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Welcome everyone to the final episode of the We Have Cancer podcast. Glenn Hebert from the Horse Radio Network and Katie Krimitsos of the Women’s Meditation Network pay tribute to Lee Silverstein. For those of you that may not have heard, we lost Lee a few weeks ago and we wanted to do one final episode on the We Have Cancer podcast to honor what he meant to the cancer community and also to the podcast community.
Katie and I will talk a bit about our time with Lee and then we want to play for you one of the final interviews that Lee did with the Man up to Cancer podcast where he talked about dying, hospice and how he was at peace.
Rest in Peace Lee, we all love you!
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My buddy, Tim McDonald, joins me to share his story of dealing with stage 4 colon cancer and is journey to find a liver donor.
Please help spread Tim's message by sharing this link: http://timsliver.com/
Follow Tim here:
On Twitter: twitter.com/tamcdonald
On Instagram: instagram.com/timamcdonald
On LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timamcdonald
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Manglende episoder?
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Michael Riehle joins Lee to discuss his journey with colorectal cancer, the challenges of living NES (No Evidence of Disease) and the value of the Man Up to Cancer; The Howling Place Facebook group.
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Lee provides an update on his treatment and shares exciting news. He discusses researching your treatment options and how to make treatment at a long distance facility a reality.
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Welcome to episode #188, the final episode of the WE Have Cancer podcast.
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On this episode of WE Have Cancer, motivational speaker and endurance athlete David Richman shares with Lee how cancer first touched his life through his late sister, June. To honor her legacy, David has completed countless races in search of connection, emotion, and perspective. Guest Biography:
David Richman is an, author, entrepreneur, speaker, consultant and philanthropist. But before any of that, he was a brother to June. In 2007 June was battling her final stages of brain cancer, and David was ready to run beside her during Relay for Life. June passed away just days before the race, but David still went and ran. His experience at that race sparked a new passion in him for endurance sports for a cause. In the last decade, he has completed over 50 triathlons, over 50 runs longer than marathon length, and most recently, he biked 4,700 miles cycling across the country to interview participants for his new book exploring the emotional side of cancer, Cycle of Lives.
Table of Contents:David's Story Begins with JuneDavid's sister June received news that she had serious brain cancer in her forties, and that it was most likely terminal. Her diagnosis changed everything. She was the impetus to David's project and nonprofit work, and remains his constant inspiration.
What Would June Think of David's Work?June said the thing that sucked the most about her cancer was that she wouldn’t get to see her kids grow up. Through David's work, June is not forgotten, and her kids get to see her legacy continue to inspire connection.
5000 Miles on a Bike, Searching for AnswersInspired by June’s Relay for Life team in 2007 (called the June Buggies), David promised her he would run right alongside her. But June passed away just a few days before the race. Over time, David wanted to meet and interview all these people touched by cancer and bring them together. So he hopped on a bike and went city to city in a matter of six weeks.
There's So Much HopeLee asks, was the biggest surprise while working on Cycle of Lives? David says he went into the project thinking it would be dark and heavy all the time, but he was surprised and inspired to find how hopeful and wise so many people were along the way.
Seeking Connection Drives EverythingHow did David learn to dig deep and lean into these meaningful (and often challenging) conversations? He says he loves “trying to figure the puzzle out” when interviewing people, and finds true joy in doing so.
“I was always on the outside looking in.”In his book Cycle of Lives, he talks a bit about how up until his thirties he felt like he was never the main character of his own story. He wanted to get out of the shadows and capture stories that would spread light, emotion, and inspiration, just like June.
Why the Bike Ride, Instead of Picking Up the Phone?Dave says, “I think we’re all connected by stories, and we’re connected by emotion.” To him it felt natural and obvious to jump on his bike and ride from city to city to string everything...
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On this episode of WE Have Cancer, awareness advocate and ovarian cancer survivor Morgan Gaynor chats with Lee about cancer research, advocacy, and sharing her cancer journey online in a very public way.Guest Biography:
After completing her MBA at Monmouth University at age 30, Morgan decided to look into freezing her eggs. That decision would ultimately lead to her ovarian cancer diagnosis and save her life. Immediately after her diagnosis with low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma, she began sharing her story online on her website, Morgan Beats Cancer. Now a year and a half after her last chemo session, she currently serves on the board of STAAR Ovarian Cancer Foundation, and advocates on the federal, state, and local levels on behalf of ovarian cancer patients for increased research funding.
Table of Contents:The Story Behind "Morgan Beats Cancer"Morgan says naming her site was a big decision and conversation with family. It’s not just about beating cancer herself; Morgan says her goal is to beat ovarian cancer for everyone.
Sharing Her Cancer Journey with the WorldAt the time of her diagnosis, Morgan was four months out from her MBA graduation where she studied Communications. Her whole life Morgan has been an eager philanthropist and volunteer, and now she’s taking all of her skills and passions into the cancer world via her website and advocacy work.
Diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer Pre-MenopauseShe first posted on Facebook about her ovarian cancer diagnosis, and how it wasn’t common for a woman in her early thirties to be diagnosed with it. She wanted to raise awareness that cancer can happen at any age. Morgan says, “If you’re born with ovaries, you’re at risk for ovarian cancer.”
From Freezing Eggs to Finding Ovarian CancerAfter watching friends struggle with fertility in their twenties and thirties, Morgan decided she wanted to have her eggs frozen at age 30. At Morgan’s first ultrasound with the fertility specialist, they noticed several large lumps in Morgan’s pelvic area. A few weeks later, a surgeon confirmed the lumps were malignant, and she was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer.
Treatment Options for Ovarian CancerMorgan says surgery was definitely the recommended immediate course of action for her. She had a debulking surgery first to remove all visible signs of disease, and then went through six rounds of chemotherapy afterward.
Life After Cancer TreatmentMorgan’s final chemo session was in February 2020. She now takes a daily estrogen blocker because her particular strain of cancer was hormone-driven. She says she feels great.
“My whole life is different now.”Between cancer and the pandemic, Morgan says she’s home much more than she used to be. She still spends time volunteering in her community, and she’s doing a lot with the ovarian cancer community as well. She joined the board of STAAR Ovarian Cancer Foundation, and is an advocacy leader with OCRA (Ovarian Cancer Research...
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On this episode of WE Have Cancer, author and cancer survivor Katie Russell Newland chats with Lee about baseball, family, cancer, and learning to live in the moment. Katie shares how baseball was a special bond between her and her mother growing up. Three years after her mom lost her own battle with Colon Cancer, Katie was diagnosed herself. Two years later, Katie decided to dust off their old dream of road tripping to every ballpark in the country. Her journey later inspired her memoir, A Season with Mom: Love, Loss, and the Ultimate Baseball Adventure.Guest Biography:
Katie Russell Newland is a writer and sports enthusiast with a PhD in language and literacy from the University of Texas at Austin. A survivor of both Hodgkin’s lymphoma and melanoma, she is now in remission and lives with her family in Austin, Texas. When she’s not watching sports or her favorite teams play (Chicago Cubs, New Orleans Saints, and Texas Longhorns), she can be found at a music festival, hosting a board game night, or playing pickleball.
Table of Contents:Just Me, Mom, and BaseballKatie shares that her favorite baseball memories with her mom are the quiet moments watching baseball together at home, "just letting baseball do the talking." At their first Cubs game together, her mom had the idea to go and see all 30 ballparks together, just the two of them.
"My Mom's Strength Gave Me Strength"When her mom passed away, Katie stepped away from baseball for a while because it hurt so much to have to experience the game without her. Then, when Katie was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and melanoma three years later, she reflected a lot about her mom’s strength and her own journey.
Mom's Dream Came Alive AgainA year after her cancer treatment, Katie was diagnosed with a rare complication called Lhermitte's Sign, where radiation from her neck and chest crept in to her spinal cord, making it a challenge to take a single step. A year later, her mom's old idea came back: Katie wanted to see every ballpark, just like they'd planned.
108 Years of PatienceWatching the Cubs win the World Series in 2016 was magical, Katie says. Her mom wasn't around to see it, so Katie made sure to stay home alone, without distractions, to watch them win. She wanted it to be just her and her mom again, and she knows she felt her presence with her there.
"I Wanted to Live in the Moment"When Katie started her baseball journey she says she had no intention of writing a book; she started it as part of her own healing journey and a way to feel closer to her mom again. The book came a few years later.
Living Her Dream, TwiceThen, Katie shares, reflecting back on her baseball journey to write the book was a whole separate journey in itself. She looked across thousands of photos from the trip, this time examining them from the perspective of a qualitative researcher. She was able to process the experience in a whole new way.
Letting Go of ControlKatie says she learned a lot from cancer about letting go and learning to release the...
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On this episode of WE Have Cancer, author and veteran physician Jim deMaine chats with Lee about facing death with peace and comfort. Dr. deMaine shares his knowledge on hospice and palliative care and the rights every patient should be informed on in regards to medical care at the end of their life. He also provides thoughtful advice for how patients and their family members can best prepare for their final days.
Guest Biography:Dr. Jim deMaine is a pulmonary and critical care specialist passionate about educating folks about the options they face towards the end of their lives. He is the author of Facing Death: Finding Dignity, Hope and Healing at the End, in which he shares his wisdom and field experience to explore common questions and anxieties his patients have experienced in their final days. He does not shy away from conversations about the role of spirituality, leaving a moral legacy, cultural traditions, and even conflicts between patients and their doctors.
Table of Contents:Saying the Words "Death" and "Cancer"At the start of the show, Lee asks why a pulmonary care doctor decided to write a book on death. When Dr. deMaine was training as a physician in the 1960’s, he says they were trained to avoid talking about death or even using the word “cancer,” and he knew he wanted to change that.
A Patient's Rights at the EndHow do practitioners let their patients know that they have the right to make determinations about the kind of care they’d like to have at the end of their lives, and how can their doctors inform them about technologies available to them? Dr. deMaine discusses the many rights and conversations patients can, and should, be having with their doctors about end-of-life care.
How to Put Families More at EaseFamilies feel better about conferences when the doctor listens more, allowing them to feel more understood, explains Dr. deMaine. He also talks about some touching notes and feedback he’s received over the years from patients and their families that have helped to teach him how best to comfort and inform loved ones.
Leading the Conversation to Discuss DeathLee asks, why is what Dr. deMaine does “out of the ordinary” compared to standard practices of physicians in general? He shares about an app created for doctors called Vital Talk that coaches doctors on how to listen and approach these kinds of discussions, rather than sweeping them under the rug. There’s even a COVID-specific part.
Learn about Hospice Before Needing HospiceDr. deMaine says patients should be informed about hospice options prior to needing hospice care themselves. Often, he says, people wait too long to consider hospice. How can patients begin to think about that level of special care earlier on?
Benefits of Hospice CareMore than 50% of cancer patients receive hospice care at the end of their lives, and the data shows that people that enter hospice care have longer lives. Dr. deMaine admits that entering into hospice care is “quite a shift,” and is a decision that should be carefully considered.
Palliative Care vs. HospiceWhat’s the difference between palliative care and
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On this episode of WE Have Cancer, Oncologist Dr. Daniel shares how the free Belong.Life app is changing the lives of cancer patients and caregivers around the world. Belong.Life is both a social and professional network for managing and navigating treatments, with a mission to improve the quality of life and the quality of cancer care around the world through technology, engagement, data, and AI.
Guest Biography:Dr. Daniel Vorobiof is the Medical Director of Belong.Life, creator of Belong – Beating Cancer Together, the world’s largest social network and navigator app for cancer patients, caregivers, and medical professionals. He is the founder and former medical director of the Sandton Oncology Centre in Johannesburg and has published more than 120 peer-reviewed articles in international medical journals. He formerly served as an executive board member of the International Committee of ASCO.
Table of Contents:The Online Cancer Community Goes GlobalDr. Vorobiof explains that as a cancer patient, you have more questions than answers, and it’s hard to know what to do or who to trust. Belong is a “GPS for cancer patients.” It’s a social network for support and navigating the treatment of cancer.
The App is Safe, Free, and PersonalizedBelong is an international application, it’s free to use, and completely anonymous. All your private information stays private. You can choose which groups you want to be a part of in the app, according to the diagnosis you have and the circumstances that apply to you.
Serving Over 300,000 Patients WorldwideDr. Vorobiof says, “I wasn’t looking for a new career in my life, but this was the opportunity for me.” In 40 years as an oncology practitioner, he estimates he treated 20,000-30,000 cancer patients. Now with Belong, he has over 300,000 patients all over the world after just four years on the app.
The Comfort of AnonymitySince the app is anonymous, patients can ask questions they might be afraid or embarrassed to ask in person or with family members present at a regular doctor's visit. Plus, caregivers can be active on Belong too; an estimated 20% of the app’s total 400,000 users are caregivers.
Surveying the Cancer Community about COVID VaccinesJust three days after sending out a survey to the app users about how they were feeling about the COVID vaccines, Dr. Vorobiof received over 1000 quality responses. Detailed findings are still being combed through, but he says 96% of responders said they’d had the vaccine, and 4% reported they did not want to receive it.
Making Sense of Clinical Trials with Belong.LifeThe app bridges a huge need in the cancer community in regard to clinical trials with its Clinical Match feature. Taking in a person’s information (de-identified to remain anonymous), the app can match someone with any clinical trial/s they may be suited for.
Bringing Community & Cancer Support to the 21st CenturyReceiving support on the online app is simple and intuitive. Emotional support is crucial for both patients and caregivers. Everything from education to emotional support can be found on Belong, all of which is...
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On this episode of WE Have Cancer, stage 4 throat cancer survivor Marc Julien shares with Lee the brutal truth of his experience with radiation therapy on his road to remission, and his newfound passion today for spreading awareness and fundraising for pediatric cancer research. He proudly says cancer is the best thing to ever happen to him, remission or not, because it’s given him the perspective, patience, and appreciation for life’s most priceless and precious moments.
Guest Biography:Marc Julien became a first-time father just three weeks before his stage 4 throat cancer diagnosis. His wife Cortney became a rockstar caretaker in more ways than one as Marc underwent 7 weeks of intense and “excruciating” radiation therapy to treat the metastatic squamous cell carcinoma in his left lymphoid and tonsil. Now in remission, he’s been training the last two and a half years as a cyclist to compete in the Race Across America with a team of 19 others who have also been impacted by cancer in their own way. Marc and his team have a fundraising goal of $500,000 for pediatric cancer research.
Table of Contents:Diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer, 3 Weeks After Becoming a FatherA cancerous lump was found in Marc’s neck that had been growing for a few months, right before his daughter was born. She was born May 10th, and by June 5th Marc was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in his left lymph node and left tonsil.
How Did Mark's Wife React to his Diagnosis?Right after the baby was born, Marc got a biopsy. It was a week’s wait for the results to come in. Marc says he and his wife shared feelings of disappointment and fear for the future, and all the uncertainty that lay ahead.
Was it Hard to Be "In the Moment" with His Newborn Daughter?Marc says he "kind of blocked out" those early days, but that his wife and daughter came to support him at every single radiation therapy session. Everyone involved in his treatment also looked forward to seeing newborn Ella there to support her dad.
Stage 4 Throat Cancer to Remission: What Did it Take?When Marc met his first doctor in Miami, he was told he would go through two weeks of treatment and get back to his life. Marc didn’t want anything to be sugar coated, so he sought out a second opinion, just in case. He knew he needed to fire that first doctor from Miami when the second doctor told him the harsh reality that Marc was actually in for; it was not going to be a two week scenario. It was 7 weeks of extremely intense radiation therapy.
“Treatment was excruciating.”Marc shares the harsh reality of weeks and weeks of radiation therapy for his throat cancer, and how the pain and side effects magnified week after week. The chemotherapy after the radiation was still tough, but Marc says the radiation was the hardest part of his treatment by far.
How Did Having Cancer "Change" Him?Marc shares, “The person I was before I was diagnosed isn’t someone I recognize anymore.” He says he’s much more patient now, and he’s more present and appreciative with his loved ones. He believes he’s a better father, husband, and friend...
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On this episode of WE Have Cancer, Lee is joined by actress and singer Erin Cronican to chat about her experience battling stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, continuing to perform and produce plays with her theater company, and blogging her entire journey since 1998. Erin speaks candidly about the roles of grief and gratitude in her life, and the comfort she finds in her work and daily routine.
Guest Biography:Erin Cronican is an award-winning director, actor, and singer based in New York. She currently serves as Executive Artistic Director at The Seeing Place Theater in New York City. In 2018, she was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, and has been undergoing chemotherapy, treatments, and scans ever since. She has been blogging since the 90’s and continues to document her life at her self-titled blog, “The Erin Cronicals,” where she provides transparency, awareness, and levity as she navigates her cancer journey.
Table of Contents:Do we owe anyone vulnerability?Sometimes vulnerability and openness can be a double-edged sword. When Erin found out she had stage 4 breast cancer, she went through surgery during the midst of production with her theatre company.
"I wanted my art to stand on its own."Erin started chemotherapy in March 2019, and was scheduled to open a show in April 2019. She lost 40 pounds in 4 months due to a tumor leaning on her adrenal gland. She says when she started the show, she was not the energetic person people expected her to be. Critics found all kinds of reasons to call her the “weak link” of the show; they had no idea she had breast cancer.
Normalize the Daily StruggleErin says, in a way, all cancer patients are actors to a certain extent. Everyone puts on a face around family members so they don’t worry as much, we downplay our feelings, friends tell us “Oh you look great!”
The Comfort of Routine, Blogging, and StorytellingErin started blogging back in the 1990’s while she was in college. She learned to code websites, and started writing a daily diary on her HTML website. She started her current blog when she moved to NYC in 2005. When she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in 2015, the blog morphed into being more medically driven.
Grief and Gratitude Can CoexistErin explains on her blog how she can be grieving the life that she used to have, and also be grateful for the life she has now. She wrote that two months before her mother’s death; and now she's also dealing with the grief of losing a parent and the collective grief of living through a pandemic. Sometimes in the cancer community there’s a toxic positivity aspect; it’s okay to make room for grief.
“I’m grateful for my chemotherapy.”When her blood counts are too low and she can’t get chemo, Erin admits she's very sad. She considers it to be medicine and nothing toxic. Since she's been so stable recently, she's getting her scans every four months instead of every three. She says the "scanxiety" she feels is more a concern in having to change her regimen and less about worrying if the cancer comes back.
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On this episode of WE Have Cancer, seasoned Hollywood voice actor Rob Paulsen shares his unique story battling throat cancer, and the important roles laughter and joy played in his treatment and recovery. Rob brings along some of his most famous characters to put a smile on everyone’s faces during this bright and inspiring episode.
Guest Biography:Rob Paulsen is one of Hollywood’s busiest and most gifted voice performers. If you don’t recognize his name, you may recognize some of his most famous characters, including: Raphael and Donatello from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Pinky from Pinky and the Brain, Yakko from Animaniacs, and many, many others. He was diagnosed with throat cancer at age 60, and the journey of his treatment inspired him to write and publish his own story, Voice Lessons, which is now available in both print and audiobook format.
Table of Contents:The Joy of Making People LaughRob deeply believes laughter is healing and is one of the keys to health and wellbeing. He says, "Laughter is the best medicine because you can’t overdose and the refills are free!"
Diagnosed with Throat Cancer at Age 60Rob's ENT Doctor found a lump on the side of his neck and performed a biopsy. When he got the news with his throat cancer diagnosis, all he could think was how lucky he was to have such a long, fulfilling life.
"Everyone was so Kind"Rob says everyone involved in his case was kind and professional and patient, and that the compassion was remarkable. He believes some people just have a true calling, and it’s a heroic thing to watch.
Giving Back to Medical Practitioners with LaughterWhen people find out what Rob does, it makes everyone joyful. He shares how he was always making his practitioners laugh, which made him feel like a million bucks. He says, "If I get to lighten their load a little bit, that’s all I can ask for."
Eh, What's Up, Doc?Rob shares a special moment of getting to meet Mel Blanc before he passed. Blanc was the voice of countless famous cartoon characters, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Barney Rubble. Rob says he learned a lot from him and still carries those lessons with him.
Learning to Embrace the UnexpectedRob shares he was not particularly good at living in the moment before his diagnosis. He used to “what if” himself to death, but since his treatment he's learned to take life one day at a time.
Why He Wrote His Book, "Voice Lessons"Rob says, "I’m not a movie star, the characters that I voice are the famous ones. I thought the last thing the world needs was another celebrity bio from another 'non-celebrity.'" After his throat cancer diagnosis, he became very involved in his treatment in terms of trying to learn as much as possible. Then he thought it might be a great story, which then turned into a great audiobook.
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On this episode of WE Have Cancer, womens’ cancer surgeon Dr. Valena Wright, MD chats with Lee about her decades of experience treating gynecologic cancers, and the many preventative measures women may not know about. From symptoms of ovarian cancer to the power of positivity to the benefits of music therapy, Dr. Wright shares her professional advice to empower women to be prepared and informed when it comes to their health and well-being.
Guest Biography:Dr. Valena Wright is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist and surgeon with more than 25 years of clinical practice experience in the realm of women’s health. When Valena lost her older sister to Stage IC Ovarian Cancer, she knew she wanted to start advocating even more about women’s cancer prevention. Her new book, It’s Time You Knew: The Power of Your Choices to Prevent Women’s Cancer is available now.
Table of Contents:It's All in the FamilyValena's Grandmother was one of the first public health nurses on Prince Edward Island, at a time when not many women had access to such an education. Her trailblazing success greatly inspired Valena to enter the medical field as well.
"Not Your Mother's Hysterectomy"Valena says she thinks her grandmother would be astonished by today’s technology, and by how surgery is performed today; but Valena can also imagine her shaking her finger at today's medical practitioners, because public health isn’t what it should be.
The Most Common Women's CancerThe most common cancer Dr. Wright treats as a gynecologic oncologist is uterine cancer, which arises in the lining of the uterus and usually occurs after menopause, but not always. Sometimes pre-menopausal women dismiss the symptoms of abnormal bleeding that can point to uterine cancer.
What are the Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer?Ovarian Cancer symptoms can be subtle, but might include bloating, feeling full even if you haven’t eaten, fatigue, increased urinary frequency. A pelvic mass can grow quite large over time, even if you haven't noticed any subtle symptoms.
Should You Rely on Family History?About 20% of ovarian cancers can be hereditary, but family history is not always reliable without genetic testing. After her sister’s ovarian cancer diagnosis, Valena had genetic testing done, and elected to have risk-reducing surgery.
Diet, Exercise, and What Else?Diseases can affect women in different ways than men; heart disease is the perfect example. Valena strongly believes it's important to be able to speak up and ask for what you need, and to understand the gynecologic anatomy. And, since many women are frequently multitasking, prioritizing a full night's sleep is extremely important for well-being, mental health, and stress.
Integrated Medicine for Women's WellbeingIntegrated medicine can help with the mind-to-body relationship in patients. It’s important to remain positive because the brain looks for what we focus on the most, which is critically important for cancer patients. Valena reminds listeners, "there is always hope."
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On this episode of WE Have Cancer, motivational speaker and testicular cancer survivor Matthew Ode shares his inspiring advice for seeking purpose and joy during your cancer journey. From the power of finding a supportive community to practicing vulnerability to dealing with body image struggles, Matt delivers his top tips with optimism and grace. Matt’s advice for finding peace and purpose is to focus on what you can control, and allow yourself to be supported and encouraged by your inner circle of loved ones.
Guest Biography:Matt Ode was 24 when doctors discovered an 11cm tumor in his small intestine, and soon diagnosed him with stage 3 testicular cancer. He even fell into a non-induced coma for two weeks. Cancer free since March 2017, Matt has since founded Mustaches for Matt, started a supportive survivorship Facebook group with over 4000 members, and shares his story as a motivational speaker about overcoming adversity.
Table of Contents:How Matt Inspires Others While Staying True to HimselfMatt says he always tries to find some joy in everything, and he doesn't change himself to make other people happy. He says, "Authenticity is the absolute key to attracting the right people in your life.” Matt believes the more vulnerable and authentic you are, the more comfortable others will feel when opening up to someone in their life.
Encouraging Men to Open UpMatt believes a lot of men’s mental health issues, in general as well as within the cancer community, come from holding in their emotions. When men can open up and share and be vulnerable, anxiety begins to dwindle and men can happily, freely express who they really are.
Dealing with Body Image during Cancer TreatmentMatt speaks to the physical and mental effects of being a cancer survivor in your 20’s. He was a personal trainer before his testicular cancer diagnosis; a weightlifter at 8% body fat. In 8 months of intense treatment, Matt dropped from 185 to 110 pounds. To battle the body image issues, Matt says he would ask himself, "What's one thing I can do each day to progress a tiny bit?"
Matt's Secret Weapons: Faith and SupportExactly one year after Matt met his girlfriend, he was being released from the hospital and told he was finally cancer free. He and Lauren had just started dating when he received his diagnosis. Matt's faith is his north star, and he deeply believes that faith and loving support from his girlfriend and family are the two things that got him through treatment.
Losing Friends After TreatmentMatt says he had amazing support while he was actively battling testicular cancer, but afterwards when he didn’t want to go back to his old life, that’s when he says he lost some old friends. Matt shares his friends expected him to go back to his old self: going out on the weekends, reliving the high school glory days, etc. Instead, Matt founded his business, Mustaches for Matt, and surrounded himself with other encouraging entrepreneurs and survivors to begin to cultivate an uplifting community.
Testicular Cancer at Age 24As a young, healthy, active personal trainer, Matt thought his sudden chronic back pains were related...
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On this episode of WE Have Cancer, Healing Mindset Coach Jeanette Carbajal shares her tips for embracing a healing mindset on the journey to cancer recovery. Jeanette has worked with countless medical practitioners, oncologists, and cancer patients all over the U.S. She shares the importance of gratitude, boundaries, laughter, and joy; and that sometimes healing is simply a matter of forgiveness.
Guest Biography:Jeanette Carbajal became a Healing Mindset Coach shortly after caring for three family members dealing with diagnoses and surgeries all at the same time. She learned she loved bringing laughter, joy, and gratitude into patients’ lives. She is a Certified Holistic Cancer Coach, Certified Health Coach, and Master Transformational Life Coach. This year, she was named 1 of 8 Women Shaking It Up In Health & Wellness by Yahoo Finance. Jeanette teaches her clients to manage their emotions, protect their energy, and foster a positive healing mindset.
Table of Contents:What's the Difference Between Healing and Recovery?Jeanette believes healing is the process of coming home to yourself. The words “healing” and “recovery” are often interchanged, but they aren’t the same. Healing can happen in a moment; healing can happen when you forgive someone or come to terms with your past.
Bringing a Healing Mindset to Medical ProfessionalsWhile involved with a few different clinics, Jeanette was asked by medical staff to share her tips for burnout, boundaries, and mindset with team members. Gradually, word began to spread as her clients told other oncology professionals about the powerful mindset work she was leading.
Eat, Hydrate, SleepJeanette shares the three biggest check-ins to have with yourself to begin cultivating a healing mindset: Am I eating well? Am I drinking enough water? Am I sleeping well?
Make Your Bedroom into a Healing OasisWifi, blue light, "dirty" electricity, and surging signals are all micro irritants on a cellular level. Jeanette suggests using a Christmas tree timer to turn off your wifi before bed every night, and to remove everything out of your bedroom that does not "spark joy."
Dealing with "Scanxiety" and Making Peace with Time ManagementJeanette helps her clients adopt a "360 approach to living." From teaching them tips to collapse time, to cleaning out their pantry, to singing "One Way or Another" during cancer scans, Jeanette believes that bringing more lightness and playfulness into a cancer patient's mindset will allow for more healing between doctor's visits.
How to Find the Right Oncologist"Date" your oncologist! And if you don't like them, or they don't listen to you, or you just get a gut feeling, divorce your oncologist. It's okay to want to seek out your perfect practitioner. There's nothing more sacred to a patient than the person trying to save their life; there should always be love involved. Getting emotional is a good thing.
Three Loved Ones, Three Surgeries, Two WeeksJeanette shares her personal experience becoming a caretaker for her grandmother, mother, and father after each of them received different cancer diagnoses all at the same time. As a family, they went through three surgeries in the span of two weeks. It was then Jeanette learned how much she loved helping patients with their mindset and healing in their own...
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On this episode of WE Have Cancer, fellow cancer podcast host Jess Thomas Nelson shares how her life has changed since being diagnosed with Papillary Thyroid Cancer in January 2020. Since then, she’s learned that practically everyone has been impacted by cancer in some way, and has become passionate about sharing her guest’s cancer stories with the world.
Guest Biography:
Jess Thomas Nelson is the host of the My Cancer Story Podcast, which she started shortly after her thyroidectomy in February 2020. In her own words, “I’m not famous and you wouldn’t know me from anywhere, but I too have been affected by cancer.” She has always loved the practice of acupuncture and utilized both eastern and western medicine while recovering from her surgery last year.
Table of Contents:
The Power of the Cancer Community and Sharing Cancer StoriesAfter starting My Cancer Story, Jess was blown away by people reaching out eager to share their own stories with the world. She’s learned that everyone in a person’s life is affected by cancer, and nearly everyone knows someone who’s had cancer.
How it Feels to Hear “You Have Cancer”On Christmas Eve, Jess’s endocrinologist told her the nodes they’d found were most likely thyroid cancer. She kept the news from her family until after the holidays, not wanting to burden them with the weight of her diagnosis. But after she did share the news with her close family and friends, she was moved to see how many people in her life stepped up as proud caretakers and supporters.
Sharing My Cancer Story with the WorldWhile lying on the acupuncture table, I got the idea to start a podcast. Jess felt that her story was fairly quick and painless in comparison to the experiences of many others, and she knew she wanted to create a space for folks to share those experiences. She says COVID-19 and quarantine pushed her to start since it was already harder to connect with members of the community in person.
What’s Next for My Cancer Story?Jess’s podcast began with one episode per month and quickly grew to one episode a week. Even though sometimes the episodes can get heavy, Jess knows she wants to keep sharing these powerful cancer stories with the community.
Recovery with Integrative Cancer CareJess became interested in integrative medicine and integrative nutrition a few years before her diagnosis. When she was diagnosed with Papillary Thyroid Cancer she went to her acupuncturist for help with her meridians and endocrine system.
My Life Without a ThyroidAfter Jess’s thyroidectomy, she shares it took a while for her endocrinologist to find the right synthroid dose, and that she had to wait at least 30 minutes before having coffee or eating meals, had to become more mindful of her alcohol consumption, and tried to remember to take all her vitamins. While the adjustment may have been difficult at first, now all the timing considerations and medications are simply a way of life.
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On this episode of WE Have Cancer, fitness guru Fitz Koehler joins Lee to discuss her journey with breast cancer. When it comes to cancer, it can happen to anyone - even those with a perfectly healthy lifestyle. That was the case for Fitz, who through early detection and a no-holds-barred attitude, has managed to make it through stronger than ever.
Guest biography:Fitz Koehler is a fitness innovator with a Master’s Degree in Exercise and Sport Sciences from the University of Florida who has been teaching fitness, announcing marathons, and been participating in fitness for decades. With her unique cancer journey, she took her experience and authored a book explaining the gory, nitty-gritty details of breast cancer and everything that comes with it.
Table of contents:From A Clean Mammogram To A Breast Cancer DiagnosisFitz had always been adamant about getting cancer examinations and checkups because if there was a chance that she could have cancer, she’d want to know as soon as possible. In late December of 2018, she walked out of her mammogram with no signs indicating anything was going on. Less than 7 weeks later, she felt an itch under her breast during a self-breast examination. Within 30 seconds, she called and made an appointment. Days after that, she was told she not only had a tumor but also several hard swollen lymph nodes.
Chemotherapy Within 3 Weeks After Discovering Breast CancerAfter a biopsy and a diagnosis, specialists went back to look at Fitz’s scan from the previous December. The doctors took Fitz’s concern seriously as they realized that it was fast-moving breast cancer that was developing quickly and rapidly. Less than three weeks after finding the lump, Fitz had started treatment. Her official diagnosis was ductal carcinoma, stage 2 breast cancer.
Two Years Breast Cancer FreeFitz considers the type of breast cancer that she had to be a fairly curable type of breast cancer in the scope of things. First diagnosed in 2019, she finished chemotherapy Mid-May of 2020 after 15 months, 33 rounds of radiation, and several surgeries. Currently, Fitz is in cancer-free remission.
Friends And Family Reaction To DiagnosisWhen Fitz found herself diagnosed with breast cancer, not only was she surprised, but her family and friends were floored. She was dedicated to fitness, so it didn’t make sense. Her kids were resilient, despite worrying about their mother, and Fitz felt the need to remain strong as a parent for her kids as she fought. As for her fans, they were more surprised than anything. Fitz got up and hosted some of the largest running events in the US and was heavily involved in marathons and running. She was always perceived as loud and strong in front of thousands of people on stage.
Chemotherapy Hair Loss And Publicly Announcing Breast CancerFitz was worried about chemotherapy hair loss, not because it was her identity, but because it was something that she enjoyed. As she was going through chemotherapy, she was traveling and announcing marathons. With her hair loss starting to show as she stood up in front of thousands of people, she found that she could no longer hide it. Fitz posted a video to her social media, explaining that she had cancer and that she was going to look different, but that she was fine. Eventually, she shaved her head with her family.
Parenting With Breast CancerAs Fitz was going through her cancer treatment, she had the mindset of never letting her kids see her cry. She tried to be as happy as possible - but this meant she cried in private. It got harder as her treatment ramped up and became more intense, and she had friends and neighbors drive her kids to school and take...
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Episode summary:
On this episode of the WE Have Cancer Podcast, John Falk joins Lee to discuss his journey with male breast cancer. John shares his experience from first being diagnosed through his journey to beat cancer twice. John is open and transparent about his experience as a way to educate, advocate, and change the perception of male breast cancer. Learn all about John’s incredible journey and how he's looking to improve male breast cancer awareness among the population.
Guest biographyJohn Falk was diagnosed with breast cancer not once, but twice. After finding a lump in his chest, he decided to get checked out. He was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, and then again in 2016. He advocates and brings awareness to men with breast cancer.
Table of contents:IntroductionIn 2013, John noticed that his left breast had swelled up. After going to his primary care doctor, he was sent to a surgeon who specializes in breast cancer. Getting more tests, like a mammogram and biopsy, the results came back negative. However, in 2014, they came back positive.
Being a man with a female-dominated illnessJohn talks about his experience in getting tested and going through the medical processes of being diagnosed with breast cancer and how it’s heavily focused on women. However, he didn’t care and found that the doctors were very empathetic to his situation.
A quick recoveryWhen John got the news that he had cancer, he wasn’t afraid. At the time, it was stage 0. Doctors were able to go in and remove it all. He never got any other treatment. After the surgery, he resumed working like normal.
Being transparent about his illnessBeing very transparent and open, John didn’t want people to worry about him. This allowed him to share his story openly and help get through his situation with humor and friends. At work, when he was back from his treatment, a lot of humor helped him stay positive in the workplace.
Diagnosed with male breast cancer . . . AgainTwo years later, in 2016, the lump came back in his breast. John noticed it right away, and they went back in to do surgery to remove it. However, this time around it was invasive. They caught it early enough that other parts of his body weren’t attacked, but he did end up getting 30 radiation treatments.
State of John’s health todayToday, John continues to take Tamoxifen and monitor his health carefully. His medication causes him few side effects, but other than that he remains in good health. John knows that his battle with cancer wasn’t nearly as difficult or hard as others. It wasn’t until the second time around with his battle that he decided to take action.
Male breast cancer awarenessJohn realized how lucky he was to not only face and beat breast cancer once but twice. He noticed that there wasn’t a lot of talk or attention towards the men that struggle with it. John wanted to tell others his story, share his experience, and educate the public. He wanted to be an agent of change. From there, he does interviews, goes on TV, and does other things to bring awareness towards breast cancer in men.
Finding supportJohn found most of his support through his family and friends, but that wasn’t the only place. He discovered Facebook groups that shared experiences like his and the Male Breast Cancer Coalition. This inspired him to use his Facebook page to advocate his story, but also gain support through his second diagnosis.
The change John wishes he sawJohn wants to see more recognition towards men that have breast cancer. Although a...
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Episode summary:
In this episode of WE Have Cancer, Allison Rosen joins to talk and discuss the changes that she’s seen in awareness, support, and research of colorectal cancer. Allison also discusses how social media has created a new way to reach younger people, and in turn, there is more research, treatment options, and support resources.
Guest biographyAllison Rosen is a public health care worker in colorectal cancer, outreach, and education prevention. She is project director at University of Texas Health Science Center in Houstin, which was just funded by the CDC for a project that is focused on colorectal cancer prevention.
Table of contents:IntroductionAllison Rosen is back on the podcast after a few years to talk about how much things have changed, within her career and within the focus on young onset, colorectal cancer. Younger people were getting diagnosed and passing away at an alarming rate. There weren't a lot of treatment options, or focus on early screening. Now, with advocates and others amplifying their voices, more research is being done. There is more of a direct advocacy for early onset cancer.
Understanding the Psychosocial EffectsRecalling the time that she was diagnosed with cancer, Allison asked for a psychologist or someone to talk to that was around her own age going through the same thing. She knew that there were going to be hard challenges ahead, but didn’t exactly know what they were. Allison had a lot of personal struggles with body image, and knew that there were people that struggled financially with the disease and treatment.
Support Options and HelpAllison talks about how much has changed from when she first got diagnosed to now. At treatment centers, they provide support for the aspects that might be hindered by treatment. From non-profits, to fertility specialists at hospitals, and support for the lasting effects of the treatment.
Different Resources to Bring AwarenessPeople can learn and become aware about colorectal cancer through programs like the Gastrointestinal American Society of Clinical Oncology. They hold virtual meetings for those that want to become an advocate. The power of social media is huge because experts can break things down for people to access whenever, wherever. It’s reaching a new sort of audience.
Changes in DiagnosisThe younger population are getting rectal cancer at a higher rate, which means they need more treatment options and research. With less of a stigma, and more people willing to speak up and talk about it, it’s allowing for more support and awareness. Everyone is now listening - and slowly breaking down the stigma of this type of cancer. The more light that is shed on the topic, the more research.
Importance of Prevention and Early DetectionThe conversation now is based on prevention by leading a healthy lifestyle and trying to detect it early on. There are studies that are trying to find out why it happens, and it’s moved towards a focus on the gut microbiome. There is a science behind it, but it still doesn’t exactly explain why younger people are experiencing it.
Passion For Public Health FieldAllison aims to give patients and survivors the opportunity to get involved in treatment, research, and creating support groups. She gets direct feedback from the population that is experiencing it, and tries to represent the collective voice by asking questions in the public...
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