“Less Radical” is the story of 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 underdog from the start—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—including a bonus episode—radiation oncologist Stacy Wentworth takes you into operating rooms, through the halls of Congress, and into the labs where breakthrough cancer treatments were not only developed, but discovered.
On Oct. 17, “Less Radical” was named one of the best podcasts of the week by The Guardian:
Dr. Bernie Fisher was pivotal in improving the way breast cancer patients are treated—women might still be having disfiguring surgery without his work. Here, Dr. Stacy Wentworth takes us from the operating room to the White House to show how Fisher, the women’s movement, and science radically changed breast cancer treatment.
–Hollie Richardson
Wentworth and “Less Radical” producer Melody Rowell discussed the podcast on A1, a daily news and conversation program produced by WAMU, the NPR station serving the Washington, DC area.
“The Study Culture Podcast,” also produced by Rowell, invited Wentworth to discuss “Less Radical” in the episode “Why Are We So Weird About Cancer?”
The final two episodes of “Less Radical” are now available, and all six episodes can be found on the Cancer History Project.
Episode 4: Immovable Objects and Unstoppable Forces
By “Less Radical,” Oct. 21, 2024
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.
Episode 5: Bureaucrats, Administrators, and Politicians
By “Less Radical,” Nov. 1, 2024
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 column features the latest posts to the Cancer History Project by our growing list of contributors.
The Cancer History Project is a free, web-based, collaborative resource intended to mark the 50th anniversary of the National Cancer Act and designed to continue in perpetuity. The objective is to assemble a robust collection of historical documents and make them freely available.
Access to the Cancer History Project is open to the public at CancerHistoryProject.com. You can also follow us on Twitter at @CancerHistProj, or follow our podcast.
Is your institution a contributor to the Cancer History Project? Eligible institutions include cancer centers, advocacy groups, professional societies, pharmaceutical companies, and key organizations in oncology.
To apply to become a contributor, please contact admin@cancerhistoryproject.com.
