Cancer U Thrivers

Barbara Vercruysse is a life coach. After surviving stage 4 skin cancer at 32, she decided to live her second life to the fullest. After running a construction business for 18 years, Barbara now dedicates herself to her true passion now: guiding people through deep transformations. 02:52: My husband who is a lawyer was also combining that with being the salesperson in my business. 05:05: We got th...

Pravjoth (Prav) is a 20-year-old, young entrepreneur, and a student at Birmingham City University studying Business Management. Prav owns and manages her own company which sets to become a platform providing personalized fitness and nutrition plans targeting people with disabilities and medical conditions. Prav is also an endometrial cancer survivor. 02:46: I used to get bullied quite a lot in my...

Terry Tucker has been an NCAA Division I college basketball player, a business executive, a police officer, a basketball coach, a motivational speaker, an author, and most recently, a cancer warrior. He and his wife have lived all over the United States and currently reside in Colorado. 02:00: He took an X-ray and he said, you know, I think you have a little cyst. 04:29: In 2018, I had my left foo...

Karen has been in the Health and Wellness industry for over 14 years. Karen’s road has had many twists, turns, and speed bumps but she wouldn’t trade it for anything. She is a cancer and divorce survivor. She helps others find the health and freedom they have been searching for. 00:25: Karen has been in the health and wellness industry for over 14 years. 03:00: What does the lump on my thyroid mea...

Brad Power is a lymphoma cancer survivor. He is trying to accelerate cancer treatment through innovation, and he’s building on his experience with process reengineering and managing technology. 01:50: The physician came back, and he said, we've done the scan, we think you have lymphoma. 04:20: I needed to be seen and get treated as fast as possible. 06:00: The scan showed hotspots where there was...

Steven is a Confidence Coach helping people leverage their strengths to take action. 00:33: In November 1986, Stephen Sullivan was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, also known as AML. 02:23: I had him get on the phone and talk to my dad. 03:58: There's so much beauty around you, stop and appreciate it. 06:16: I didn't realize at the time is it nearly killed me. 08:26: The treatment plan w...

Gary Burley is a retired National Football League (NFL) veteran. And he’s been in a Superbowl. Gary is also a cancer survivor whose mission after recovery has been to pay it forward. 00:33: Gary Burley is a retired National Football League veteran and he's actually been in a Super Bowl. 02:07: One day I started noticing my knee would swell. 04:05: I'm thinking all right, you're going to have to fi...

Dr. Shani Fox guides cancer survivors through their greatest challenges, including taming fear of recurrence, repairing devastated relationships and making the most of the life they survived for. “For all the excuses I could think of, the dream wouldn’t go away.” 00:25: Dr. Shani Fox guides cancer survivors through their greatest challenges. 02:55: That’s quite a life to have lived where you can s...

Joel Evans was the first person in his family to go to college. While he was working, he was a part-time MBA student. He then switched to full-time status and got his Ph. D. For 44 years, he was a business professor at Hofstra University. He has a great wife, two adult daughters, and two sons-in-law. Right now, he’s teaching a class virtually for graduate students in product management. He is a pr...

Cancer has plagued Krystal Barter’s family for generations: her Mum at 36, her Nan at 44, and her great-grandma at 68. In her twenties, Krystal discovered this was not by chance, but that she was the carrier of a genetic mutation, BRCA1. At the age of 25, she surgically removed her breasts and she became a preventative cancer advocate launching Pink Hope. 01:10: Why don't you take us back to the b...

Stephanie Warner is a midwest cancer survivor and thriver. With twenty years of nursing experience and four years of surviving cancer behind her, she brings compassion and support to help others through value-based teaching and mentoring. She shows others how to embrace their strength and thrive in their own lives. 02:42: Since this is the first time that I'm seeing you, let's just go ahead and le...

Victorianne Russell Walton is a two-time Breast Cancer Survivor. She is a CEO, a Breast Cancer Advocate, a Motivational Speaker, Radio Host, Lifestyle Coach, Chronic Disease Instructor, and Oncology Patient Navigator Trainer. 03:15: I know my body; I knew that there was a problem. 05:24: The oncologist that I was seeing, on my third request, he told me to stop calling. 07:00: When he relayed the m...

Randy Lopez is a featured spokesperson for the Colon Cancer Alliance and a stage four cancer survivor. He was featured in CNN’s Special Investigation  Saving Your Life  hosted by Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Randy appeared on CBS’ Health Watch Colorectal Cancer Digestive Health Awareness Webcast hosted by Dr. Travis Stork of  The Doctors.  He was previously a board member for the National Colon Cancer Coalit...

Grace Charrier is a global patient leader and public health advocate serving on several international cancer and health panels. Grace also serves as a Legislative Ambassador for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS-CAN) where she enables conversations and collaborations. 00:33: Grace Charrier is a global patient leader and public health advocate serving on several international c...

T.J. Sharpe is a Stage IV melanoma patient who shares his journey through cancer in the Patient #1 blog. He was diagnosed in August 2012 with melanoma tumors in multiple organs, four weeks after his son was born, undergoing six surgeries and four immunotherapy treatments over two clinical trials. 00:34: T.J. Sharpe is a stage four melanoma patient who shares his journey through cancer in the patie...

Dr. Véronique Desaulniers, better known as Dr. V, is the founder of Breast Cancer Conqueror® and the 7 Essentials System®, and co-founder of My Breast Friend™. Her signature process has empowered thousands of women in over 56 countries around the world. 00:33: Dr. Veronique JR better known as Dr. V is the founder of Breast Cancer Conqueror. 03:30: That’s when I created the step-by-step guide calle...

After being diagnosed with breast cancer at age 35 in 2009, Laura began helping others through advocacy and peer support organizations. In 2012, Laura moved into oncology nursing, specializing in breast cancer, survivorship, and wellness. 01:35: I've been a nurse for 11 years; it's a second career for me. 03:13: I actually got to use my degree and I designed neckties. 04:33: Take us back to before...

Carly is a stage I papillary cancer survivor. She is passionate about creating better health outcomes for cancer patients through the fields of health literacy, patient education, and cancer research. 01:23: So, I was diagnosed when I was 27. 02:43: My doctor felt a lump in my throat. 04:00: I was working at a hospital at the time 05:18: I do think it is important to have a second opinion. 07:00:...

JoJo Rankin is a Marriage Coach at R Family Strong. She is a former practical nurse at an oncology infusion center where she learned we are all stronger than we think we are. 01:29: I've had uncles and aunts passed away from cancer. 03:51: The patients become your family. 05:02: We did not run it like a factory. 06:00: What if any preconceived notions did you have about oncology and cancer? 06:42:...

Brigitte is the founder of Gemini Media, host of Real Things Living Podcast, Author, a Health Advocate who focuses on delivering the best solutions to her clients. She’s an accomplished business professional in the communications, publishing, and print management industry. 01:28: I first got diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006. 04:17: And I kept saying what the hell is causing this? 05:43: It’s c...

At age 25, Justin Birckbichler was diagnosed with Stage II testicular cancer. Now in remission, he is committed to getting the ball rolling on raising awareness of men’s health and testicular cancer through his website “A Ballsy Sense of Tumor.” 01:25: I'm about 3.5 years past diagnosis. 02:12: I was going to do my monthly testicular self-exam in the shower 03:39: I found a lump. 04:40: It sounded...

Twelve years, Kelly Rogers was diagnosed with skin cancer. As a wellness coach for eight years, she was shocked that her healthy diet, holistic practices, and supplements hadn’t prevented cancer. She lost half her nose and some of her ears. 01:50: I had no health insurance. 02:50: I might cut off half your nose. 04:48: Wow, I'm not ready for this. 06:25: I needed a lot more work on the spirit and...

Nine months ago, Tony Bristol was diagnosed with small cell carcinoma cancer of the esophagus. He likes to say it’s easier to give than receive. 00:37: Tony was diagnosed with small cell carcinoma, cancer of the esophagus. 02:20: I started getting these night sweats. 04:05: It had metastasized in three locations in my liver. 05:41: I went to Austria for a week for experimental treatment. 06:56: I'...

Dr. Kumar Vasudevan is a neurosurgeon practicing in Atlanta, Georgia. He has a special interest in treating patients with brain tumors. He was inspired by his grandmother's neurosurgeon, who performed a lifesaving operation for glioblastoma for free, and aspires to bring the same devotion and care to his patients. 01:20: My grandmother, unfortunately, received this diagnosis of glioblastoma. 02:20...

For three months, Wanda Johnson was a full-time caregiver for her sister who had advanced gallbladder cancer. Then Wanda was diagnosed with triple-positive breast cancer. That diagnosis lit a flame of passion. She became a breast cancer advocate, where new opportunities have led to diverse experiences.   01:27: I'm there for my routine mammogram.   03:30: I was living in Houston, Texas, and before...