EPISODE 26
SHOULD WE BE SCARED OF CANCER? TIKTOK, TREATMENTS AND TACKLING FAKE NEWS
NHS SURGEON & MEDICAL INFLUENCER, DR KARAN RAJAN
Medical misinformation can be fatal, and fake news spreads faster than fact, which makes Dr Karan Rajan’s work nothing short of heroic.
He’s one of the internet’s most beloved, trusted and revered medical professionals for his mythbusting work on YouTube and TikTok, but his career in surgery holds some remarkable stories too.
We sit down with Karan to uncover formative moments on his journey, what’s REALLY happening with the NHS, diet coke vs cancer, microplastics affecting your size down there, and so much more…
This episode covers
Why you can never be comfortable in surgery
The shocking health literacy among adults
Fighting bosses to prove the good he does on social media
Why the spread of misinformation is so rife
The true state of the NHS
LINKS & REFERENCES
Karan Rajan
https://www.youtube.com/c/DrKaran
https://www.instagram.com/drkaranrajan/
https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.karanr
This Book Will Save Your Life by Dr Karan Rajan
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
"One of the daughters of my grandmother’s neighbour had a spinal deformity that affected her growth. I made a little pledge to grow up, become a spine surgeon, and fix my sister’s spine”
12:00 - Dr Karan Rajan
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“People ask how I process the fact that I’m cutting into human flesh, but for me that’s never been something I’ve processed or thought of.” - 2:10 - Dr Karan Rajan
“You see physical manifestations of stress in the form of palpitations, heart attacks, depression, anxiety, and many autoimmune conditions are worsened by stress.” - 5:00 - Dr Karan Rajan
“You can never be comfortable in surgery. The day you feel that is the day you take it for granted, the day your reflexes are slightly subdued, and you can cause injury.” - 14:30 - Dr Karan Rajan
“I’ve had previous bosses suggest that social media is a distraction from surgery, but admit they had no proof. We’re in a profession that demands evidence, and people are using their opinions?” - 29:00 - Dr Karan Rajan
“If you have just three concussion events in your lifetime, that increases your risk of dementia a significant amount.” - 35:40 - Dr Karan Rajan
“You see people in supermarkets, reading out a list of chemicals that sound scary, but the list of chemicals in an apple would have weird stuff in there. I’m drinking water right now, that’s dihydrogen monoxide!” - 45:00 - Dr Karan Rajan
“My position on smoking and vaping have changed - in science, things change, and you need to adapt your views as well.” - 53:30 - Dr Karan Rajan