But Seriously: The Cancer Podcast

Laura is a wife, a mother, a dog owner, a nonprofit development consultant, and a dedicated do-it-your-self-er who loves to spend time with her family, travel, stay up late and sleep in.   What really stood out to me in this conversation with Laura is how meticulously she researched every aspect of her treatment options, from her physicians and their treatment recommendations, to her fellow patien...

Alexandra is a video producer who lives with her family and two dogs in Baltimore. She likes to spend time in the kitchen coming up with new dinner ideas, but someone else will have to make dessert! She also likes to paint and is frequently in search of a creative outlet.   Alexandra has been Cancer-free two years.   0:00:00 How the cancer was discovered 0:07:12 Telling her children 0:11:15 Your r...

Lee is a retired school teacher, a volunteer and mentor at the Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes for men with prostate cancer. He’s a personal trainer and uses old school/unconventional strength and mobility training, he’s the owner of Der Rosenmeister Nursery, an antique and modern rose nursery, and he lectures widely throughout the Northeast on sustainable rose growing practices. He is...

Mandi lives in the Austin, Texas area with her husband and their three dogs. She is an artist and a writer with a great love of the outdoors. Mandi has been cancer-free for almost twelve years.   0:00:00 Surprise diagnosis 0:05:00 Treatment 0:15:31 “How can we mourn the thing we didn’t even want in the first place?” 0:19:00 Being the reason everyone around you is trying not to cry 25:54 Spouses ad...

Maria is a geriatric social worker and an academic researcher, a sister and an Auntie, who lives with her wife and their dog in Upstate New York. She is also a founder and moderator of the Facebook group for Lesbian Cancer Survivors and Caregivers, which she started in 2007 during her second breast cancer, when she realized that lesbians were invisible in the existing literature and resources for...

Louise is an artist, administrator and writer from Norwich in the UK. She was originally diagnosed with a rare form of appendix cancer in 2014 and again in 2017. She is currently recovering from her second surgery.   0:00:00 How the cancer was discovered 0:05:19 Louise lands at Basingstoke Hospital 0:10:12 Treatment: Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) & hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC)...

This is part two of the Laya Ballesteros podcast. Laya is an elementary school art teacher who is passionate about working with our youngest artists and she herself is a mixed media artist. Laya has been cancer-free for three years. 0:00:00 Going into surgery 0:12:57 Post-surgery recovery 0:25:00 Long-term recovery 0:37:54 Chemotherapy 0:47:25 Allergic reaction to chemo 0:56:35 The impact on our r...

Laya is an elementary school art teacher who is passionate about working with our youngest artists and she herself is a mixed media artist. Laya has been cancer-free for three years.   Also, I promised Laya I would give a shout out to NYBRA Plastic Surgery in Great Neck, NY because Laya just raved about them and their Patient Empowerment Program before, during, and after the podcast!!   0:00:00 Ac...

 Defining our cancer experiences without letting cancer define us.

DeLa is A husband  A father  A musician  A brain tumor survivor and  A believer! He is the saxophonist for the band slightly stoopid and also leads his own band Dela & steady rock easy.   0:00:00 Bringing awareness to others 0:05:08 Symptoms preceding diagnosis 0:09:25 Tunnel vision 0:13:15 Tumor doubles in size 0:16:13 Tumor responds to the threat 0:17:39 Brief synopsis of Bert’s cancer journey 0...

Maria is a food creator, a Wellness Mentor, a mother and wife. She has been cancer-free for over two years. Follow Maria on Instagram @holisticlivingwithmaria   0:00:00 How the cancer was discovered 0:14:16 Scan confirms no metastasis 0:18:51 Chemotherapy recommended 0:25:30 Self-advocacy 0:30:36 Being positive verses being authentic 0:33:50 Giving back to the cancer community 0:40:05 Penny Brohn...

Jason is the Vice-President for the Board of Directors of the Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes and the co-founder of the Colorectal Support Group as well as the Young Adult Support Group, now named "Beth's Group" in memory of his co-founder, Beth Brunelle. Jason has been cancer-free for ten years. 0:00:00 Surgery and life with a shortened colon 0:08:30 Struggles with radiation 0:12:12 "N...

Sara has worked as a professional book editor, a dishwasher, a philosophy professor, a ballet instructor, a waiter, and an English teacher in Slovakia and Lithuania. She’s ordained clergy, an astrologer, and lives in Ithaca, New York, with her beautiful husband, brilliant son, and a slightly above-average pit bull. Sarah has been cancer-free for eight years. 0:00:00 How the breast cancer was disco...

Today’s guest is Rosemary Lang. Rosemary lives in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region of New York State and enjoys hiking and riding motorcycles with her husband and best friend. Rosemary is an inquiry, discovering what it is to live life beyond cancer. Rosemary has been cancer-free for 2 1/2 years.   0:00:00 Clinical Trial to postpone surgery  0:10:50 Recurrence/Ileostomy 0:14:20 Community Support ...

Eamonn is married to Marilee Murphy and she is the Executive Director of the Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes , and they have two sons. Eamonn is the owner and sole practitioner at Finger Lakes Acupuncture in Ithaca. Eamonn has been cancer-free for three years.   0:00:00 The biopsy 0:05:10 Being empowered in your diagnosis 0:08:15 Determining your treatment 0:15:05 Prostate education and...

Carrie Ann teaches Maturation to elementary and middle school kids. Her passion is to help everyone love and accept their unique individual body and for Carrie Anne this starts with teaching our youth that puberty is not to be feared but to be embraced.   0:00:00 How the cancer was discovered 0:08:35 Port-a cath 0:15:28 Six weeks to live 0:22:00 Telling her children 0:30:10 A gift of awareness 0:3...

Shera is a mixed-media artist and painter. She’s a flat-closure advocate and activist - often using her art and social media platforms to share and connect. Shera has been cancer-free for eight years. 00:00:00 Cancer almost not discovered 00:13:59  Self-advocacy and multiple opinions 00:23:35 Community support and masculinity 00:28:09 Keeping cancer private 00:32:35  Strength and vulnerability 00:...

Joe is an archivist at the Corning Museum of Glass and he lives in Ithaca, NY with his wife, his two kids, and their dog Hamilton. Joe has been cancer-free for five years. 00:00:00 How the cancer was discovered 00:05:40 The physical discomfort of a tumor 00:09:20 Informing friends 00:20:40 Only one leg 00:25:30 Accountability Partners 00:33:15 Connecting with fellow survivors 00:34:30 Standing inf...

Sharon is a teacher, an Instructional Technology Specialist, a plant-based food enthusiast, a wife of a very supportive husband, and a mother of three amazing kids! Sharon has been cancer-free for six years. 00:00:00 How cancer was discovered 00:05:30 Inspired by fellow survivors 00:07:00 Re-diagnosed 00:10:35 PET Scans 00:18:40 Speaking with children about cancer 00:23:40 Caregivers getting the s...