Cancer Out Loud: The CancerCare Podcast

Before her cancer diagnosis, Valarie worked in human resources. After being diagnosed with both multiple myeloma and breast cancer, Valarie’s life took a different path- one of advocacy and patient education.  As her goals shifted, she focused on educating others about the disease while shedding light on health inequities. In the penultimate episode of Season 6, Valarie shares how advocating...

When Judy was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer almost a decade ago, many emotions ran through her mind: shock, fear, disbelief and curiosity. Judy, a research scientist by trade, wanted to know more about her diagnosis and was disappointed by the lack of literature and research available. Join us for a story of hope, perseverance, and gratitude as Judy shares the highs and lows of navi...

Healing looks different for everyone. Often, the expressive arts can create an outlet to understand and process difficult emotional experiences- this includes creative writing, music, crafting, painting, etc.  This episode takes a deeper dive into the different tools that can be used to cope with a cancer diagnosis. Listen in as Chris speaks with her oncology social worker, Sara, about the ch...

A cancer diagnosis is incredibly disruptive and unpredictable. At the time her 32-year-old husband was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer, Whitney was starting a doctoral program while building her private therapy practice. Whitney is no stranger to the world of chronic illness as she has managed her own for many years. With her husband’s diagnosis, she learned to take on a different role a...

Meet Kris, a stage III chondrosarcoma survivor, avid golfer and skier, father, and husband. In this episode, Kris speaks with his social worker Nikki about how he navigated his diagnosis and hemipelvectomy. This surgery resulted in removing his left pelvis, hip, and leg. Kris has experienced many ups, downs, and in-betweens. Throughout it all, he remains determined, focusing on living life moment...

Just before Lindsay’s 40th birthday, she was diagnosed with a rare, advanced cancer. Pre-diagnosis, Lindsay was a marathon runner, an avid traveler, and a bit of a workaholic. Listen in as Lindsay shares with host Sarah Paul how she advocated for answers, underwent a life-changing surgery, and is now learning to navigate survivorship.

In the opening episode of Cancer Out Loud Season 6 , we meet Kouichi. A passionate father, environmental activist, editor and a Hodgkin’s Lymphoma survivor. Listen in as Kouichi speaks with his oncology social worker, Cassie, about navigating his cancer experience. Kouichi shares a passionate story of hope, survivorship and the power of fatherhood.

For the final episode of Season 5 we asked our social work team, why oncology social work? While many of our social workers have been personally touched by cancer in some way, they all have unique reasons for choosing this very meaningful work. Listen in as a handful of Cancer Care ’s social workers share where their compassion stems from and why the work they do is so important. Thanks for tuning...

July is UV Safety Awareness Month; skin cancer is the most diagnosed cancer, not only in the U.S. but worldwide.  In this informational episode, Sarah Paul, Cancer Care ’s Director of Clinical Programs, discusses the importance of practicing sun safety and various risk factors for developing skin cancer. Listen in as she shares the most effective ways to protect yourself from harmful UV rays...

Listen in as Marlee Kiel, Cancer Care’s Young Adult Program Manager, and Sarah Paul, Cancer Care ’s Director of Clinical Programs discuss the unique barriers faced by the LGBTQ+ population when navigating a cancer diagnosis. We recognize the need to continue conversations that increase access to equitable healthcare and promote cultural competency. For more LGBTQ+ educational materials, informatio...

June is National Cancer Survivor Month. In this episode, we meet Joy- a 13 year stage IV cancer survivor, an author, podcast host and all around renaissance woman. Listen in as Joy shares how she was able to take the fear out of her cancer experience while embracing realistic optimism to ultimately find joy. You can find Joy on Twitter or Facebook !

In July 2003, Shannan was diagnosed with a grade 2 glioma at the age of 31. In recognition of Brain Cancer awareness month, listen in as Shannan shares how she navigated multiple surgeries and a number of treatments since diagnosis. Approaching her 19 year "cancerversary", Shannan speaks with Charlotte Ference, a Cancer Care oncology social worker, about how she found support, coped with treatment...

May is Mental Health awareness month; at Cancer Care we understand the importance of taking care of your mental health, especially if you have been affected by cancer. Listen in as Sarah Paul, the Director of Clinical Programs and Marissa Fors, the Director of Specialized Programs, discuss mental health awareness, the stigma of seeking support, navigating barriers to care and finding the courage t...

Caryn Sullivan, founder of Pretty Wellness and author of “Happiness Through Hardship”, joins us today to share her experience as a two-time breast cancer survivor, currently navigating stage IV disease.  In a conversation with a CancerCare oncology social worker, Allison Moskowitz, LCSW, Caryn speaks openly and candidly about finding joy and gratitude in the little things, despite hardship. L...

In the opening episode of season five and in recognition of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Joe speaks with Cancer Care ’s Director of Clinical Programs, Sarah Paul, about his diagnosis of colorectal cancer, the community support network he has helped to grow and how he has channeled his voice to encourage more men to get screened for cancer. Listen in as Joe shares his insight on coping with c...

In part II of Se’Nita and Samantha’s conversation, Se’Nita shares the importance of putting your health first, no matter what the barriers to care may be. She talks about the love involved in finding her voice, sharing her story and advocating for those who have yet to be heard. Se’Nita’s story is not just one of advocacy in the face of healthcare disparities, but one of hope and inspiration for t...

In the final (and bonus) episode of Cancer Out Loud, we asked current and future guests to share their most significant takeaways from the past year. This collaboration of voices paints a powerful picture of the lasting impact of a cancer diagnosis. Cancer Out Loud will return in early 2022 for Season 5. 

This week we want to tell a different story: one from not only the perspective of a cancer survivor, but also a long-time oncology social worker at Cancer Care . Rick Dickens began his oncology social work career over 25 years ago; his experience as a patient provided him with unique insight and the passion to positively impact those affected by cancer. Listen in as he discusses the trajectory of...

Jason was diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma in 2019, a rare and aggressive type of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Listen in as Jason discusses the importance of self-advocacy and how it led to his diagnosis. He shares his path to treatment, his experience participating in a clinical trial and learning the best way to be your own advocate despite challenges in the healthcare system. 

This week we are joined by Darlene, a woman who embodies the term “advocate” and encourages others to take the road less traveled (as long as it is right for you!). Listen in as Darlene openly discusses barriers that she faced after her colon cancer diagnosis. In this story of courage, Darlene shares the journey of finding her voice and a treatment plan that felt just right. This episode discusses...

Eileen was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2018. She shares her story through the lens of an artist, approaching each new challenge with curiosity. Eileen experienced the loss of identity and sense of self. It was these series of losses that were the catalyst for her project, “ Can you make hair for me? ” Eileen shares how this project allowed her to explore multiple identities while creating important...

In this episode, Se’Nita speaks with Cancer Care social worker Samantha Fortune, LMSW, about being diagnosed with breast cancer two weeks before her 38th birthday. She talks about feeling “like a number” and about being shocked by the bias and insensitivity of certain medical professionals. Se’Nita pursued a second opinion from a doctor who was a woman of color, like herself, who reaffirmed the im...

Gracias a nuestros trabajadores sociales y miembros del personal bilingües, Cáncer Care se enorgullece de ofrecer muchos servicios tanto en inglés como en español. El episodio de esta semana presenta una conversación entre Lucia Fanjul, LMSW, una de las trabajadoras sociales bilingües de Cancer Care , y Rossana, una persona que vivió con cáncer del cerebro. Rossana describe los cambios internos qu...

On this week’s episode, Richard details his wife Marcia’s experience with metastatic pancreatic cancer and their conversations about illness, death and dying, which Richard compares to jumping into water: “You go under water for a while, and then you surface.” The aesthetics and flow of water, which Marcia loved, proved a vital resource in their life, love and journey together. The imagery of a “s...

In the opening episode of season four and in recognition of Blood Cancer Awareness Month, Alice talks with her Cancer Care social worker Marlee about her road to diagnosis and treatment for lymphoma. As a young adult in the throes of medical school, Alice shares how she has navigated her diagnosis and her unique perspective of being both a medical student and a patient. Listen in as Alice and Marl...