Cancer U Thrivers

Tal Zlotnitsky is a serial entrepreneur and social activist, who recently launched a tech startup called OurLove. He is the father of three young adult children, and his middle daughter, Elainey, 23, is a recent thyroid cancer survivor. Today, Tal is also honoring his sister-in-law Patricia who passed away in May from lung cancer. 02:39: She was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.  06:18: How d...

Christine Handy is a model, author of the book Walk Beside Me , humanitarian, mother, mentor, and motivational speaker. Christine's best-selling novel is in production to be a film. 01:09: Where did it all start?   03:14: I had 10 to 15 casts over the course of seven months.  05:45: What made you trust that doctor?   07:12: What was the treatment plan?  09:05: What did you do in terms of reconstru...

Paul Stavros is a multi-time cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with cancer for the first time at the age of 14. Thirty-five years later, he was again diagnosed. Today, Paul is using his experience as a patient to help people learn how to stay meaningfully engaged and helpful to someone with cancer. 01:57: I wanted to see my new muscles and there was a substantial lump under my left arm.   04:01: I...

Joel Nagelbush is a life coach and speaker at The Change Management Company, where he teaches people how to find purpose in change. Joel is on the National Speakers Bureau and a Wish Granter for the Make a Wish Foundation®. Helping others is what he does! 02:27: I noticed that I had a lump in my throat.  03:57: I also struggled with self-image issues.  06:19: Whatever is in my neck is growing.   0...

Jaimie Sherling is a joy seeker, drag ambassador, and memoir author. She lives in Wisconsin with her two kids. When she’s not working at her day job or trying on piles of clothes at thrift stores, you can find her screaming YAASSSS surrounded by a bunch of queens. 01:44: I was diagnosed in April of 2018.  03:22: What was your first thought?   05:23: I had invasive ductal carcinoma.   06:58: What d...

Tess Deveze is an occupational therapist, somatic sexologist, and she is fighting stage three breast cancer. Personally experiencing the severe impacts that treatments have on our intimacy and how this topic is so often ignored, Tess’s goal is to help as many as they can. 02:08: I was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer at the age of 36.  04:17: How big was this lump?  05:58: What surgeries d...

Rachel DeSpain is a breast cancer survivor, author, global adventurer, and entrepreneur. She lives in Hawaii with her husband and daughter. She wrote a book titled A Wild Ride: Reclaiming my Edge after Cancer to convey hope to survivors that it's possible to find joy after cancer. 02:17: I have been to more than 40 countries.   03:41: Take us back to the beginning of your cancer journey.   05:15:...

Dr. Louise Lubin, a clinical psychologist, has practiced adult, marital, and family therapy for forty years. Her book, Your Journey Beyond Breast Cancer-Tools for the Road as well as her programs and website, Many Paths to Healing offer individuals the life skills to cope with the ongoing challenges of cancer. 01:51: I played a therapist role in my family.  03:59: I enrolled in graduate school in...

Liz Curran lost her sister to aggressive breast cancer. This changed her life in so many ways and led her down a path to become a holistic cancer health coach. 01:15: Tell us a little bit about your sister.   03:21: The nurse still thinks I might have breast cancer.   05:05: What was your sister's prognosis given that it was a very aggressive type of breast cancer?  08:47: It's interesting to me t...

Lauren Parrish is a wife, mother, business professional, and yoga lover. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at 38 with no family history. So, needless to say, Lauren was surprised by her diagnosis. It has been really tough on her family but it has brought them closer. Gratitude has been their motto. 01:30: How did you find out that you had breast cancer?   03:25: I kind of knew it wasn't normal...

Dr. Patrick Vickers is an expert on the indisputable, cellular science behind health and disease and the face of Gerson Therapy worldwide. He was trained by Dr. Gerson's family and is one of the few people to have studied Dr. Gerson's handwritten files. He continues to carry on Dr. Gerson's legacy through his clinic, The Advanced Gerson Therapy Clinic, in Rosarito, Mexico, the world’s premier clin...

Robert Andrew Wagner is a writer, teacher, and performer, teaching through stories, telling stories through songs as frontman and chief songwriter/lyricist for The Little Wretches. Wagner is a survivor of cancer, holds a master’s degree in Instruction and Learning, and teaches and counsels at-risk teens. 02:20: The Little Wretches was the band I started when my survival was clear.  04:42: I find t...

Dr. Christine Sauer is a retired MD and ND. She has not only treated cancer patients but she has also been a caregiver for her mother-in-law and Christine has volunteered in palliative care. 01:51: Why did you decide to become a doctor?   04:31: One of my patients with end-stage melanoma died in my arms.   06:59: Can you tell us what led you to get into palliative care?  10:04: I feel like we are...

Jodie Lin is a 2X breast cancer survivor/thriver, wife, mother of five wonderful children, animal lover, and National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, NASM certified Nutrition Coach, and Holistic Cancer Coach. Jodie is passionate about helping others balance their health and advocate for themselves. 01:13: Can you take us back to the very beginning of that first journey with breast cance...

Anna Leonarda is a nine-year breast cancer survivor who struggled with endometriosis, painful intercourse, and lack of libido for many years. Approximately eight years after diagnosis, she got divorced. Traditional dating apps didn’t cater to people with sexual limitations so she created a dating app for individuals with sexual dysfunction/limitations. 01:39: How did you get diagnosed?   03:12: Wh...

Kelley was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma in September 2011, two days before her 41st birthday. She had a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction, chemotherapy, radiation Today, Kelly is 10 years cancer-free. 01:22: I was working out one day, and I had this stabbing pain in the side of my left breast.  03:23: I'm telling my parents regardless.   04:55: How old were your kids?   07:26: I...

After Jenn was diagnosed with breast cancer at 43 followed by five surgeries and 18 months of treatment, coupled with dealing with anxiety/depression, she is passionate about helping others by sharing coping strategies and helping them take control of their lives. She has made it her passion project to share her research and educate people on the importance of reading labels and knowing what ingre...

Rebecca is a breast cancer thriver, having been diagnosed when she was just 28. She is an actor, writer, teacher, and integrative cancer care advocate. In 2019, she founded Solis Cancer Community, where she shares weekly posts and blog articles that cover topics on integrative and whole-body healing pre- and post-cancer. 02:26: It was a big shock to everyone because my mammogram had been negative....

Ben Cooper is a Christian, husband, father of five, author, speaker, and beekeeper. Ben used his second cancer diagnosis as a therapy to launch his writing journey of Christian devotionals and children's books. His love of farming and nature is the backdrop of his writing. 01:13: Take us back to the beginning of that first cancer diagnosis and tell us where your journey began.   03:52: I was alrea...

Tim Sohn is an almost 15-year survivor of chronic myeloid leukemia. He shared his story for the first time in June 2021. Tim is a husband, a dad to Megan, 10, and Katelyn, 6. He also owns his own business, Sohn Social Media Solutions, where he produces memorable live shows and virtual events. He also coaches impact-focused brands and nonprofits on how to create their own. 03:46: Take us back to th...

Liz Benditt is currently President and CEO of The Balm Box, a self-care and gifting site for breast cancer patients. In addition to teaching undergraduate business marketing courses at the University of Kansas, Benditt also serves on the Education First Shawnee Mission board of directors and volunteers with National Charity League. She lives in the Kansas City suburbs with her husband and two chil...

Freddye is a mother, a nurse, and a singer. She has been a nurse for 34 years! She has been a professional singer for 25 years. She currently works as a GI surgical oncology outpatient nurse with pancreatic, rectal, and colon cancer patients. She performs for charitable events every year. She has performed in local hospitals. As a twice breast cancer survivor, she gives her time and energy to thos...

CarrieVee (Verrocchio) Cancer Survivor, and Caregiver, MBA, is a Motivational Speaker, Published Author, Podcast Host, and Certified Transformation, Forgiveness, and REBT Coach who helps those who have forgotten how to dream, overcome their excuses and live the life they were created to live.  She is the founder of the Radical Empowerment Method - a program designed to walk people through the exac...

After surviving kidney cancer, in 2002, Patricia was determined to learn all there was on how we contribute to creating disease in our body. What she discovered is; it is always about our belief system. She wrote her book “Daydreams Come True” A self-coaching workbook, to share with others her lessons learned, so they too, can live a life of Thriving! 02:42: You have a mass on your kidney.  04:47:...

Norma was diagnosed with terminal metastatic esophageal cancer in the summer of 2020. Upon hearing her dire diagnosis, she immediately decided to start streaming her worst experiences with cancer while wrapping it in her greatest love: pinball. She gives weekly health updates, provides cancer information, and flips her favorite pinball machines from her Florida home. 01:45: They've told me that I'...