Interview– Dr. James Urbanic

Radiation can be one of the scariest words after a cancer diagnosis. In this episode of What I Wish I Knew, host and cancer survivor McKenna Avery shares her experience completing 33 rounds of proton radiation—including the emotional final day—and the three things she wishes she’d known sooner: that proton therapy may be an option, how visualization can support treatment, and why consistent skin care matters.

Dr. Dan and radiation oncologist Dr. James Urbanski (UC San Diego) offer a clear, patient-first breakdown of how radiation therapy works today. They explain treatment goals, when radiation is used to preserve function, and how modern advances have improved precision and planning. The conversation compares proton and conventional X-ray radiation without hype, walks through planning day and side effects, and addresses real-world factors like cost, access, and trust in a care team—focused on clarity, not marketing.

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