 🌬️🫁

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Previous Episode

Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)

Ninja Nerds,
Welcome to the Ninja Nerd Podcast with Zach and Rob! In this episode, we explore Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a group of hematologic disorders characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis and a risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We also discuss the pathophysiology of MDS, highlighting the clonal stem cell mutations that lead to dysplastic bone marrow changes and peripheral blood cytopenias.
Our discussion explores the clinical presentation of MDS, from common findings like fatigue, pallor, and bleeding tendencies to more concerning signs such as transfusion dependence and infection risk. We also cover the diagnostic approach, emphasizing the importance of bone marrow biopsy findings such as dysplastic cell morphology, ring sideroblasts, and blast percentages. Key scoring systems like the Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) are discussed to guide risk stratification and treatment decisions.
In this episode, we break down treatment strategies for both low-risk and high-risk MDS, including supportive care with transfusions and growth factors, the role of hypomethylating agents like azacitidine and decitabine, and advanced interventions such as allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
Whether you’re preparing for exams, clinical rotations, or looking to expand your knowledge of hematology, this episode is packed with high-yield insights to help you understand this challenging topic.
Enjoy the episode and support us below! 🔬🩸

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Next Episode

Brain Tumors

Ninja Nerds!

In this episode of the Ninja Nerd Podcast, Zach and Rob explore the complex world of Brain Tumors. We explore the key types of brain tumors—both primary and metastatic—and examine their clinical implications through high-yield pathophysiology, neuroanatomy, and diagnostic principles.

The discussion begins with an overview of tumor classification, distinguishing between supratentorial and infratentorial masses, and covers the most common tumors seen in adults versus children. Zach then breaks down the characteristic features, origins, and imaging findings of high-yield tumors like glioblastoma, meningioma, schwannoma, and brain metastases—including a patient case involving adenocarcinoma with metastasis to the brain. For pediatric tumors, we highlight medulloblastoma, ependymoma, and pilocytic astrocytoma, focusing on their clinical presentations and radiographic findings.

We’ll also discuss the signs and symptoms associated with increased intracranial pressure, focal neurologic deficits, and paraneoplastic syndromes. Finally, the episode reviews diagnostic strategies and introduces key treatment principles, including surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, depending on tumor type and location.

This episode is packed with clinically relevant material to help you crush your exams and prepare for real-world applications.

🎧 Listen, learn, and laugh as we tackle brain tumors—one neuron at a time.

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Ninja Nerd - Lung Cancer

Transcript

00:00:07.959

Welcome back to the Ninja Nerd Podcast. Today we're talking about lung cancer. We're continuing our conversations throughout oncology and next up is lung cancer and I'm pretty sure it's going to be a behemoth. Yeah, this one's a huge one. Very common one but I think the biggest thing to remember about lung cancer, and this is why it's actually a really scary one, is the most common cause of malignancy related deaths. So when we think about any kind of cancer that coul