Explore every episode of the podcast WE Have Cancer

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!

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

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.

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.

Welcome to episode #188, the final episode of the WE Have Cancer podcast.

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.

• David's Story Begins with June

David'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 Answers

Inspired 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 Hope

Lee 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 Everything

How 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...

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.

• 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 World

At 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-Menopause

She 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 Cancer

After 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 Cancer

Morgan 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 Treatment

Morgan’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...

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.

• Just Me, Mom, and Baseball

Katie 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 Again

A 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 Patience

Watching 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, Twice

Then, 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 Control

Katie says she learned a lot from cancer about letting go and learning to release the...

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.

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.

• 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 End

How 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 Ease

Families 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 Death

Lee 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 Hospice

Dr. 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 Care

More 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. Hospice

What’s the difference between palliative care and

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.

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.

• The Online Cancer Community Goes Global

Dr. 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 Personalized

Belong 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 Worldwide

Dr. 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 Anonymity

Since 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 Vaccines

Just 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.Life

The 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 Century

Receiving 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...

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. 

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.

• Diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer, 3 Weeks After Becoming a Father

A 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...

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. 

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.

• 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 Struggle 

Erin 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 Storytelling

Erin 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 Coexist

Erin 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.

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.

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. 

• The Joy of Making People Laugh

Rob 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 60

Rob'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 Laughter

When 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 Unexpected

Rob 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.

• Rob Pauslen's Biggest Lesson

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. 

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. 

• It's All in the Family

Valena'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 Cancer

The 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 Wellbeing

Integrated 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."

• The Rejuvenating Power of

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.

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.

• How Matt Inspires Others While Staying True to Himself

Matt 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 Up

Matt 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 Treatment

Matt 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 Support

Exactly 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 Treatment

Matt 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 24

As a young, healthy, active personal trainer, Matt thought his sudden chronic back pains were related...

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.

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.

• 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 Professionals

While 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, Sleep

Jeanette 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 Oasis

Wifi, 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 Management

Jeanette 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 Weeks

Jeanette 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...

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 Stories

After 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 World

While 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 Care 

Jess 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 Thyroid

After 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.

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.

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.

• From A Clean Mammogram To A Breast Cancer Diagnosis 

Fitz 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 Cancer 

After 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 Free

Fitz 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 Diagnosis

When 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 Cancer

Fitz 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 Cancer

As 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...

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.

John 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.

• Introduction

In 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 illness

John 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 recovery

When 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 illness

Being 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 . . . Again

Two 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 today

Today, 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 awareness

John 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 support

John 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 saw

John wants to see more recognition towards men that have breast cancer. Although a...

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. 

Allison 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. 

Allison 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. 

Recalling 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. 

Allison 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. 

People 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. 

The 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. 

The 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. 

Allison 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...

After being diagnosed with breast cancer and having her son face a near-death bout with Diabetic Ketoacidosis, Michelle Moore-Fanger felt devastated, broken, and tired. But she used her hurdles as motivation to continue helping others through her charity and now a book.

Michelle Moore-Fanger is the author of “A Mother's Grace: Healing the World, One Woman at a Time” and the founder of the Mother’s Grace Foundation.

• Introduction
• The impact of having a nurse for a mother

Michelle tells a story about how her mother, who had a congenital heart defect, continued to work as a nurse helping pediatric cardiac patients. Michelle’s experience having a nurse for a mother was a driving factor to writing the book.

• Memories

Michelle’s mother passed away when she was five years old, leaving her with very few memories. She recalls a few of the things she remembers for Lee.

• Having an impact

Growing up without a mother and going through cancer herself, Michelle has had the type of tough experiences that allow her to empathize with others better. She believes it’s that empathy that enables her to help others so well.

• Hurricane Katrina

One of Michelle’s first fundraisers was to support those impacted by Hurricane Katrina. She explains how she came to the idea and connected with a woman from the area to assist those in need.

• Breast cancer diagnosis

After helping so many, Michelle found herself in need of help and support after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

• Diabetic Ketoacidosis

With her own diagnosis, Michelle’s seven-year-old son was near death and had to be rushed to Phoenix Children’s Hospital with Diabetic Ketoacidosis.

• The premise of “A Mother’s Grace”

As Michelle explains, her own cancer diagnosis and her son’s medical issues were simply devastating to her emotional state. As she details, the constant flow of information and the worry that comes with it left her broken and tired.

• Creating the Mother’s Grace Foundation

Having gone through her own troubles, Michelle decided she should create a non-profit that can help other mothers take the time to be with their children

• Finding other women facing tragedy

Michelle says it’s divine the way she’s found other women going through a life tragedy. She shares a story about finding and helping a woman who eventually went on to create Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels and Comfycozy’s for Chemo.

• The future

Michelle thinks her foundation is doing all the right things and helping so many people but she wants to expand to help even more. She discusses how the foundation works currently and its current rate of pass-through.

• Funding and how you can help

Mother’s Grace currently gets a majority of its funding through private donors. Michelle attributes that to the word-of-mouth, social media, and magazine reach they’ve had. While they don’t currently have a grant writer, the foundation is starting to apply for grants.

Michelle Moore - A Mother’s Grace Book

Mother’s Grace Foundation - Website

Mother’s Grace Foundation - Email

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Summer Watson was at the top of the world. She’d signed a recording contract with Sony and was living her life to the fullest until a routine mammogram found Stage 4 breast cancer in 2004. Despite being given just weeks to live, Summer has allowed her love of music and a positive outlook to propel her forward and keep her alive.

Summer Watson is a classical music superstar who just released her latest EP “Unveiled.” But after being diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer in 2014 and being given just weeks to live, things looked bleak. She’s leaned on her love of music as well as her bright and perky attitude to heal.

• Introduction
• The attraction to music

Summer got into music at four years old, which all started with some music lessons and blossomed into something much bigger.

• How did Summer’s parents react to her rising fame?

Summer explains how her parents’ and music teachers’ encouragement helped propel her to college for music and eventually to a massive recording contract with Sony.

• Covering Sting

Being in a train accident in 2002 helped Summer realize the fragility of life. In the famed Abbey Road Studio to record her first album, a producer pointed out she should do a cover of Sting’s song, “Fragile.”

• Breast cancer diagnosis

Summer was diagnosed with breast cancer after getting a routine mammogram in 2014. She talks a bit about the process and the initial diagnosis.

• Surviving

Despite the initial breast cancer diagnosis giving Summer just a few weeks to live, she remains here to this day. But it wasn’t easy. Summer discusses how she had to spend time recovering, both physically and mentally, and some of the things she did along the way to get to this point now.

• How her relationship with music changed

Having breast cancer naturally changed Summer. She began getting out of her comfort zone, jamming with bands and other musicians, and becoming a vocal coach. She’s now writing and recording her own music as she’s found more joy in singing.

• Coping with COVID-19

Summer’s life experiences have helped her form a new life view. Lee and Summer talk about how that new view has helped her through the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Staying positive and becoming stronger

Summer shares her outlook on how mindfulness and not feeling sorry for herself have allowed her to live life to the fullest. Lee and Summer talk about how having a positive attitude and a purpose might have helped keep them alive.

• Unveiled

Summer Watson’s latest EP is called “Unveiled” and as Lee points out, there’s a line in the chorus of the title song that says “when your heart is broken, the world is unveiled.” Summer talks about the meaning of that line and her philosophy to life.

Summer Watson - Unveiled

Summer Watson - Instagram

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Getting any type of cancer diagnosis can be terrifying, but it’s even worse when you don’t really understand what’s happening. On this episode of WE Have Cancer, Lee talks with Carly Flumer about her experiences -- from getting a thyroid cancer diagnosis herself to now advocating for medical professionals to use health literacy concepts to improve patient compliance.

Carly Flumer received a thyroid cancer diagnosis at 27 years old and found the journey confusing, frustrating, and even offensive at times. All it took was one doctor drawing a picture to better explain her condition and it all made sense. Carly now works for the National Cancer Institute and as an independent advocate for improving how doctors inform patients.

• Introduction
• Thyroid cancer diagnosis

At an annual physical, a doctor found a lump in her throat. Though an ultrasound proved the lump wasn’t actually cancer, they did find something else they wanted to get a little closer look at. A biopsy later and Carly had her thyroid cancer diagnosis.

• Thyroidectomy

With metastasis, Carly ended up needing further treatment, including a total thyroidectomy.

• “The good cancer”

Throughout her journey, Carly heard she had “the good cancer” as a way of helping try to ease fears. But Carly found the term to be offensive and believes it doesn’t make things any less stressful or difficult.

• Advocacy through experience

Having found her journey with thyroid cancer to be confusing and difficult. From people downplaying her experiences to doctors failing to explain things properly, Carly shares what she feels is a common problem that can make all the difference for non-compliant patients.

• Compliance vs. Non-compliance

Carly breaks down what she feels is non-compliance from a patient perspective and how she believes the doctor plays a big part in a patient’s success. From lapses in medication to getting scans and bloodwork done on time.

• Working at the National Cancer Institute

Carly talks about how she came to work at the National Cancer Institute during her journey with thyroid cancer. She discusses how her job helps other patients learn about new and emerging cancer treatments through clinical trials.

• Clinical trials for cancer

Through her own experience going through clinical trials, Carly explains what clinical trials offer to patients. She also breaks down how clinical trials can differ -- from trying new treatments to finding specific tumor markers.

• Why and when should patients look at clinical trials?

Beyond what clinical trials are at a base level, Lee and Carly talk about why someone might want to participate in a clinical trial and when they should begin looking for one.

• Phases of clinical trials

Carly explains the different phases of a clinical trial and what each phase might offer to both patients, doctors, and researchers alike.

• Advocating for improving patient education

With the experience of her doctors struggling to really teach her about her cancer or the support systems available, Carly is taking up the charge instead. She talks about how she’s been an advocate for improving patient education by sharing her story with others, and how it’s given her a sense of empowerment along the way.

• Twitter chats and advocacy

Carly found Twitter chats during grad school and has begun using the social media format as a part of her advocacy. She’s helped not only

Receiving a cancer diagnosis is nothing short of a shock -- whether it’s you personally or a loved one. But it’s how you handle the journey that can really make all the difference in what the next steps look like. This episode of WE Have Cancer is all about patient empowerment and learning how to have a healthy relationship with the diagnosis. Lee is joined by Dr. Paul Anderson to discuss what he means by empowerment and how you can achieve it.

Dr. Paul Anderson is the author of “Cancer: The Journey from Diagnosis to Empowerment.” Through his own decades of experience, Dr. Anderson has seen first-hand what patient empowerment can do to someone’s care and how cultivating the right mentality can improve both the quality and quantity of someone’s life after a cancer diagnosis.

• Introduction
• What does patient empowerment look like?

A cancer diagnosis can be a supremely shocking thing that kickstarts a bunch of different emotions. How someone responds to that can be truly empowering. Dr. Anderson talks about what he thinks empowerment looks like in the face of a cancer diagnosis.

• What makes up patient empowerment?

In order to be empowered through your journey with cancer, you cannot ignore it. Dr. Anderson believes empowerment involves having a healthy relationship with the cancer diagnosis, and being able to both face that head-on and being in charge of the situation.

• Becoming an empowered patient

While the journey to empowerment takes on different looks at times, Dr. Anderson found it involved getting beyond the anger, denial, and confusion of the cancer diagnosis. Ultimately, it boiled down to not being a hapless victim but taking charge.

• Bob and Gia

A part of Dr. Anderson’s book involves the journey of two patients -- both at different ends of the spectrum in handling their diagnosis. While both dealt with the anger and difficulty with their initial diagnosis, Bob stayed stuck there while Gia embraced the journey. Dr. Anderson found that taking Gia’s empowerment approach tended to improve the quality and quantity of life a patient had.

• Living like Gia

Becoming empowered is a step-by-step process. Some steps will be harder for some while others may already have them figured out. But Dr. Anderson designed the book to help hand hold people through to acceptance.

• Mindfulness and other integrated medicine practices

Dr. Anderson has noticed things like meditation and mindfulness exercises have started to gain more acceptance as a part of cancer treatments in recent years. They can be used as a part of patient empowerment.

• Combatting scanxiety

Regular cancer scans and lab work can be some of the most anxiety-inducing parts of the journey and can be problematic even years after an initial diagnosis. Dr. Anderson notes that it’s normal to feel that anxiety but the trick is to understand it’s going to happen so you can better accept it. Dr. Anderson also points back to meditation and mindfulness as a way to go from acknowledging that anxiety to tempering it. Lee shares his own story about dealing with anxiety and patient empowerment.

Dr. Anderson's website - https://www.consultdranderson.com

Cancer: The Journey From Diagnosis to Empowerment -

On this episode of WE Have Cancer, Lee is joined by Shelley Buck and Kathy Curtis, co-authors of “Leave Your Light On: The Musical Mantra Left Behind by an Illuminating Spirit.”

The grieving process can look dramatically different from person to person and situation to situation. For Shelley, it took the form of writing a book with her son Ryder, and her friend Kathy. Shelley opens up about how her son’s cancer diagnosis changed their relationship and even her parenting style, and was a catalyst to share his spirit with the world. Shelley and Kathy talk about writing the book as a way to extend Ryder’s legacy while also using it as an essential part of their grieving process.

Shelley Buck and Kathy Curtis are co-authors of the book “Leave Your Light On: The Musical Mantra Left Behind by an Illuminating Spirit.” After Shelley’s son Ryder was diagnosed with cancer, she poured her heart into writing their story. With the help of a lifelong friend and healing writer Kathy, Shelley was able to work through her grief with a creative outlet, letting her son's light shine on.

• Introduction
• What’s it like to hear your child has cancer?

So often, the focus is on the cancer patient themselves. As Shelly talks about, receiving the diagnosis from her son left her breathless but put her into a spin of activity.

• How did a cancer diagnosis change the relationship?

With her son being 22 at the time and Shelly needing special permission to get information from the doctor, she had to learn how to let go and let him take the lead.

• Exasperation

From more of an outsider’s perspective as Shelly’s lifelong friend, Kathy talks about Ryder’s personality and how exasperating he could be, even during treatment.

• Telling Ryder’s story

Kathy, one of the authors of the book, saw it as an honor and big responsibility to portray Ryder the way he saw himself. Kathy also saw it as an opportunity to help Ryder leave a lasting legacy.

• Light on

Shelley gives some background about the title of the book, “Leave Your Light On” and where the term came from.

• How Ryder would feel about his legacy

With the book and a character being named after him in the movie “Frozen 2,” Shelly talks a bit about how she feels Ryder would feel about how he’s being portrayed and remembered now.

• The finality of the word “lose”

Echoing a similar sentiment as Lee, Shelley talks about how she feels about words like “lose” and “dead” in this context.

• Helping a friend through grief

Kathy was there to help Shelley and the rest of the family through the grieving process, both as a counselor of sorts and as a lifelong friend. She talks about some of the things they dealt with while writing the book and grieving over Ryder.

• Friendship and support

Shelley talks about her friendship with Kathy and discusses what her support meant to her throughout this process.

• Grieving through writing and the hole that has been left

By going through everything to write the book and with Kathy’s guiding hand, Shelley was able to use the process to grieve over Ryder. Shelley also talks about how the family is coping with Ryder’s passing.

• Using music to cope

Ryder was well known for his love of music, even from a young age. So when he was diagnosed with cancer, he naturally turned to music. Shelley tells a...

On this week’s episode of WE Have Cancer, Lee sits down with Jason Mendelsohn, a Stage-4 tonsil cancer survivor and HPV advocate. Jason shares his story about being diagnosed with HPV-related cancer and his journey to becoming a well-known advocate for the HPV vaccine and awareness of HPV in men. 

The pair talk about the stigma surrounding the disease and how Jason has coped in the aftermath. Jason also discusses his motivation for being such an advocate and what he’s looking to do next.

Jason Mendelsohn was diagnosed with Stage 4 tonsil cancer at 44-years-old. Now recovered, he’s on a mission to bring awareness of HPV cancer, the HPV vaccine to the world while especially trying to break the stigma of HPV in men.

• Introduction
• Superheroes

Those that are currently or have gone through cancer and treatment are often called heroes. With a brand revolving around Superman, Lee asks Jason what he thinks about the term hero.

• Discomfort in talking about HPV in men

With people often asking why he has no discomfort or embarrassment talking about HPV in men, Jason takes a minute to share some of the real numbers behind the disease.

• How do you get HPV?

HPV is most often contracted by sexual transmission. As Jason notes, most men won’t ever know they had it while some men end up getting cancer decades later from it.

• Jason’s HPV diagnosis

After finding a small lump on his neck, Jason went to the doctor thinking it was nothing serious. But a few days later, Jason was diagnosed with Stage 4 tonsil cancer.

• HPV awareness

Jason believes he’s had a small part in raising the general consciousness about the disease through sharing his story in interviews. He believes that he’s simply doing his part to help others that might not know about it and could be saved by the vaccine.

• Breaking the stigma

Cancer often comes with a stigma and a sense of embarrassment, especially something like HPV-related cancer due to the sexual aspect of the disease. Jason shares a story and talks about how his story helps people realize how common it is and that there’s nothing to be embarrassed by.

• Emotions after his HPV diagnosis

While he was already a fairly emotional person with a big heart, his journey has helped Jason appreciate the little things more. He also tells a story of recording messages for his children after being diagnosed and wanting to create more memories for them.

• Using music to cope

Jason and Lee talk about how music can be like meditation.

• What’s next?

Jason is already spending his time lobbying on Capitol Hill and putting his energy and resources into the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance. He’d also like to do a TED Talk to help eliminate the stigma surrounding HPV in men.

Jason Mendelsohn (Superman HPV) - Website

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Head and Neck Cancer Alliance - Website

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This week on the WE Have Cancer podcast, Lee sits down with Brodi Nicholas, the founder and CEO of One At a Time -- a non-profit charity that helps create positive experiences and fulfills the dreams of children fighting life-threatening illnesses.

Lee and Brodi talk about how it all started with his next-door neighbor, Samantha, and has grown into an international foundation. From beginning with some simple bracelets and helping Sam realize her dreams, to being featured on the Hallmark Channel, helping children all over the United States, and even expanding into the Philippines.

Brodi Nicholas is the founder and CEO of One At a Time, a non-profit charity helping children with life-changing ailments. Brodi started by just helping a next-door neighbor after she was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Since then, it’s grown into a formal 501(c)3 non-profit that helps children and families all over the United States and in the Philippines. 

• Introduction

Lee introduces Brodi.

• Sam’s Acute lymphocytic leukemia diagnosis

Brodi shares the story of how he found out Sam was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia and where his journey starts.

• Bracelets

With a realization of Sam’s condition, Brodi got to work to try and make things just a little easier for her. With the help of some friends and neighbors, Brodi began creating bracelets to sell at his shows and online to get Sam a new gaming console.

• Going above and beyond

After raising $2,500 for Sam, Brodi wanted to know how else he could help. With dreams of playing the drums, swimming, and riding a bike, Brodi got the work once again, helping Sam realize all of those dreams in very big ways.

• Growing to a non-profit to help others

After sponsoring Samantha, Brodi wanted to help other children and their families. After two years of cash-in-an-envelope-type of dealings, Brodi made the One At a Time charity official and continues to grow it to this day.

• Kids helping kids

Brodi realized that getting other children involved was a great opportunity. Not only does the extra help benefit everyone but having children involved allows them to see people with disabilities and ailments as just like everyone else.

• How the One At a Time charity works

Brodi talks a bit about how the charity works - sponsoring one kid a month, building awareness of the illness they’re going through, and granting one of their wishes of either a gift or an experience.

• Transitioning to virtual events during the coronavirus

With COVID-19 canceling in-person events, One At a Time has pivoted to holding virtual events. That includes teaming up with some characters so the children can have a call from some of their favorite princesses and cartoon characters.

• How One At a Time is growing and evolving

Brodi shares his vision for the charity moving forward, including scaling things up into different countries while still providing a personal touch to each child they sponsor.

• Making it to television

Lee saw the foundation on the Hallmark Channel one day. Brodi shares the story of how that came to be and how that moment helped the charity pop off suddenly.

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On this week's episode of the WE Have Cancer podcast, Lee talks with Eileen Powers, an artist, cancer patient, and creator of Can You Make Hair For Me.

While some view their cancer diagnosis as a battle or war as a way to cope, Eileen turned to art. With a loss of her hair and self-identity, Eileen noticed how uncomfortable her friends were with her journey and her cancer. So, she turned a negative into a positive by asking people to make hair-related art for her as a way of more comfortable and opening a dialogue about her diagnosis.

Eileen Powers is an artist and creator of Can You Make Hair For Me. When she was diagnosed with lymphoma, she used her art background as a way to not only cope with having cancer and to forge a self-identity, but also to connect to those around her that she felt were uncomfortable.

• Introduction

Lee introduced Eileen and her background as an artist

• Being blank

Much like a blank canvas, Eileen describes herself as being blank. She discusses how being blank and able to redefine herself is a positive.

• Flipping the narrative

Lee and Eileen share their thoughts on the terms most often used to describe dealing with cancer, including words like "battle" and "fight." They talk about their personal dislike of viewing cancer as a competition or war and give their outlook.

• Dealing with death

Continuing on the previous topic, Lee and Eileen talk about how the fear of death shapes how we talk about cancer and to the patients dealing with it.

• Eileen's follicular lymphoma diagnosis

Eileen shares her cancer story. From a routine colonoscopy, her doctors diagnosed her with follicular lymphoma. Eileen talks about her reaction and that feeling of becoming a different person upon her diagnosis.

• Getting a 2nd opinion

With scheduling difficulties, frequent trips to the emergency room in excruciating pain, and the feeling no one was listening, Eileen got a second opinion from a different hospital. This oncologist didn't agree with the initial diagnosis and got her started on treatment right away.

• Extensive treatment

With a second opinion, Eileen started chemotherapy which worked so well to reduce the size of her tumors that her intestines began getting tangled up. She needed emergency surgery to remove several feet of her small intestine.

• Recurrence and stem cell treatment

A few months after several rounds of chemotherapy and surgery, Eileen's cancer was back. This time, she entered a research study that included stem cell transplant and immunotherapy.

• Eileen's big project

After losing her hair and her self identity to cancer treatment, Eileen began to feel isolated as friends would drop food off but not stick around. It was there Eileen realized she needed to redirect people's energy in a way that was more helpful and turn a negative into a positive. So, she asked people to make hair for her -- whatever that meant to them -- as a way to bridge the gap and get people talking.

• Can you make hair for me

With the idea figured out, Eileen has taken it to new heights. She talks about some of the more interesting pieces she's received, including an art exhibition started at Lesley University with their expressive therapy grad students. Eileen also talks about what the project has done for her and those around her.

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Joining Lee this week on the WE Have Cancer Podcast is Jordan Griffith of The Griffith Family Foundation. Jordan talks about his father’s pancreatic cancer and how that helped create the Griffith Family Foundation, Sideline Cancer, and a massive basketball tournament.

Jordan discusses the foundation and its impact, both on his family as well as what it’s doing to fight against pancreatic cancer. He also dives into some of the best moments of The Basketball Tournament and what that’s meant for the foundation and its ability to raise awareness and funds.

Jordan Griffith’s father, Greg Griffith, was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. With the help of friends and the local community, The Griffith Family Foundation was formed, as well as creating Sideline Cancer. As an ambassador and board member, Jordan has helped see the foundation put in the spotlight on ESPN as a part of The Basketball Tournament.

• Introduction to Jordan Griffith
• Jordan’s father and the start of the story

Instead of worrying about his prognosis after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Jordan shares how his father instead wanted to know how he could help the doctor. Jordan also talks about how his father would feel seeing the changes in the community.

• The Griffith Family Foundation and Sideline Cancer

Jordan shares the story about how the foundation was created, how it evolved over time, and why it’s centered around basketball.

• TBT: The Basketball Tournament

With the foundation based on basketball, it only made sense to create a basketball tournament. Jordan talks about how the tournament was created and quickly expanded to being on ESPN.

• The foundation’s impact

Lee and Jordan talk about where the funds raised are going and the hopeful impact of the foundation in awareness of pancreatic cancer.

• How has the family changed?

After Jordan’s father passed away, he says the family was able to bond over their shared experiences with the foundation and from working on it.

• The long-term goals of the foundation

Jordan opens up about the changing dynamics of the foundation and some of the things he wants to see happen.

The Griffith Family Foundation

Sideline Cancer

Sideline Cancer - Instagram

The Basketball Tournament

Marcus Keene’s shot in the tournament

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

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Lee sits down with Caroline Rose in this week’s episode of the WE Have Cancer podcast to discuss non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and how a rescue dog helped the healing process.

Through taking care of her dog Riley, Caroline was able to find hope, forgiveness, love, and so much more during her journey with stage-4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Caroline turned a letter to her dog into so much more and now uses her story with Riley to help others find hope during diagnosis and treatment, as well as guide her through the aftermath of remission.

Caroline Rose had battled stage-4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at 27 years old. Instead of letting fear grip hold of her life, Caroline turned to hope and a rescue dog named Riley. Helping rehabilitate Riley after neglect and abuse allowed Caroline to heal in her own way and it formed a bond and drive that has continued on. She’s since turned her story into a website, public speaking events, and soon, a book: Dear Riley Rose.

• Introduction to Caroline Rose

Lee introduces Caroline, how he came to know her and what he found interesting with her personal story.

• Why has a dog played such an important role

With everything seemingly going against it, Caroline found her future dog Riley and some unconditional love.

• Turning that love into a story

With the pair intertwined, Caroline wrote a letter to Riley, forming the basis of her website and an upcoming book.

• Finding hope

At a time when things can seem hopeless, the right story can change everything. That’s what Caroline kept hearing from people at public speaking events so she made it a core part of her message.

• Caroline’s diagnosis

At 27 years old, Caroline was in the best shape of her life. She had run several marathons and was in training to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. But when she went to get vaccinated for the trip, routine blood work showed a problem.

• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma side effects

Caroline shares some of the side effects treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma has had on her life.

• The aftermath of remission

Now in remission for 10 years, Caroline opens up about how treatment can feel like a finish line with little guidance in how to handle life afterward.

• Having cancer with children

Caroline also talks about how she’s managed her diagnosis and treatment all with her children. From using a child psychologist to creating a picture book of the experience to share with her daughter, Caroline opens up about what she told her children and how they went through it as a family.

• Finding joy and laughter

Caroline says she hopes her children would remember her laughter when they think about their combined journey. Whether it be the dogs, family, and friends, Caroline talks about where she’s found joy and laughter throughout it all.

• Forgiveness and love

Caroline discusses how she was hard on herself during diagnosis and treatment and how she was able to forgive herself and heal.

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Jason Greenspan joins Lee on this week’s episode of the WE Have Cancer podcast to talk about his personal story battling testicular cancer at a young age, and how he’s become an advocate. 

Jason shares how he first found a lump and received a testicular cancer diagnosis at the age of 18. From there, Jason’s story goes into how testicular cancer impacted and ultimately shaped the relationship he has with his mother, to a world record-setting event and his efforts to bring awareness of the disease to the world. This episode is all about breaking the stigma to help improve the testicular cancer survival rate through self-exams and open discussions without fear or embarrassment.

Jason Greenspan is the founder of National Ball Check Day and a testicular cancer survivor. Diagnosed at 18 years old after he found a lump, Jason has been through testicular cancer treatment and come out on the other side. He’s now looking to make the conversation easier and help save lives as he brings awareness of testicular cancer to the masses.

• Introduction of Jason Greenspan and the start of his story

Jason talks about what went through his mind when at 18 years old, he found a lump on his testicle and got a diagnosis of testicular cancer.

• The difficult conversation

In what’s already a difficult and perhaps embarrassing topic of conversation for a young man, Jason’s discovery was made even tougher on his mother due to his grandmother being rediagnosed with cancer of his own.

• How Jason’s mother coped and helped

Though certainly difficult for Jason himself, he shares what his mother did to help support him through his journey -- from staying strong to taking off work for three months to take him to chemo treatments. 

• How testicular cancer has changed their parent-son relationship

Through a shared journey has come more understanding. Jason discusses how the relationship with his mother has been positively impacted and how it’s stronger now because of what they went through together. 

• Going from fighter to advocate

Now cancer-free for nearly eight years, Jason has turned his story into one of advocacy and awareness. Jason now tries to educate others, especially young men, about the process of going to the doctors and what to look for themselves to help diagnose early. If caught early, the testicular cancer survival rate is high.

• Battling the perception

As a part of his advocacy, one of the biggest things Jason looks to do now is counter the notion testicular cancer is embarrassing or taboo to address. Jason talks about the reactions he personally faced from both students and faculty when trying to put together an event at his school to raise awareness of testicular cancer.

• National Ball Check Day

Jason helped found National Ball Check Day, which takes place on the second Tuesday of April. Designed to bring awareness to testicular cancer and show men how to self-administer a testicular cancer test, the goal is to open up the discussion.

• Bringing his activism elsewhere

Now out of school and with his own experiences at hand, Jason has transitioned into doing events for a non-profit organization.

• World record

Wanting to continue his legacy at school and beyond, Jason created an event that set the Guinness world record for most guys doing a testicular cancer test together. From organizing the event and keeping in contact with the former record holder to

Kat Arney joins the “WE Have Cancer” podcast to talk about her new book “Rebel Cell.” As a self-identified developmental geneticist, Kat discusses what is cancer, why do people get cancer, and how it differs from the perception most have of the disease.

From viewing cancer as a one-off personal event to how a more evolutionary outlook on treatment might just be the answer to curing cancer, Kat Arney uses her Ph.D. and experience to flip your idea of the disease on its head.

Kat Arney is the host of the “Genetics Unzipped" podcast and author of such books as, “Rebel Cell: Cancer, Evolution, and the New Science of Life’s Oldest Betrayal.”

Kat earned a Ph.D. in developmental genetics from Cambridge University. She’s a co-founding member of the Cancer Research UK's award-winning science blog and was a principal media spokesperson from 2004-2016.

• Introduction of guest Kat ArneyKat shares her story, learning about genetics and cancer research during her Ph.D. study at Cambridge.
• Why do people get cancer?Kat breaks down what is cancer and why people get it in a more easily understood way, comparing the body to a well-functioning society. She views cancer as a bunch of cheating cells similarly to someone in a society breaking the law.
• The perception of cancer as a uniquely human and modern diseaseKat discusses how cancer is in nearly all life forms, including the very smallest and largest animals. She also talks about how cancer was found in a 77-million-year-old dinosaur, altering the opinion that it’s a new issue only humans face.
• Cancer as an internal force and not an external oneKat and Lee talk about the perceptions of cancer as being a part of an unhealthy lifestyle compared to just being mutated cells beyond our control at times.
• How childhood cancer differs from adult cancerKat explains the tie of particular tissues and times of life to childhood cancer and how adult cancers deviate from that as almost a different biological process.
• Treatment whack-a-mole and the evolution of cancerLee shares a story about an upcoming guest and her recurrent cancer. They talk about the belief that treatment is a way of buying time until another treatment can come out.
• Treatments based on the evolution of cancerWhere current cancer treatments attack that form at that particular time, Kat shares a story about work being done at the Moffitt Cancer Center that looks at the evolutionary principles of cancer as a means of selecting treatment.
• Viewing cancer as an evolutionary eventDue to an individual’s genetics, their body, and their lifestyle, every instance of cancer is a one-off event, according to Kat. While cancer is often viewed as a universal, it’s truly a personal disease.
• Bucking the idea of “the cure” for cancerThough there’s been a lot of talk about a lone cure for all cancers, Kat talks about how we should revise that notion. As a personal disease that has so many forms, treatment won’t look the same for each person and each type of cancer. There are some studies currently embracing that idea and finding some success with treatments already on the market.

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We have Heather Von St. James joining us today on the WE Have Cancer Podcast to explain what is Mesothelioma and her unique path through the disease to the advocacy she does now as a survivor. Heather shares her story about how she first realized something was wrong after giving birth to her daughter through to her Mesothelioma prognosis, to finding the right Mesothelioma doctors and treatment. 

• WE Have Cancer podcast intro (0:00) 
• Passing of former guest Pat Beauregard (0:36) 
• Introduction of guest Heather Von St. James (1:46) 
• Raising a newborn as a family through Mesothelioma treatment (3:03) 
• What is Mesothelioma? (6:43) 
• The realization of something being wrong (8:08) 
• The diagnosis (10:15) 
• Finding the cause (10:49) 
• Mesothelioma prognosis (12:09) 
• Tattoos as a momento (13:17) 
• Mesothelioma treatment options and choosing the right Mesothelioma doctors (14:35) 
• Fighting back against Mesothelioma with surgery and chemotherapy (16:36) 
• Heather’s current health and residual effects (18:01) 
• The day-to-day impact of living after Mesothelioma treatment (18:49) 
• Advocacy after cancer (19:42) 
• How others react to Heather’s story (21:33) 
• How the right attitude helped carry Heather through (22:36) 
• Mesothelioma Awareness Day and how to support (26:01) 
• WE Have Cancer Podcast outro (30:06) 

• What is Mesothelioma? 
• Mesothelioma is a type of cancer commonly caused by asbestos. It often affects the tissues around the lungs, heart, abdomen, and testicles.  
• What’s a typical Mesothelioma prognosis? 
• Only your doctor can give you a mesothelioma diagnosis and prognosis. Some versions are treatable while others aren’t. As Heather shares in this episode, not every Mesothelioma prognosis is going to be the same or even the end of the story. 
• What are the most common Mesothelioma symptoms? 
• While signs and symptoms can be different for everyone, chest pain, painful coughing, shortness of breath,...

In this episode of the "WE Have Cancer" podcast, Lee talks with Joe Bullock about his personal experiences with colon cancer and the creation of groups to help men share during their cancer diagnosis, treatment, and after-effects of survival.

From getting his diagnosis and how cancer impacted his relationship with his wife to creating the Howling Place group, Joe talks about the sense of isolation and the loss of personal identity many men go through when dealing with cancer. This is a must-listen episode for men struggling to find their place, their feelings, and others they can talk to about their cancer diagnosis, treatment, and even the aftermath of survival.

Joe Bullock is one of the founders of the Howling Place, along with Trevor Maxwell. After being diagnosed with colon cancer in 2018, Joe was not only able to make it through his journey but become a counselor for men dealing with their own cancer diagnosis and the trauma the disease leaves with those it touches.

• Chadwick Boseman's death from colorectal cancer

Lee talks a bit about Chadwick’s untimely passing and how it relates to his own personal life and battle.

• Introduction of guest Joe Bullock

Lee introduces Joe and some of the work they’ve done together, as well as their shared experience with colon cancer.

• Joe’s colon cancer diagnosis and his support network

Joe opens up about originally getting diagnosed and how his wife, an RN, was on top of things from a clinical perspective while he struggled with the emotional side of his colon cancer diagnosis.

• How Joe and Trevor Maxwell came together to form the Facebook group

Joe talks about getting the all-clear from his doctors and the delayed emotions that came with it. He also discusses meeting Trevor and the foundation of the Howling Place Facebook group in an effort to help other men to not isolate and feel alone in their cancer diagnosis.

• You had an identity before cancer and the wolfpack mentality

One of the most important but less-often talked about points is people losing their identity when they’ve had a cancer diagnosis. Joe and Lee talk about how the feeling that a cancer diagnosis encompasses all of life and instead, taking the time to remember the activities, and hobbies you enjoyed before in an effort to restore your identity.

• Men opening up emotionally

Lee shares an experience of noticing men typically weren’t at conferences or meetings because they felt awkward about sharing their feelings and vulnerabilities. Joe and Lee talk about how the Facebook group tries to combat this problem by creating a more male-focused space where guys can open up and be vulnerable together.

• Emotional fatigue as a moderator and counselor

Lee pointed out Joe often takes the time to be a counselor for others and how the emotional drain many go through, both as active participants and for those that struggle to find their place in groups.

• Joe’s impact on a pediatric cancer patient

Through a connection at Colon Town, Joe was able to help a pediatric cancer patient and his family who was in town. That included an encouragement-card drive that brought at least 1,000 cards of support through his treatment.

• The death of Joe’s father and others, and how they provided grow and guidance

Through the hardship of helping his father pass from cancer despite their strained relationship and the passing of others in the community, Joe was able

The WE Have Cancer podcast turns to a topic we’ve never discussed before: Hospice and palliation. With Jeff Shufelt as our guest, Lee dives into hospice’s meaning and the misconceptions about hospice care.

While it’s a frightening topic that’s hard to discuss, Lee talks to Jeff about his decision to go from treatment to home hospice and how that’s improved his quality of life. From what is hospice care compared to palliative care, to how the decision has impacted his family, this episode is all about how hospice could be the right decision even earlier than you might think.

Jeff Shufelt has Stage 4 colorectal cancer. After trying different treatment options, Jeff came to the realization hospice care was the right and smart move for him. Looking to improve his quality of life rather than getting more time but being unable to enjoy that time due to treatment, the decision to move into palliation and home hospice has been the right one for Jeff.

• Introduction to Jeff Shufelt

Lee introduces Jeff, his story with colorectal cancer and the decision to seek out home hospice.

• The bucket list

Jeff got a chance to take his son out on the water for a fishing trip, leading to a discussion about bucket lists and how he got the diagnosis.

• The diagnosis

Jeff shares his story about first getting diagnosed with cancer, being given two years. Jeff talks about his path to additional opinions, surgery, and several NEDs (no evidence of disease).

• What is hospice care?

Jeff and Lee talk about what is hospice care in order to debunk the misconceptions about palliative care.

• What does hospice mean for you?

Hospice doesn’t necessarily mean someone is going to pass immediately. Jeff talks about how long he’s been on hospice care and what palliation looks like for him personally, including painkillers and increasing his quality of life.

• Making the decision to do home hospice

Jeff talks about why he decided to do hospice care as a way to improve his quality of life. With few options available to improve the amount of time he has left and a desire to make memories rather than be in treatment, Jeff decided palliation was the right fit for him and his family.

• The impact of the hospice decision on a family

With his mind made up, Jeff opens up about his family’s reaction to his decision to move into palliation and home hospice care.

• Getting support

Building a support network through this fight is an important part of the process. Jeff and Lee talk about how the Colorectal Cancer Alliance helped make connections and gave him more insight into treatment options.

• Hospice care vs. Palliation

Jeff and Lee talk about the differences between hospice and palliative care. From managing pain, management of your care, and support to help you get through each day; both hospice and palliative care help you in different ways.

• The emotional rollercoaster of care

Jeff shares a story of being brought in to potentially join a new drug trial only to waste his time. Jeff talks about the highs of hope to the dread of wasting time he doesn’t have.

• When to go into hospice care

Despite still having hope, Jeff opens up about the decision to go into hospice earlier than most in an effort to build memories with his family instead of spending that valuable time trying to chase a cure.

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Dr. Dana Cardinas joins us on the WE Have Cancer podcast this week. She shares her personal experience with peripheral neuropathy and Stage 3c colon cancer, and how that’s given her a new mission in life.

Dana went from having a successful podiatry practice to being forced to retire due to neuropathy that eventually led to her colon cancer diagnosis. With her medical knowledge and personal experiences, Dana has turned to help others better manage their peripheral neuropathy with some not-so-well-known tips and treatment options.

Dr. Dana Cardinas started her journey as a well-respected and successful podiatrist before being diagnosed with neuropathy, paraneoplastic syndrome, and stage-3c colon cancer. Now healthy, Dana is looking to bring her experience, both personally and as a doctor, to others dealing with peripheral neuropathy from cancer treatments. 

• Passing of Sarah Debord

Lee shares about the passing of Sarah and talks about her importance to the show and himself.

• Introduction of Dr. Dana Cardinas

Lee introduces Dana and a bit about her story, including having Lynch Syndrome during her battle with Stage-3c colon cancer.

• Dana’s neuropathy diagnosis

Dana had gone from a thriving podiatry practice to being forced to retire after being diagnosed with Ulnar neuropathy.

• Cancer symptoms, tests, and colon cancer diagnosis

Dana recalls the first symptoms she noticed. From some simple bloating to pain, Dana brushed aside some early concerns before eventually being tested and diagnosed with colon cancer. 

• Post-surgery: FOLFOX and peripheral neuropathy

Following successful surgery, Dana and her oncologist talked about FOLFOX and it’s side effects, which include peripheral neuropathy. That led Dana down the path of another diagnosis, Paraneoplastic syndrome; which impacted her treatment.

• Paraneoplastic syndrome and its impact on treatment

With the diagnosis of paraneoplastic syndrome, Dana’s treatment options changed due to fears of how the FOLFOX was furthering her already-present peripheral neuropathy condition at a rapid rate.

• Dana’s current health status

Though Dana feels great now, she still has the lingering peripheral neuropathy side effect. She talks about managing and improving her peripheral neuropathy and how that’s turned into her new mission.

• The impact of it all and how spirituality gave her the energy to continue

Dana’s journey is one of extremes. She went from being a successful doctor to being retired, battling cancer, and dealing with peripheral neuropathy all at the same time. She talks about how her spirituality helped carry her through it all.

• Why podiatry?

Dana talks about why she went into podiatry as a profession.

• Helping others dealing with peripheral neuropathy

Dana shares some of the most recent ways doctors are learning to battle peripheral neuropathy from FOLFOX injections, including using ice and the cold to limit the side effects.

• Why does neuropathy happen from treatment?

Dana breaks down how FOLFOX and other drugs cause peripheral neuropathy in the body from a scientific standpoint. She also explains how neuropathy can feel worse at the end of treatment.

• Finding neuropathy relief through more traditional treatments

Those that are battling neuropathy have a few different tricks up their sleeves to help them feel better. Dana talks about a

Joana Breckner, an oral-cancer survivor and motivational speaker, joins Lee this week on the WE Have Cancer podcast. The pair talk about Joana’s battle with oral cancer and how the difficulties of her journey helped her discover her power.

After her dentist found some oral cancer symptoms during a routine checkup, Joana’s story truly began. Dealing with several major surgeries that included the loss of part of her tongue and some of her teeth, Joana had to learn how to eat and speak again. In the unlikeliness of scenarios, Joana found a love for motivational speaking and has since turned her story into a drive to help others find ways to better cope with the difficulties of their lives.

Joana Breckner is an oral cancer survivor who has turned her journey of difficulties into one of uplifting others. After being diagnosed with oral cancer and having several major surgeries that impacted how she could eat and talk, Joana is now using her story and outlook to help others discover their power.

• Introduction and shoutout to the Colon Cancer Coalition

Lee opens this week’s episode talking about the Colon Cancer Coalition’s events becoming virtual due to COVID-19.

• Introduction to Joana Breckner

Lee introduces Joana and talks a bit about her story as an oral cancer survivor.

• Becoming an “accidental” motivational speaker

With a speech impediment and a host of side effects from her battle with oral cancer, Joana is an unlikely motivational speaker. Yet, with resolve, that’s exactly what Joana is doing now.

• The very first time

Joana got her first speaking engagement at a charity event, being able to put a voice to her experience. With a rush of adrenaline and not a dry eye in the building, Joana began getting asked to talk at more and more events moving forward.

• Oral cancer symptoms and diagnosis

Joana talks about her oral cancer diagnosis. A routine checkup at the dentist found some benign white spots on her tongue that were the first oral cancer symptoms noticed. A few years later and she noticed something in her mouth which turned out to be a tumor.

• Another tumor and reconstructive surgery

Nearly all the way into remission, Joana’s cancer returned and was aggressive. Her doctor informed her that she needed to have a part of her tongue removed and major reconstructive surgery, including skin graphs.

• Another tumor and more surgery

A year after her first major surgery, Joana found a lump on the side of her neck. A biopsy later and Joana was back on the operating table to remove a tumor on her jugular vein.

• Finally in remission

After several surgeries and bouts with cancer, Joana is officially cancer-free for nearly seven years.

• Oral cancer treatment and speech therapy

After major reconstructive surgery on her mouth, Joana had to learn how to eat and talk again. She talks about her treatment, including going to a nutritionist and learning how to eat solids again. Joana also discusses her difficulties with speech, including needing to get a new phone number she could actually say.

• Discovering your power

Joana talks about what power means to her and some of the things she harnesses to help put her in the right mindset to keep moving forward.

• Finding motivation, inspiration, hope, and power

Joana found motivation to create her website and her idea of “discover your power” initially in a depressed woman in her support group. With...

We revisit this episode which was originally published in July, 2019.

As a teenager growing up in Kansas, Becca Pendarvis spent her summers doing everything she could to get as tan as possible. Now a mother of a seventeen year-old daughter, she has spent the last eight years dealing with Stage 4 Melanoma skin cancer.

During our conversation we discussed:

• Why she loves living in New York City and how living there helped her cope with her cancer.
• The common misconceptions about Skin Cancer.
• How to use A-B-C-D-E to identify possible skin cancers.
• The fact that she's now N.E.D. (No Evidence of Disease) after initially being told she had 9 - 18 months to live.
• The impact her illness had on her daughter.
• Camp Kesem - a nationwide community that supports the children of parents affected by cancer - and how it helped her daughter.
• Her thoughts on tanning and tanning beds.

Camp Kesem - https://campkesem.org/

Know the ABCDEs of Skin Cancer - https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/melanoma/melanoma-warning-signs-and-images/do-you-know-your-abcdes

Follow Becca on Instagram - https://instagram.com/notanisworthdyingfor

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Dr. Garrett Pohlman is a board-certified Urologist still actively practicing in a Midwest Urology group. Every day he is helping men in diagnosing and managing their prostate issues – including but not limited to robotic prostatectomy for men with prostate cancer. He is also the founder and host of the newly launched Prostate Health Podcast. With the podcast – he is helping men and those who care for them better educate themselves regarding prostate health, the conditions that affect the prostate, and the latest technology in managing these conditions. On a weekly basis he is chatting with experts, innovators, and leaders in the field of Urology – sharing useful information with the general public to improve their lives and increase their overall health. 

The Prostate Health Podcast - https://www.prostatehealthpodcast.com/

Free guide: What to Expect From your Urologist appointment - https://www.prostatehealthacademy.com/opt-in

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Alexa was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2017 at the age of 19. Since overcoming the disease she has completed her Bachelor's degree, written a book; Power to Persevere and become a public speaker.

From Alexa's website https://alexacuc.com/about/ - "Alexa has found a deep passion in influencing others to live their best life despite their own misfortunes. She believes in the beauty of balance and the magic of taking control of your health. She uses her platform to encourage and motivate others to live their life to the fullest despite their unforeseen circumstances and helps others work through their own obstacles. Alexa knows she survived to help others and shine her positive light throughout the world. That’s what she aims to do every day. She uses her life experiences to show others who may feel alone in their struggles that they aren’t defined by their current predicaments."

Power to Persevere on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Power-Persevere-Inspiring-Stories-Challenging-ebook/dp/B08287DLYG#:~:text=Power%20to%20Persevere%20is%20a,achieve%20and%20exceed%20their%20dreams.&text=Power%20to%20Persevere%20is%20a%20collection%20of%20inspiring%20stories%20from,achieve%20and%20exceed%20their%20dreams.

Visit Alexa's website - https://alexacuc.com/

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Contact Alexa - alexacuc@gmail.com

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In this episode we revisit my 2017 conversation with Dr. Sage Bolte.

Dr. Bolte is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and an expert on sexual health in oncology. She currently serves as the Chief Philanthropy Officer and President at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute.

During our conversation she talked about sex and intimacy and the impact that a cancer diagnosis can have, not only the patient, but the caregiver as well. We discussed the different challenges that men and women face along with the patient/caregiver dynamic.

This was a frank and informative discussion.

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Lee@wehavecancershow.com

Howard Brown first appeared on this podcast in May of 2019 where he shared his story of being a two-time cancer survivor.

Howard has recently had several "clean" scans and is now N.E.D. - No Evidence of Disease.

During our conversation we discussed the challenges of transitioning from cancer patient to cancer survivor as well as his book, Shining Brightly, due to be released later this year.

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Cort Davies has been battling stage 4 Paraganglioma. He has funneled his energy into creating the 1 Habit to Beat Cancer online summit. The summit runs from May 25th through June 3rd and is free. You can register here.

1 Habit to Beat Cancer summit- https://www.1habitsummit.com/#

Imerman Angels - https://imermanangels.org/

Jake Bailey speech - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9G1Swk26ac

Burkitt lymphoma - https://lymphoma.org/aboutlymphoma/nhl/burkitt/

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Stacy was diagnosed with Stage IV colorectal cancer on her 44th birthday, September 17th, 2014 after experiencing symptoms of abdominal pain and bleeding. Stacy put off a visit to her doctor since she was a health-conscious, athletic, non-smoker who maintained a normal weight. The symptoms were merely “an annoying inconvenience.” At the time, she was balancing a full-time job with raising her 2 sons, Griffin (now 13) and Emmett (now 11). Emmett suffers with a rare chromosome disorder (one of three in the world) which renders him without the ability to walk, talk, or function for himself in any way. He has multiple special needs and demands constant supervision. He has the mental and physical capacity of a 6 month old baby. Caring for Emmett requires the attention of not only Stacy and her husband Drew, but also a nurse.  To say Stacy had her hands full would be an understatement.

So, busy with her day to day role as supermom, Stacy self-diagnosed irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or internal hemorrhoids until the pain was too much to bear. A colonoscopy revealed the most shocking and most unexpected horror imaginable: a tumor in her rectum so large that a scope could not get around it. A subsequent scan revealed cancer in her liver, 5 spots on her lungs, and 19 lymph nodes. She was given a 10% chance to survive 5 years and a treatment plan which included chemotherapy, radiation and ultimately surgery ONLY IF she responded, which was a 50/50 shot in itself. The doctors could not believe it, especially considering Stacy’s lack of risk factors, lack of family history, and age (colon cancer is typically diagnosed in people over 50).

With her usual vigor, determination, and sense of humor, Stacy took to the task of beating colorectal cancer. She was fortunate enough to have a response to chemotherapy (a protocol called FOLFOX coupled with a drug called Avastin) which qualified her as a candidate for a 5 hour colon and liver resection surgery in April, 2015. Unfortunately, a medical mistake during surgery caused Stacy severe internal bleeding where she lost half of her blood volume. She was immediately rushed back into a second, 5 hour emergency surgery and spent a week in the ICU fighting for her life. As her oncologist later remarked, “anyone else would have died.” But not Stacy.

She was declared as NED (no evidence of disease) in March, 2016. Stacy continues maintenance chemotherapy for life (43 rounds and counting…) every 3 weeks. She feels and looks great. You would never suspect what all she is dealing with. She credits her faith, family, friends, exercise, positive attitude, and integrative oncology modalities for her remarkable recovery.

“If it were just Stage IV colorectal cancer or just raising a profoundly disabled child, I could probably handle it. But managing both is completely overwhelming. I am enormously blessed to have a support system who helps me, when thee last thing I want to do is ask for help. It’s really not my style.”

Stacy offers a unique perspective. Professionally, she has spent 20 years in healthcare management on the provider and delivery sides, including roles in operations, strategy, sales and training. Personally, her battles as a patient and an advocate for not only herself but also her disabled son have fueled her recent work as a public speaker, fundraiser, and consultant.  Stacy’s mission is to raise awareness of inclusion for all persons with disabilities and exemplify a “keep it real” approach to fighting and beating cancer.

Her website: http://www.stacyhurt.net/

Her Facebook page:

Michael Willoughby founded Molecular Photos in May of 2019. In this interview we discussed:

• How the idea for Molecular Photos was conceived.
• Why having a "give back" component with the sale of the photos was important to him.
• The process of converting slides of tumor cells to works of art.
• His long term goal for Molecular Photos.

Molecular Photos - https://www.molecularphotos.com/

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Lee@wehavecancershow.com

Trevor Maxwell was initially diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in March of 2018. During his journey he discovered a need for online support for men touched by cancer.

In our conversation we discussed:

• How Trevor's diagnosis resulted in his clinical depression and how he's been working through it.
• The support he received from The Colon Club.
• The void in online support for men touched by cancer and how he created Man Up to Cancer.
• Why he chose the Wolf as the symbol of Man Up to Cancer.

Man Up To Cancer - https://www.manuptocancer.com/

Man Up To Cancer Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/manuptocancer/

The Colon Club - https://www.facebook.com/colonclub/

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Lee@wehavecancershow.com

Meg Hirshberg was first diagnosed with cancer - stage 3 breast cancer - in 2001. She had recurrences in 2008 and 2018.

During our conversation she shared how the book, Anticancer; A New Way of Life by Dr. David Servan-Schreiber inspired her to create the Anticancer Lifestyle Program and how the program can greatly benefit those affected by cancer.

The Anticancer Lifestyle program - https://anticancerlifestyle.org/

Anticancer; A New Way of Life by Dr. David Servan-Schreiber - https://www.amazon.com/Anticancer-New-Life-David-Servan-Schreiber/dp/0670021644

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Lee@wehavecancershow.com

Dan Nicewonger was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in May of 2016 while serving as Pastor of the First Baptist Church Kennet Square, Pennsylvania.

We discussed his book, The Journey Continues, the challenge of serving and caring for a community while battling colon cancer, the power of language when working with your medical team and more.

Dan's Blog - https://www.danielnicewonger.com/

Dan's Book, The Journey Continues - https://www.danielnicewonger.com/the-journey-continues/

Connect with Dan on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/dnicewonger

Follow Dan on Twitter - https://twitter.com/Dan_Nicewonger

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In August of 2016, Lynda Wolters was diagnosed with stage 4 mantle cell lymphoma. Her book, Voices of Cancer, "offers a candid look into the world of a cancer patient." The book "helps educate, dispel fears, and start positivie conversations about what a cancer diagnosis truly means, while shining a light on how best to support a loved one on their own terms."

Lynda's website - https://www.lyndawolters.com/

Purchase Voices of Cancer - https://www.amazon.com/Voices-Cancer-What-Really-Want/dp/1645430391/

Follow Lynda on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lyndawolters/

Connect with Lynda on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lyndawolters1

Epic Experience - https://www.epicexperience.org/

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Lee@wehavecancershow.com

In this powerful interview Matt Newman shares his story of how he came to be diagnosed and ultimately survived brain cancer. He shares the power of a positive mindset, the importance of exercise and how his cancer experience reshaped his view of life.

Matt's website - https://matthewsnewman.com/

Matt's book, Starting at the Finish Line: My Cancer Partner, Perspective and Preparation - https://www.amazon.com/Starting-Finish-Line-Perspective-Preparation-ebook/dp/B07BWCVSBN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36VVHT0UR2YFO&keywords=starting+at+the+finish+line&qid=1580172291&s=books&sprefix=starting+at+the+%2Cstripbooks%2C160&sr=1-1

Follow Matt on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/startingatthefinishlineMattNewman/

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Nominate a guest to appear on the podcast - https://wehavecancershow.com/guest

Lee@wehavecancershow.com