More Than A Diagnosis

This Season 2 finale is an honest pause, not a resolution. Jes and Den reflect on what feels steady, what still challenges them, and what they haven't fully figured out yet. This episode explores ongoing questions, unresolved emotions, and the conversations they're still navigating. Den and Jes are leaving space for curiosity, tension, and the promise of more to come in the next season. In the mea...

Boundaries are hard and sometimes saying no is even harder. In this episode, Jes and Den explore the ongoing challenge of people-pleasing — why we do it, why it persists, and how illness or long-term health challenges make it even trickier. They share reflections and strategies for recognizing your limits, holding your boundaries, and saying no without guilt. This conversation is for anyone who st...

Support looks different after the crisis ends. In this episode, Den and Jes talk about how relationships shift once treatment is over but the reality of illness remains. We explore the difference between crisis support and long-term presence, what happens when people assume you're "better," and how your needs evolve over time. This conversation is about quiet changes, unspoken recalibrations, and...

What happens to femininity after a mastectomy? And why is womanhood so often tied to certain body parts? In part 2 of the Missing Pieces Series, Jes and Den have an honest conversation about redefining femininity after breast cancer. Jes shares why she chose not to pursue breast reconstruction, the reactions she's received, and how societal expectations often shape the way women are taught to view...

What happens when the caregiver becomes the one needing care? In this deeply personal episode, Den shares her experience of moving from life as a nurse to life as a patient—navigating illness with both medical knowledge and human vulnerability. Together, we explore identity shifts, grief, self-advocacy, and what compassionate care truly looks like when you're on the other side of the hospital bed....

What happens when your body can't keep up with a world that glorifies the grind? In this episode, Jes and Den unpack the pressure to "push through" while living with illness and how hustle culture shapes our sense of worth. Together, they explore what it means to rest without guilt, redefine success, and find peace in slower seasons. This conversation is a reminder that you are not your productivi...

In this episode, we talk about self-love in its most honest form: listening to your body, grieving who you used to be, setting boundaries without apology, and redefining worth outside of productivity. We explore what it means to care for yourself when "pushing through" is no longer an option—and why rest, community, and compassion matter just as much as resilience. This conversation is for anyone...

There's a moment that comes after diagnosis — and sometimes after survival — when you realize this might not be temporary. In this episode, Jes and Den talk about what it means to live with chronic illness from two perspectives: navigating long-term illness, and learning to live in a changed body after cancer. They explore the quiet grief no one prepares you for, the pressure to "stay positive," a...

January comes with a lot of pressure to reset, restart, and reinvent yourself. But winter isn't built for urgency, and not everyone has the capacity for big goals or fresh starts right now. In this episode, Jes and Den have a real, honest conversation about letting go of resolutions and embracing a gentler way of entering the new year. They talk about why January often feels so heavy, how rest is...

In this mini episode, we pause to reflect on everything that's happened and everything we've carried as the year comes to a close. We've pulled together moments from some of the conversations that shaped our year, reflecting on friendship, grief, gratitude, humor, and the small, often overlooked moments that make life feel a little lighter. This episode isn't your typical "new year, new me" episod...

In this week's episode, Jes shares about a recent GI appointment that left her needing more information and clarity which is something that, after cancer, doesn't feel optional. Wanting to understand your symptoms, your options, and your plan isn't refusal. It's informed consent. Den brings both clinical and lived-experience insight, breaking down why clear explanations matter in chronic illness c...

In this week's episode, Den and Jes slow things down and talk candidly about what it looks like to hold grief and gratitude at the same time especially when you're living in a body that's changed, tired, or still healing. Instead of trying to offer you a guide or tidy answers, this is a real-time conversation between two friends about the emotions that surprised us this season, the ones we're stil...

Today feels like a full-circle moment. More Than a Diagnosis is becoming a nonprofit! Jes and Den are joined by Nerisa and Karen — the four of them make up the board. In this episode, they give you a behind-the-scenes glimpse into who they are as a team, what brought them together, and what they're most excited to bring to this community. Follow along at morethanadiagnosis.org to stay updated, joi...

In honor of our friend Lys' birthday, we're re-sharing the conversation we recorded with her last season. This conversation is filled with love, transparency, and the kind of strength that has touched so many in this community. Lys is currently on hospice, and she and her family are navigating significant medical and end-of-life expenses. If you feel called to support, you can find the links to su...

In this first episode of our  Missing Pieces series, Den gets real about how a mysterious abdominal mass led to a FAP diagnosis, a desmoid tumor, and eventually having her colon removed. Along the way, hundreds of precancerous polyps were discovered during a colonoscopy in her mid-30s — and her life hasn't been the same since. Den keeps it honest and hilarious, talking about everything from bathro...

Medical jargon can feel like a whole other language—but it doesn't have to be overwhelming. In this episode, Den flips into "nurse mode" to break down the alphabet soup of labs, cancer care, chronic illness, and pharmacy terms… while Jes tries her best to guess what they mean. Together, they decode acronyms, simplify confusing lingo, and remind you that it's always okay to ask for clarity in your...

Acceptance can feel complicated, especially when life throws chronic illness, cancer, or unexpected challenges your way. Jes and Den dive into radical acceptance —what it is, what it isn't, and how it can transform the way we navigate difficult circumstances. They share personal stories of struggling with acceptance, discuss the psychology behind resistance and denial, and offer practical tools fo...

Living with chronic illness, autoimmune conditions, or post-cancer fatigue can leave you feeling completely drained—but fatigue is far more than just being tired. In this episode, Jes and Den share their personal experiences with chronic exhaustion, break down the science behind why our bodies get so depleted, and offer practical strategies for pacing yourself, validating rest, and reclaiming your...

We're supposed to be on break… but we couldn't resist popping in for a little bonus episode because we're actually together in person. So we thought, why not record while we can? We talk about life lately, relive some of the best moments from our community beach meetup, and tease a few things coming in Season 2. Grab your beverage and hang out with us, have some laughs, and get a little peek behin...

In this season finale, we're looking back at everything Season 1 gave us — and everything it opened up. From raw conversations about survivorship and chronic illness to the unexpected laughter and the quiet moments of truth, this season was nothing short of sacred. We talk about what this space has meant to us, what we're still carrying, and the dreams we're not quite ready to say out loud. Yet. T...

This week, Jes and Den throw out the script and talk about what's actually happening behind the scenes — from health flares to the struggle of returning to "normal life." In this honest and vulnerable conversation, they unpack the messy middle of healing: the wins, the setbacks, the plateaus, and the pressure to be "better" even when your body or mind says otherwise. Together, they explore: • How...

In this episode, Jes and Den unpack the mantra that helped Jes survive the hardest parts of chemo: "I don't want to, but I get to—because some folks don't get to." What started as a way to get through treatment became a perspective shift that still resonates today. Jes shares the origin of this mantra and how it helped her reclaim power in moments that felt impossible. Den reflects on how gratitud...

What started as a small gesture of care turned into a ripple of joy that's touched hundreds of lives. In this episode, we're joined by our friend and fellow community-builder, Nerisa, the creator of Happy Mail—a crowd-funded program that sends love, support, and yes, tiny ducks to people living with cancer or chronic illness. We talk about the surprising power of something playful, how Happy Mail...

The end of cancer treatment often comes with mixed emotions. While there's relief in finishing, many cancer survivors face a whole new set of challenges in adjusting to life after treatment. In this episode, Jes, a cancer survivor, and Den, a nurse with deep ties to the cancer community, discuss the emotional, mental, and physical shifts that come after active treatment ends. They dive into the pr...

You know the comments — the "but you don't look sick" or "everything happens for a reason" type of stuff. 😬 In this episode, Jes and Den share the most unhinged, awkward, and straight-up bizarre things people say after you've been diagnosed with cancer or chronic illness. Spoiler: we've heard it all — and so have you. We're reading comments from Jes's TikTok, swapping stories, and laughing throug...