Life, Cancer, Etc.

My team at Moffitt Cancer Center helped save my life and I'm forever grateful for their brilliance, dedication, and friendship over the past 6+ years. This is a repost of the episode I did with them last year.   Being a guest on the PEP Talks podcast for providers and staff at Moffitt was an honor, a privilege, and a labor of love. Moffitt is an amazing place filled with amazing people dedica...

Recently, I was a guest on "The Strong Sunflower" podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-strong-sunflowers/id1548796820). I had a great time talking with Zana and Gisselle. They're both strong, kind women who are working to improve themselves and the world at large. Thanks for the opportunity, Z & G! PC: The Strong Sunflowers Keywords: cancer diagnosis, building to b...

Our neighbor, Tom Fitzgerald, was diagnosed with lymphoma 17 years ago. Today, he tells us about what that was like and what life's been like since. We're so glad he's healthy and that he and his wife live in our neighborhood. NOTE: I am not a medical professional. Everyone on the "Life, Cancer, Etc." podcast is sharing their own experiences, not giving medical advice. PC:...

Bethann and Shawn Rapp shared their story about Bethann's lung cancer diagnosis last season. (You can find that conversation here: https://www.lifecanceretc.com/podcast/episode/4875ebeb/nonsmokers-get-lung-cancer-too-with-bethann-and-shawn-rapp). In this episode, they talk about how they're dealing with a recurrence, and I really appreciate them sharing how they're working through t...

You can also watch this video interview on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD-0Snw5qbk&t=67s) I've known Camilla Ball since she was 14 years old. Her mom, Valéria, died of brain cancer when Camilla was in college. In our conversation, Camilla shares a very honest, unflinching look at that time, at herself, and at how much she's learned from the experience. Here&a...

Getting decent sleep can be difficult, at best, after cancer -- especially after chemo. Here are some suggestions for strategies and products that have helped me get better sleep. Tadin Passionflower Tea: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FFQWBLA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Yogi Bedtime Tea: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YGN1KLN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?i...

NOTE: You can see the video from this interview on our YouTube channel, here . Many thanks to Courtney and Riley at #AmbitionStrikes for their encouragement to make the jump to YouTube! Olivia Luginski was my social worker at Moffitt Cancer Center after I was diagnosed with a cardiac sarcoma. Olivia helped guide us through the process of getting help and offers advice for anyone -- patient or care...

Here's where my head -- and heart -- are these days. Getting through cancer is not a one-shot deal; you've got to deal with the aftermath, too, and figure out what you want the future to look like.  Also, we're adding video interviews to our YouTube Channel starting in June! I think I was a little afraid to announce this because it meant I had to commit and I'm so out of my dep...

*** CONTENT WARNING *** We speak very graphically and specifically about breast cancer surgery, so please use headphones if you're around kiddos. My sister Kate had breast cancer surgery last week. She thought it was important to share what it's like in the "limbo" after treatment so that others know what to expect and feel less alone. I love how honest and real Kate is and app...

Dr.  Debbie Egbert is an anesthesiologist in practice in Oregon.  Debbie is a wealth of information and has an obvious passion for serving her patients. Side note: she's also a fabulous gardener and cook! In this episode, we talk about what anesthesia is and how it works. Photo © 2021 Dr. Debbie Egbert Keywords: questions about anesthesia, types of anesthesia, anesthesiologist You can also fi...

My sister, Kate, was diagnosed with invasive ductile carcinoma at the end of September. She's currently in the middle of chemo, awaiting surgery and radiation, and talks with us about what life's like right now for her, her husband, and their six kids. Kate did a follow-up episode right after breast-cancer surgery. You can find it here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1468990/episodes/1027854...

Life changes are hard and the last few months have been, too. Here's what I've been doing and why I've needed to take a step back. Photo © 2021 Heidi Bragg Content © 2022 Heidi Bragg Keywords: self-care, saying no is okay, reasonable expectations, setting good boundaries You can also find some episodes on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/LifeCancerEtc Patreon: https://...

Bethann Rapp is a nonsmoker, so getting diagnosed with lung cancer at age 50 was a shock. In this episode, she and her husband (and my friend), Shawn, talk about their experiences and how the last year has gone.  They also have a son with special needs, so that's required some careful maneuvering throughout Bethann's treatment.  PC: Shawn & Bethann Rapp  Keywords: lung cancer, spouse...

*** CONTENT WARNING: There's a minor swear in this and we use terms like "breast" and "boob," so please use headphones if you're listening around kiddos. ***  Tiffany Goulding and Lauren Bales were on the podcast back in January, while Tiff was in the middle of treatment for breast cancer (listen to Season 1, Episode 9 to hear that interview). Now, they're back t...

Dr. Phil Spiess is a great guy and so easy to talk with. He's a genitourinary oncologist and assistant chief of surgical services at Moffitt Cancer Center and a full professor of oncology and urology at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. He's also researching Lynch Syndrome, which I have, and helping doctors around the world develop protocols for people with rar...

Dr. Andrew Brohl  is a medical oncologist and physician-scientist.  One of his specialties is sarcoma, which is how I got to know him (my second cancer was a cardiac sarcoma). He's been instrumental in my treatment and I'm incredibly grateful for his help and expertise. Plus, he's just good people.  Use this link find more info about Dr. Brohl and Moffitt Cancer Center: https://moff...

As promised, we are back from our summer break and ready to tackle another difficult topic. These past couple of years have been traumatic for so many of us. What does trauma look like, both in our brains and in our bodies? What's the difference between "big T trauma" and "little t trauma"? Sharon Dunbar, LSCW -- who's awesome, BTW -- helps us unpack these questions a...

Jean Pressley Whittaker is a realtor par excellence and an all-around lovely human being. In this episode, she describes how she and her late husband chose to spend their time after his terminal cancer diagnosis. Her perspective is incredibly helpful and very insightful. Photo courtesy Jean Pressley Whittaker (https://www.jeanpressleywhittaker.com/) Keywords: kidney cancer, terminal cancer diagnos...

Our daughter, Téa, is a fabulous person who's been through a lot. Though she's grown up now, she shares her perspective as a child who had to deal with my multiple cancer diagnoses. Seeing things through her eyes can help you support other kids who are going through the same thing. Photo © 2019 Heidi Bragg You can also find some episodes on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/...

If you're dealing with cancer, you'll likely get a PET scan at some point. It shouldn't be scary, but we often fear the unknown. For me, getting PET scans is painless; it just takes time. In this episode, we walk through a basic outline of what a PET scan is and how the process works. You can find more info on Moffitt Cancer Center's website: https://moffitt.org/diagnostic-serv...

Angela's a great friend and, technically, the boss of me. She's been a support person for numerous people and helped her mother-in-law as she battled cancer. Her experiences can be helpful for anyone who's a caring for a loved one with a terminal cancer diagnosis. Photo courtesy of Angela Bounds You can also find some episodes on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/LifeCa...

My husband, Kevin, is the absolute biggest blessing in my life and my favorite person in the world. In this episode, we get his take on the past 7 years and his advice for anybody going through a traumatic season in life. Photo ©2019 Heidi Bragg You can also find some episodes on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/LifeCancerEtc Patreon: https://patreon.com/lifecanceretc?utm_medium=unkn...

Tess Pfohl is an amazing example of resilience, adaptability, and hope. She's a fellow sarcoma survivor who decided -- at age 24 -- to get a lifesaving cancer surgery that she knew would leave her paralyzed. Tess's positive outlook and the frank way she shares her story are pretty awe-inspiring, and we talked for 2 hours! After you listen to our conversation, you can find Push Diaries Po...

Sharon Dunbar, LCSW, is a therapist in private practice in Florida. In this episode, she answers the questions you submitted about anxiety and offers practical suggestions for those of us who deal with it. https://www.yourclearview.net/anxiety-and-depression/ Photo ©2020 Heidi Bragg Keywords: anxiety, help for anxiety, coping with anxiety, strategies for anxiety, anxiety during cancer treatment, c...

Starting treatment of any kind can be intimidating. Hopefully, this short essay about one of my radiation treatments will help demystify the process. P.S. I took this photo in the courtyard at Moffit Cancer Center when I was about halfway done with my six weeks of radiation. Photo ©2018 Heidi Bragg You can also find some episodes on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/LifeCancerEtc Patr...