The Many Faces of Cancer

AI is everywhere right now—but could it actually help people living with cancer? In this fascinating conversation, Melissa sits down with stage IV colorectal cancer survivor Russ Read Barrow, who decided not to wait for technology to change healthcare. Instead, he began building AI tools to help manage his own cancer journey. After multiple surgeries, chemotherapy treatments, and metastatic diseas...

Before this episode was released, our guest, Pam Erwin, passed away after living with advanced melanoma. We are honored to share this conversation as part of her legacy. Pam spent her life saying "yes" to wherever God called her. From serving as a Disaster Relief chaplain alongside her husband, Dave, to helping build churches, schools, and vocational programs in Benin, West Africa, her f...

When Kevin Webber was just 49 years old, he received devastating news: he had stage 4 prostate cancer and might have only two years to live. For many people, such a diagnosis could lead to fear, despair, and hopelessness. But Kevin made a different choice. Rather than allowing his prognosis to define him, he decided to use his diagnosis as a force for good—for his family, his friends, and anyone f...

Today’s guest is Ann Wax, RN, an oncology nurse with more than 50 years of experience caring for people affected by cancer. Today, Ann serves as an Oncology Doula™, speaker, educator, author, and patient advocate, helping patients and families navigate the emotional and human side of the cancer journey. Throughout her career, Ann discovered that some of the most meaningful aspects of care happen o...

Today's guest is Cyndy Peterson, diagnosed in 2022 with Stage 3B lobular breast cancer. She has a history of cancer in her family, so she always knew there was a chance she would experience it herself someday, and decided to deal with it when and if it happened, and not worry about it otherwise. She has gone through her journey with grace and humor, sharing her experience with others. We talk...

Today's guest is Hayley Dubin, Certified Health Coach, Metabolic Terrain Advocate, and founder of reVIVE Wellness. She also is the host of The Cancer Liberation Project Podcast. As a 28-year ovarian cancer survivor, her passion is to help people overcome the physical, mental and emotional challenges that the cancer journey can bring. She helps her clients let go of the fear and take control o...

Today's guest is Debbie Hornor, Senior National Consultant for Charitable Estate Planning in Mission Advancement at the American Heart Association, State Volunteer President for AARP Colorado, and currently in remission after primary angiosarcoma of the breast and reoccurrence. She has spent her career in public health policy work, community health, healthcare quality improvement, and so much...

Today's guest is Carmen Monge, Hodgkin's Lymphoma survivor, researcher, and patient advocate working at the intersection of lived experience, research, and equity in cancer care, especially across different global healthcare systems. Carmen is the founder of MANO Beyond Cancer, a global initiative exploring survivorship through qualitative research, where she had conducted interviews wit...

Today's guest is Mark McIntosh, founder of Victory Productions, a Denver-based non profit focused on lessening the impact of homelessness, education inequities and America's growing health issues concerning organ donation and wellness. Mark lives with Amyloidosis, whose treatment spared his life but destroyed his kidneys. Thanks to a kidney transplant to save his life, he now advocates a...

Today's guest is Amanda R. Ferraro, two-time AML leukemia survivor, stem cell transplant recipient, and seven-time brain surgery survivor, who has turned her journey into a powerful mission of advocacy and awareness. Amanda shares the raw, real, and often unspoken realities of life during and after cancer through her website and work as a freelance blogger. She uses her story to inspire resil...

Today's guest is Demetrius Holiday, pediatric nurse practitioner, clinical assistant professor at Georgia State University, and she serves on the Patient Family Advisory Council for Emory Healthcare. She also volunteers as an Ambassador and Mentor for Imerman Angels, mentors youth through Black Girls Smile, Inc., and is owner and CEO of DDH Health Education Consultants, LLC, providing health...

Today's guest is Michael Griffith, cancer recovery coach and former CEO with a background in high-performance sport. After navigating his own throat cancer diagnosis and treatment, while supporting his wife through a terminal cancer journey, Michael saw a gap that few people talk about - what happens after treatment ends. His approach focuses on rebuilding strength, energy, and confidence thr...

Today's guest is Nicola Nuttall, passionate fundraiser, speaker, author, and campaigner to raise brain cancer awareness after her daughter, Laura, lost her fight against glioblastoma at age 23. She works with charities to call for change in how brain tumors are treated, particularly in young adults. She and her husband Mark also run the Be More Laura Foundation which funds research in the hop...

Today's guests are Megan and Mike Scherer, co-founders of Worth the Wait, a nationwide oncofertility non-profit organization. After Mike's experience as a testicular cancer survivor and their own fertility issues, they wanted to offer hope and resources for others navigating the world of oncofertility.  Worth the Wait's mission is to empower young adult cancer survivors on their pat...

Today's guest is Fiona Macrae, first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and metastatic breast cancer in 2020. She is continuing to thrive over 5 years later with regular treatments.  During her initial treatment, Fiona struggled to find travel insurance due to her diagnosis. She launched Insurancewith in 2011, an insurance brand with the aim of providing everyone with a medical condition wi...

Today's guest is Tim McDonald, author, healthcare advocate, speaker, and community builder who turned his stage IV colorectal cancer diagnosis into a mission for change. He was also the first metastatic colorectal cancer patient to receive a transplant from an altruistic donor, rather than a directed donor. Tim uses storytelling and advocacy to raise awareness and drive impact through his pod...

Today's guest is Dale Atkinson, UK entrepreneur and stage IV esophageal cancer patient who refused to accept a palliative only health plan. Diagnosed on his son's first birthday, Dale dove into research and built his own evidence-based integrative strategy, combining standard treatment with complementary therapies and targeted off-label medications. His tumor and metastases have disappea...

Today's guest is Rosemary Carrera, breast cancer survivor who turned her personal journey into a mission to help others. In 2019 she founded 305 Pink Pack, a non-profit that removes the everyday barriers people face during cancer treatment by providing support such as transportation, childcare and grocery assistance. Rosemary is also a powerful advocate for equitable cancer care and access wi...

Today's guest is Josh Vintner-Jackson, diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer at only age 29 and living with stage 4 since 2023. Diagnosed during COVID, living in Texas, he went through chemo in complete isolation. That experience of profound loneliness drove him to create Chat Cancer, a community for young adults navigating cancer. His philosophy for life: you can't control the storm, but...

Todays' guest is Mark Morningstar, a man with a passion for music. He's done it all, from school marching bands to Air Force Drum and Bugle Corps, to drumming in a rock band, to teaching music to high schoolers. He's also a liver cancer survivor, due to the miracle of the living liver donor program. The liver is the one organ that can regenerate and can, therefore, be donated by som...

Today's guest is Shaun Barnard, described by friends and family as a man of endless ideas and blue-sky thinking. Shaun channelled his great passion for traveling into founding In My Wildest, a UK charity created in memory of his mum, who died from breast cancer. This charity helps people living with cancer fund travel insurance, which is oftentimes very expensive, so they can keep exploring t...

Today's guest is Tommy Holl, also known as "The Real Elf", a beloved entertainment and experiential brand dedicated to spreading joy, wonder and connection during the holidays and beyond. His mission became even clearer after surviving epithelioid sarcoma, a rare soft tissue cancer that mostly affects young adults. According to Tommy, life is short, joy matters and magic should be s...

Today's guest is Tony Collier BEM, who has been living with advanced stage prostate cancer since 2017. He is an avid runner, prostate cancer advocate and awareness speaker, and an encourager of those living with and beyond cancer to exercise for continued health. He was also awarded the British Empire Medal in 2019 for his work in the re-generation of his home town and his charity fundraising...

Today's guest is Brian Finley, former middle and high school science teacher, son of a Marine Corps aviator and diplomat, and cholangiocarcinoma survivor. Given 3-6 months to live at diagnosis in 2023, Brian is currently NED, defying the odds. He attributes his health to the use of both traditional and complementary methods, both of which he uses today. Brian also serves as a mentor for other...

Today's guest is Sally Orange MBE, former British Army Major and physiotherapist turned fruit dressing adventure athlete, mental health campaigner and charity fundraiser. Diagnosed in 2025 with breast cancer, she has faced her experience with hope, moving forward openly and unapologetically. Sally has completed over 85 marathons, including The London Marathon and the Everest Marathon, both be...