Cancer IRL

Elizabeth was a rare case not once but twice, getting unrelated diagnosis with breast and cervical cancer.

When Emily was diagnosed with breast cancer she learned that her diagnosis was de novo, meaning she was always stage 4 metastatic. Our conversation covers the medical and emotional journey of a long term cancer diagnosis,

Annette is an actor and director from Vancouver BC. She went through her stage 3 B Colon cancer journey while also being a mom. Self advocacy is the running theme through her story, both in her personal experience and unfortunately her sister's experience as well.

Ariele's thyroid cancer diagnosis sent her life down a difficult path on which physical health concerns played a secondary part. This conversation more then any other we've had to date highlights the effects of cancer on mental health, career and finances. We often think that cancer patients living in Canada should consider themselves lucky that so much of the financial burden is taken care of, bu...

In this two part conversation we speak with Alyssa about her stage 4 stomach cancer diagnosis. We spoke with her first at the early stages of her treatment, then caught up with her post finishing a trial treatment. She tells us about the delays in her screenings, poor bedside manner, the necessity for self advocacy, and the psychological navigations of a long term illness.

Zach was still a teenager doing teenage things, like dirt biking, when an accident caused the discovery of a brain tumor. He had no symptoms nor any indication that he may be sick, but the process of removing his tumor left him with a large number of surgeries and complications that threw his young life for a spin in every imaginable way. Zach is a very motivational speaker, and his story is both...

Lindsay's journey with stage 3 triple negative breast cancer started at 8 months pregnant. Her story is one of willpower and positivity, which radiates off of her even in our talk. She kept a detailed journal throughout her experience which she's shared with her ever growing community and now with us.

Dani was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in her early twenties. She speaks to us about her journey from diagnosis, to now ten years later being an oncology social worker and cancer researcher. Dani comes with a wealth of knowledge acquired through personal experience and years of work in the cancer space. We are so lucky we got to speak to and learn so much from her.

Diana unfortunately wasn’t new to the cancer world, having watched her best friend go through cancer at an early age. Going through it herself she was prepared to advocate for her treatment and to make space for the isolation and the community that ebbs and flows through a cancer journey. We discuss the honest truth when it comes to what it feels like to have cancer both physically and mentally.

Danny is a content creator and avid streamer. He stepped into the streaming world just as his cancer journey began, and created his own community and outpost for the support and structure he needed. He also speaks to his off line community of friends, family, and various clients whose continued support allowed him to pick up where he left off once his medical treatments were behind him.

Michelle’s heavy periods were dismissed as just that. It was only after advocating for herself and getting screened that her treatments avalanched. She walks us through the medical world of Leukemia, and the her emotional journey which she shared with her partner, tight knit family, and the LA creative community.

This episode is a little different. Our guest is Kelly Metcalfe, Senior Scientist at Women's College Research Institute. Her research is focused on genetic testing in women with breast cancer. We inundate her with questions about genetic testing, what it can and cannot tell us, and how we can all best access genetic testing.

Jenny had two separate cancer diagnoses and is currently living with stage 4 cancer. She’s a mom, a soon to be nutritionist, and a marathon runner. Her story covers all corners of the cancer experience, twice over.

Mel was a full-time night manager who dismissed her fatigue as a reality of the everyday hustle. Additional symptoms eventually led her to accurately self-diagnosing her Lymphoma. She walks us through her medical and mental health experience with her cancer, and shares what she learned about the support she needed and the kind she didn’t.

Brandon got through his cancer experience with the help of his mom, his friends, and most of all himself; as well as some dark humour. We are also joined by Brandon’s partner, and Avery to dive deeper into the partner experience, including fertility and overall caregiving and support.

Desiree and her partner Avery walk us through every step of Des’ cancer journey. From noticing a lump, to the diagnosis, through to treatment, fertility discussions, sex life complications and relationship lessons. Avery shines a light on what it means and how it feels to be a caregiver to someone you love most.

What it's all about.