Sarc Fighter: Living with Sarcoidosis and other rare diseases

Here at the end of 2025, it's time to measure our progress in the fight against Sarcoidosis -- and the news is good.  In this episode of the FSR Sarc Fighter Podcast, Tricha Shivas, the Chief of Staff and Strategy at the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, joins me to talk about huge strides in research funding, building the support community, Veterans' support, and even progress with lawmakers in Washington, D.C.  In short, this is a good time to be a sarc patient -- as more and more progress is being made and even more is coming in 2026.   Show Notes Donate link https://stopsarcoidosis.rallybound.org/gratitude-and-giving-2025/Donate   Voice of the Patient Report  https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/wp-content/uploads/FSR_2025_VoiceOfPatient_Report_R05_Digital.pdf   FSR 10 Year Registry Report  https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/registry-report   YouTube Video - Cycling in Belgium and and Netherlands: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytJBORBx9Gs     MORE FROM JOHN: Cycling with Sarcoidosis http://carlinthecyclist.com/category/cycling-with-sarcoidosis/ Do you like the official song for the Sarc Fighter podcast?  It's also an FSR fundraiser! If you would like to donate in honor of Mark Steier and the song, Zombie, Here is a link to his KISS account.  (Kick In to Stop Sarcoidosis)  100-percent of the money goes to the Foundation.  https://stopsarcoidosis.rallybound.org/MarkSteier The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/ Donate to my KISS (Kick In to Stop Sarcoidosis) fund for FSR  https://stopsarcoidosis.rallybound.org/JohnCarlinVsSarcoidosis?fbclid=IwAR1g2ap1i1NCp6bQOYEFwOELdNEeclFmmLLcQQOQX_Awub1oe9bcEjK9P1E My story on Television https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/news-anchor-sarcoidosis/ email me  [email protected] #sarcoidosis #sarcoidosisawareness #fmla #fmlaclarification #metformin  

A new study out of India shows a bit of crossover between sarcoidosis and lung cancer.  In this episode of the FSR Sarc Fighter podcast, I'll take a look at the study and what it reveals — including a new drug, Metformin, previously used to treat Type 2 Diabetes, that may show promise based on the study's findings.  For what it's worth, I'll also share the terrors of surgery for my ruptured Achilles.       Show Notes:  Donate to FSR: https://stopsarcoidosis.rallybound.org/gratitude-and-giving-2025 FSR Biomarker Summit: https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/fsr-convenes-global-leaders-for-landmark-clinic-alliance-meeting-and-sarcoidosis-biomarker-summit/ Sarcoidosis News Study from India: https://sarcoidosisnews.com/news/new-genetic-clues-connect-sarcoidosis-lung-cancer-risk More from FSR: https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/fsr-receives-confirmation-from-the-department-of-labor-ensuring-patient-access-to-fmla-for-participation-in-clinical-trials/ MORE FROM JOHN: Cycling with Sarcoidosis http://carlinthecyclist.com/category/cycling-with-sarcoidosis/ Do you like the official song for the Sarc Fighter podcast?  It's also an FSR fundraiser! If you would like to donate in honor of Mark Steier and the song, Zombie, Here is a link to his KISS account.  (Kick In to Stop Sarcoidosis)  100-percent of the money goes to the Foundation.  https://stopsarcoidosis.rallybound.org/MarkSteier The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/ Donate to my KISS (Kick In to Stop Sarcoidosis) fund for FSR  https://stopsarcoidosis.rallybound.org/JohnCarlinVsSarcoidosis?fbclid=IwAR1g2ap1i1NCp6bQOYEFwOELdNEeclFmmLLcQQOQX_Awub1oe9bcEjK9P1E My story on Television https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/news-anchor-sarcoidosis/ email me  [email protected] #sarcoidosis #sarcoidosisawareness #fmla #fmlaclarification #metformin  

Basim Karim is a fighter.  He's battled HIV for more than two decades, has had COVID five times, and now has Sarcoidosis in multiple parts of his body.  Doctors face a special problem with him because he cannot allow his immune system to be too depressed, or he faces consequences even greater than sarcoidosis.  Basim joins me to tell his story.     Show Notes Basim's Reddit thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/NewToSarcoidosis/s/pmNebor2Ve Sarcoidosis News Ohio State Study: https://sarcoidosisnews.com/news/sarcoidosis-get-referral-lungs-soon-diagnosis Sarcoidosis News - Repurposing Drugs: https://sarcoidosisnews.com/news/repurposing-drugs-improves-survival-sarcoidosis-patients-study/ Dr. Thomas Leung: https://www.thomasleunglab.org/ Sarcoidosis News Article: https://sarcoidosisnews.com/news/sarcoidosis-often-chronic-disease-affects-multiple-organs OP-ED by Dr. Ennis James in STAT: https://www.statnews.com/2025/09/24/clinical-trial-patient-fmla-foundation-sarcoidosis-research-job-security/ SHRM: https://www.shrm.org/ FSR News Release: https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/coalition-to-transform-clinical-trial-engagement-launches-champions-for-change-pto-initiative/ More from FSR: https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/fsr-receives-confirmation-from-the-department-of-labor-ensuring-patient-access-to-fmla-for-participation-in-clinical-trials/ MORE FROM JOHN: Cycling with Sarcoidosis http://carlinthecyclist.com/category/cycling-with-sarcoidosis/ Do you like the official song for the Sarc Fighter podcast?  It's also an FSR fundraiser! If you would like to donate in honor of Mark Steier and the song, Zombie, Here is a link to his KISS account.  (Kick In to Stop Sarcoidosis)  100-percent of the money goes to the Foundation.  https://stopsarcoidosis.rallybound.org/MarkSteier The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/ Donate to my KISS (Kick In to Stop Sarcoidosis) fund for FSR  https://stopsarcoidosis.rallybound.org/JohnCarlinVsSarcoidosis?fbclid=IwAR1g2ap1i1NCp6bQOYEFwOELdNEeclFmmLLcQQOQX_Awub1oe9bcEjK9P1E My story on Television https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/news-anchor-sarcoidosis/ email me  [email protected] #sarcoidosis #sarcoidosisawareness #fmla #fmlaclarification           

What if the cause and a potential cure for sarcoidosis were hidden in plain view -- on your skin?   According to research by Dr. Thomad Leung in Philadelphia, that might be the case.  In this episode of the FSR Sarc Fighter podcast, Dr. Leung explains how his team of researchers is using the skin to investigate how the body sends a homing signal to cells that create damaging granulomas in any part of the body, including the lungs, heart, and nervous system.  Listen in as Dr. Leung describes breaking down cells and looking for a potential biomarker that could lead to sarcoidosis being diagnosed with a blood test.    Show Notes Dr. Thomas Leung: https://www.thomasleunglab.org/ Sarcoidosis News Article: https://sarcoidosisnews.com/news/sarcoidosis-often-chronic-disease-affects-multiple-organs OP-ED by Dr. Ennis James in STAT: https://www.statnews.com/2025/09/24/clinical-trial-patient-fmla-foundation-sarcoidosis-research-job-security/ SHRM: https://www.shrm.org/ FSR News Release: https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/coalition-to-transform-clinical-trial-engagement-launches-champions-for-change-pto-initiative/ More from FSR: https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/fsr-receives-confirmation-from-the-department-of-labor-ensuring-patient-access-to-fmla-for-participation-in-clinical-trials/ MORE FROM JOHN: Cycling with Sarcoidosis http://carlinthecyclist.com/category/cycling-with-sarcoidosis/ Do you like the official song for the Sarc Fighter podcast?  It's also an FSR fundraiser! If you would like to donate in honor of Mark Steier and the song, Zombie, Here is a link to his KISS account.  (Kick In to Stop Sarcoidosis)  100-percent of the money goes to the Foundation.  https://stopsarcoidosis.rallybound.org/MarkSteier The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/ Donate to my KISS (Kick In to Stop Sarcoidosis) fund for FSR  https://stopsarcoidosis.rallybound.org/JohnCarlinVsSarcoidosis?fbclid=IwAR1g2ap1i1NCp6bQOYEFwOELdNEeclFmmLLcQQOQX_Awub1oe9bcEjK9P1E My story on Television https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/news-anchor-sarcoidosis/ email me  [email protected] #sarcoidosis #sarcoidosisawareness #fmla #fmlaclarification     

We've talked about a lot of different ways sarcoidosis can affect the body.  But this is the first time we've talked to a patient who has hypercalcemia -- where there is too much calcium in the blood.  And yes, it can be caused by sarcoidosis.  It's a story Chris Cermak is living with, even though his blood calcium reached dangerously high levels.       Show notes: More from the FSR Gala: https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/25-gala/ Sarcoidosis News Article: https://sarcoidosisnews.com/news/sarcoidosis-often-chronic-disease-affects-multiple-organs OP-ED by Dr. Ennis James in STAT: https://www.statnews.com/2025/09/24/clinical-trial-patient-fmla-foundation-sarcoidosis-research-job-security/ SHRM: https://www.shrm.org/ FSR News Release: https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/coalition-to-transform-clinical-trial-engagement-launches-champions-for-change-pto-initiative/ More from FSR: https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/fsr-receives-confirmation-from-the-department-of-labor-ensuring-patient-access-to-fmla-for-participation-in-clinical-trials/ MORE FROM JOHN: Cycling with Sarcoidosis http://carlinthecyclist.com/category/cycling-with-sarcoidosis/ Do you like the official song for the Sarc Fighter podcast?  It's also an FSR fundraiser! If you would like to donate in honor of Mark Steier and the song, Zombie, Here is a link to his KISS account.  (Kick In to Stop Sarcoidosis)  100-percent of the money goes to the Foundation.  https://stopsarcoidosis.rallybound.org/MarkSteier The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/ Donate to my KISS (Kick In to Stop Sarcoidosis) fund for FSR  https://stopsarcoidosis.rallybound.org/JohnCarlinVsSarcoidosis?fbclid=IwAR1g2ap1i1NCp6bQOYEFwOELdNEeclFmmLLcQQOQX_Awub1oe9bcEjK9P1E My story on Television https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/news-anchor-sarcoidosis/ email me  [email protected] #sarcoidosis #sarcoidosisawareness #fmla #fmlaclarification