Cancer U Thrivers: Recent Episodes
Cancer U
Welcome to the Cancer U Thrivers Podcast.
Join me each week as I interview cancer patients, caregivers, survivors, and providers about their cancer journeys.
The Cancer U Thrivers Podcast, where real people share true stories.
In today’s episode, we delve into the surreal and heart-wrenching journey of Mike Murphy and his loved ones as they navigate the complexities of medical treatment. From Northern California to Southern California’s USC Medical Center, they face unimaginable challenges, including full brain radiation therapy, emergency room visits, and a significant decline in health. As Mike becomes his loved one’s advocate, he uncovers medical mistakes and emphasizes the importance of being a voice for those in need. However, amidst the grief and devastation, Mike’s experience ultimately leads him to a profound transformation and a newfound belief in the power of healing from within. Join us as we delve into the depths of Mike’s story, exploring the injustices of the healthcare system and the incredible strength of the human spirit.
In today’s episode, we have the privilege of hearing from Josh Church, a remarkable individual who describes himself as "mindful" and has been practicing mindfulness for the past few years.Josh shares his journey of being present and thoughtful throughout his cancer treatment and how mindfulness extended beyond his personal wellness to problem-solving and critical thinking. He reflects on the value and treatment that people showed him during his journey and the impact of losing someone he had formed a special bond with, a fellow gamer who he played video games with in the hospital. The loss was incredibly challenging, yet Josh finds solace in honoring their memory through his words and experiences.Josh also recounts a heartwarming story about Brandon, a young hockey enthusiast going through treatment at a local hospital. The Michigan State University hockey team learned about Brandon and formed a special connection with him, bringing joy and camaraderie during difficult times. Josh’s own friendship with someone who had the same diagnosis further emphasizes the power of connections formed through cancer treatment. Join us as we delve into Josh’s journey of mindfulness, the profound moments he experienced, and the lessons he learned about appreciating life’s simple pleasures. We’ll also explore the impact of cancer on starting a family, the challenges of navigating healthcare costs, and the transformative effects Josh’s experience had on his parents’ outlook on life. Stay tuned for an episode filled with hope, reflection, and the resilience of the human spirit.
In today’s powerful episode, we are honored to have Lindsay McDonell share her inspiring journey with metastatic breast cancer. Lindsay takes us through her initial diagnosis, the setbacks she faced, and the remarkable strategies she developed to navigate her illness.
From the moment Lindsay’s tests came back positive for cancer, she suspected the presence of cancer stem cells. After a double mastectomy, her intuition was confirmed. Lindsay’s relentless advocacy for her health led her to research a unique symptom called numb chin syndrome, which she discussed with her oncologist. Despite initial dismissal, her tenacity paid off as further scans revealed the heartbreaking progression of her cancer.
As Lindsay grappled with her own need for understanding and support, she explored the power of effective communication and challenged the notion that one-size-fits-all solutions can apply to everyone’s journey. She also shares her experience as a stoic caregiver, the significant injuries she endured, and the profound impact of receiving new medications that finally offered stability.
Stay tuned as Lindsay takes us on a rollercoaster ride filled with resilience, determination, and the crucial reminder to view individuals beyond their illness. She sheds light on the importance of self-care, the complexities of being the oldest child, and her quest to find peace and calm amidst the chaos of her diagnosis. Join us as we learn from Lindsay’s wisdom and strength, uncovering the lessons that can guide us all in our own battles with cancer and beyond.
In today’s episode, we bring you the incredible journey of Michael Schnabel as he triumphs over cancer, finding healing and hope along the way. Michael’s story is filled with perseverance, determination, and a whole lot of love. From difficult decisions about treatment options to forming a team to face the challenges together, Michael and his family navigate the highs and lows of their cancer journey. Join us as we delve into the surgery, chemotherapy, and the power of finding the right medical team. We’ll explore the importance of hope, humor, and capturing memories in the face of uncertainty. Get ready for a story that will touch your heart and leave you inspired.
In today's episode, we have a very special guest, Ann Graham, who will be sharing her incredible journey with us. Ann’s battle with cancer began with persistent leg pain during her marathon training in January 2010. What followed was a series of misdiagnoses, as doctors initially dismissed her symptoms as unrelated conditions.
But Ann’s persistence paid off when she insisted on getting an MRI, which revealed a tumor at the top of her tibia. However, the alarming news didn’t stop there. Astonishingly, Ann’s doctor failed to discuss her diagnosis further, leaving her in a void of information and uncertainty.
Unwilling to accept this lack of guidance, Ann and her husband took matters into their own hands and sought a second opinion from a specialist. This decision changed the course of Ann’s journey. The specialist not only confirmed the cancer diagnosis but also recommended a comprehensive treatment plan that provided Ann with much-needed direction and support.
Through her story, Ann showcases the importance of advocating for yourself and seeking multiple opinions when navigating a cancer diagnosis. Her strength and determination remind us that with the right information and support, we can overcome even the most challenging obstacles.
In today's episode, we have the honor of speaking with Jonathan Acott, a truly remarkable individual who has faced numerous challenges on his journey with cancer. Jonathan, a motivational speaker and storyteller, opens up about his weight loss journey, shedding a kilo a week for twelve weeks. He also candidly discusses the emotional toll of chemotherapy, from losing his hair to managing fluid balance and dealing with the side effects of steroids. Despite the hardships, Jonathan's indomitable spirit shines through as he shares stories of finding moments of joy and even laughter amidst the darkness. But that's not all. Jonathan also takes a moment to reflect on the state of healthcare, discussing his admiration for the clinical work done by the NHS. However, he doesn't shy away from acknowledging the system's shortcomings, highlighting issues of waste and mismanagement. He passionately argues against the idea of adopting a US insurance-based medical system, calling it regressive and incomprehensible when a free and accessible healthcare system like the NHS exists.
Dr. Katie Nall's story began when her husband received a life-altering diagnosis of bladder cancer. Initially skeptical of natural remedies recommended by their son, who happens to be a chiropractor, their journey took an unexpected turn. With symptoms escalating, their path led them to a urologist who confirmed the diagnosis. Chemotherapy and subsequent surgery to remove the bladder and prostate became their new reality. Throughout this tumultuous time, Dr. Katie, an advocate for alternative therapies, found ways to incorporate natural remedies into her husband’s treatment. From emotional freedom technique to lavender oil, she sought to complement the conventional medical care he was receiving. However, navigating surgery and adjusting to life with a stoma brought forth new challenges and doubts for Dr. Katie. Join us as Dr. Katie shares her heartfelt story, the highs and lows, the uncertainties, and the unwavering support she provided her husband. Discover how she attempted to supplement hospital care with natural remedies. Gain insights into the healing power of lavender oil and its unexpected benefits in managing bed sores.
Welcome back to Cancer U Thrivers, where we share stories of resilience, hope, and personal growth in the face of cancer. In today's episode, we delve into the transformative journey of a remarkable individual who battled cancer not once but six times. From his initial diagnosis at the age of 29 to facing the recurrence of tumors and the many challenges in between, Dan Hegerich takes us on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, self-discovery, and profound realizations about the power of personal growth and self-love. Join us as we explore their courageous fight against cancer, their quest for alternative treatments, their experiences in psychiatric care, their spiritual awakening, and the pivotal role of diet, exercise, and mindset in their healing journey. Get ready to be inspired and uplifted by the remarkable story of Dan Hegerich, a true thriver in the face of adversity. Tune in now to Cancer U Thrivers!
In today's episode, we have the incredible Kevin Neal joining us for a deep dive into his cancer journey. Kevin takes us back to the very beginning, before his diagnosis when everything seemed normal and he felt healthy. Little did he know that a routine checkup would lead him down a path he never expected. Throughout this episode, Kevin shares the challenges he faced, from keeping his diagnosis a secret from his loved ones to navigating job changes and the loss of his father. Join us as we uncover the resilience and determination that Kevin displayed throughout his journey and discover the lessons he has learned along the way. Stay tuned for this inspiring and heartfelt episode of Cancer U Thrivers.
Welcome back to Cancer U Thrivers, the podcast that aims to empower cancer survivors and their loved ones through shared stories, insights, and resources. In today's episode, we delve into the extraordinary journey of Edward Miskie as he navigates the complexities of cancer treatment, coping mechanisms, and the harsh realities of the healthcare system. From rare and challenging diagnoses to unexpected twists and turns, Edward's story is one of resilience, advocating for oneself, and finding hope in the darkest of times. Join us as we unpack the emotional and physical toll that cancer takes on individuals, shed light on the often unspoken aspects of cancer treatment, and explore the need for a comprehensive support program for survivors. So grab a cup of tea, find a cozy spot, and get ready to be inspired by Edward Miskie's courageous tale on Cancer U Thrivers. Let's dive in.
Welcome to another episode of "Cancer U Thrivers." In today's episode, we are diving into the incredible story of Bill Cushing. Bill shares his experience as an outsider navigating the world of cancer, providing us with a unique perspective. From the challenges of diagnosis to the complexities of grief and loss, Bill's journey is one of strength, resilience, and finding hope amidst adversity. Join us as we explore Bill's memoir, his insights, and the importance of being your own healthcare advocate. Get ready for a powerful and inspiring conversation with Bill Cushing.
Welcome back to another empowering episode of Cancer U Thrivers. In today's episode of the heartfelt journey of Chrisie Canny, we delve into the decisions she made to prevent the reoccurrence of cancer. Join us as we explore her experience with a double mastectomy, the unexpected discovery during the surgery, and how her journey took an unexpected turn when meeting with an oncologist. Chrisie opens up about her thoughts on medication, the significance of an empowered attitude, and the importance of support from loved ones. Additionally, we'll learn more about Chrisie's remarkable jewelry company, Vented in Brooklyn, which channels the power of scent to evoke happy memories and provide relaxation. We'll also touch upon her passion for fundraising and her efforts to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients. This episode is filled with hope, resilience, and a reminder that cancer does not equate to death. So, settle in and let Chrisie's inspiring story remind you of the strength and courage that lies within all of us.
Welcome to another episode of Cancer U Thrivers, the podcast dedicated to sharing empowering stories and insightful information for those navigating the cancer journey. In today's episode, we have a very special guest, Bruce Berkowsky, here to share his wealth of knowledge and expertise in the field of natural health and healing. Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of traditional naturopathy and explore the deep psycho-spiritual aspects of healing. From understanding the intricate relationship between our physical and emotional well-being to uncovering the impact of lifestyle factors on our immune system, Bruce Berkowsky offers a unique perspective that goes beyond conventional medicine. Stay tuned as we discuss the power of essential oils, the importance of self-fulfillment, and the journey to building a strong immune system. Plus, we'll take a closer look at Bruce's mission to educate and empower through his online platform and membership program. Whether you or a loved one are currently facing a cancer diagnosis or simply seeking to enhance your overall well-being, this episode is for you. So, sit back, relax, and prepare to be inspired by this captivating episode of Cancer U Thrivers.
In this episode of Cancer U Thrivers, we hear the empowering story of Shayla Benoit. After making the decision to move forward with her life, Shayla navigates the challenges of transitioning from isolation to being around people again. She takes on a job in the theater, embracing its strict COVID-19 protocols, and finds solace in her work. However, her journey takes an unexpected turn when she experiences difficulty breathing and fears the worst. As she navigates misdiagnoses, intensive chemotherapy, and the physical and emotional toll of treatment, Shayla's resilience shines through. Join us as we explore her triumphs, the support she receives from her community, and her fight against cancer during a pandemic. This is Shayla Benoit's inspiring and transformative story.
Welcome back to Cancer U Thrivers, the podcast dedicated to sharing stories of resilience, hope, and triumph in the face of cancer. In today's episode, we are honored to have Heather Noggle as our guest, as she shares her inspiring journey as a long-term cancer survivor. From the unexpected kindness of a stranger to the challenges of discovering a new identity post-surgery, Heather has experienced it all. Join us as she opens up about her battle with a solid tumor, the physical and emotional side effects she has faced, and how she has embraced living her best life despite the obstacles. Stay tuned for an episode filled with strength, courage, and a reminder that even in the darkest moments, we can thrive.
If you're feeling overwhelmed and isolated, constantly searching for answers and support but never finding the understanding and connection you need, then you are not alone!Even in the face of adversity, we have the power to choose how we respond. I chose to continue living my life and pursuing my dreams, despite the challenges I faced. - Bob DePasqualeIn this episode, you will be able to:* Delve into the profound topic of early cancer diagnosis and why it can be life-changing. * Discover the pivotal significance of attentive healthcare and understanding your own body. * Explore how the emotional burden affects not just the patient, but a wide network of loved ones. * Absorb the unwavering determination and courage that define cancer survivors. * Learn about the intricate connection between life's challenges and the bolstering role that resilience and support play.
Meet Bob DePasquale, a man put to the sternest test very early in life. His story commences when he was an invincible 18-year-old entering Hofstra University with dreams in his eyes. Little did he know that he was harboring a silent monster within—cancer. Yet, even as he was grappling with the traumatic diagnosis, he decided to not let it define or limit him. Bob carried on with his student life, displaying remarkable resilience while undergoing painful treatments. His story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit emerging victorious in the face of adversity.
Imagine a vibrant, health-conscious woman, whose life revolved around radiating positivity and teaching others to captivate audiences. But, as fate would have it, an unexpected twist plunged her into a harsh reality she never saw coming. What happened next will leave you on the edge of your seat, eager to uncover the powerful lesson she learned about the importance of early detection and regular mammogram screenings.Even if you're a normal, healthy person, if you notice something that seems a little bit unusual, trust your instincts and bring it to the attention of a medical provider so you can have it checked out. - Nancy JuettenIn this episode, you will be able to:* Uncover a true testament to survival - an uplifting breast cancer journey. * Learn why early detection and regular mammogram screenings could be your lifeline. * Realize the value of personalized healthcare and taking the driver's seat for medical judgements. * Tap into the network of peer-to-peer mentoring to fortify cancer recovery action. * Acknowledge the mental and emotional repercussions of a cancer diagnosis and ways to deal with it.
Meet Nancy Juetten, an incredibly brave woman who has conquered one of life's biggest challenges – breast cancer. Known for her strong will and tenacity, she has beautifully made her way through the journey of breast cancer and inspires others to be proactive about it. Simultaneously managing her career at its peak and battling with her health, she made no excuses. Her story of courage and determination serves as a reminder of the stark reality of cancer and the importance of early detection.
Does this sound familiar? Have you been told that simply ignoring the symptoms or hoping they will go away is an effective way to address your concerns about colon cancer? But the pain and anxiety of not knowing, and the potential consequences of delaying timely screenings, can take a toll on your overall well-being. It's time to empower yourself with knowledge and take proactive steps towards early cancer detection.There's always somebody who's got it worse than you. So count your blessings and keep pushing forward. - Jim KukralIn this episode, you will be able to:* Empower yourself with knowledge on the vital importance of cancer screenings for early detection. * Grasp the weighty toll of cancer on mental health and the restorative power of therapy. * Delve into the rich rewards of living with an abundance mindset and its transformative impact on service to others. * Revolutionize your health, starting with gut wellness, by embracing constructive lifestyle changes. * Champion equitable healthcare, shedding light on the necessity to eradicate disparities in healthcare delivery.
Presenting Jim Kukral, an established marketing entrepreneur, accomplished author, and inspirational speaker, whose journey with health took a significant turn in 2020 when he was diagnosed with colon cancer. Instead of backing down, Jim stood tall and transformed his personal setback into a dynamic narrative about the urgency of cancer screenings. His experience, combined with his natural talent for public speaking, has led him to drive forward the vital conversation around early detection, making a profound impact on those who hear his story.
Do you want to cultivate self-love, resilience, and fully embrace your journey with cancer? Are you searching for guidance and inspiration to achieve this? Join us as we welcome guest speaker Grace DeAngeli, who will share the solution to help you foster a deep sense of self-love and resilience, enabling you to fully embrace your cancer journey and find strength in every step.The mind, the spirit, the heart - healing from the inside out. - Grace DeAngeliIn this episode, you will be able to:* Unravel the critical connections between your familial lineage and your breast cancer diagnosis. * Understand why making routine health checks a priority could potentially save your life. * Dipscover the potential of alternative healing methods that hold the promise of effective treatment. * Learn how a balance between Western medical practices and holistic healing procedures can create an optimal recovery environment. * Absorb the transformative power of self-love and resilience, and how to apply them to your own cancer journey.
Today, we are joined by an incredible guest, Grace DeAngeli. Based out of Melbourne, Australia, Grace tells an inspiring story of triumph over adversity. Amid childhood trauma and a familial history of cancer, Grace herself was diagnosed with breast cancer at 47. Instead of surrendering, she chose to confront adversity head-on, seeking a blend of traditional and alternative therapies. Grace's journey underlines the significance of routine health checks and the courage to question medical recommendations. Her experiences transformed her and led her to a personal mission of helping others in similar circumstances.
Have you heard these myths about integrative oncology and personalized cancer care? Myth 1: Integrative oncology is only for alternative medicine enthusiasts. Myth 2: Personalized cancer care is too expensive and only available to the wealthy. Myth 3: Traditional cancer treatments are the only effective option. Dr. Katrina Cox will debunk these myths and share the truth with you.I went, okay, I have to do this. I have to do this for the people of my community. I have to do this for a bigger purpose at large. And it really was a fundamental shift. It was a fundamental shift in my understanding and my confidence. - Dr. Katrina CoxIn this episode, you will be able to:* Uncover the benefits of integrative oncology and personalized cancer care. * Realize the striking knowledge gap and inadequate support concerning cancer survivorship in our current healthcare system. * Investigate the critical role of emotional and psychological wellness in the journey of cancer survivors. * Discover energetic therapies as a novel approach to addressing post-traumatic stress in cancer survivors. * Understand the importance of the collaborative approach in healthcare and the value of seeking second opinions.
Renowned naturopathic doctor, Dr. Katrina Cox, got her feet wet in the world of integrative oncology in a deeply personal way. The cancer journey of her parents sparked her interest in this field and pushed her to take on this ground-breaking, yet challenged realm. Her international bestseller The Opportunity in Cancer University is a testament to her understanding and empathy toward cancer survivors, their caregivers, and the difficulties they encounter. Her unique approach, backed by extensive research, provides patients the much-needed empowerment to take control of their health. Dr. Katrina's intimate stories and medical prowess give her words an authority that's both believable and relatable.
From Diagnosis to Triumph: Lesli Moore Dahlke's Inspiring Fight against Rare CancersA resilient three-time cancer survivor and healthcare advocate, Leslie Moore Dahlke uncovers the shocking connection between her exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam and her rare cancers, inspiring hope and determination in her fight for survival against all odds.I am determined. Four months was what they gave me. I went through four full-time, 24 hours, round the clock chemo. And this past July, it will have been 32 years. - Lesli Moore DahlkeIn this episode, you will be able to:* Witness the empowering transformation that emerges in the face of cancer survival. * Delve into the obscure link casting Agent Orange exposure as a catalyst for select rare cancers. * Apprehend the indispensability of stepping up in protection of your own healthcare rights. * Peel back the layers of emotional and psychological ramifications borne by long-time cancer survivors. * Unravel the scant acknowledgment and support offered to civilians touched by Agent Orange exposure.
Meet Lesli Moore Dahlke, an inspiring figure in the battle against rare cancers. Her personal journey, fraught with multiple cancer diagnoses stemming from exposure to Agent Orange, gives her a rare perspective on life, survival and the human spirit. Formerly a TV producer, now a healthcare advocate and motivational speaker, Lesli infuses her encounters with hope and fortitude. Her inspiring book, 'The Best is Yet to Come', encapsulates her strength and determination, providing an encouraging message of resilience and courage. Despite severe health trials, she continues to motivate, instilling positivity and resilience wherever she goes.
Does this sound familiar? You've battled through cancer, enduring countless treatments and medications, yet you still feel like something is missing. You've been told to rely solely on conventional medicine, but the results have been disappointing. The pain of not finding the holistic solutions you desperately crave is overwhelming. But fear not because, in this episode, we will take you on a transformative journey through holistic health for cancer survivors. We will challenge the ineffective actions you've been told to take and empower you to take control of your health. Get ready to discover a whole new world of possibilities that will revolutionize your post-cancer life."Never give up. Hold on tight and fight. You have the power to overcome any obstacle, especially cancer." - Bogdan ChugunovIn this episode, you will be able to:
- Traverse an inspiring cancer journey, spotlighting how holistic health practices are making waves in survivor communities.
- Acknowledge the struggle of handling healthcare, particularly without insurance, and learn adaptive survival methods.
- Comprehend why post-surgery recovery and a steadfast focus on overall health can be game-changers in cancer treatment.
- Dig into the wonder of alternative medicine and foods that could support an anticancerous lifestyle.
- Perceive how a cancer diagnosis can shake familial relationships and arms to address the resulting mental health challenges.
My special guest is Bogdan ChugunovIntroducing Bogdan Chugunov, a living testament to the importance of a holistic approach to health for cancer survivors. Born in Ukraine and relocating to the US, Bogdan faced the unexpected challenge of a gastric cancer diagnosis. He navigated the treatment journey by embracing the potential of natural foods and alternative medicine. Bogdan's explorations around the world unlocked beneficial insights he now shares with others. His experiences carved out his unique perspective on well-being and shaped his inspiring motto, 'Never give up', which he reflects on daily.
Does this sound familiar? You've been told to simply get used to it and accept the challenges that come with living with an ileostomy. But let's be honest, it's not that simple, is it? The pain and frustration of trying to adapt to a new way of life while facing physical and emotional hurdles can feel overwhelming. And yet, despite your efforts, you're still struggling to find the support and guidance you need. It's time for a different approach. Join us in this episode as we uncover the complexities of living with an ileostomy and empower you to overcome the challenges with resilience and confidence."I tend not to think about things I'm out of my control, such as medical issues. What I can control is my positive attitude." - Dan ShockleyIn this episode, you will be able to:
- Uncover the complexities of hereditary colon cancer syndrome and the significance of genetic testing.
- Realize the vital role of regular screenings in the early detection of potential health hazards.
- Journey through the challenging path of adapting to life with an ileostomy.
- Participate in a mission to de-stigmatize ostomies and amplify the call for universal awareness.
- Explore the need for healthcare reform emphasizing preventive screenings.
My special guest is Dan ShockleyMeet Dan Shockley, a man of resilience with an ability to adapt and overcome in the face of adversity. A retired Navy veteran, Dan has served in Operation Desert Storm and is an Iraqi Freedom Veteran, priding himself on the mental toughness earned from his military career. A little-known fact about our special guest, Dan has been diagnosed with an attenuated form of Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), a rare hereditary condition impacting less than 0.3% of the global population. With his trademark positivity, Dan navigated his complicated medical journey to live a full life post an unexpected ileostomy surgery.
Do you want to enhance pain management and facilitate open conversations about end-of-life care for your loved one with a terminal illness? Are you searching for effective solutions to improve your quality of life during this crucial time? Join us as we welcome Jane Duncan Rogers, a specialist in end-of-life care, who will be sharing invaluable insights and strategies to help you achieve the desired outcome of improved pain management and effective communication about end-of-life care. Prepare to discover practical solutions that can make a significant difference in your loved one's journey, ensuring they receive the care and support they deserve."He wanted to have the best possible quality of life for as long as possible... I really respected that." - Jane Duncan RogersIn this episode, you will be able to:
- Delve into the importance of tackling end-of-life planning and why open conversations are needed.
- Uncover the pivotal role of airing end-of-life desires and the security that well-structured plans provide.
- Realize the crucial aspect of lucid discussions with healthcare experts in serious situations.
- Comprehend the complexity of dealing with pain and transferring information about end-of-life care guidance and selections.
- Acknowledge the vast requirement for empathetic encouragement for caregivers and acceptance of the bereavement process.
My special guest is Jane Duncan RogersIntroducing Jane Duncan Rogers, a compassionate guide in the realm of end-of-life planning. Following her husband's devastating cancer journey, Jane has channeled her grief into creating a transformative platform, Before I Go Solutions. Her organization provides much-needed support, education, and reassurance to those grappling with terminal illnesses and their implications. In sharing her experiences with effectively managing her husband's resultant pain, Jane offers not only practical solutions but also a sense of shared understanding and human connection.
If you're feeling a deep sense of emptiness and longing, desperately clinging to fading memories, and struggling to capture the essence of your parent's love in a tangible way, then you are not alone! Despite your efforts to cherish and capture moments with your loved ones, the pain of losing a parent to cancer can leave you feeling like time is slipping away and memories are slipping through your fingers. The ache of being unable to fully encapsulate their selflessness, generosity, love for travel, and the sheer essence of who they were can be overwhelming. But take heart, for there is solace and support in finding ways to honor and hold on to those precious memories."It was more or less like we wanted to be there for [our dad] and spend that time, let him know, we still love you, no matter what has happened in the past, You're still our dad, we love you." - Patrick HarrisIn this episode, you will be able to:
- Unearth the often unspoken impact of cancer on families, dwelling on the emotional aftermath of a frightening diagnosis.
- Re-evaluate your relationship with loved ones, understanding the potency of each moment in the face of life's unpredictability.
- Grasp the urgency behind enhanced cancer awareness and crucial research funding, realizing your potential contribution towards this goal.
- Relive memories and interactions with parents, celebrating their unique qualities, their generosity, and their undying love.
- Discover an array of support networks and resources available at your disposal, shedding light on the importance of communal healing and solace.
My special guest is Patrick HarrisToday, we're privy to the life journey of an extraordinary individual, Patrick Harris. In the face of losing both his parents to cancer within the same year, instead of succumbing to despair, Patrick found strength and purity of purpose. He drew upon the values his parents instilled in him and launched Life Approach, a remarkable endeavor aimed at raising funds for cancer research and bringing more awareness to this deadly disease. Patrick resides in sunny San Antonio, Texas, where he juggles the demands of being a dedicated husband and father of two with a dedication to his noble cause.
Join cancer survivor JJ Singleton as he embarks on a journey to cultivate appreciation and find joy in the little things as he navigates the challenges and triumphs of his cancer journey and shares his insights with fellow cancer patients and survivors."Appreciation, to me, is everything. It's what gives you hope, it's what brings you joy, it's what makes life worth living. I've learned to appreciate every moment, every interaction, and every small pleasure that comes my way." - JJ SingletonIn this episode, you will be able to:* Uncover the intricacies of a cancer journey from diagnosis to treatment and the challenges in between. * Discover the importance of clinical trials for those cancer patients seeking alternative treatment possibilities. * Learn how a cancer diagnosis can reshape relationships with loved ones, changing dynamics and strengthening bonds. * Realize the importance of gratitude in daily life and how finding joy in small things has a big impact. * Gather valuable resources and identify crucial organizations offering support to colorectal cancer patients and caregivers.
JJ Singleton is no stranger to challenges or resilience. Battling a colorectal cancer diagnosis at a mere 27 years of age, Singleton's journey has been filled with ups and downs. After initial treatment, the cancer returned and metastasized, transforming him into an incurable terminal patient. This fighting spirit is a testament to his strength, having undergone a staggering 121 rounds of chemotherapy. Despite these dire circumstances, JJ exemplifies a powerful will, lending his voice as an advocate to those on a similar path, drawing from his experiences to inspire and uplift others.
If you're feeling frustrated and hopeless because, despite all your efforts, you still can't seem to find the emotional support you need as a cancer patient or caregiver, then you are not alone!In this episode, you will be able to:* Appreciate the vital role of paying attention to your body for early medical intervention. * Explore the rollercoaster journey of bone marrow transplantation in cancer treatment. * Delve into the emotional burden of living with cancer and the powerful impact of family support. * Unveil comprehensive support resources for those affected by cancer and their caregivers. * Understand how families are shaped by cancer experiences and the importance of fostering open dialogue.
Meet Ashlee and Michael Cramer, a mother and son who have navigated the difficult world of cancer together. With Michael's rare cancer diagnosis of hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma, they have faced the emotional challenges of this journey head-on. They have turned their experience into a powerful message of hope and support through their podcast, "Michael and Mom Talk Cancer." Ashlee's fierce determination and love for her son, coupled with Michael's courageous spirit, provide valuable insight and encouragement for individuals impacted by cancer.
Jason and his family were living a good life until his wife was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. They fought for eight months, but eventually, she passed away, leaving Jason to care for their two boys. But when his boys asked him if he was going to die too, Jason was forced to face the fear of being a single parent and caregiver, all while trying to hide his own emotions. Will Jason be able to keep it together for his family, or will his emotions get the best of him?In this episode, you will be able to:* Understand the hurdles faced by caregivers and uncover ways to provide emotional aid to patients and their families. * Navigate the process of grief and discover how the positive influence of philanthropy can help in coping. * Grasp the significance of human connections and resilience in the journey toward successful cancer treatment. * Learn about Hopekit's objectives and its efforts to assist individuals in overcoming grief and mental health challenges. * Gain valuable insights into self-improvement and takeaways from cancer experiences and caregiving responsibilities.
Jason Clawson is a devoted father, therapist, and determined advocate for positivity and philanthropy. After losing his wife, Valerie, to stage four colon cancer, Jason found himself facing the challenge of raising their two young sons and finding a way to cope with their grief. Despite the hardships, Jason has shown immense courage and resilience. He and his sons have turned their pain into happiness by sharing sunshine boxes with others who need a little light in their lives. Jason's journey is a testament to the power of love, support, and the importance of giving back to the community.
Just when CJ Grace thought she had faced the worst life could throw at her, a shocking twist turned her world upside down once again. But this fighter wasn't about to give up. Find out how CJ Grace navigated through this unexpected turn and emerged stronger than ever in the face of unimaginable challenges.In this episode, you will be able to:
- Obtain knowledge about the vital role a holistic approach plays in cancer treatment methodologies.
- Unravel the intricate correlation between stress factors, health, and cancer development.
- Acknowledge your responsibility in advocating for yourself and making carefully-considered decisions in health.
- Envision how caregivers significantly contribute to enhancing the well-being of those battling cancer.
- Identify strategies for conquering setbacks and cultivating resilience when faced with adversity.
Introducing CJ Grace, an inspiring woman who has battled breast cancer twice and emerged stronger than ever. A former BBC journalist and author, CJ has faced her husband's infidelity head-on. She's never let herself become a victim and maintained her snarky sense of humor throughout. CJ's story of perseverance, exploring unconventional treatments, and standing up for her own health choices is sure to resonate with anyone facing adversity.
Dr. David Stewart talks about his journey into oncology and the importance of honest communication with patients. But as he delves into the challenges of clinical research regulation, he exposes the shocking reality that patients are dying due to slow progress. Will he be able to find a solution, or will the speed bumps continue to impede progress?In this episode, you will be able to:* Recognize the surprising relationship between everyday habits and cancer risk factors such as smoking, drinking, and obesity. * Debunk the widespread myth surrounding the blood-brain barrier and its implications for chemotherapy and brain tumor treatments. * Tackle the challenges involved in clinical trials, from delicate safety regulations to finding the right eligibility criteria and endpoints. * Comprehend the vital significance of empathy in oncology for facilitating tough discussions, ensuring patient well-being, and expediting progress. * Acknowledge the lasting impact of mentorship in medical training and its role in shaping the next generation of knowledgeable and innovative doctors.
Say hello to Dr. David Stewart, an expert oncologist who's been in the field for more than four decades. His journey started with training at MD Anderson and continued through his practice in both the United States and Canada. Dr. Stewart's dedication to empathetic patient care and transparent communication has made a lasting impact on countless lives. He's also shared his wisdom in his book "A Short Primer on Why Cancer University Still Sucks," which provides valuable insights for patients.
A young woman discovers a lump in her breast and is told by her doctor that she has breast cancer. With the support of her loved ones, she undergoes treatment and surgery but faces difficult decisions about her body and future. Will she choose to stay on medication with unbearable side effects or make a controversial decision? Find out in this emotional journey of self-discovery and resilience.In this episode, you will be able to:* Uncover the essential role self-awareness and support play in the journey of cancer diagnosis and treatment. * Discover how holistic approaches enhance the healing process for breast cancer patients. * Weigh the pros and cons of multiple breast cancer treatment and reconstruction methods. * Identify and mend toxic relationships to foster a healthy environment for healing and personal growth. * Reclaim your sense of sexuality and body image after facing the impacts of cancer.
Introducing Juni Bucher, a courageous breast cancer survivor who, after her victory in 2020, decided to change her life by leaving her lucrative legal position to study nutritional therapy. Now, Juni dedicates herself to helping fellow breast cancer patients live their best lives by sharing her knowledge and experiences. As a part of the Rose City Sexual Health Collective, she collaborates with sex therapists in offering nutrition and stress management support to breast cancer patients seeking to regain their body confidence. Juni's unwavering determination and strength throughout her journey are truly remarkable.
Join us as we celebrate the 100th episode of the Cancer U Thrivers Podcast.
- 01:10: Here are some clips from some of our guests.
- 19:10: Thriver Rapid Fire—Beach, Desert, or Mountains
- 19:51: Beach Boys, Beatles, or Rolling Stones
- 20:52: What is one word that best describes you?
- 21:48: Before you die, what is the last song you want to hear?
- 23:28: What is the last meal you want to eat?
- 25:01: Who is the last person or people you want to see?
- 26:14: What are the last words you will speak?
- 27:31:Thank you so much for listening to the 100th episode!
Kim Becker spent her career helping women with cancer smile when they look in the mirror. She never expected that she would be the one to hear the words, "You have cancer." Kim was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor on her colon.
- 02:19: Three years after we got married, he was diagnosed with rare liver disease.
- 04:06: Needless to say, my health was not on the top of my radar.
- 06:34: I sent the sample off and didn't think another thing about it.
- 09:22: Who's going to take care of me if something happens to me?
- 11:05: The tumor that we found is malignant.
- 13:28: Did they know it was a neuroendocrine tumor at that point?
- 16:00: The entire operating room was singing just a small-town girl.
- 18:52: Will normalcy ever kick back in again?
- 22:04: It was probably about six months out when I had a Facebook group with about 50 people that were in it.
- 24:03: I didn't think that I was claustrophobic.
- 26:27: What do the genetic testing shows?
- 28:47: What was your worst moment?
- 31:00: How did I get to this point in time?
- 31:19: What was your best moment?
- 33:01: I always wanted to be the cool mom.
- 33:22: What’s one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning?
- 35:16: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 36:50: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 38:13: Aside from Cancer U, what's one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Hello Gorgeous website
- Kim on LinkedIn
- Email Kim
- Call Kim +1 574.850.0300
In 2018, Cory found a football-sized tumor in his chest. When the Doctor diagnosed him with cancer, he said, "You watch my God do a miracle!". In the middle of cancer treatment, Jesus healed Cory. Now he and his wife coach other cancer patients and caregivers into their own victory.
- 02:10: I almost blacked out.
- 06:53: What did they do to diagnose cancer?
- 07:12: Your lungs could collapse.
- 10:21: We'll move forward with the chemotherapy treatment.
- 12:03: I had nine CT scans.
- 14:01: His body was freaking out.
- 16:19: It was a massive tumor.
- 18:28: God told me specifically that I would be healed by the third round.
- 21:09: What was your doctor's reaction?
- 23:13: For us, cancer was life-changing.
- 25:10: How do you get from southern California to Nashville?
- 27:10: What was your worst moment?
- 29:20: What about your best moment?
- 30:54: What's one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning?
- 33:29: We also did chiropractic acupuncture.
- 35:03: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 37:28: You can do so much with nutrition.
- 37:58: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 39:33: Aside from Cancer U, what's one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Victor's Path
- Victor's Path on Instagram
- Victor's Path on Tiktok
- Cancer Journey Blueprint
- Cancer Support Community Facebook Group
Mark Kageyama is a stage 4 cancer patient with prostate, bone, and lung cancer. He has been battling cancer for 17 months. Mark has a YouTube channel called 2BYourOwnHero, where he looks to inspire people to appreciate their incredible lives!
- 01:54: Before Covid, I worked out regularly 3 to 5 times a week.
- 04:54: Your cancer is so bad I can't cure you.
- 08:28: Did you have any symptoms of prostate cancer?
- 10:42: What was the recommended treatment plan if she couldn't cure you?
- 12:30: We're admitting you to the hospital.
- 16:32: What was your career?
- 18:58: My legs were hard as a rock before getting cancer.
- 21:50: You must add animal protein to your diet if you want to get better.
- 23:52: When did the chemotherapy end?
- 26:09: She passed away from cancer about four years ago.
- 29:13: What is one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 32:10: If you could only do one thing to change healthcare in the US, what would it be and why?
- 34:02: It's so rare to meet a doctor with true compassion.
- 37:27: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 39:58: Aside from Cancer U, what's one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Mark's Caring Bridge page
- Mark's YouTube channel
- The Truth About Cancer
Tom Reaoch is a breast cancer survivor, and he is known as The King of Networking in Brazil. He is the host of three podcasts, a speaker, an author, and a Founding Member American Chamber of Commerce Campinas, Brazil.
- 02:32: I am a male breast cancer thriver.
- 04:52: At that point, I hadn't told my wife.
- 07:33: How did you not communicate?
- 09:34: Why be sad and why change?
- 12:29: The first thing he did was examine my testicles.
- 14:19: I didn't even know they put men on tamoxifen.
- 17:04: One of our best friends was a woman who had double cancer.
- 19:01: I couldn't get out of bed.
- 20:33: What was your worst moment?
- 23:21: The sooner you discover the better.
- 25:34: The prevention part for me is tamoxifen.
- 27:37: When you're in chemo, you're depressed.
- 29:28: That was my rebirth.
- 31:19: What is one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning?
- 32:07: If you could only do one thing to improve health care, what would it be and why?
- 34:37: If I hadn't had adequate health care, I probably wouldn't be here talking with you or anybody else.
- 35:11: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 37:17: Aside from Cancer U, what's one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Tom on social media
- Tom on LinkedIn
Tamron Little, wife, mom of four, and cancer survivor. At the age of 21 and pregnant, she was misdiagnosed with a fibroid tumor, which later turned out to be peritoneal Mesothelioma. 15 years later she shares her story spreading hope and inspiration to others.
- 02:13: I found out that I was pregnant.
- 04:04: What is this thing in your stomach?
- 06:02: I was on Iron Pill six times a day.
- 09:02: Fibroid tumors usually respond well to that type of birth control.
- 11:18: My mom started crying.
- 13:34: I've never in a day of my life worked in a coal mine or been a firefighter.
- 15:57: They told me I had 18 months to live.
- 19:45: What did he say about treating it?
- 22:04: He took a part of the lining of my stomach.
- 24:04: I still want to see you back in like two years.
- 26:06: I'm able to give people hope.
- 27:38: What was your worst moment?
- 29:24: What was your best moment?
- 30:47: What is one thing you wish you had known at the beginning?
- 31:52: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 33:18: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 35:06: Aside from Cancer U, what's one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Tamron's website
- Email Tamron
- The Mesothelioma Center
Danny has survived cancer of the lung, testicle, and jaw. He has spent 20 years researching cancer solutions and the last 7 years helping terminally ill cancer patients to fully recover their health. Danny is British, educated at the London School of Economics, and lived in Mumbai India since 1996.
- 02:02: In the year 2000, my lung collapsed.
- 04:13: It spontaneously exploded, and your lung collapsed.
- 06:03: I started smoking at the age of eight.
- 08:16: I decided to have a vasectomy.
- 11:08: I had the taste and the smell of rotting flesh for three months.
- 13:15: Cancer still destroyed a decent part of my jaw.
- 15:13: What kind of cancer did she have?
- 18:04: He didn't know if there was any causal link between him getting cancer and his son dying.
- 21:14: Doctors think that cancer is abnormal cell growth.
- 22:54: Who made an impact on your life?
- 26:24: She was given 17 rounds of chemo on a blood test.
- 28:11: Some people just do not have the capacity to heal themselves.
- 31:30: If you could only do one thing to change healthcare, what would it be and why?
- 34:42: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 37:23: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Danny's website
- Danny's Twitter handle: @GNMIndia
- Danny on LinkedIn
- Email Danny
Susan Keller is the author of Blood Brother: A Memoir. Articles about her story of hope and survival have been widely published. She is a monthly blogger for Psychology Today and CURE Magazine. Susan is a presenter at Dominican University and a CME-presenter to the staff at Stanford Cancer Center.
- 02:27: I was diagnosed on September 15, 2005.
- 04:37: What's that on your neck?
- 06:45: I have a lump.
- 08:50: They discovered that over 90% of my bone marrow was cancerous.
- 10:43: Where were you being treated?
- 12:56: I believe she saved my life.
- 17:05: At what point was a bone marrow transplant necessary?
- 18:59: I have three brothers.
- 23:04: Did you call your husband?
- 26:09: I got my transplant on March 26, 2006.
- 28:33: The best moment was the morning of the transplant.
- 31:30: He is such a sweet guy.
- 35:14: I thought there was a recurrence because of a number of symptoms.
- 35:41: What's one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning?
- 39:39: I love that this cancer gave me this new career.
- 40:52: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be why?
- 42:31: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 44:59: Aside from Cancer U, what's one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Susan's website
- Susan's book Blood Brother
- Cure Magazine
Ann is a serial entrepreneur, author, and cancer advocate. After her own cancer diagnosis in 2014, Ann, who spent several decades as a surgical assistant to a glaucoma specialist, recognized how little she knew about the cancer journey, even with her vast medical background. This raised a question in her mind, “If I found the experience difficult, what must it be like to have no medical background and receive a cancer diagnosis?” This question was the impetus for her to pen, Holy Crap I Have Cancer! Now What? What to Expect When You Weren’t Expecting, a book that assists patients, who are newly diagnosed with cancer through their treatment and into survivorship.
- 02:22: I had dense breasts and a family history of cancer.
- 04:31: I go to the surgeon, and I fall in love with him immediately.
- 06:40: I spent 20 years in medicine as a surgical technician.
- 08:22: I was in such bad shape.
- 10:19: I was on a 21-day cycle.
- 12:45: It's the first time I've ever thought of giving up.
- 14:00: East Coast chemotherapy can be far different from West Coast chemotherapy.
- 16:15: I had radiation after the mastectomy.
- 18:20: Silicone was banned for a long time, and they brought that back.
- 20:21: I was stage three.
- 22:08: After you got the implants, were you happy with them?
- 24:26: I suddenly started having vertigo all the time.
- 27:52: In Arizona, people have to be told about breast implant illness prior to getting implants.
- 28:48: What was your worst moment during that time?
- 29:24: Staph infections are typically more painful than the original injury or surgery.
- 32:29: I would give you a 15% chance of being here next year.
- 35:34: What's nice about the clinical trials is that they keep a close eye on you.
- 36:14: What was your best moment?
- 39:49: What is one thing you wish you'd known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 41:12: If you could only change one thing in health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 45:18: Thriver Rapid Questions
- 46:33: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Ann Low's book Holy Crap I Have Cancer! Now What?: What To Expect When You Weren't Expecting
- Email Ann
Patricia Doucet speaks and writes with clarity, compassion, and humor–encouraging women to never give up. A Christian wife, mother, cancer survivor, cancer caregiver, divorcee, mental health and relationship coach, artist, and pianist–she is on a mission to inspire women who are on their own journey–from brokenness to beloved.
- 02:45: It was very slow-growing thyroid cancer.
- 04:14: I got another lump in the same place.
- 06:17: I have never heard of that kind of surgery.
- 08:54: Did you say anything to him at the next follow-up appointment?
- 11:05: I did a lot of therapy so I could keep my neck upright.
- 13:06: She had melanoma before I got cancer.
- 14:37: How was your experience as a caregiver different than when you were a patient?
- 15:06: What was your worst moment in those five years?
- 17:31: She had gotten breast cancer quite young.
- 19:20: What was your best moment?
- 22:17: I didn't learn how to love myself 100% until my 40s.
- 23:27: What is one thing you wish you'd known at the beginning of your cancer journey?
- 24:26: If you could do one thing to improve health care in Canada, what would it be and why?
- 25:56: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
Resources
- Patricia's website
Dr. Effie Andrikopoulou is a Cardio-Oncologist and a cardiac Imaging expert caring for her patients in Birmingham, Alabama. She is passionate about providing excellent care driven by her core values of active listening, empathy, and respect.
- 02:05: I went from Greece to Baltimore.
- 03:59: Did you always want to be a doctor?
- 05:30: When I came to Baltimore, I also did research on surgery.
- 08:57: The clock starts ticking the minute the person comes to the hospital.
- 11:31: Tell us a little bit more about interacting with people who have cancer.
- 14:34: Every medication is helpful, but it comes with different types of side effects.
- 17:42: What has been your worst moment as a physician?
- 20:26: Did medical school prepare you to go through that experience knowing that some of your patients will die?
- 24:34: In the past couple of years, I've started digging deeper into psychology and leadership.
- 25:50: What has been the best moment?
- 27:43: I always tell my patients the minimum that their heart needs to stay healthy is 30 minutes of decent-paced walking, five days a week.
- 31:08: She survived her cancer, but she was left with heart failure as a result of that.
- 34:27: There should be a bare minimum level of self-care that we do that will allow us to be present for our patients and their families.
- 36:30: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 43:22: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 47:22: Aside from Cancer U, what's one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Dr. Effie at UAB
- Dr. Effie on LinkedIn
- Dr. Effie on Twitter
Joy Huber is a stage 4 cancer survivor, speaker, author, blogger, and “Dose of Joy” podcast host. Joy endured three years of chemotherapy suffering complete hair loss in her 30s. During her cancer journey Joy realized, “While no one’s happy they have cancer, you can have cancer and still be happy.”
- 2:00: My diagnosis was in March of 2010.
- 04:32: I had noticed kinds of these lumps or bulges.
- 07:27: I need to set you up with the ear nose and throat specialist.
- 10:02: Even if you love your doctor, you should get a second opinion when it comes to cancer.
- 12:41: What's challenging is they'll needle through the skin.
- 14:56: It’s not uncommon for someone to get a port.
- 17:01: What were you doing for work at that time?
- 20:03: How many treatments you were supposed to have?
- 22:15: Lymphomas tend to recur relapse and come back.
- 24:07: I had to do chemotherapy and his funeral within 48 hours.
- 27:18: What was your best moment?
- 30:32: I'm 33, but all my hair is gone.
- 32:34: People have different reactions when they hear the word cancer.
- 33:16: What is the one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 34:09: If you could only do one thing to improve healthcare in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 36:19: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 39:32: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Dose of Joy Facebook page
- Dose of Joy Podcast on Spotify
- Email Joy
At the age of 24, Matt Ode was diagnosed with Stage 3C Testicular Cancer. By the age of 25, he was led into a 2-week coma with multiple near-death experiences having to relearn to live his life over again. Fast forward 5 years, Matt is now a keynote motivational speaker and coach helping individuals transform their setbacks into their superpowers.
- 02:22: We have what's called scan anxiety.
- 04:10: I had to get rushed into the emergency surgery.
- 07:30: They found out I had the highest stage of testicular cancer.
- 09:11: There are so many ways of doing chemotherapy.
- 11:35: Your tumor is wrapped around what's called your inferior vena cava.
- 13:18: I was in the hospital for an entire week.
- 15:18: After 53 days I couldn't eat anything.
- 17:27: I was in a coma.
- 19:15: We offered um 40 hours of personal training for free to all our employees.
- 21:23: What was your worst moment?
- 22:58: Why did you stop doing physical therapy?
- 25:33: How did you propose?
- 27:23: What's one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning?
- 29:57: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 31:05: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Matt's website
- Matt on Facebook
- Matt on LinkedIn
- Matt on Instagram
- Matt on YouTube
- Testicular Cancer Foundation
In November 2019, Greg Ciola was diagnosed with stage 3 unresectable malignant metastatic melanoma. It spread to his brain as an egg-sized hemorrhaging stage 4 tumor that almost killed him. Going from feeling perfectly healthy to being in a battle for his life, Greg felt a spiritual call to start a support group to help people battling cancer.
- 02:37: I knew nothing about melanoma.
- 04:43: You have metastatic melanoma.
- 06:12: How often do you have to have the infusion?
- 08:45: I had to do constant blood draws to see what was going on.
- 10:03: All the scans were clear up until October of 2020.
- 12:19: We see something in your brain.
- 14:41: It can show up anywhere.
- 16:40: Was your wife allowed to be with you in the beginning?
- 19:07: Did you only have to do the procedure one time?
- 22:55: If anything's off, they won't give you the immunotherapy.
- 25:31: Prior to cancer, you were into fitness wellness working out supplements.
- 27:05: Do you think this was harder for you to go through it as a patient or as a caregiver?
- 29:01: What has been your worst moment?
- 30:54: What about your best moment?
- 33:14: What's one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning?
- 33:50: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 36:15: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 38:23: Aside from Cancer U, what's one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Crossing Jordan Ministries
- Greg on LinkedIn
Martha Tettenborn is a registered dietitian, low-carb health coach, and a recent ovarian cancer survivor. She used nutritional strategies to dramatically reduce her side effects from chemotherapy and Martha is on a mission to share this information with others facing chemo.
- 02:35: It was like I was laying on an egg or something.
- 04:54: The gynecologist that I was referred to was on a month's holiday.
- 07:19: The marker that would have indicated cancer was really low.
- 10:29: I had my tonsils out when I was five.
- 12:43: Did you have the hysterectomy prior to chemo?
- 14:48: There was no tumor to radiate.
- 16:50: If you don't get any recurrence in about five years you were in group A.
- 18:58: I feel incredibly blessed that this cyst was way too big for me to ignore.
- 21:40: I was terrified of chemotherapy.
- 23:19: I discovered that cancer has a different metabolism.
- 25:26: What does it mean to be ketogenic?
- 27:34: I wanted to keep the cancer from having a happy growth environment?
- 30:06: I went through six rounds of chemo.
- 32:34: What was your worst moment?
- 34:10: How has this changed your practice as a dietitian now that you've lived it as a patient?
- 36:02: I do wardrobe and backstage.
- 38:05: What is one thing that you wish you had known at the very beginning?
- 39:08: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in Canada, what would it be and why?
- 40:18: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 42:54: Aside from Cancer U, what's one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Martha's website
- Martha's Hacking Chemo Facebook page
- Martha on LinkedIn
- Email Martha
- Martha's book Hacking Chemo
Savio P. Clemente coaches cancer survivors to overcome the confusion and gain the clarity needed to get busy living in mind, body, and spirit. Savio is a Board Certified wellness coach, #1 best-selling author, syndicated columnist, podcaster, stage 3 cancer survivor, and founder of The Human Resolve LLC.
- 02:18: I was someone who never even took aspirin.
- 04:17: I'm just someone who always did things on my own.
- 06:17: Did you tell friends at all?
- 08:45: I'm the only son.
- 11:40: If you feel like your heart's racing, please let us know.
- 13:11: I was always either researching or looking at things on the internet.
- 15:14: How old were you when you were diagnosed?
- 17:28: I also researched and looked up some passages in the Koran.
- 20:17: I created a Google alert for my cancer.
- 22:17: What was your worst moment during that time?
- 23:50: What was your best moment?
- 24:42: What do you wish you had known at the very beginning?
- 25:38: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 28:20: I just focused like a laser beam on my health and well-being,
- 29:24: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 31:57: Aside from Cancer U, what's one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Savio's website The Human Resolve
- Savio's book I Survived Cancer
- Savio on LinkedIn
- The Human Resolve on Twitter & Instagram
Book Marketing Mentor Judy M. Baker helps business authors get more bang for their book, turning intellectual property into multiple streams of income with minimal effort. After conquering ovarian cancer in 2014, she became an author advocate and self-publishing evangelist. She plans to publish her memoir/guidebook in 2022.
- 01:42: We went out to lunch, and I couldn't eat it.
- 04:05: I don't need a colonoscopy.
- 06:46: I was like out of it, but the pain didn't stop.
- 09:29: At what point did they tell you it was cancer?
- 11:48: He never completely regained the use of his arm.
- 14:39: I couldn't breathe because it was pressing on my diaphragm.
- 16:07: Did you have any significant tumors on your ovaries?
- 18:24: I walked because you know that's what they tell you to do after hysterectomy.
- 23:02: There's no sort of playbook for how to break up with friends.
- 23:56: What is one thing that you wish you had known at the very beginning?
- 27:53: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 29:46: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 33:14: Aside from Cancer U, what's one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Deborah Myers Wellness
- Judy's website
- Get Growing With Your Book
Kim Sorrelle is an entrepreneur, director of a non-profit organization, author, speaker, and lover of all people. Four months after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, her husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, passing away just six weeks later. Kim began questioning the true meaning of love so she dedicated a full year to figure it out. The things that she discovered about love are unlike anything you've heard before and are chronicled in her book, Love Is.
- 01:32: How did this breast cancer diagnosis come about?
- 03:58: He just grabbed onto me and held me.
- 06:25: What stage and what type of breast cancer did you have?
- 08:53: I had to have a complete hysterectomy because of the hormone receptors.
- 10:05: I had a male doctor I told him to pick the size.
- 14:50: I'm trying to call him and I'm not getting anywhere because his phone is off.
- 17:01: The numbers were absolutely outrageous way higher than in the last lecture.
- 19:29: Why do you want your husband to have pancreatic cancer?
- 21:44: He had one round of chemo and his numbers never returned to a point to be able to have another round.
- 23:59: We had hospice involved from the beginning and had an incredible experience with them.
- 26:24: It just happened that fast.
- 28:18: She seemed 100% at peace and the hospice nurse was like okay she's probably going to go today.
- 30:07: I would have done anything in the world for that man.
- 32:20: What is one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning?
- 34:15: It was more of a transition than just a moment in time with him leaving.
- 35:28: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 37:02: I don't think doctors get any kind of training on how to talk about dying.
- 39:15: The two focuses of the lab were pancreatic and breast cancer.
- 40:44: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 41:49: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Kim's website
- Kim on LinkedIn
- Kim's book Cry Until You Laugh
- Email Kim
Surviving Stage 3C and Stage 4 colon cancer and their treatments and overcoming their long-term side effects taught Jay Einbender that cancer is not just a journey of the body, but equally a journey of the mind and soul. And that all three must be treated concurrently.
- 01:56: I started having symptoms in my lower left abdomen.
- 04:27: Why was it such a nightmare?
- 06:06: I had my chemotherapy at Sloan Kettering.
- 08:35: It cost $10,000 a shot to keep my white blood cell levels high.
- 10:35: I slept on average three hours a night.
- 12:48: Cancer stresses your finances from the very beginning.
- 14:43: What did you do before cancer?
- 17:57: She’s the number one lung transplant doctor in the United States.
- 20:59: What was the worst moment for you?
- 23:04: People always think of me as an extrovert, but I'm really an introverted extrovert.
- 24:19: How about your best moment?
- 27:10: What is one thing you wish you had known at the beginning?
- 31:18: if you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 32:41: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 34:08: Aside from Cancer U, what's one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Heartfirst
- Heartfirst on Facebook
- Email Jay
When bodybuilder Richard Bagdonas was diagnosed with cancer at the age of forty-five, he set out to design a new fitness regimen to help him fight that battle. One that would keep his mind and body strong enough to win. After beating stage IV cancer—and then COVID pneumonia—Richard started sharing his workout story and building a dedicated community of FitFAB warriors.
- 01:31: Just a few years ago, my family and I went to Mexico.
- 02:56: I sat down in her office, and I said I have cancer.
- 05:00: I wrote a letter email to Dr. Michael Wong at MD Anderson.
- 07:14: Were there any side effects from the immunotherapy?
- 09:15: Did your doctors think you were crazy?
- 11:19: I started writing the book during the very first month of cancer treatment.
- 13:25: I was going back and forth to Houston quite often.
- 15:14: Cancer that was in my body was completely gone.
- 17:12: When they ran a CT scan, they found a benign tumor behind her left eyeball the size of an eyeball.
- 19:51: In 2019 I was cured of cancer.
- 22:22: I had 30% lung capacity at the time.
- 25:08: When I was at the hospital, I was vegetarian.
- 26:11: What is one thing you wish you had known at the beginning of your cancer journey?
- 26:53: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 28:14: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 29:38: Aside from Cancer U, what's one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Fit For Any Battle
- Richard on LinkedIn
- Richard on Twitter
- Email Richard
Philip Lister is an adult and child psychiatrist and psychotherapist. Liza, the second of their three children died 25 years ago at age six after a two-year journey with cancer. Dr. Lister works in private practice, often with families facing loss or severe medical illness. He also teaches the art of psychotherapy at Columbia and Mount Sinai medical centers. He is a therapist in the Phase 3 study of MDMA-assisted therapy for the treatment of PTSD.
- 03:24: Could this be leukemia?
- 05:09: She had acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
- 07:35: We didn't want to give her too much information.
- 09:15: I trust that her curiosity was respected.
- 12:02: Is it something that we could have protected her from?
- 14:32: Did you go forward with the clinical trial?
- 16:10: Liza lost her hair.
- 17:36: The next bump in the road was that she got a fungal infection.
- 20:36: How old was Liza at this point?
- 22:46: What did that treatment look like?
- 26:42: How long did that go on?
- 28:51: I remember she was very endearing when she first saw this booth.
- 30:11: Was there ever a point where you knew that she was not going to survive?
- 32:01: How did Liza respond?
- 35:57: She had accumulated many, many cows at one point.
- 36:57: How old was your other daughter during this?
- 40:42: I think it’s time that I'm dying, and I want you to know that I love you.
- 42:06: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 43:49: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 45:52: Aside from Cancer U, what's one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Phil's website
- Email Phil
- A Short Good Life (on Amazon)
At the age of five, R.J. Windham was the victim of a hit-and-run accident and left for dead in the middle of the street. He survived. At 26, he was the victim of the terrorist bombing of a train station, where lives were lost, and dozens were injured. He survived. And in 2019, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and survived that as well. Through his podcast, Youtube channel, and his books, R.J. is committed to ensuring that you understand that you are not alone.
- 02:38: I took two steps to the left and boom the whole place exploded.
- 04:31: When were you diagnosed with cancer?
- 06:56: Were you in a teaching hospital?
- 09:39: For the first time in my life, I was looking at mortality.
- 12:14: My wife and I sat down, and we went through everything.
- 14:45: I ended up being in the hospital for 3.5 days.
- 17:36: There was one thing that I think still may haunt me down the road.
- 20:17: It’s poison running through your body that looks like maple syrup.
- 22:15: I have the same symptoms reoccurring every single time.
- 24:18: If you take one Viagra a day, it will hopefully regenerate the nerve endings.
- 26:16: I prefer female doctors.
- 28:37: I call it an adventure as opposed to a journey.
- 29:15: What was your worst moment?
- 30:32: What about your best moment?
- 31:16: What is one thing you wish you'd known at the very beginning of this cancer adventure?
- 33:17: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 35:29: What do you think was the hardest part for your wife?
- 36:56: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 37:45: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- RJ's website
- Email RJ
- Call RJ at 323.606.1565
Tal Zlotnitsky is a serial entrepreneur and social activist, who recently launched a tech startup called OurLove. He is the father of three young adult children, and his middle daughter, Elainey, 23, is a recent thyroid cancer survivor. Today, Tal is also honoring his sister-in-law Patricia who passed away in May from lung cancer.
- 02:39: She was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.
- 06:18: How did you and your wife meet?
- 08:23: She graduated from a four-year college and then she joined the Navy.
- 10:45: Do your daughters remember that time?
- 13:02: We lived in Tampa Bay for about a decade and then we moved back to Maryland.
- 16:30: How did you feel when you found out Elaine had cancer?
- 18:37: The surgery went very well, and she's been recovering beautifully.
- 20:28: I knew she was a fighter.
- 22:20: She had two kinds of cancer in her breast.
- 24:08: I'm honored as a parent to see them being there for each other.
- 26:03: I don't know what more you can ask for as a parent than knowing your kids have each other's backs.
- 28:16: I'm by my nature, someone that is an optimist.
- 30:35: I don't know how I kept it together.
- 32:40: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 33:41: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 36:47: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Our Love (Tal's company)
Christine Handy is a model, author of the book Walk Beside Me, humanitarian, mother, mentor, and motivational speaker. Christine's best-selling novel is in production to be a film.
- 01:09: Where did it all start?
- 03:14: I had 10 to 15 casts over the course of seven months.
- 05:45: What made you trust that doctor?
- 07:12: What was the treatment plan?
- 09:05: What did you do in terms of reconstruction?
- 11:59: After I was in the hospital for five days, I went home with a nurse for two weeks.
- 14:06: I’ve been a model for 40 years.
- 16:10: My mom was always healthy.
- 18:33: Don't ever choose a doctor based on where they went to school.
- 20:31: My arm still looks like my thigh bone.
- 22:10: I started to lose massive weight.
- 24:17: He had told me that he had misdiagnosed me.
- 26:23: Do you trust yourself and your intuition more now?
- 28:49: What was your worst moment?
- 30:17: What was your best moment?
- 31:13: What is one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning?
- 32:24: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 33:45: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 34:34: Aside from Cancer U, what's one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Christine on Instagram
- Email Christine
- Christine's website
- Breast Cancer Research Foundation
- Learn Look Locate
Paul Stavros is a multi-time cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with cancer for the first time at the age of 14. Thirty-five years later, he was again diagnosed. Today, Paul is using his experience as a patient to help people learn how to stay meaningfully engaged and helpful to someone with cancer.
- 01:57: I wanted to see my new muscles and there was a substantial lump under my left arm.
- 04:01: I feel like I missed a big part of my childhood.
- 06:20: What was your brother's reaction?
- 08:46: I had radiation as a child, and I had chemotherapy as an adult.
- 10:18: How long were you out of school?
- 14:12: There was a whole group of kids that would run with me around the playground.
- 16:50: I spent a lot of years trying to pretend like it never happened.
- 18:43: What symptoms did you have?
- 20:14: Doctors only call when it's bad.
- 22:39: Was there any discussion of clinical trials?
- 24:57: His suggestion was to never have surgery again.
- 26:47: What is one thing you wish you had known at the beginning of each cancer journey?
- 30:50: I lost both my parents to cancer.
- 31:31: What was your worst moment?
- 32:56: I opened the closet door, and my wife was curled up on the floor sobbing.
- 35:15: I always thought I would get cancer again.
- 36:10: What was your best moment?
- 38:37: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 40:58: I am grateful for my wife because she's a bulldog.
- 41:48: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 45:37: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
Joel Nagelbush is a life coach and speaker at The Change Management Company, where he teaches people how to find purpose in change. Joel is on the National Speakers Bureau and a Wish Granter for the Make a Wish Foundation®. Helping others is what he does!
- 02:27: I noticed that I had a lump in my throat.
- 03:57: I also struggled with self-image issues.
- 06:19: Whatever is in my neck is growing.
- 08:33: He needs a liver transplant.
- 11:27: After the surgery, what was the plan?
- 13:35: I couldn't even chew through a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, the muscles in my mouth cramping up.
- 16:08: What happened after you did the radiation?
- 18:56: What was your worst moment?
- 20:14: What was your best moment?
- 22:41: I don't believe in coincidence.
- 24:44: I was a cancer survivor.
- 25:46: What's one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning?
- 27:45: If you could only do one thing to improve healthcare in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 29:59: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 31:30: Aside from Cancer U, what's one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Joel on Instagram
- Life Coach Joel
- Make-A-Wish Foundation
Jaimie Sherling is a joy seeker, drag ambassador, and memoir author. She lives in Wisconsin with her two kids. When she’s not working at her day job or trying on piles of clothes at thrift stores, you can find her screaming YAASSSS surrounded by a bunch of queens.
- 01:44: I was diagnosed in April of 2018.
- 03:22: What was your first thought?
- 05:23: I had invasive ductal carcinoma.
- 06:58: What did the rest of the treatment regimen look like?
- 09:36: How old were your kids and how much did they understand about what was going on?
- 12:00: Did you have some support?
- 14:25: I spent a lot of time with my drag queen friends and enjoyed that.
- 16:46: What was your worst moment?
- 18:43: There was a fair amount of sexting which I was not okay with.
- 20:27: We're no longer married anymore.
- 21:11: What was the best moment?
- 25:30: I think you might have cancer again and turns out he was right.
- 28:11: I did radiation on my back before I had the official cancer diagnosis because my oncologist was worried that I'd be paralyzed.
- 30:42: How do you look at your life differently now versus when you had no idea you were ever going to have cancer?
- 32:08: What's one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning?
- 35:33: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 36:56: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 38:09: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Jaimie's website YDY Sweets
- YDY Sweets Facebook page
- Jaimie on LinkedIn
- Jaimie on Instagram
- Email Jaimie
Tess Deveze is an occupational therapist, somatic sexologist, and she is fighting stage three breast cancer. Personally experiencing the severe impacts that treatments have on our intimacy and how this topic is so often ignored, Tess’s goal is to help as many as they can.
- 02:08: I was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer at the age of 36.
- 04:17: How big was this lump?
- 05:58: What surgeries did you have in terms of lumpectomy or mastectomy?
- 07:58: They used my lower back tissue to rebuild a breast and then there were complications.
- 10:45: I would show up to my appointments with a list of questions.
- 13:33: I had a Facebook group for anyone that wanted to join, and I used to give updates.
- 15:46: I also had a GoFundMe.
- 17:24: What shifted in your treatment regimen that has given it a much more positive optimistic outlook?
- 19:21: I have chronic genital pain, which has been so bad that I haven't been able to walk for like three days at a time.
- 22:35: Things like chemo would change completely changed my orgasm experience.
- 24:38: I studied semantics sexology while I was on treatments.
- 27:45: Sex is this weird thing that we can't talk about.
- 29:29: Our primary sexual organ is our brain, but we associate sex with our genitals.
- 32:23: I've seen so many women who have gone through menopause and completely lost touch with their sexuality.
- 35:15: All these factors contribute to loss of libido.
- 37:49: People think they don't have libido, but it’s just that their arousal responses have changed.
- 40:38: People also might need a little extra help with what I call intimacy aids.
- 42:44: What is one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 44:05: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in Australia, what would it be and why?
- 45:24: I would appreciate for the Australian medical system to acknowledge intimacy as a contributor to quality of life.
- 46:56: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 48:22: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Tess' website Connectable Therapies
- Tess's book A Better Normal
- Tess's private Facebook group
- Tess on Facebook
- Intimacy and Cancer (Tess's YouTube channel)
Rachel DeSpain is a breast cancer survivor, author, global adventurer, and entrepreneur. She lives in Hawaii with her husband and daughter. She wrote a book titled A Wild Ride: Reclaiming my Edge after Cancer to convey hope to survivors that it's possible to find joy after cancer.
- 02:17: I have been to more than 40 countries.
- 03:41: Take us back to the beginning of your cancer journey.
- 05:15: I woke up and looked down and I had no breasts.
- 07:10: I felt this incredible, strong shooting pain from my left breast, something I had never felt before.
- 09:35: You know, no one told me anything.
- 11:57: I think I would have been okay with radiated reconstructed breasts.
- 14:21: There's no road map when you're finished with your treatment.
- 14:56: What was your worst moment?
- 17:40: How about your best moment?
- 19:34: We lived in Alaska for 10 years together, where we started and operated a zip line tour.
- 21:38: It's not an easy dream to pull off.
- 23:45: How old was your daughter when you were diagnosed, and how did that impact her?
- 25:30: What is the one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 27:10: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 30:48: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 32:12: Aside from Cancer U, what's one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Rachel on LinkedIn
- Rachel on Instagram
- Email Rachel
Dr. Louise Lubin, a clinical psychologist, has practiced adult, marital, and family therapy for forty years. Her book, Your Journey Beyond Breast Cancer-Tools for the Road as well as her programs and website, Many Paths to Healing offer individuals the life skills to cope with the ongoing challenges of cancer.
- 01:51: I played a therapist role in my family.
- 03:59: I enrolled in graduate school in Richmond and got my master's degree.
- 06:35: Changing your breath is the quickest, easiest, and cheapest way to calm down.
- 08:22: I started my private practice in 1981, and I was always sort of a dinosaur.
- 10:11: She taught me that everybody is an individual and not a statistic.
- 12:10: We're all seeking healing, but it is different than cure.
- 14:10: Part of what I am grateful for is that my patients have been my teachers.
- 17:25: How has aging benefited you?
- 19:12: I think at the root of almost every single fear is fear of change.
- 21:24: The only control we have is in the present moment.
- 23:31: What was or has been your worst moment working as a therapist?
- 26:15: There was a woman that I had worked with who had stopped seeing me for a while.
- 29:20: What is one thing that you wish you had known at the very beginning of your career?
- 31:21: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 32:59: I started practicing when people wouldn't even say the cancer word.
- 34:46: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 36:20: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Many Paths To Healing (Dr. Lubin's website)
- The Conversation Project
- The Greater Good
- Sounds True (website may not be available)
Liz Curran lost her sister to aggressive breast cancer. This changed her life in so many ways and led her down a path to become a holistic cancer health coach.
- 01:15: Tell us a little bit about your sister.
- 03:21: The nurse still thinks I might have breast cancer.
- 05:05: What was your sister's prognosis given that it was a very aggressive type of breast cancer?
- 08:47: It's interesting to me that your sister underwent chemotherapy first.
- 10:19: She had a dear friend who lived across the street from her who was an energy therapist.
- 12:05: She never talked like she was going to die.
- 13:03: My hardest moment was sitting there receiving that for her.
- 16:02: Her cancer had spread everywhere.
- 19:02: I just want you to know her cancer was remarkable, and there's absolutely nothing I could have done for her at all.
- 21:25: She did not have clinical trials available to her at that time.
- 22:09: All of those things play such an immense role in the ability of your medications to work.
- 24:42: Did you have a best moment during this time?
- 26:57: I didn't know that she was going to die two days later.
- 30:02: What is one thing you wish you had known at the beginning?
- 31:06: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 32:20: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 34:56: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Health Navigators website
- Liz on Instagram
- Email Liz
- Call Liz 215.760.6672
Lauren Parrish is a wife, mother, business professional, and yoga lover. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at 38 with no family history. So, needless to say, Lauren was surprised by her diagnosis. It has been really tough on her family but it has brought them closer. Gratitude has been their motto.
- 01:30: How did you find out that you had breast cancer?
- 03:25: I kind of knew it wasn't normal to have all this happening.
- 05:19: What did they recommend as far as your treatment?
- 06:36: At that time, we didn't think I would have to do chemo or radiation.
- 09:04: How was it for your family?
- 11:12: You have kids, correct?
- 13:31: I know that I'm estrogen-progesterone positive.
- 16:18: I would say sometimes I'm a sappy positive person.
- 18:15: I think the first day of chemo I had a tough time.
- 19:31: What about your best moment?
- 23:43: What is one thing you wish you had known from the very beginning?
- 25:24: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 28:15: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 30:22: Aside from Cancer U, what's one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Lauren on LinkTree
- Lauren on Facebook
- Lauren on Instagram
- Email Lauren
- Call Lauren at 972.400.2929
Dr. Patrick Vickers is an expert on the indisputable, cellular science behind health and disease and the face of Gerson Therapy worldwide. He was trained by Dr. Gerson's family and is one of the few people to have studied Dr. Gerson's handwritten files. He continues to carry on Dr. Gerson's legacy through his clinic, The Advanced Gerson Therapy Clinic, in Rosarito, Mexico, the world’s premier clinic for the natural treatment of cancer and advanced disease. Dr. Patrick Vickers is also featured in the epic documentary series, The Truth About Cancer: A Global Quest, and one of his patients is also chronicled in the classic documentary, The Beautiful Truth.
- 01:55: I wanted to be a chiropractor ever since I was 11 years old.
- 05:34: I didn't quite understand that the human body could reverse advanced terminal cancer if you give it what it needs.
- 08:29: He would experiment in his grandma's backyard with her soil.
- 10:34: What does that tell you about our society at that time?
- 15:06: He refused to treat her for her cancer with his tuberculosis treatment.
- 18:13: It was designed to give 100 million dollars in funding to anyone who could show promise in the realm of cancer research.
- 20:37: Could you imagine the red flags that went off when he started opening his mouth.
- 23:33: He became a marked man and became prohibited from publishing in all major medical journals around the world.
- 24:28: What was it like for you at the very beginning?
- 26:46: There's an ugly side to treating advanced diseases and cancer in the bible.
- 28:23: Those laws of nature will no longer defend us today.
- 30:34: When you start to restore the nutrient status to the body, you restore the immune system.
- 32:15: The coffee enema is the most potent way to detoxify the human body.
- 33:47: How many times have you heard obesity is a predominant risk of getting cancer?
- 35:37: We've addressed the issue of toxicity with the coffee enemas.
- 37:40: He went on to describe how the body’s main ability to utilize oxygen was an alkaline diet.
- 39:15: That cell membrane has an electrical charge.
- 41:47: There's no such thing as a good salt.
- 44:03: She comes into the Gerson Clinic in 2004 with terminal ovarian cancer.
- 46:03: She's alive and well, completely cured.
- 49:18: Blood disorders shouldn't be named cancers because they're not; they're blood disorders.
- 50:32: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 51:37: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 54:21: Aside from Cancer U, what's one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Patrick on LinkedIn
- Patrick on Facebook
- Email Patrick
- Gerson Clinic website
- Gerson Clinic on Instagram
- Gerson Clinic on YouTube
- Healing the Gerson way (book)
Robert Andrew Wagner is a writer, teacher, and performer, teaching through stories, telling stories through songs as frontman and chief songwriter/lyricist for The Little Wretches. Wagner is a survivor of cancer, holds a master’s degree in Instruction and Learning, and teaches and counsels at-risk teens.
- 02:20: The Little Wretches was the band I started when my survival was clear.
- 04:42: I find this little lump in my groin.
- 06:09: I had one positive lymph node.
- 08:35: We just found a lump the size of a walnut and on each of your lungs.
- 09:48: I did miss a few chemo sessions.
- 13:00: Did it have any impact on your ability to have kids?
- 15:00: I think the chemo affected my thinking.
- 18:56: It's like my life came back to me.
- 21:11: Were you alone in this hospital?
- 23:00: They kept on trying to tell him that he had AIDS.
- 25:14: What is the one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 27:03: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it
- be and why?
- 28:15: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 31:13: Trust your doctors.
- 33:07: Where did the name of the band come from?
Resources
- Robert's band The Little Wretches
- The Little Wretches on YouTube
- Robert on LinkedIn
- Email Robert
Dr. Christine Sauer is a retired MD and ND. She has not only treated cancer patients but she has also been a caregiver for her mother-in-law and Christine has volunteered in palliative care.
- 01:51: Why did you decide to become a doctor?
- 04:31: One of my patients with end-stage melanoma died in my arms.
- 06:59: Can you tell us what led you to get into palliative care?
- 10:04: I feel like we are very much aligned because we're all going to die.
- 12:52: He didn't want to be resuscitated and he had that in his directive.
- 15:03: Many patients touched my heart.
- 17:04: I've seen lung cancer patients in Germany that never smoked.
- 20:55: Her life was filled with love and care for others.
- 21:11: Tell me what was your worst moment during your entire career as a physician?
- 22:16: What about your best moment as a physician?
- 23:59: He has a brain bleed.
- 25:46: What is one thing that you wish you had known at the beginning of your journey as a physician?
- 27:40: If you can only do one thing to improve health care in Canada and Germany, what would they be and why?
- 30:57: We do have a shortage of primary care physicians here.
- 32:49: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 34:25: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Christine's website
- Christine on Facebook
- Christine on LinkedIn
- Email Christine
- Healing and Cancer
Jodie Lin is a 2X breast cancer survivor/thriver, wife, mother of five wonderful children, animal lover, and National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, NASM certified Nutrition Coach, and Holistic Cancer Coach. Jodie is passionate about helping others balance their health and advocate for themselves.
- 01:13: Can you take us back to the very beginning of that first journey with breast cancer?
- 03:09: I don't have a family history of breast cancer.
- 05:13: There were lumps that I was starting to feel in my breast.
- 07:14: They sent my biopsy results to John Hopkins.
- 09:03: It was just a scary number, and I didn't want to deal with those odds.
- 11:02: I was kind of focusing on her health and trying to help her.
- 13:17: They came back saying that both implants had ruptured and that was the source of my pain.
- 15:08: My first thought was I don't want to do chemo.
- 17:37: Research has shown that many women who have had bilateral mastectomies or just mastectomies end up with damage done to the nerves.
- 19:47: What was your worst moment in all of this?
- 20:35: How about your best moment?
- 22:09: I got certified in holistic cancer coaching.
- 24:40: What is one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of that first cancer journey?
- 26:44: I literally had to chase after the diagnosis and that's really frustrating for some people.
- 27:38: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 29:46: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 30:54: Aside from Cancer U, what's one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Jodie's website
- Jodie on Facebook
- Email Jodie
- Live with cancer
Anna Leonarda is a nine-year breast cancer survivor who struggled with endometriosis, painful intercourse, and lack of libido for many years. Approximately eight years after diagnosis, she got divorced. Traditional dating apps didn’t cater to people with sexual limitations so she created a dating app for individuals with sexual dysfunction/limitations.
- 01:39: How did you get diagnosed?
- 03:12: When I got the diagnosis, I was in shock.
- 05:19: I had a one-sided mastectomy.
- 07:16: I lost all my hair, and the side effects weren't horrible.
- 09:06: I'll join support groups on Facebook with 17,000 women that have vaginismus.
- 11:25: My mom had breast cancer, and she lived a good 10 years.
- 13:30: My chest looked yellow and brown.
- 15:38: What about the deep flap?
- 16:56: Did you end up doing that surgery?
- 20:06: What was your worst moment?
- 21:59: What is the one thing you wish you had known at the beginning of your cancer journey?
- 22:42: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 23:56: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 25:11: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
- 27:24: If you're using this app, it means that intercourse is not a possibility.
Resources
- Anna on LinkedIn
- Anna's dating website
- Anna on Facebook
- Anna on Instagram
- Anna on Twitter
Kelley was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma in September 2011, two days before her 41st birthday. She had a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction, chemotherapy, radiation Today, Kelly is 10 years cancer-free.
- 01:22: I was working out one day, and I had this stabbing pain in the side of my left breast.
- 03:23: I'm telling my parents regardless.
- 04:55: How old were your kids?
- 07:26: I've always heard that cancer doesn't hurt so why did this hurt?
- 09:10: There weren’t a lot of surgical options in there other than reconstruction.
- 10:57: October I had surgery.
- 13:28: I remember after my pregnancy; I couldn't feel my feet because they were so swollen.
- 15:09: She was telling me she had never had anyone have this kind of emotional reaction to this medication before.
- 17:24: I never ended up in the hospital.
- 18:58: I was able to accept the radiation part.
- 21:08: I started researching master's degree programs.
- 23:22: If it wasn't for cancer, I would still be a dental hygienist.
- 24:32: What is that one thing you wish you'd known at the very beginning?
- 25:45: Now I have this new implant that they think is ruptured.
- 27:19: Nobody told me that I was going to have issues with my chest muscles for the rest of time.
- 28:07: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 30:02: I had a full hysterectomy because I was having all kinds of issues after chemo.
- 31:11: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 34:14: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Kelley's website
- Kelley on Facebook
- Kelley on Instagram
After Jenn was diagnosed with breast cancer at 43 followed by five surgeries and 18 months of treatment, coupled with dealing with anxiety/depression, she is passionate about helping others by sharing coping strategies and helping them take control of their lives. She has made it her passion project to share her research and educate people on the importance of reading labels and knowing what ingredients are in our foods and household products.
- 01:32: I found a small marble-sized lump on my left breast.
- 03:20: They learned of a tumor that was deep in my chest cavity.
- 04:59: What kind of surgeries were they?
- 06:59: It sounds like you finished up treatment, both chemo, and radiation before Christmas 2019.
- 08:16: How did Covid affect your follow-up?
- 11:05: Everything has been on my left side.
- 13:17: They would pump me up and they had to do it quite slow.
- 14:25: What was your worst moment?
- 16:34: Did you hear my experience in the mammogram?
- 18:04: What is one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 20:10: I wasn't excited about having my fifth surgery.
- 20:48: If you could only do one no more to one thing to improve health care in Canada what would it be?
- 22:05: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 23:01: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Jenn on LinkedIn
- Jenn's Coaching profile
- Jenn's Journey to Healthy Living Facebook Group
- Email Jenn at jennsmrz@gmail.com
- Call Jenn 416.831.8392
Rebecca is a breast cancer thriver, having been diagnosed when she was just 28. She is an actor, writer, teacher, and integrative cancer care advocate. In 2019, she founded Solis Cancer Community, where she shares weekly posts and blog articles that cover topics on integrative and whole-body healing pre- and post-cancer.
- 02:26: It was a big shock to everyone because my mammogram had been negative.
- 04:46: People don't like going to the doctor, especially when they're nervous about something.
- 07:25: I did Herceptin for a year.
- 09:14: I did a lot of research on statistics and recurrence rates.
- 11:35: How involved were your family and friends?
- 14:06: Those were two of the scariest things for sure.
- 15:30: Aren't you afraid that if you have a recurrence, you're going to regret not doing those treatments?
- 17:28: I started meditating to deal with the stress of the situation.
- 19:12: Cancer has changed my life in so many ways.
- 21:22: I didn't believe in myself for a long time.
- 24:01: I had a cold every three weeks.
- 25:37: I was waking up every hour and a half.
- 26:50: What is one thing you wish you had known at the beginning of your cancer journey Rebecca?
- 28:49: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in Canada, what would it be and why?
- 30:43: We see the best outcomes from a combined treatment path.
- 31:23: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 33:14: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Rebecca on LinkedIn
- Rebecca's business website
Ben Cooper is a Christian, husband, father of five, author, speaker, and beekeeper. Ben used his second cancer diagnosis as a therapy to launch his writing journey of Christian devotionals and children's books. His love of farming and nature is the backdrop of his writing.
- 01:13: Take us back to the beginning of that first cancer diagnosis and tell us where your journey began.
- 03:52: I was already scheduled to have a specialist in Baltimore look at me.
- 06:29: Was it considered throat cancer?
- 08:20: My step-grandfather had had neck cancer.
- 10:07: I don't want my kids to be shocked to see a different dad come home from the hospital.
- 12:07: My percentage with the surgery was a 35% survival rate.
- 15:07: Did you make it to five years?
- 18:49: Why couldn't they get you in sooner?
- 20:28: Writing was my second therapy.
- 22:42: If I'm involved, I'm 120% involved.
- 23:42: What was your worst moment?
- 26:15: I was not wrong in challenging the hospital and saying, why didn't you tell me this?
- 28:09: My wife was in tears.
- 30:05: Almost 20 years later, I have a sinus infection every day of my life.
- 32:27: People I didn’t even know sent me letters of encouragement.
- 33:18: What is one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning?
- 34:19: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U. S., what would it be and why?
- 35:05: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 36:19: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Ben's website
- Ben on LinkedIn
- Ben on Amazon (links to his books)
- Email Ben: cooperville@atlanticbb.net
- National Organization of Rare Diseases (NORD)
Tim Sohn is an almost 15-year survivor of chronic myeloid leukemia. He shared his story for the first time in June 2021. Tim is a husband, a dad to Megan, 10, and Katelyn, 6. He also owns his own business, Sohn Social Media Solutions, where he produces memorable live shows and virtual events. He also coaches impact-focused brands and nonprofits on how to create their own.
- 03:46: Take us back to the very beginning.
- 05:37: I've reached out to leukemia survivors through LinkedIn.
- 07:54: Luckily there are several options when it comes to CML and oral chemo medication.
- 10:39: You don't know what the cause of the headaches is?
- 12:45: What was her reaction when she did find out?
- 13:55: What was your worst moment?
- 15:10: What was your best moment?
- 17:19: What is the one thing you wish you had known at the beginning?
- 18:06: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US?
- 20:22: Don't take anything for granted.
- 22:52: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 24:50: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
- Email Tim here: tim@sohnsocialmediasolutions.com
Liz Benditt is currently President and CEO of The Balm Box, a self-care and gifting site for breast cancer patients. In addition to teaching undergraduate business marketing courses at the University of Kansas, Benditt also serves on the Education First Shawnee Mission board of directors and volunteers with National Charity League. She lives in the Kansas City suburbs with her husband and two children.
- 01:54: Take us back to the very beginning.
- 04:16: We'd like you to have surgery within the week.
- 05:58: 11 months after having been diagnosed with melanoma, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
- 08:32: I ended up in the hospital for two weeks while they tried to figure out a drug protocol that would get me off I.V. Calcium.
- 10:27: Thyroid cancer is very common.
- 11:36: For whatever reason, my body needed a higher-than-normal range of calcium for normal calcium production.
- 13:38: It was on my nose, and it was just big enough that it required plastic surgery to cover it.
- 16:06: This was what was going to help me avoid being disfigured.
- 18:47: The fatigue hit me like a brick.
- 20:53: What was your best moment?
- 21:52: What is the one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 23:03: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 24:31: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 25:59: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
- 26:54: Then the pandemic hit and suddenly, I wasn't super busy anymore.
- 30:52: My vision is to get beyond breast cancer and to offer packages for a whole variety of cancer treatments.
Resources
- The Balm Box
- Email Liz at lbenditt@thebalmbox.com
- Liz on LinkedIn
Freddye is a mother, a nurse, and a singer. She has been a nurse for 34 years! She has been a professional singer for 25 years. She currently works as a GI surgical oncology outpatient nurse with pancreatic, rectal, and colon cancer patients. She performs for charitable events every year. She has performed in local hospitals. As a twice breast cancer survivor, she gives her time and energy to those who are fighting their cancer and to those who have lost a loved one to cancer.
- 01:39: Tell me about becoming a nurse and why oncology?
- 04:07: My mother ended up dying of two different kinds of cancers.
- 06:46: Did nursing school prepare you to be an oncology nurse back then?
- 09:27: I was 30 when I graduated from nursing school.
- 10:52: Take us back to the beginning of your cancer journey.
- 13:36: Cancer runs rampant in my family on both sides.
- 15:43: You had a mastectomy on one breast?
- 17:03: I told him I said I think it's back.
- 20:04: I had to laugh my way through it both times because my friends and family were so morbid.
- 22:52: They say nurses make the worst patients.
- 25:02: She had lymphoma and colon cancer.
- 28:04: I think he died less than three months within the diagnosis.
- 31:15: We've seen a lot as far as cancer and death in our family, but I'm trying to understand it.
- 31:57: What was your worst moment?
- 34:33: What about your best moment?
- 35:58: I was the first one to graduate from a four-year college.
- 38:52: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 40:13: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 41:31: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Miss Freddye
- MT Management Group
- Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
CarrieVee (Verrocchio) Cancer Survivor, and Caregiver, MBA, is a Motivational Speaker, Published Author, Podcast Host, and Certified Transformation, Forgiveness, and REBT Coach who helps those who have forgotten how to dream, overcome their excuses and live the life they were created to live.
She is the founder of the Radical Empowerment Method - a program designed to walk people through the exact method she herself used to move from a life of feeling invisible to a life of empowered success and action.
- 01:24: My cancer journey began this past December.
- 03:36: My mother was in her fifties when her first diagnosis of colorectal cancer came.
- 05:41: Do you have children?
- 07:34: If you knew that you had this gene, would you have had kids?
- 09:08: How was your experience as a caregiver different from your experience as a patient?
- 12:25: Did you find any support as a caregiver?
- 14:5: What does post-operative care look like as a cancer survivor?
- 17:56: What was your worst moment?
- 20:24: What was your best moment?
- 21:44: What is the one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 24:27: I had a hysterectomy in 2009, but they left my ovaries in because I was premenopausal.
- 27:03: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 29:17: What is a share plan and if you want one how do you get it?
- 31:54: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 33:20: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
- 35:17: Unforgiveness in your life is the one thing that will keep you stuck.
Resources
- AliveandKickn (more about lynch syndrome)
- Carrie's website
- Carrie on LinkedIn
- Christian Healthcare Ministries
- Lynch Syndrome International
After surviving kidney cancer, in 2002, Patricia was determined to learn all there was on how we contribute to creating disease in our body. What she discovered is; it is always about our belief system. She wrote her book “Daydreams Come True” A self-coaching workbook, to share with others her lessons learned, so they too, can live a life of Thriving!
- 02:42: You have a mass on your kidney.
- 04:47: I had grown up in a very dysfunctional alcoholic household.
- 06:08: They had to remove the entire kidney.
- 09:35: I feel about 99% sure that I feel safe with using the word cure.
- 12:05: I gave up beef only because I was never a huge fan of beef.
- 15:14: What did you do to work through those emotions?
- 18:06: Especially as a child, you're trying to figure out how you fit in this world all around you.
- 21:53: I started to revisit all my beliefs.
- 24:08: What was your worst moment during that time?
- 25:09: What was your worst moment?
- 27:21: What's one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning?
- 28:26: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 29:43: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 30:34: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Patricia's website
Norma was diagnosed with terminal metastatic esophageal cancer in the summer of 2020. Upon hearing her dire diagnosis, she immediately decided to start streaming her worst experiences with cancer while wrapping it in her greatest love: pinball. She gives weekly health updates, provides cancer information, and flips her favorite pinball machines from her Florida home.
- 01:45: They've told me that I'm terminal and they told me a year ago.
- 03:08: I went to a family doctor at the end of February.
- 06:01: I was all by myself in this giant hallway when mortality hit me.
- 08:05: I remember not feeling that great because I started to go downhill quickly from the diagnosis.
- 10:21: I couldn't make it from the living room to the bedroom without sitting down.
- 13:00: There was a tournament to raise money for cancer and they put my name on the tournament.
- 15:45: I started playing competitive pinball about seven or eight years ago.
- 18:25: What's your favorite pinball machine and why?
- 21:14: I didn't get my fingers back all the way.
- 21:31: What was your worst moment since your diagnosis?
- 22:42: What about your best moment?
- 24:30: I'm just going to make the best out of X amount of time I have left.
- 27:38: I think that if you have cancer out there, the last thing you want is to be pitied and the last thing you want is to be treated differently because you have the disease.
- 29:05: What is one thing you wish you'd known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 31:27: My sister had breast cancer.
- 32:14: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 34:24: Insurance is about ensuring that you remain healthy on a much smaller level.
- 36:35: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 40:58: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Email Norma
- Norma's Twitch Channel
- Norma on Facebook
- American Cancer Society
TBD
Jen Rozenbaum is a portrait photographer, author, podcaster, and breast cancer survivor. Through her work, she is helping women celebrate their unique femininity and helping breast cancer patients and survivors put their lives back together after cancer.
- 03:03: I didn't know what it was, but it wasn't a lump.
- 05:36: I could feel it and I'm very grateful for that because if it was lower, I wouldn't have known.
- 08:41: When they removed my breast, they found my right breast was littered with cancer.
- 10:45: I handled most of it on my own.
- 12:12: I feel nauseous when I talk about it.
- 14:15: The period between when they turn it on and you're numb is very difficult.
- 16:40: You have to also continue wearing the cold cap two hours after chemo.
- 18:20: In March of 2018 I had my first reconstruction surgery and it looked horrible.
- 20:04: My boobs were so low they were touching my belly button practically.
- 22:10: How were you able to get those surgeries in 2020 during Covid?
- 25:05: They just wanted me to be a mommy so that they don't have to be scared.
- 27:47: What's the solution to this problem versus sitting in the problem?
- 29:24: I have a YouTube channel where I talk about my real-life experiences with breast cancer every day.
- 31:27: I think that gratitude helps us get to a different place of happiness.
- 32:35: What was your best moment?
- 35:17: I think it's important as part of my mission to normalize what a breast cancer body looks like because we don't know what to expect.
- 35:46: What is the one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning?
- 36:51: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 38:18: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 41:07: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Jen's website
- Jen's book What the Fck Just Happened?*
- Life After Breast Cancer Facebook group
- Jen on Instagram
Ira Hughes and his family went through two and half years of fighting pediatric cancer with their daughter Audrey before she passed away in 2017.
- 01:17: Can you take us back to the very beginning and what happened with your daughter?
- 03:33: She progressed while we got some physical therapy, everything was looking like a normal kid.
- 05:16: They went to do some research and found four documented cases that had ever originated in the spinal quarter before.
- 07:16: She was getting chemo.
- 09:20: The hospital we had gone to had partnered with MD Anderson in Houston.
- 11:03: It's a very aggressive growing cancer.
- 15:05: She always made people laugh, made us laugh.
- 17:56: Phase one trial is a significant trial and it's mainly for safety at that point to see if the patient can tolerate the regimen.
- 20:48: I can't imagine trying to fight cancer right now and having our families more separated than they were during that time.
- 23:29: Do you mind if we talk about the after?
- 26:01: We're going to be a strong family of four or a strong family of three when we get out of this.
- 28:42: I try to read a book a week or listen to a book a week.
- 30:13: I think my wife and I had done a good job of letting each other have the time that we need to have to heal.
- 32:30: I felt like I was giving away my child.
- 34:07: When did Audrey die?
- 37:10: I felt like I was in a place where I generally would be happy, but I wasn't giving myself permission to be happy yet.
- 39:08: I almost threw myself off the roof.
- 41:17: Our battle through cancer was on social media.
- 46:03: What is one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of Audrey's cancer journey?
- 47:09: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 48:37: Thriver Rapid Fire
- 50:40: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Ira on Facebook
- Ira on LinkedIn
- Email Ira
- Audrey's website
- Truth 365
- Children's Cancer Network (Arizona)
- Thinking Fast and Slow
- Man's Search for Meaning
RobinMcGee’s award-winning book The Cancer Olympics describes her fight for medical justice and fair chemotherapy policy after serious medical negligence. For her patient advocacy work, she has been decorated by the Governor-General of Canada.
- 01:27: When I was 46 in 2008, I noticed rectal bleeding.
- 03:28: Her referral was essentially one sentence which was rectal bleeding please assess.
- 05:15: In retrospect, we know now that it was stage four.
- 07:18: There was no kind of restorative justice approach where we could all talk and learn.
- 09:16: The next step for my kind of cancer was radiation and chemotherapy.
- 11:38: The oncologist said you need this chemotherapy right away.
- 13:37: There's a national group that evaluates the evidence and makes a recommendation and expert recommendation.
- 15:08: Did you go into remission?
- 17:02: I lived that way, and I would remain in remission for about 56 years.
- 19:24: I ultimately got five requisitions for a colonoscopy from her office.
- 22:20: It's amazing how interesting this becomes when it's threatening your life.
- 26:08: In Canada, there isn't private malpractice insurance.
- 28:06: The survival outcomes of stage two are massively better than stage four.
- 30:37: It was soul-crushing to live that way.
- 32:23: March 2020 the world shuts down as we all know and unfortunately for me, so too was cancer care.
- 34:02: They all lost their marriages.
- 37:04: In Canada, it is extremely uncommon for patients to prevail in a malpractice action.
- 38:52: What is one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 41:57: I’d like to believe in 50 years, patient safety rights are a civil right.
- 42:55: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 44:25: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- The Cancer Olympics website
- The Cancer Olympics book
- Robin on Facebook
- Contact Robin
- Live Ask The Author Interview with Robin
- Lots of Helping Hands (to get support from your community)
- Colontown
As a survivor of invasive breast cancer whose marriage dissolved as treatment ended, Susan draws upon her personal journey as well as her training as a life coach to provide mindsets and tools to assist others in rebuilding their lives in alignment with their deepest desires.
- 02:12: My mother is a cancer survivor also.
- 04:07: I hadn't even had a biopsy yet, but I just went all the way to the grave and forgot.
- 06:19: They didn't put enough numbness in me.
- 08:19: I learned there we didn't get all the cancer.
- 11:04: Why did you take your mother to the appointment knowing she's a glass-half-full kind of person.
- 13:04: He struggled to keep it together for himself, take greater care of our child, make sure the house was running.
- 16:00: He says, “I think I need to live alone.”
- 18:02: We were sharing the same bed still but like roommates and we both loved our child.
- 20:24: I had to call it Franken boob because it's still all stitched on.
- 22:16: It was complete eggshell navigation, and I was a pro at it.
- 25:12: I didn't know that applied to me and that was an eye-opener.
- 26:40: What was your worst moment?
- 27:22: What about your best moment?
- 29:08: What is the one thing you wish you had known at the beginning of your cancer journey?
- 31:40: The other word I like to use is the word circumstance.
- 34:22: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 36:08: I recommend not reading all about your disease.
- 37:47: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 38:56: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Susan's website
- Susan on Facebook
In 2014, while still an active cancer patient, Dean Hall decided to inspire other cancer patients by chasing his dream of becoming the first person to swim the entire 187-mile length of the Willamette River, never guessing it would heal his leukemia.
- 03:35: Well, I fell in love with soccer and so I played it constantly.
- 05:52: I became a therapist and started my private practice in this tiny little town,
- 08:11: It never occurred to me that it came back bad because something was wrong with me.
- 10:06: Dean, you've got leukemia.
- 12:14: I was just in shock for about two weeks and devastated.
- 14:28: You've got to be the boss of your journey and your body and your future.
- 16:51: Did you ever do what would be considered traditional treatment?
- 19:17: I would sleep 20 hours a day.
- 21:20: Tell us about your first wife.
- 22:56: Then August of 2010, she started acting kind of funny.
- 25:52: I was astonished, and it is a real testament to her strength and her discipline.
- 29:44: All the rest of the time I'm just by myself feeling miserable both inside and out.
- 32:15: I started praying and meditating, asking every day for a purpose to just come forward.
- 34:08: If I'm dying, I want to die swinging for the fence.
- 35:30: The lymph system had pushed out all this poison that it had been holding and so I'd feel flu-like symptoms for about five hours after.
- 37:59: I was born only four blocks from the Willamette, so I've always loved this river.
- 40:17: After you did [do] this swim over three weeks, what happened?
- 42:49: Being in that cold water threw me into something called Radical Remission.
- 44:09: What is one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 44:50: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 45:49: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 48:23: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Dean's website Swimming in Miracles
- Connect with Dean on LinkedIn
Digital marketing strategist and founder of the boutique agency, Social Abundance Marketing, Wendy Manganaro knows that the best social media doesn’t start on a specific platform or with a marketing tactic, but instead, consistently marketing where your target market hangs out at.
- 00:59: Wendy is going to share her story of having childhood leukemia for many years.
- 03:10: We've never gotten a real answer to why I was born with it, but I was born with it, which is very rare.
- 06:02: How long were you in remission?
- 08:17: Do we really have to open her up if we don't know?
- 10:52: My father, unfortunately, died of melanoma about 13 years ago.
- 13:56: What kind of impact do you think it had on your relationship that you were in the hospital so often those first couple of years?
- 16:52: Having that diagnosis such a young age and surviving it did that have any impact on your childhood?
- 20:19: I had to go through this kind of like metamorphosis to get to a point in my life.
- 23:22: I was completely hallucinating.
- 25:16: What that would have been like if my sister had gotten better?
- 27:45: If I get one shot at this life, I want to bring as much love to other people in my work, in my personal life, and my family as I was given.
- 30:45: It's easy to be a victim.
- 32:12: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S. what would it be and why?
- 33:25: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 36:53: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Wendy's website Social Abundance Marketing
- Connect with Wendy on LinkedIn
David Metzger is a father, pediatric oncology nurse, podcaster, and author. His book, Nurse Papa, explores the strange intersection between his life as a father and his role as a nurse caring for sick children.
- 02:07: I picked adult acute care which seemed like an obvious place to start.
- 04:11: Why did you have to drop out of your program?
- 06:21: One of the things that she did that no one else did was she really prepared us to go home.
- 08:49: Do you think nurses form stronger bonds than doctors?
- 11:10: The thing that people don't really realize about pediatric oncology is that you may have a child who's 14 gets leukemia.
- 13:21: I could really feel like what would be like to have a child who was five years old because I have a five-year-old who was dying.
- 15:27: I will show up and take care of a child no matter who they are.
- 18:37: You got to put yourself in uncomfortable situations constantly, that's what parenthood is.
- 20:03: You are going to have a nurse mentor for the first couple of months who is watching you, watching you and guiding you, and making sure you don't kill anybody.
- 22:30: With children, they will not usually engage with the actual phenomena of dying, but there are so many ways that they will tell you that they're ready to go.
- 24:40: The ventilator is the next step to prolong life.
- 28:05: When we got him back in bed, he was like a new boy.
- 30:10: As a parent and as a caregiver, I had to live in a very healthy state of denial.
- 32:46: I will talk to absolutely anybody and I love having conversations with strangers and especially with strange kids.
- 33:59: If a child is in distress next to me, I will help that child.
- 35:42: What is one thing you wish you had known at the beginning of nursing school?
- 36:56: If there's only one thing you could do to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 37:39: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 40:45: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- David's podcast
- David's book Nurse Papa
Two-time breast cancer thriver, Carol Wyllie, offers real insight, encouragement, and a few laughs to those facing cancer, illness, or any of life’s challenges. Her voice is authentic and sometimes irreverent as she shows us how to lead with faith and gratitude in the face of our toughest battles.
- 01:23: Take us back to the beginning of breast cancer.
- 03:15: They showed me the X-ray and it looked like somebody had dipped their fingers in paint and splattered them on.
- 05:37: I've never seen someone try so hard to get out of chemo.
- 07:28: I could go down the rabbit hole of bitterness and blame.
- 09:41: I don't want to say or even imply that we give ourselves cancer.
- 11:37: It was four rounds of chemo, and it was delivered through an I. V.
- 14:02: A lot of the Western doctors won't even acknowledge that this is a thing.
- 15:55: What was your worst moment?
- 18:43: Once your head gets to the right temperature, they begin your chemo.
- 21:01: Is your hair back to normal now?
- 23:20: I kept my eyebrows and my eyelashes the whole time, strangely enough.
- 24:19: What was your best moment?
- 26:02: What is the one thing you wish you'd known at the beginning?
- 27:12: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 30:14: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 31:11: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Carol’s website
- Email Carol
- Chemo P!ssed Me Off: A Breast Cancer Roadmap: Navigating with Faith, Gratitude, and a Little Bit of Attitude
- Carol on Facebook
- Carol on Twitter
- Chris Beat Cancer Square One
Kenn Edwards lives in rural Utah with his father. Kenn was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in October 2020. To remove the cancer, Kenn had twenty percent of his tongue removed as well as lymph nodes in his neck. Approximately three months later Kenn's father was diagnosed with melanoma.
- 00:35: Kenn was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in October 2020.
- 02:55: It got inflamed and I thought if this doesn't go down in like two weeks, I'm going to go see a doctor.
- 05:57: I had zero idea how to answer people's questions.
- 08:02: In my surgery, they took out 20% of my tongue.
- 10:58: By the time he made it to the doctor, it was protruding.
- 13:03: He'll have to have plastic surgery after.
- 15:30: They would have taken almost the whole top of his head off, so it would have been super invasive.
- 18:15: I kind of forgot the emotional part, taking time to just sit.
- 21:56: I do not try and self-diagnose because I feel like for me that just leads to me spinning out.
- 24:04: I didn't realize how important it was to me to be able to use my voice.
- 24:53: What was your worst moment?
- 26:22: What was your best moment?
- 27:52: What is one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 29:14: If you could only do one thing, just one to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 32:30: I think it started with a donor.
- 36:46: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 39:03: Aside from Cancer U, what's one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Kenn on Facebook
- Kenn’s website
- Email Kenn
- Call Kenn at 503.575.0073
- No One Has Time For Death Podcast
Faith Wilcox believes writing leads to healing. Faith learned these truths when her 13-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, was diagnosed with bone cancer that took her life. Faith’s journey from grief and despair to moments of comfort and peace taught her lessons, which she shares through her writing.
- 02:39: The orthopedic doctor took an x-ray of her knee.
- 04:57: She started to go into the rooms of children who had recently been brought into the hospital.
- 07:08: I had the support that I needed, and my daughters had the support that they needed.
- 09:13: She also started to feel very alienated from others in the school.
- 12:35: Was there a moment when things got worse?
- 13:58: What was your best moment?
- 16:10: We came home, and she had an oxygen machine for about three weeks and that helped her to breathe.
- 18:11: What is the one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of Elizabeth's cancer journey?
- 21:19: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 31:05: I experienced denial during Elizabeth's time of her illness.
- 34:58: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 35:56: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Faith’s website
- Faith on LinkedIn
- Email Faith
- Faith’s books
- Hope Is a Bright Star: A Mother’s Memoir of Love, Loss, and Learning to Live Again
- Facing Into The Wind: A mother’s healing after the death of her child
- Centering Corporation
- Compassionate Friends
Robin is a breast cancer survivor and mother to Jordan Ray. Robin's 20-year-old son Zach has his private pilot license and he's pursuing his commercial license. Robin has been married to her husband John for almost 30 years. Robin and Jordan join us from Wellington, Florida. Jordan has gone from a star athlete, brain surgery survivor, to serial entrepreneur all before age 20. Jordan Ray is the Founder and CEO of Limitless Medical Logs®, a keynote speaker. and an aspiring author.
- 01:41: Let's start with you Robin because I know your experience came first.
- 03:53: They determined there were two spots on my right breast that they found.
- 05:52: What happens after radiation?
- 08:35: What about your brother?
- 09:31: You said your worst moment was that three-hour MRI that turned out to be unnecessary.
- 12:24: What was your best moment?
- 15:25: I think I was down for a few seconds.
- 17:10: You go to the neurosurgeon and what's next?
- 19:29: We were like what is that malformation?
- 21:19: What was the surgery?
- 23:11: My spine is killing me.
- 25:34: Jordan, how did this affect your athletic career?
- 27:07: Yeah, well I have to say it was hard for us as well because as parents, we've traveled out of state with Jordan.
- 29:34: She was the first pick of their season of 2016 graduates.
- 31:11: What is one thing you wish you had known at the beginning of this journey?
- 34:12: I have an uncle who's an oncologist up in Maine and he was very helpful whenever I got information.
- 37:41: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 40:02: You don't just come out of medical school and know how to do these things.
- 42:42: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 44:36: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Limitless Medical Logs
- Email Robin
- Email Jordan
- DM Jordan on Instagram
Keith D Guernsey has beaten cancer twice — prostate cancer in 2018 and multiple myeloma in 2020. He works on cultivating and maintaining a positive mental attitude.
- 00:59: Take us back to the beginning with the first diagnosis and how that all came about.
- 03:26: You are cancer-free.
- 05:12: Tell us about getting that multiple myeloma diagnosis after being cancer-free from prostate cancer for a year.
- 07:10: I've talked to people who have lived with myeloma for 31 years.
- 09:25: I went down so hard that I put my left elbow through the wall.
- 11:20: I was speaking in gibberish; I couldn't speak complete sentences.
- 13:02: It wouldn't be safe for me to travel until I've had my vaccines.
- 15:54: He was diagnosed with leukemia right before I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma.
- 18:16: I just had this time in my life where I would faint on a regular basis, and it was scary.
- 20:50: What was your worst moment in all of it?
- 22:00: What was your best moment?
- 23:45: What is the one thing you wish you had known at the beginning of your cancer journey?
- 24:29: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 26:55: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 28:03: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Keith on Facebook
- Keith on Amazon
- Email Keith
- Call Keith 1.978.973.5691
- American Cancer Society
AnnMarie Giannino is parlaying her cancer diagnosis into advocacy and she is a powerhouse. She works tirelessly to engage the community through awareness programs and fundraising initiatives. And she ensures that everyone who suffers is heard.
- 01:20: Can you take us back to the very beginning?
- 03:23: Why were you doing all this volunteer work for breast cancer if you hadn't even been diagnosed yet?
- 05:14: Black discharge is normal.
- 07:16: She encouraged me to get a second opinion, which I love about her because you know, not many doctors will encourage that.
- 10:37: I wish more doctors would encourage women to go flat until their body could heal a little bit more and process the grieving of it.
- 12:54: I felt like cancer stole so much and I was taking this back.
- 16:09: I think I just burned my boob.
- 18:17: Right in the beginning of my cancer process, my whole right side went numb.
- 20:30: She took 17 vials of blood.
- 22:19: What was your worst moment in all of this?
- 24:15: I showed him these very graphic images of my then mutilated chest, black and blue drains coming out.
- 27:45: What was your best moment in all of this?
- 30:54: What is the one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 32:39: We never know whose story is going to matter to somebody else.
- 34:47: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 36:30: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 39:20: What is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Breastcancer.org
- I had cancer
- AnnMarie’s website Stupid Dumb Breast Cancer
Anissa Orsino is a seven-year breast cancer survivor, homeschooling mom of two boys, and bucket list crusher. She’s on a mission to help fellow moms and sister survivors live with intention and create lives that they LOVE.
- 00:54: Take us back to the beginning of your cancer journey.
- 03:29: Would you just come back and feel this lump?
- 06:30: Okay so you're pregnant and what is the plan now?
- 08:05: It turned out the lump did respond very, very well to chemo.
- 10:18: I bet this is what it feels like right before you die.
- 12:35: I got the expander put in at the time of my mastectomy.
- 15:25: Talk to us about the implant and what went on from there.
- 17:20: Talk to us about lymphedema.
- 19:21: I could take a little bit more time off and so I just decided to go for it.
- 21:33: I know I exercise most mornings and that has made a huge difference.
- 23:25: What was your worst moment?
- 25:20: What was your best moment?
- 28:14: Many doctors are extremely reluctant to use the word cured.
- 28:28: What is the one thing you wish you had known at the beginning of your cancer journey?
- 33:50: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 36:12: Everybody should have a doctor that will talk to them for two hours.
- 37:48: Thrive Rapid Fire Questions
- 39:44: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Anissa’s website
- Anissa on Facebook
- Anissa’s You Can Cancer Planner
- Email Anissa at mama@mamagoesbeyond.com
- Radical Remission by Dr. Kelly Turner
Julia Baldwin Taylor is a creative biz owner and transformational coach. She and her mother were both diagnosed with cancer in January 2017. After making some major shifts in her life and business, she learned to hustle less, live more, and attract more success, and she loves to help other entrepreneurs do the same.
- 02:24: How did you guys get diagnosed?
- 04:24: My mom had surgery scheduled. There was suspicion that it was cancer, but the doctor didn't officially say it was.
- 06:09: I was on the living room floor in my parents’ house trying to do yoga and I just can't lay on my stomach.
- 09:03: It's slow-growing compared to most types of ovarian cancer.
- 12:03: What was your treatment after surgery?
- 14:18: Where were your siblings?
- 16:09: What was your worst moment?
- 17:43: What about your best moment in all of this?
- 19:59: What do you think is one of the big differences between being a caregiver in that situation and being a patient in this situation?
- 23:04: It was just such a touching, precious moment, and I'm so thankful that she lived long enough to see me thriving.
- 24:40: How was the beginning of your cancer journey?
- 26:29: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S. what would it be and why?
- 28:20: Do you think that's everywhere or specific to American culture?
- 29:14: Are you ready for the Thriver Rapid Fire questions?
- 31:10: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Julia’s website
- Julia on Instagram
- Email Julia at hello@juliabaldwintaylor.com
- Julia recommends Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Tapping — The Tapping Foundation
Ginny Dent Brant is a speaker, writer, counselor, educator, and wellness advocate. Brant’s triple award-winning book Unleash Your God-Given Healing: Eight Steps to Prevent and Survive Cancer was written with an oncologist after her cancer journey. Her cancer prevention blog is at www.ginnybrant.com.
- 01:26: Would you please take us back to the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 03:23: My absolute worst moment was when I met with the surgical oncologist after my MRI.
- 05:11: We didn't know how far the cancer had spread at that point.
- 07:01: Did you stay at Cancer Treatment Centers of America?
- 09:20: I do know this: people that have healthy lifestyle habits do better in the cancer treatment journey.
- 11:12: By the time they removed the tumor and cleared the margins, it left me with a small breast which was fine.
- 13:03: I ended up doing two miles that day.
- 15:18: I was able to put a routine together that not only oxygenated my body but held my bone density.
- 17:16: I'm curious what you think about Chinese medicine. Because in Chinese medicine, certain emotions reside in certain organs of the body.
- 19:31: I find this research that shows that grief can suppress the immune system.
- 21:28: I believe it was that acupuncture; she was stimulating my red blood cells to build themselves back up.
- 24:00: What was your best moment in all of this?
- 26:40: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 28:50: You must be your own best advocate because cancer is a huge money-making business.
- 30:00: I was their first patient to get the Vitamin C infusions 24 hours before chemotherapy.
- 31:38: Are you ready for the Thriver Rapid Fire questions?
- 33:29: What is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Ginny’s website
- Ginny on Facebook
- Unleash Your God-Given Healing: Eight Steps to Prevent and Survive Cancer
Joy Clausen Soto is the founder of the annual Dolphin Interaction Program for patients from Rady Children’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Joy is a Stage 2 Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma survivor, a dolphin trainer, TEDx speaker, and the director and subject of the documentary Just One Year –A story of triumph over cancer.
- 01:46: I had this cough, and the cough wouldn't go away, kept getting worse and worse instead of better.
- 03:45: We went to urgent care which is right around the corner from where he lived.
- 05:10: The next week I was diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin's lymphoma and my diagnosis ended up changing.
- 07:50: What did the doctor tell you about the diagnosis and what were your expectations about it?
- 09:27: That's one of the things I would tell people to do is to make sure you get someone else to check out your slides to make sure it is what it is.
- 11:07: Did you have to go down to Children's Hospital Los Angeles?
- 13:03: What happened with film school?
- 17:06: He was there for me for every single chemotherapy treatment, every blood transfusion.
- 19:32: Did you go back to film school?
- 22:12: You have to be selfish and that's what I did.
- 24:09: What was your worst moment?
- 26:20: What was your best moment?
- 27:47: What is one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 28:36: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 30:11: Are you ready for the Thriver Rapid Fire questions?
- 32:16: Aside from Cancer U, what would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Joy’s website
- Joy on LinkedIn
- Joy’s book: Joy: The story of a dolphin trainer, filmmaker, and cancer survivor
- Joy’s documentary
- Joy’s TED Talk
In 2018, Helen King was diagnosed with HER2 + breast cancer. She was 37 years old and had no family history. Everything happened quickly once she was diagnosed. Two weeks later, after a biopsy, she had her right breast removed and 24 lymph nodes removed. Then she endured 18 months of treatment. Cancer has had a profound impact on her life.
- 02:31: I just found a lump in my breast by chance in the shower and it was the day before I was starting a new job.
- 04:33: They can't confirm cancer until they have those biopsy results.
- 06:01: Did they give you any options about the mastectomy?
- 09:16: I just think it would have been a much easier option in a lot of ways, to not have either breast.
- 10:50: I had a mastectomy, fertility treatment, and then went straight into chemotherapy.
- 14:51: I guess when you when people have had cancer, they'll understand that everything comes down to percentages.
- 16:34: I think the hardest time in my experience is afterward.
- 18:10: You are not alone and there's just not enough for survivors.
- 20:31: I don't think people realize just how much a cancer diagnosis impacts you.
- 22:54: I was put into menopause during my treatment.
- 24:32: How does it feel knowing your mammogram is coming up?
- 25:59: What was your best moment in every all of this?
- 27:26: What is the one thing you wish you had known at the beginning of your cancer journey?
- 27:52: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in New Zealand would it be and why?
- 29:17: Because of the way that things are funded, we just don't have the same access to the drugs that you guys have.
- 30:13: Are you ready for the Thriver Rapid Fire questions?
- 31:55: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- The C-Word — Kiwis Talk About Cancer
- C-Word Radio
- Email Helen at thecwordradio@gmail.com
Known as the Insightful Copywriter, Gloria Grace Rand shows service-based entrepreneurs how to create a business with more Impact, Influence, and Income! She is an inspirational speaker and author of the best-seller Live. Love. Engage. – How to Stop Doubting Yourself and Start Being Yourself.
- 01:42: Tell us about the cancer journey and how you became the caregiver.
- 03:31: What she had was a grapefruit-sized tumor that was wrapped around her muscle.
- 04:59: Her oncologist even said that the chances of her getting this cancer were like getting hit by lightning.
- 07:22: She had to be in a wheelchair and so she couldn't drive either.
- 10:26: She was just taking longer and longer to come back because it was depleting her white blood cells.
- 12:00: She went into the hospital because she had a bowel obstruction.
- 14:27: She went off to college when I was seven years old and did not move back home again.
- 16:28: Of all those hurdles which one was the most difficult for you?
- 20:18: Children leave, so do husbands and lovers, but sisters are the only ones with us from birth till death.
- 22:43: She was talking with someone about end-of-life things.
- 24:57: I do know that the meditating did help me.
- 27:57: What is the one thing that you wish you had known at the beginning of this journey with your sister?
- 29:21: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 31:19: Are you ready for the Thriver Rapid Fire questions?
- 33:38: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
- 36:40: Friday mornings I would drive out and sit for a couple of hours and write in my notebook.
- 39:03: I dedicated it to Michaela because I really felt that it was that journey that she was on that really sparked this.
Resources
- Buy Gloria’s book
- Gloria’s website
- Gloria on Facebook
- Email Gloria
- Call Gloria 1.786.942.8321
Bami Adenipekun founded Inspired To Soar with the mission to give everyone impacted by cancer the tools to live fulfilling lives. Bami has been a patient and loved one of someone with cancer. She infuses every client with positivity and helps to restore their confidence so they can achieve audacious goals.
- 01:30: The beginning of my cancer journey was when my late mother was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 42 in Nigeria.
- 03:13: You were diagnosed when you underwent a double mastectomy to prevent cancer.
- 05:05: They decided to go into my lymph nodes to make sure it hadn't spread.
- 07:17: I'd also seen the impact of chemotherapy not just on my sister but my friends.
- 10:25: Where were you living and getting your health care?
- 12:03: It just makes things so very difficult for myself and my younger siblings.
- 15:00: How has that [mother and sister’s deaths] impacted you?
- 17:05: Sisters are the only ones with you from birth till death.
- 19:25: How has your experience been as the daughter and sister of a cancer patient versus being a patient yourself?
- 21:21: If you don't have the answers then find somebody who has the answers.
- 25:30: I always say this every human being wants to be heard, wants to be understood.
- 27:17: They give you the sleeve and the whole point is that the sleeve helps to redirect the fluid to where it needs to go.
- 28:13: What was your worst moment?
- 30:09: What was your best moment?
- 32:40: If you could only do one thing to improve health care where you live in the UK, what would it be and why?
- 34:05: Don't just dismiss them, listen to them, get them the test that they need.
- 35:05: Are you ready for the Thriver Rapid Fire questions?
- 36:42: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Bami’s Coaching Website
- Bami on LinkedIn
Marci Greenberg Cox is the author of Mommy Has a Boo-Boo: Explaining Breast Cancer to Children. In 2018, she was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer, had a double mastectomy with no reconstruction, and is now cancer-free.
- 02:02: Maybe it's just something because I overdid a weight.
- 04:40: She gets on the phone, and you hear those words, I am so sorry you have cancer.
- 06:37: I mean as soon as I found out, I was on the phone with doctors.
- 08:58: She goes it's because I smoked.
- 10:13: I had that choice of a lumpectomy versus a double mastectomy.
- 12:08: It was a 13-hour surgery.
- 14:14: I'm done because I said no more surgeries.
- 17:40: I'm very happy with my decision because I have a whole new wardrobe.
- 20:20: Did you have to have any other treatment?
- 22:43: It's going to put me into menopause.
- 24:51: I'm on that pill for 10 years.
- 26:58: What was your worst moment during all of this?
- 29:34: That was a game-changer for me because I didn't get sick after that.
- 30:25: What was your best moment out of all of this?
- 33:10: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 35:44: Are you ready for the Thriver Rapid Fire questions?
- 37:13: Aside from Cancer U, what is a resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
- 39:45: You've got to have those discussions because those kids are so intuitive.
- 42:06: It's all this practical stuff that you learn.
Resources
- Marci’s website
- Marci’s Facebook page
- Call Marci at 480.695.9683
- Email Marci
.
Karla Mans Giroux is a cancer thriver living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Karla was originally diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. Eleven years later, a metastatic cancer challenge arose. With a goal to live to be 100+, this did not align, and so she began to manage the hell out of this challenge.
- 01:13: Can you take us back to that first journey with breast cancer?
- 03:00: I had a head-shaving party.
- 05:10: I felt the lump on my own and I thought oh this isn't right.
- 06:57: I went for a free flap reconstruction.
- 09:09: What is one of your theories and what did you change?
- 12:02: What changes those cancer cells from being able to grow and not die off in the way that they're supposed to?
- 13:23: Eleven years later it came back.
- 15:24: There was something suspicious on my spine.
- 17:20: You've got a history of breast cancer and now we see it in the bone.
- 19:21: They never actually got a clean biopsy.
- 21:12: I kept at my lifestyle changes and continue to look at whatever toxins in my life I can control.
- 23:23: I did it because it was the right thing to do, but I stepped up my game.
- 25:09: All those classes are always constantly preparing you for some performance.
- 27:08: What was your worst moment?
- 29:27: The worst [moment] was the metastatic diagnosis and just the fear that came up from that diagnosis and not understanding what that meant.
- 31:47: What was your best moment?
- 33:10: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 34:57: Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.
- 36:54: Are you ready for the Thriver Rapid Fire questions?
- 40:32: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
- 43:02: I have found that an integrative approach that [with] conventional meds and these lifestyle changes can make the world of difference for people.
Resources
- Karla’s personal website
- Karla’s Health Navigator website
- Call Karla at 1.847.902.0659
- Email Karla
About the sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Side Effect Support, an online resource for cancer patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers to reduce harmful oral side effects of chemotherapy and radiation.
- Go to SideEffectSupport.com
- Get 10% off your first order with the coupon code CANCERU.
Cathy is a graduate of the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, a Certified Professional Cancer Coach, and a breast cancer survivor. Her personal and professional experience has given her a profound understanding of the importance of cultivating health during cancer care and for cancer prevention.
- 02:20: My mom had had breast cancer five years before me.
- 04:37: If that technician had not grabbed me on my way out the door it could have been much worse.
- 05:54: She said we found some in the lymph nodes and I started to cry right away.
- 08:10: I had you know for safety’s sake I think they took out 13 of them.
- 10:19: Did you do the reconstruction after chemo and radiation?
- 12:29: Why did you choose reconstruction?
- 14:30: My thought process was I want to do everything in my power to never go through this again.
- 16:09: I didn't ask other people's opinions about what I should do.
- 18:15: I don't want to dive into things that I really can't do anything with.
- 20:30: What they do is they can take the fat and they can put it up into the breast area.
- 22:04: My cancer was estrogen positive.
- 25:30: What was your worst moment?
- 29:05: What was your best moment?
- 32:40: It took a while for it to sink in.
- 34:48: What is the one thing that you wish you had known at the beginning of your cancer journey?
- 36:10: If you could do only one thing to improve health care in Canada, what would it be and why?
- 37:05: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 38:10: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Cathy’s website
- Cathy on Facebook
- Call Cathy 416.473.1299
- Email Cathy
Onyx Keesha is an award-winning director of film and stage. She is passionate about telling women’s stories. Her art is her activism. After being diagnosed with breast cancer and enduring surgery, 20 weeks of chemo, and 9 weeks of radiation she now has a new perspective on life. One she is ready to share.
- 02:03: I was able to catch my breast cancer when it came relatively soon.
- 04:08: My treatment was very aggressive because I had it at such a young age.
- 06:14: He gave me the push to fight and that's what I did.
- 08:07: My doctor said 20 weeks of chemo.
- 10:44: I traveled when I was on chemo.
- 12:15: Now we're onto the hormone therapy for 5 – 10 years.
- 15:13: I had to do is continue to show up and continue to fight.
- 17:54: That's the journey I'm starting right now and talking to a holistic doctor.
- 19:03: What was your worst moment?
- 21:25: What was your best moment?
- 22:39: Did you already have that community before being diagnosed?
- 25:12: I just think it's important that as women, we share our stories.
- 26:05: What is the one thing you wish you'd known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 29:42: If you could do one thing it's hard to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 32:30: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 34:23: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Onyx on Facebook
- Email Onyx
Karey Spransy is a stage IV-4 colon cancer survivor who uses her experience to teach others how to be more resilient through the Joy Of Moving On. She uses grace and humor to make you laugh, cry, and cry-laugh about the absurdities of life and feel inspired to find your JOMO.
- 02:20: We met in the totally again romcom way at a sales conference in the US.
- 04:10: Yoga was just part of my routine, at least three or four days a week.
- 06:19: I'm in so much pain, I can hardly stand up straight.
- 08:32: They’ve got to make sure that my colostomy is working properly.
- 10:05: My mother had already beaten breast cancer.
- 12:14: Colon cancer was not even on my radar at all.
- 14:03: I was incredibly sensitive to cold, even room temperature water felt like I was drinking glass.
- 15:57: So instead of there being a green stem, that's the exit for your body.
- 18:26: That thing on your left ovary has grown.
- 20:04: I went on the family medical leave act at that point.
- 22:06: I told my friends and family how much they loved me.
- 24:30: I ended up getting a full hysterectomy.
- 26:26: With a colostomy, you can pretty much eat like you normally do because it's way down in your colon, and it comes out like normal solid stool.
- 28:13: I still get bad bouts of diarrhea that will keep me home for two or three days at a time.
- 29:12: What was your worst moment?
- 32:31: What was your best moment?
- 34:08: What is one thing you wish you had known at the beginning of your cancer journey?
- 36:10: What is one thing that you would do to improve health care in the US?
- 38:59: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 40:20: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Karey’s website
- Karey on Instagram
- Email Karey
Barbara Vercruysse is a life coach. After surviving stage 4 skin cancer at 32, she decided to live her second life to the fullest. After running a construction business for 18 years, Barbara now dedicates herself to her true passion now: guiding people through deep transformations.
- 02:52: My husband who is a lawyer was also combining that with being the salesperson in my business.
- 05:05: We got the results; it's melanoma and it is very deep.
- 07:16: The first night in the hospital was the first time since the birth of my children that I was without kids.
- 09:14: When I had my second surgery, I was practically told I had six more months.
- 11:05: I didn’t realize how far the cancer was.
- 14:33: Where did that knowledge or that idea that you needed to have a positive mindset, where did that come from?
- 16:23: I have the best of relationships and it made me who I am.
- 18:13: No, I will not die.
- 20:14: I started reading books on spirituality, psychology, human behavior self-development.
- 22:38: I survived the stage four cancer to end up here.
- 24:36: What was your worst moment during that time?
- 26:53: What was your best moment?
- 28:04: What is one thing that you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 30:40: Instead of getting out of the thunderstorm, learn how to dance in the rain.
- 32:44: If you could only change one thing in the health care system in Belgium, what would it be and why?
- 34:23: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 35:15: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Barbara on LinkedIn
- Barbara on Facebook
- Barbara’s coaching website Start The Life Of Your Dreams
Pravjoth (Prav) is a 20-year-old, young entrepreneur, and a student at Birmingham City University studying Business Management. Prav owns and manages her own company which sets to become a platform providing personalized fitness and nutrition plans targeting people with disabilities and medical conditions. Prav is also an endometrial cancer survivor.
- 02:46: I used to get bullied quite a lot in my school and I developed an eating disorder.
- 04:29: We ended up switching to another gynecologist and that's when he figured it all out.
- 06:40: Monday morning me and my mother went to the hospital.
- 09:08: It made sense to me why all of that happened—six years of symptoms.
- 11:38: They wanted to test to see if chemotherapy therapy drugs were on the table.
- 13:17: I had a bad infection from it.
- 14:58: They managed to do the hysterectomy.
- 18:19: What was it like for other family members including your sister?
- 19:30: What was your worst moment?
- 21:29: What was your best moment during that cancer journey?
- 23:22: What is the one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 24:01: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the UK where you live, what would it be and why?
- 26:16: When you're a young woman having your period is enough of a pain.
- 28:12: When I had those heavy periods, I was put into the mini pill just to suppress it.
- 30:25: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 31:54: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Find Prav online: https://linktr.ee/pravjothgill
- Watch Prav’s videos
- Prav’s company Movement, Fitness & Nutrition
- Accelerating Rare Cancer Research
Terry Tucker has been an NCAA Division I college basketball player, a business executive, a police officer, a basketball coach, a motivational speaker, an author, and most recently, a cancer warrior. He and his wife have lived all over the United States and currently reside in Colorado.
- 02:00: He took an X-ray and he said, you know, I think you have a little cyst.
- 04:29: In 2018, I had my left foot amputated.
- 06:02: Now, your left leg has been amputated at the knee.
- 09:05: I was fortunate to be in Texas and be able to be treated at M.D. Anderson in Houston.
- 12:05: I'm not real hung up on dying either.
- 15:42: Even if you have the same cancer, you're going to react differently to a drug.
- 18:05: I mean I shake very bad but it's not painful.
- 21:45: It's been nine-plus years that I've been dealing with this.
- 23:24: Maybe that data will help somebody ten years from now when they perfect this drug.
- 25:40: What has been your worst moment?
- 26:20: What about your best moment?
- 28:00: What is one thing you wish you'd known at the beginning of your cancer journey?
- 29:06: If you could only do one thing to improve healthcare in the US, what would it be and why?
- 32:26: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 33:38: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Terry’s Website
- Terry’s LinkedIn profile
- Terry’s book Sustainable Excellence
- Email Terry
Karen has been in the Health and Wellness industry for over 14 years. Karen’s road has had many twists, turns, and speed bumps but she wouldn’t trade it for anything. She is a cancer and divorce survivor. She helps others find the health and freedom they have been searching for.
- 00:25: Karen has been in the health and wellness industry for over 14 years.
- 03:00: What does the lump on my thyroid mean?
- 05:25: We can remove half your thyroid, but there's a bigger chance it can come back.
- 07:13: I got a lot of grief from my family and a lot of grief from other people, but this is my life, not theirs.
- 09:04: Patients will make decisions, not because they want to, [but] because that's what their family wants.
- 12:17: Is your voice not being heard and you're not speaking your truth?
- 14:04: I love to learn about health and started learning about mind, body, spirit.
- 16:45: Why do you think you became lost?
- 17:35: What was your worst moment?
- 19:05: I always had digestive issues.
- 21:40: What top foods are high in pesticides?
- 22:26: When the blood test came back [and showed] you’re fine.
- 23:45: What is one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 24:55: If you could only do one thing to improve healthcare in Canada what would it be and why?
- 28:52: She didn't believe you needed to heal the body from the inside out.
- 29:28: I'm looking for a doctor who is open to both alternative medicine and Western medicine.
- 33:10: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 34:34: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Karen’s website
- Karen on Facebook
- Karen on Instagram
- Email Karen
- Call Karen at 1.416.738.1148
Brad Power is a lymphoma cancer survivor. He is trying to accelerate cancer treatment through innovation, and he’s building on his experience with process reengineering and managing technology.
- 01:50: The physician came back, and he said, we've done the scan, we think you have lymphoma.
- 04:20: I needed to be seen and get treated as fast as possible.
- 06:00: The scan showed hotspots where there was more cancer activity.
- 08:34: There was this thing that was pressing against my organs, and it was that pressing that was causing the pain.
- 11:01: How did you feel as a patient?
- 13:53: What did that chemotherapy regimen look like?
- 16:25: I'm a super health nut — always have been.
- 18:15: The idea of pushing myself to the limit physically for exercise was something else that I did.
- 20:29: I do think there's a balance between fasting, extreme fasting and I like that you fasted for 16 hours, not for 20 hours.
- 21:22: What was your worst moment in all of this?
- 22:02: What about your best moment?
- 24:23: At the time of my diagnosis, I was also writing articles for the Harvard Business Review.
- 26:39: Wow, thank you very much for sharing. You as a patient have a voice.
- 29:00: What is one thing that you wish you had known at the beginning of your cancer journey?
- 31:13: If you could only do one thing to improve healthcare in the US, what would it be and why?
- 34:50: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 36:01: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
- Lymphoma Research Foundation
- CancerHacker Lab
About the sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Side Effect Support, an online resource for cancer patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers to reduce harmful oral side effects of chemotherapy and radiation.
- Go to SideEffectSupport.com
- Get 10% off your first order with the coupon code CANCERU.
Steven is a Confidence Coach helping people leverage their strengths to take action.
- 00:33: In November 1986, Stephen Sullivan was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, also known as AML.
- 02:23: I had him get on the phone and talk to my dad.
- 03:58: There's so much beauty around you, stop and appreciate it.
- 06:16: I didn't realize at the time is it nearly killed me.
- 08:26: The treatment plan was pretty standard back then. They said that they would do three rounds of induction with chemotherapy.
- 12:43: I came down with a serious illness that put me back in the hospital.
- 15:02: We discovered that I picked up hepatitis C.
- 17:33: I really questioned whether to even pursue any more treatment.
- 20:16: We've successfully achieved remission again, but because you relapsed, you're probably going to relapse again.
- 22:40: I was fortunate my father was a physician [and] had access to medical libraries.
- 26:04: I'm going to live with my remission as long as I have it.
- 27:34: Do you think that there's a tendency in that Hippocratic oath to do no harm, do you think there is a tendency specifically in cancer to overtreat?
- 31:53: What was your worst moment?
- 34:04: What was your best moment?
- 38:25: What is that one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 39:20: If you could do only one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 40:20: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 41:47: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- American Cancer Society
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
- Connect with Steven on LinkedIn
Gary Burley is a retired National Football League (NFL) veteran. And he’s been in a Superbowl. Gary is also a cancer survivor whose mission after recovery has been to pay it forward.
- 00:33: Gary Burley is a retired National Football League veteran and he's actually been in a Super Bowl.
- 02:07: One day I started noticing my knee would swell.
- 04:05: I'm thinking all right, you're going to have to find a donor.
- 06:07: I took more antibiotics and medicines than you could ever dream of.
- 08:35: I went back to the doctor to find out that I needed a kidney transplant.
- 10:18: You’re going to have to do dialysis at some point, not right now, but get all your affairs in order.
- 12:14: How can we help other people that are going through this?
- 14:10: If I hadn't gotten early detection, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you today.
- 16:14: You're so talented that you might want to consider going to college.
- 18:09: I land in the middle of the night in a town that I've never been in before.
- 20:08: He said cultivate every relationship that you possibly can because you're only going to play for so long, that’s why they call the NFL not for long.
- 23:38: What was your worst moment?
- 24:50: What was your best moment?
- 26:48: What is the one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 27:42: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 31:00: Every year there's a fight to get federal dollars for cancer and it's a struggle.
- 33:54: People just don't realize how serious cancer is until you get it.
- 34:45: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 36:02: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Prostart Academy
- Email Gary
- Gary on Facebook
About the sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Side Effect Support, an online resource for cancer patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers to reduce harmful oral side effects of chemotherapy and radiation.
- Go to SideEffectSupport.com
- Get 10% off your first order with the coupon code CANCERU.
Dr. Shani Fox guides cancer survivors through their greatest challenges, including taming fear of recurrence, repairing devastated relationships and making the most of the life they survived for. “For all the excuses I could think of, the dream wouldn’t go away.”
- 00:25: Dr. Shani Fox guides cancer survivors through their greatest challenges.
- 02:55: That’s quite a life to have lived where you can say that you live your life exactly the way you wanted to be able to live it.
- 05:46: I realized that actually, ever since I was a child, I really wanted to be a doctor.
- 09:05: Tell us how you went about that. What it was like and how did you create this new career?
- 12:05: Nine months later, I was accepted to medical school and decided I would move.
- 14:11: Cancer takes us down to the bottom of the bottom.
- 16:05: We really help people get back to a place where they feel okay.
- 18:25: Primarily I'm known now for helping people fighting people through this after journey.
- 20:55: What is one thing that you wish you had known at the beginning of your father's cancer journey?
- 25:50: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 28:20: Yeah, people are addicted to food. They need to stop, and it’s an addiction.
- 29:38: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 30:33: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Reach out to Dr. Shani Fox
- Dr. Shani Fox’s Facebook page
- Women Rising Beyond Cancer Facebook Group
Joel Evans was the first person in his family to go to college. While he was working, he was a part-time MBA student. He then switched to full-time status and got his Ph.D. For 44 years, he was a business professor at Hofstra University. He has a great wife, two adult daughters, and two sons-in-law. Right now, he’s teaching a class virtually for graduate students in product management. He is a professor emeritus.
- 00:33: Joel Evans was the first person in his family to go to college.
- 02:02: So, I got the CT scan and then he said I want you to come over to my office.
- 04:10: There was a lot of stuff he didn't tell me because he didn't want me to get more nervous.
- 07:33: And I said, we're not canceling the wedding, and I am going to be there.
- 09:11: Can you explain what the Whipple [surgery] is?
- 11:46: He was able to get all the cancer out.
- 13:08: For those that are not diagnosed early enough to have surgery, the mortality is usually within six months.
- 16:13: You need to work with a doctor that considers you to be an adult and talks to you.
- 18:40: We’re going to work as hard as you do to make sure you live as well as possible for as long as possible.
- 20:01: I also had low white blood cell counts a few times.
- 23:08: I think it makes a huge difference when patients have a goal.
- 24:22: I started to sit down, and I got dizzy. And that's the last thing I remember until I was in the hospital.
- 26:13: I promised myself that I was not going to miss any other time after the surgery until I retired.
- 29:10: I didn't want to steal from her center of attention, but every time people saw me, they started crying.
- 31:10: What was the worst moment for you during all of this?
- 36:02: What was your best moment?
- 36:45: What is one thing that you wish you had known at the beginning of your cancer journey?
- 39:10: If you can only do change one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 40:10: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 41:58: Aside from Cancer U, what is a resource that you recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Joel’s book Surviving Cancer and Embracing Life: My Personal Journey
- Joel’s blog Survivingcancerembracinglife.com
- Email Joel joelprof@hotmail.com
Cancer has plagued Krystal Barter’s family for generations: her Mum at 36, her Nan at 44, and her great-grandma at 68. In her twenties, Krystal discovered this was not by chance, but that she was the carrier of a genetic mutation, BRCA1. At the age of 25, she surgically removed her breasts and she became a preventative cancer advocate launching Pink Hope.
- 01:10: Why don't you take us back to the beginning of your cancer journey?
- 03:25: The only two survivors in my family are myself and my mom.
- 05:39: I don't ever think I ever really got my mom back.
- 07:20: How did it affect your relationship with your mother?
- 09:24: How much are they aware of this family history from a young age?
- 11:05: When did you get tested? Why was that the right time? And what did you do?
- 13:50: The geneticist said Krystal you're positive, but your outcome will be completely different.
- 17:14: I went for a mammogram every year and an ultrasound.
- 18:58: I decided that I was going to try and help others get access to genetic testing.
- 20:58: I've had lots more surgeries that pale in comparison to the mastectomy.
- 23:18: I shared my story on 60 Minutes.
- 27:20: I found it hard to get the support I needed.
- 29:13: It was hard being in high school and hating my breasts in my own body.
- 29:40: What was your worst moment?
- 31:14: I had to have everything removed, obviously [a] hysterectomy.
- 35:18: What is one thing that you would do to improve the health care system in Australia?
- 39:23: We have lobbied for change for BRCA gene testing.
- 42:05: The health care system is broken and that's being kind.
- 42:53: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 44:30: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Pink Hope
- Pink Hope on Instagram
- Facing Hereditary Cancer Empowered (FORCE)
- Krystal on LinkedIn
- We Humanise Health
Stephanie Warner is a midwest cancer survivor and thriver. With twenty years of nursing experience and four years of surviving cancer behind her, she brings compassion and support to help others through value-based teaching and mentoring. She shows others how to embrace their strength and thrive in their own lives.
- 02:42: Since this is the first time that I'm seeing you, let's just go ahead and let's just do an exam.
- 07:24; There was an overwhelming sense of fear.
- 09:19: I was sitting there for an hour and I was so sick.
- 12:04: It’s so overwhelming with the diagnosis right away and there's so much information.
- 14:19: My tumor size was at its maximum size.
- 15:53: It was five hours of surgery.
- 18:44: Was there any discussion about harvesting your eggs at all?
- 19:58: I came out of recovery and I was in a lot of pain afterward.
- 22:33. It just got to the point where my cycles were so beyond painful.
- 24:37: So how do you think being a nurse shaped your cancer experience?
- 28:30: They removed 27 lymph nodes in my pelvic area.
- 29:50: It looked like a rash starting that isn't very typical or common.
- 32:19: I went to pick something up and I felt like my pelvis was going to snap in half.
- 34:39: I've learned that if I stay very active, these things don't flare up as much.
- 36:35: Based on your diagnosis, we are willing to contribute funding to your egg retrieval.
- 38:32: We came out of that retrieval and 13 eggs were able to be retrieved.
- 39:37: What is the one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 40:32: If you could do only one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 41:59: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 42:50: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- American Cancer Society
- Livestrong
- Email Stephanie at steph_w612@yahoo.com
- Call Stephanie at 507.380.5431
Victorianne Russell Walton is a two-time Breast Cancer Survivor. She is a CEO, a Breast Cancer Advocate, a Motivational Speaker, Radio Host, Lifestyle Coach, Chronic Disease Instructor, and Oncology Patient Navigator Trainer.
- 03:15: I know my body; I knew that there was a problem.
- 05:24: The oncologist that I was seeing, on my third request, he told me to stop calling.
- 07:00: When he relayed the message that I was interrupting his golf game, I was furious.
- 09:07: Do you believe your physical doctor or your spiritual doctor?
- 11:33: They put these pins in you, so they know where the tumor is.
- 13:14: My fingernails fell off, my toenails fell off, my mouth turned black, my teeth cracked.
- 15:21: What was your worst moment?
- 16:19: What was your best moment?
- 18:00: Not only was it back, but it mutated to triple-negative.
- 20:45: Everybody has a journey, and everyone's journey is different.
- 22:04: I listened to those messages and they remind me of who I am.
- 24:16: And I said, sir, you'll kill me before I kill you.
- 26:40: When they took him to the emergency room, the doctors discovered the cancer.
- 28:23: She said, oh my gosh, you didn't die.
- 32:14: I'm still here for a reason.
- 36:33: And the next day it's like, okay, what can I do? Who needs my help?
- 38:15: What is the one thing you wish you had known at the beginning of your cancer journey?
- 40:26: What is one thing you would do to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 43:25: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 44:00: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Call Vicki at 301-442-5105
Randy Lopez is a featured spokesperson for the Colon Cancer Alliance and a stage four cancer survivor. He was featured in CNN’s Special Investigation Saving Your Life hosted by Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Randy appeared on CBS’ Health Watch Colorectal Cancer Digestive Health Awareness Webcast hosted by Dr. Travis Stork of The Doctors. He was previously a board member for the National Colon Cancer Coalition based in Minnesota.
- 00:25: Randy is a featured spokesperson for the Colon Cancer Alliance and a stage four cancer survivor.
- 02:16: She just did a digital exam and told me it was an internal hemorrhoid.
- 04:33: I remember just being so painful.
- 06:26: That went well and then went through chemo.
- 08:10: Did they take a portion of your colon out?
- 10:01: By that time, we had just moved back to California.
- 12:23: We’re not recommending you go through chemo again.
- 14:45: I was doing meditation to keep my mind going.
- 16:15: How long was this sort of second treatment?
- 18:33: We're grateful for the doctors.
- 20:15: But if I saw people that are going through cancer, they're in their 70's.
- 22:04: I found five or six people who had survived stage four liver cancer, exactly what my sister had.
- 24:43: What was your best moment during all of this?
- 26:41: I think you definitely find out who your friends are.
- 28:18: I remember sitting in the passenger seat and looking out the window and I just lost it.
- 30:25: I wanted to hear the word change and when we finally heard the words change, it was bad news.
- 32:10: I don't want to forget that there were days that I did not feel at all like I can't even cope.
- 35:28: I just went to have an endoscopy just this last week.
- 36:37: What is the one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning?
- 37:30: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why I would change?
- 38:59: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 40:12: And aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Tweet Randy @randylopez or @stage4survivor
- Randy’s Theatre company
- Faces of Blue: Check Your Colon
- Check Your Colon at Mount Kilimanjaro
Grace Charrier is a global patient leader and public health advocate serving on several international cancer and health panels. Grace also serves as a Legislative Ambassador for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS-CAN) where she enables conversations and collaborations.
- 00:33: Grace Charrier is a global patient leader and public health advocate serving on several international cancer and health panels.
- 02:33: I just fell in my bathroom.
- 05:09: And that was when it was discovered.
- 07:45: I had to be as positive as possible and make affirmations that I was going to get out of it.
- 10:25: That was chemotherapy. I couldn't keep anything down.
- 12:24: Did you choose to do reconstruction at all?
- 14:30: How is your daughter during all of this?
- 16:30: We’re on top of this, we're on top of this mom, we're going to get through it.
- 18:16: My worst moment was sitting in limbo, waiting.
- 19:40: What was your best moment during this time?
- 23:04: Now my money goes on charities.
- 24:46: Especially where I come from, cancer is considered a death sentence.
- 27:34: What is one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 29:30: How do you tackle having a relationship now?
- 32:55: If you want me for who I am then and I love you and you love me, that shouldn't be the problem, right?
- 35:18: When you're not looking, you're just being yourself, focusing on yourself being your best self, that's when the right person shows up.
- 37:24: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 43:40: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 44:35: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Impossicant!: Quirky Inspirational Tales From A Cancer Survivor (Grace’s book)
- American Cancer Society
- The Lancet
T.J. Sharpe is a Stage IV melanoma patient who shares his journey through cancer in the Patient #1 blog. He was diagnosed in August 2012 with melanoma tumors in multiple organs, four weeks after his son was born, undergoing six surgeries and four immunotherapy treatments over two clinical trials.
- 00:34: T.J. Sharpe is a stage four melanoma patient who shares his journey through cancer in the patient number one blog.
- 02:15: With your history of melanoma and these spots on a chest X-ray, we think you have a recurrence of your cancer.
- 04:26: How did you know the first time that you even had melanoma at that early stage?
- 06:36: The tumor in my small bowel was 8.5 centimeters, so I had that for a while.
- 08:23: The oncologist tells her that her husband's going to be dead in two years.
- 10:10: I had a colostomy bag for 2.5 years.
- 14:16: Tell us about the first clinical trial
- 16:15: I went from being the first person in this trial to talking through my entire cancer journey.
- 17:28: What was your worst moment during all of this?
- 19:45: What was your best moment?
- 21:47: They finally said that they don't think I had any active cancer.
- 23:57: How do you look at your life differently now than before?
- 26:17: What is the one thing that you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 28:30: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 34:55: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 36:16: And aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Stupid Cancer
- Cancer Support Community
- First Descents
- TJ Sharpe’s Website
- Tweet TJ @teamTJSharpe
- TJ on Facebook
Dr. Véronique Desaulniers, better known as Dr. V, is the founder of Breast Cancer Conqueror® and the 7 Essentials System®, and co-founder of My Breast Friend™. Her signature process has empowered thousands of women in over 56 countries around the world.
- 00:33: Dr. Veronique JR better known as Dr. V is the founder of Breast Cancer Conqueror.
- 03:30: That’s when I created the step-by-step guide called the seven Essential System.
- 05:47: Fast forward a couple of years then I was clear; I was no longer actively cancerous or producing cancer.
- 07:42: We bring women together and we've created community because as you know, it can be a very lonely journey, right?
- 09:52: What about the actual testing as you mentioned, different blood tests. How does the average person get access to something like that?
- 12:15: You want to make sure that your thyroid levels are optimal especially for breast cancer.
- 14:00: We are all susceptible to cancer.
- 15:55: I grew up in a very toxic environment.
- 18:07: If there's a lot of conflict going on in your head, there's chaotic energy, your immune system is going to be compromised.
- 20:30: What do you think was your worst moment?
- 21:42: What was your best moment?
- 22:50: What is the one thing that you wish you had known at the very beginning of your first cancer journey?
- 23:39: It’s okay to give yourself permission to relax, to take a nap, to meditate [and] to be calm.
- 25:48: You know our thoughts speak to every single cell in our body and affect our DNA.
- 27:33: If you could do one thing to improve healthcare in the US, what would it be and why?
- 31:03: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 31:50: Aside from Cancer U what is the one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Heal Breast Cancer Naturally: 7 Essential Steps to Beating Breast Cancer (Dr. V’s book)
- Breast Cancer Conqueror
- My Breast Friend self-exam tool
- 5 Gears: How to be present and productive when there is never enough time
After being diagnosed with breast cancer at age 35 in 2009, Laura began helping others through advocacy and peer support organizations. In 2012, Laura moved into oncology nursing, specializing in breast cancer, survivorship, and wellness.
- 01:35: I've been a nurse for 11 years; it's a second career for me.
- 03:13: I actually got to use my degree and I designed neckties.
- 04:33: Take us back to before that diagnosis.
- 06:15: I started to notice a lymph node.
- 07:25: I remember my mammogram was on my brother's birthday and my husband was out of town.
- 09:00: I knew it. I knew it. I was right.
- 11:00: People just stepped up and it was the most amazing feeling.
- 13:40: I actually came down with mono.
- 15:16: You said some doctors asked if you were depressed, do you think they would have asked a man if he was depressed?
- 17:40: Here are your options and then let's talk about it.
- 20:11: You're not looking at life through the same lens.
- 24:06: What was your best moment?
- 28:07: What was your worst moment?
- 30:54: I just felt kind of dejected and just kind of like what the hell?
- 31:09: What's the one thing that you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey that perhaps you tell your patients now?
- 32:54: If you could only do one thing to improve healthcare in the US, what would it be and why?
- 36:45: There are so many interested parties who have a vested interest in keeping things with the status quo because they are making money.
- 39:00: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 40:22: Aside from Cancer U, what is the one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- My Pathology Report
- Living Beyond Breast Cancer
- Imerman Angels
- Young Survival Coalition
- Wisconsin Breast Cancer Coalition
Carly is a stage I papillary cancer survivor. She is passionate about creating better health outcomes for cancer patients through the fields of health literacy, patient education, and cancer research.
- 01:23: So, I was diagnosed when I was 27.
- 02:43: My doctor felt a lump in my throat.
- 04:00: I was working at a hospital at the time
- 05:18: I do think it is important to have a second opinion.
- 07:00: My surgeon was calling to tell me that it had metastasized.
- 08:06: It's a pill that that is radioactive.
- 10:08: I had this large incision in my neck
- 11:32: People call it the good cancer.
- 13:36: I also wanted to be seen as a normal person.
- 15:28: I don't really like asking people for help.
- 19:07: My lying down pulse was 150 beats per minute.
- 21:55: The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that's located in your neck.
- 24:32: I am considered in remission.
- 26:00: What was your worst moment?
- 27:36: What was your best moment?
- 29:25: How do you look at your life differently now than before you had cancer?
- 30:45: I want to advance research in the cancer community.
- 32:25: What is the one thing that you wish you had known at the beginning of your cancer journey?
- 35:32: If you can only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 39:40: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 41:00: What is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Clinical Trials (US Government Website)
- National Cancer Institute
- Twitter: carlyflumer
- Instagram: carlyflumer
- Email: carly@powerfulpatients.org
JoJo Rankin is a Marriage Coach at R Family Strong. She is a former practical nurse at an oncology infusion center where she learned we are all stronger than we think we are.
- 01:29: I've had uncles and aunts passed away from cancer.
- 03:51: The patients become your family.
- 05:02: We did not run it like a factory.
- 06:00: What if any preconceived notions did you have about oncology and cancer?
- 06:42: I think the experience was amazing though.
- 07:24: So, tell me about one of your favorite patients.
- 09:21: We are all stronger than we think we are.
- 11:40: Nurses play a huge role in this particular disease.
- 12:51: Oncology is its own world.
- 14:07: What was the worst time for you as a nurse?
- 16:05: What did that time as an oncology nurse teach you?
- 17:40: Don't take anything personally. Don't make assumptions.
- 19:10: We just can't be offended by everything.
- 21:09: If you can improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 25:12: I love telehealth for certain situations.
- 26:28: We've had 30 kids over the years. We've been foster parents for almost a decade.
- 29:40: What are you most grateful for in your life?
- 31:50: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 33:05: What’s one resource that you want to recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- I’m stronger than I think I am (journal on Amazon)
- Rfamilystrong (website)
- Strong business Stronger Marriage Facebook Group
- Operation Mom Elevation Facebook Group for Moms
- IM Jojo on Facebook
Brigitte is the founder of Gemini Media, host of Real Things Living Podcast, Author, a Health Advocate who focuses on delivering the best solutions to her clients. She’s an accomplished business professional in the communications, publishing, and print management industry.
- 01:28: I first got diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006.
- 04:17: And I kept saying what the hell is causing this?
- 05:43: It’s called an acoustic neuroma.
- 06:32: We're just gonna radiate your brain. Excuse me?
- 07:42: I chose a method called cyberknife.
- 12:18: We would I call it the monster.
- 13:09: I just wanted to be there for my sons to graduate.
- 15:51: I had to be the fighter to find the solution.
- 18:27: What were your before and after moments?
- 21:26: My cancer, my health, and my family are a priority.
- 22:10: I had my double mastectomy on my 49th birthday.
- 23:38: What was your worst moment?
- 24:36: What about your best moment?
- 27:55: What is the one thing Bridget you wish you had known at the very beginning of that very first cancer journey?
- 31:48: Wow those are some really nice ones.
- 34:16: I think you should get two opinions and if those two opinions don't match, get a third right?
- 40:23: If you could do only one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 45:50: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 46:50: Tell us about the resources that you have for cancer patients and caregivers.
Resources
- ShareCare.com
- Real Things Living: A Coloring Journal by Brigitte Cutshall
- Real Things: 6 Ways to Embrace Life by Brigitte Cutshall
- Expecting the Good: Inspiration from a Bad Ass with a Big Heart by Brigitte Cutshall
- Real Things Living Podcast
At age 25, Justin Birckbichler was diagnosed with Stage II testicular cancer. Now in remission, he is committed to getting the ball rolling on raising awareness of men’s health and testicular cancer through his website “A Ballsy Sense of Tumor.”
- 01:25: I'm about 3.5 years past diagnosis.
- 02:12: I was going to do my monthly testicular self-exam in the shower
- 03:39: I found a lump.
- 04:40: It sounded kind of like the ocean.
- 06:03: I had done enough research to realize a mass on your testicle in 95% of the cases is cancer.
- 08:28: Who's your son and has one testicle.
- 09:43: It also spread to my lymph nodes.
- 10:10: I had 21 treatments within three months.
- 11:52: What were your before and after moments?
- 13:45: March 2, 2017, is the day the doctor said, you're in remission.
- 16:08: What was your best moment?
- 18:24: I like the word frugal, but my parents and significant others might call it stingy.
- 21:34: You don't have to say yes all the time.
- 23:30: You're my age, how do you have cancer?
- 24:25: What is the one thing you wish you'd known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 25:43: Any time somebody asked me how I was doing, I was, like, I'm fine.
- 26:20: I wish I would've known to be more proactive in my mental health.
- 29:01: If you could do only one thing to improve health care in America, what would it be and why?
- 32:06: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 33:13: What is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- A Ballsy Sense of Tumor
- justin@ballsysenseoftumor.com
Twelve years, Kelly Rogers was diagnosed with skin cancer. As a wellness coach for eight years, she was shocked that her healthy diet, holistic practices, and supplements hadn’t prevented cancer. She lost half her nose and some of her ears.
- 01:50: I had no health insurance.
- 02:50: I might cut off half your nose.
- 04:48: Wow, I'm not ready for this.
- 06:25: I needed a lot more work on the spirit and I needed a lot more work on the body.
- 07:58: Today, my life is so very different.
- 10:38: I can do the surgery and I can do the reconstruction.
- 11:33: They took the first chunk out of my nose.
- 12:22: Part of my cheek was removed.
- 15:33: I looked like the elephant man when I left.
- 17:18: We're going to a happier place.
- 18:12: What was the worst time for you during that cancer journey?
- 19:18: I kind of stayed away from doctors.
- 21:04: I was suicidal every week. I know it's hard to believe because I'm such a fun person
- 24:35: I've continued to have things cut out, chunks cut, things burned off or frozen.
- 25:10: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US and what would it be and why?
- 27:59: I do transformational breathing. It's very helpful.
- 31:10: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 32:41: What is the one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- To order Sparkle Products, go to ClubSparkleMN.com
- To contact Kelly, email her at ClubSparkleMN@gmail.com or call her at 952-470-7336.
- Note: Kelly is a sales representative for Nectura. Cancer U does not endorse, approve, or sell Nectura products.
Nine months ago, Tony Bristol was diagnosed with small cell carcinoma cancer of the esophagus. He likes to say it’s easier to give than receive.
- 00:37: Tony was diagnosed with small cell carcinoma, cancer of the esophagus.
- 02:20: I started getting these night sweats.
- 04:05: It had metastasized in three locations in my liver.
- 05:41: I went to Austria for a week for experimental treatment.
- 06:56: I'm a religious man and I say God show me the right path.
- 07:39: Even the times that I struggle, I look at it as a blessing.
- 12:05: I thought I was at low risk and in great health.
- 13:06: We're all terminal, right? We just don't know when that date is right.
- 14:10: I cried a lot in the first six months.
- 19:06: I wake up every morning, I get on my little exercise bike and do 30 minutes.
- 21:21: I want to see them grow old. I want to see their children.
- 23:34: I'm just gonna love this cancer and let it be my friend too.
- 25:30: And it's weird how it just starts showing up when you start being public.
- 29:25: Magic Johnson was like, Tony, I got you, man. it's 100 [percent] attitude.
- 31:30: We're as a collective humanity; we're all in this together.
- 32:10: What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?
- 35:52: I wanted to show young men that it is okay to be authentic.
- 38:25: What is one thing that you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 40:25: If you could do one thing to improve health care in the US and what would it be and why?
- 42:45: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 45:46: What is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- Love, Marriage, and Update on Brain Cancer (Tony interviews his wife)
- Tony’s Caring Bridge Blog
Dr. Kumar Vasudevan is a neurosurgeon practicing in Atlanta, Georgia. He has a special interest in treating patients with brain tumors. He was inspired by his grandmother's neurosurgeon, who performed a lifesaving operation for glioblastoma for free, and aspires to bring the same devotion and care to his patients.
- 01:20: My grandmother, unfortunately, received this diagnosis of glioblastoma.
- 02:20: Nothing quite interested me, like the brain.
- 03:41: But it is a tumor that we have been fighting as neurosurgeons for as long as our field has been in existence.
- 05:25: The first appointment with me for patients who have this suspected diagnosis of glioblastoma is very much an information-gathering session.
- 06:40: And we're going to learn things together about this tumor.
- 07:20: We have had a quantum leap in our understanding of the factors underlying glioblastoma.
- 09:40: And you mentioned subtypes. So how many subtypes do you know of as of today?
- 11:28: I like to say about the brain that it's like real estate. You know, what matters is location, location, location.
- 13:36: It is simply random and that is true for the vast majority of patients.
- 14:40: What has been your worst moment as a physician doing this work?
- 16:13: You've been told your entire training to go, go, go help, help, help, and try to cure this thing.
- 16:55: So, did medical school prepare you to have those kinds of talks with patients and their families?
- 18:26: Can you tell me about a patient who really touched you?
- 20:17: She did not want to pursue any sort of intervention.
- 22:00: I think we get caught up many times with what we can do, as opposed to what our patients' desires for their care are.
- 23:08: What is the one thing tomorrow you wish you had known at the beginning of your journey as a physician in this field and this specialty?
- 25:55: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 27:48: What is your opinion about EHRs?
- 30:22: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
Resources
- American Brain Tumor Association
- Dr. Vasudevan's website
For three months, Wanda Johnson was a full-time caregiver for her sister who had advanced gallbladder cancer. Then Wanda was diagnosed with triple-positive breast cancer. That diagnosis lit a flame of passion. She became a breast cancer advocate, where new opportunities have led to diverse experiences.
- 01:27: I'm there for my routine mammogram.
- 03:30: I was living in Houston, Texas, and before my diagnosis, my sister was living in Mobile, Alabama, which is our home.
- 05:33: The technician didn't pay any attention to it because of where it was located.
- 06:32: I'm not going to take you on as a patient.
- 10:25: We also have noticed something that didn't quite appear right. But we didn't say anything about it.
- 11:46: Do I make a very deliberate choice to live?
- 14:35: Why is it so hard to make a change?
- 16:30: My best moment, I would say, was during the holidays, and I had to go for a treatment to the main building,
- 21:14: How was your experience as a caregiver different from your sister as she was a patient?
- 25:53: I respected those boundaries.
- 26:48: How do you look at your life differently now than before either your diagnosis or your sister's diagnosis?
- 28:25: It told me that I've got a lot of resilience.
- 31:13: What is the one thing that you wish you had known at the beginning of your cancer journey?
- 33:35: My voice has power. And it's okay to use it.
- 36:20: We have the right to speak up and demand that they see us as like human beings.
- 37:04: If you could only do one thing, just one, to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 38:15: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 40:00: what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and our caregivers?
Resources
- BreastCancer.org
- Email Wanda at wbjohnson@swbell.net
Parul Banka is a story coach based in London. She helps coaches share their stories safely, and with clarity, enabling them to build an aligned audience and to create the impact and income they deserve. Parul is also a speaker and the author of the book My Cancer Journey: A Rendezvous with Myself.
- 00:30: Meet Breast Cancer Survivor Parul Banka.
- 01:20: It began in September 2012.
- 02:55: I found a lump on my left breast.
- 03:58: I went and saw my GP and I said, Look, I've got a lump here.
- 05:20: I used to work in human resources and learning and development.
- 07:40: Why don’t you dress up and have a cup of tea?
- 09:35: Let’s fight this out, let's arm ourselves with as much information as possible...
- 12:26: My worst moment was after I had just finished the first phase of aggressive treatment.
- 14:25: I felt so powerless.
- 15:30: And it was also a very confusing time for me.
- 17:50: In India, cancer is still seen with a lot of stigma.
- 19:10: What was your best moment during that time?
- 21:06: I think this is a distorted understanding of the whole concept of karma.
- 26:18: I just wanted joy and meaning, if I had a second chance.
- 27:25: I decided that I would walk away from the corporate world.
- 30:20: What is the one thing that you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 31:28: If you could do only one thing to improve the health care system in the UK, what would it be and why?
- 33:22: I would love to see coaches work with our National Health Service.
- 35:25: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 37:22: What is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- My Cancer Journey: A Rendezvous with Myself
Bailey O’Brien is a cancer coach and cancer-free survivor of over 9 years who used complementary and alternative methods of healing when standard treatments did not stop her melanoma progression. She is grateful to be alive and have the chance to share the hope that brought her here!
- 02:55: I had discovered a mole on my right temple.
- 03:26: I didn't even know what questions to ask, I didn't know what to think.
- 06:35: You're young, you're healthy, so you can go back to your normal life.
- 07:43: Well, I didn't see anything that looked like melanoma.
- 09:28: I couldn't lift my eyebrow up; I couldn't move my cheek.
- 10:49: I had an 80% chance of another second recurrence.
- 12:25: My teammates didn't understand what I was going through on the inside.
- 15:27: I had seven months to live without treatment or 14 months if I did, whatever was available.
- 18:15: I knew my cancer was very aggressive.
- 22:50: The theory behind Gerson therapy is that cancer is a result of nutrient deficiency and a burden of toxicity.
- 28:00: I had told him I was thinking about or planning to go to Mexico.
- 30:40: He said that there was no sign of cancer on the scan.
- 33:05: God, if you're there, please give me a miracle.
- 35:00: What is the one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of your cancer journey?
- 36:14: I really didn't understand the power of nutrition at the time.
- 37:36: If you could only do one thing to improve you as healthcare in the US, what would it be and why?
- 42:10: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 43:30: What is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients?
Resources
The Reinvention of Coley’s Toxins by Donald MacAdam
Radical Remission by Dr. Kelly Turner
Contact Bailey on her website
Call Bailey 914.262.8845
Bailey on Facebook
Bailey on Instagram
Bailey on YouTube
Mark Kelly is a 29-year cancer survivor. Mark attended Gordon College and was hired by ESPN as a researcher. During his 10-year career, Mark won two Emmy Awards. In 2008, Mark retired from ESPN due to the side effects of his cancer treatment. Mark established CKMagicSports where he has produced and hosted over 130 podcasts. In 2019, Mark’s memoir about his cancer journey My Scars Tell A Story was published.
- 00:30 Mark is a 29-year cancer survivor.
- 01:21 Tell us when and where your cancer journey started.
- 03:55 They diagnosed me with an abscess.
- 05:11 They didn't tell me at the time that it was a rare terminal cancer, but that's what they told my parents.
- 07:25 I didn't know anything about cancer rather than old people got it. I didn't know anything about chemo.
- 09:42 That's called rhabdomyosarcoma.
- 10:33 I'm a coward, I mean, I didn't want it to go through any of this.
- 10:58 My worst moment was …
- 13:01 At that point, I wanted to quit.
- 17:27 I had four years of radiation.
- 19:24 What was your best moment?
- 21:53 What is one thing that you wish you had known at the beginning of that cancer journey?
- 25:01 If there was only one thing you could do to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 29:25 I'm the daughter of a prescription addict.
- 31:37 Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 34:02 What is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients?
- 37:58 I would like to see more attention put on survivors that are permanently damaged from this treatment.
Resources
- Connect with Mark at CK Magic Sports
- Purchase My Scars Tell A Story on Amazon
- Support Mark on Patreon
The Cancer U Thrivers Podcast is debuting next month! If you want to share your cancer journey and be a guest on our podcast, click Contact Us.
Learn more about sharing your cancer journey on our website cancer.university