A ray of hope for cancer patients, with Dr. May Abdel-Wahab | IAEA | Awake at Night
Whenever a new cancer patient entered her office in the U.S., Dr. May Abdel-Wahab knew she could probably save their life. Now, as Director of the Division of Human Health at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), she delivers hope to patients in places where treatment has until now been unavailable.
“So much can be done to treat cancer, but too many people in the developing world have no access to care. It’s unthinkable. It’s unfair.”
With global cancer cases expected to mount in the next two decades, the IAEA is equipping low- and middle income countries with training and radiotherapy to help more people survive the disease. In this episode, Dr. May Abdel-Wahab reflects on the outlook for cancer outcomes around the world, the challenges of anchoring new treatment centres, and shares how her upbringing taught her to see the world as one human family.
“Every person that walks through the door is a new person, a new friend […] if they leave the exam room with a smile and feeling hope, then you’ve done a good job.”
[00:00] Introduction
[01:13] Peaceful uses of nuclear science
[02:37] Confronting inequality in cancer care
[08:06] Health is a human right
[09:50] What keeps Dr. May awake at night
[12:41] Harnessing AI for cancer treatment
[13:58] Using nuclear science to tackle malnutrition
[16:39] From chemotherapy under a tree to modern centres
[19:03] Transitioning from patient care to global cancer work
[23:38] Early inspirations and familial influences
[25:27] Choosing radiation oncology
[27:21] Finding hope in every case
[28:37] The importance of human connection in medicine
[29:55] Coping with loss and limitations
[32:42] Hope for unity and progress
[34:04] Closing remarks
Listen to more Awake at Night episodes: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoDFQJEq_0b6hu1e8oxsch9W0D7vkNqt
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About Awake at Night
Hosted by Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, the podcast ‘Awake at Night’ is an in-depth interview series focusing on remarkable United Nations staff members
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