Kicking Cancer's Ass

Brad Buchanan survived an incurable lymphoma, but the treatment—a stem cell transplant from his brother—almost killed him. His new immune system attacked his body so violently that doctors gave him a 10% survival chance. He went blind for 18 months. His esophagus stopped working. And the paradox? That same immune system is why he’s cancer-free today. As a former English professor, Brad uses writin...

What happens when a blood test shows circulating cancer DNA—but no doctor can find the tumor? Or when a child spends five years being tested, hospitalized, and medicated for a condition that could have been diagnosed in days? Pete Martinez has spent 12 years building AI systems that help geneticists and doctors find answers faster. His platform has already helped 162,000 patients get more accurate...

You never choose the pitch, but you always choose the swing. After 6 months of interviewing top oncologists, resilient survivors, and even my own family, I’ve aggregated the absolute best strategies to help you stop fighting and start winning . In this roundup episode of Kicking Cancer’s Ass , we aren’t just looking back; we are building your game plan. From Dr. Mindy Goldman’s advice on navigatin...

In Part 1, we talked about why the current tools fail many women. Why mammograms miss tumors and why we rely on the “smush test.” It was frustrating, but it was validating. Now, in Part 2 , we turn the page from the problem to the solution. Dr. Peter Kuhn isn’t just analyzing why we miss cancer; he is building the tool to catch it before it even forms a tumor. It’s called The Pink Test...

In this emotional and mind-expanding episode, Dr. Peter Kuhn—a physicist turned cancer researcher—joins Joelle Kaufman to talk about his mission: eliminating the surprise of cancer. They dive deep into: Why current science fails patients (and how to fix it) What AI + physics can teach us about cancer detection The overlooked signals hiding in our blood What you can do right now to help advance res...

What if your worst days didn’t have to be bad? What if you could manufacture a good day, even in the middle of a crisis? In this episode, host Joelle Kaufman shares the “Happiness Tripwire” methodology—the specific strategy she used to turn 12 rounds of chemotherapy into what she calls her “Cancer Obliteration Days”. Joelle explains that while we cannot control the tr...

 When English teacher Lesley Kaminski got the notification “invasive breast cancer” on her Apple Watch mid-class, her world stopped. But what happened next was more than treatment — it was transformation. In this episode, Lesley shares how she went from collapse to control : reframing chemo from something she had to do into something she got to do. You’ll hear how a compassionate nurse naviga...

If your insurance denies your cancer treatment, it can feel terrifying — but a “no” is not the end. Most people don’t know that 75% of insurance appeals win . You have more power than you think. In this episode of Kicking Cancer’s Ass , health advocate and bestselling author Rebecca Bloom explains, in clear and simple steps, how to reverse an insurance denial and get the care you need. Rebecca sha...

Are you facing cancer treatment and wondering what you can do right now to improve your results? This isn’t about being a warrior; it’s about being smart . I’m Joelle Kaufman, host of Kicking Cancer’s Ass , and I’m sharing the proven physical and psychological strategies—what I call “prehab”—that can actually improve your response to treatment by up to 30%...

Why does cancer recovery leave you so damn tired — even when your scans are clear? Dr. Amy Morris, former cancer pharmacist, ovarian cancer survivor, and founder of Cancer Freedom Program , reveals what’s really behind post-cancer exhaustion — and how to get your energy (and your life) back. In this episode of Kicking Cancer’s Ass , host Joelle Kaufman and Dr. Morris dig into: Why post-cancer fati...

Cancer makes you feel like everything is being taken from you — your routines, your certainty, your identity. But what if it didn’t have to take your hair? In this episode of Kicking Cancer’s Ass , Roxanne shares the exact method she used to keep her hair through chemotherapy… twice. After losing her hair the first time, she approached her second diagnosis differently — and found one thing she cou...

When cancer crashes into your life right before a holiday, everything changes. Suddenly the day that’s “supposed” to be about gratitude, food, and connection becomes a minefield of pitying looks, whispered conversations, and emotional overwhelm. I know this feeling deeply. My family has faced two cancer diagnoses right before Thanksgiving—first my mom, twenty years later my sister. At the time, my...

The FDA just removed a major warning label from hormone therapy — a sign that science around women’s hormones is changing fast. But what does this shift really mean for people who’ve faced cancer or want to protect their long-term health? In this episode, Dr. Mary Ann Martin (“The Hormone Hacker”) joins us to unpack how hormones, food, and stress all shape your body’s internal environment — and wh...

Why does waiting for scan results feel like your nervous system is vibrating? Because your brain hates uncertainty more than bad news—and it’s trying to protect you by preparing for every worst-case scenario. In this episode, Joelle shares what happened on January 3rd, 2023, when a routine imaging appointment turned into an MRI, then a biopsy, then surgery delay—all while the “what ifs...

What happens when a doctor tells you “it’s not good” and you’re only 42? Miguel Rueda got one of the rarest prostate cancer diagnoses possible—2% of 2% of cases—at an age when most men don’t even get screened. His urologist told him if it were him, he’d just live out what time remained. That phone call came nine years ago. Miguel runs marathons now. His kids cal...

Why does hearing “it’s malignant” make you want to scream, cry, or punch a wall—sometimes all in the same hour? Your body just learned about a threat that’s been there for a while, and your nervous system jumped into fight or flight before your brain could catch up. That’s not weakness. That’s biology. In this episode, Joelle walks you through what’s happe...

When treatment ended, no one offered me survivorship care. It was just — “You’re done. Be grateful.” In this episode, Dr. Mindy Goldman , Chief Clinical Officer of MIDI Health and UCSF Professor Emeritus, reveals the truth behind The Survivorship Lie : why 80% of OB-GYNs aren’t trained in menopause care, how women fall through the cracks between oncologists and gynecologists, and what every surviv...

The day before my preventive mastectomy, I got a call that changed everything. The surgery was cancelled — because cancer was already here. In this solo episode, I share what that moment taught me about power. Because even when cancer takes control, you still have choices. I walk you through the three swings that helped me reclaim mine: Letting people in — on my terms Becoming my own best-informed...

When bestselling author Cara Lockwood was dropped by her publisher in the middle of chemotherapy, she could have given up. Instead, she discovered a mindset that helped her survive cancer — and rebuild her life. In this episode of Kicking Cancer’s Ass , Cara and host Joelle Kaufman talk about what it really means to find strength when everything feels uncertain, how laughter can coexist with fear,...

Telling your family you have cancer might be the hardest conversation of your life. Joelle Kaufman has lived it — as both the child of a survivor and a parent with cancer. When Joelle found out she had cancer, she had to tell her three kids — ages 21, 19, and 15 — and then her parents, including her mom, a 43-year survivor. In this raw, heartfelt episode, Joelle shares the real conversation , what...

 When you hear the words “It’s malignant,” your world stops. Everything you thought you knew about control, safety, and your future suddenly disappears. In this raw and hopeful conversation, bestselling author Cara Lockwood — known for her 35+ romance novels — shares how one moment changed everything: the phone call that shattered her world, and the sentence that helped her rebuild it — “Canc...

What if the hardest part of cancer isn’t chemo—it’s finding the words to tell your partner? Joelle Kaufman knows this moment intimately. Walking to her husband’s office after her biopsy results, she recalls: “He looked up from his desk and his eyes just filled. He didn’t ask. I didn’t have to explain. I just nodded.” In this raw, honest episode, Joelle rev...

When cancer hits, everyone calls you a “fighter.” But this isn’t a battle — it’s a curveball. And no one crushes curveballs alone. In this powerful episode, host Joelle Kaufman shares how she refused to face her diagnosis solo — and built her power team instead. You’ll learn how to create your own lineup of support: from your medical squad and mental health pros to your life crew and “joy squad” w...

When your phone rings and you hear the words “it’s malignant,” your world stops. Your body reacts before your brain can — fear, anger, disbelief, numbness — all of it hits at once. In this deeply personal episode, Joelle Kaufman shares the exact moment she heard those words on a Zoom call, the wave of emotions that followed, and the three steps that helped her find her footing when everything felt...

When you share your diagnosis, everyone suddenly has something to say — a “miracle cure,” a diet to try, or the dreaded “stay positive.” Most mean well, but their words can land like blame instead of comfort. In this episode, Joelle Kaufman shares how to protect your peace and power when good people give bad advice. You’ll learn simple, real-life ways to handle unhelpful comments without guilt — a...