WE Have Cancer

Host Lee Silverstein, shares surprising news and it's definitely not the surprise he was expecting.   WE Have Cancer Links Subscribe to the show: Apple Podcast -  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-colon-cancer-podcast/id970806995?mt=2 Google Podcasts -  https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly93ZWhhdmVjYW5jZXJzaG93LmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz Spotify -  https://open.spotify.com/show/798gZB3qG...

Nicole Body has been surviving cancer through faith, love and passion for writing. A Stage 3 sarcoma survivor, Nicole chronicled her cancer experience through her blog; sparklysurvivor.com . During our conversation we discussed: How she came to be diagnosed The importance of exercise and the role it plays in her cancer recovery Why presence and not taking things for granted is incredibly important...

Michele Longabaugh is a 9-year stage 4 cancer survivor. She was diagnosed in 2010 with anal cancer and has far exceeded her 3-year "expiration date," as she described it. During our conversation we discussed: The challenging treatment she went through The stigma associated with anal cancer The long term side effects of her treatments and how she's managing them What she meant when she said "I wish...

The guests for this episode were Phoung Ly Gallagher, Executive Vice President, and Kristina Smith, Vice President of Communications for The Colon Club.   The Colon Club provides resources for those touched by colorectal cancer. During our conversation we discussed: The story behind the beginning of The Colon Club The Colon Club's Four pillars: Colon Talk , The Kimberly Fund , the blog and the On...

Dean Hall is the first person in history to swim the entire 184 miles of Oregon's Willamette River . He accomplished this feat in June of 2014 while he still had active leukemia and lymphoma to prove to cancer patients around the world that you don't have to give up your dreams or your drive simply because you received a diagnosis. Now, cancer-free he continues to go to great lengths to raise mone...

Dr. Karin Hehenberger , is the CEO and Co-Founder of Lyfebulb , an organization whose mission is to "Reduce the burden of chronic disease through the power of the patient." In our conversation we discussed: The origin and goals of Lyfebulb since its inception in 2014. How her own diagnosis with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 16 and subsequent kidney and pancreas transplants impacted her and the mis...

Teri Griege In 2009, shortly after completing her first Ironman Triathalon , Teri Griege was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer. She was 48 years old. During our conversation we discussed: How her diagnosis saved the lives of her two older sisters. Her setting a goal to complete a half Ironman one year after her diagnosis and how she trained for this during her cancer treatments. Completing six...

A Car Accident Saved My Life; An Interview With Lung Cancer Survivor Yovana Portillo[/caption] Yovana Maria Portillo is a young lung cancer survivor who was diagnosed with stage 1b lung cancer purely by accident. During our conversation we discussed: The story behind the accident that saved her life. The details of her surgery and subsequent follow-ups. The impact her disease had on her life. The...

Candace first appeared on the podcast back in 2015. You can listen to that interview here . Much has changed in Candace's life since then. During our conversation we discussed: How her life has changed 15 years since her original diagnosis. The alarming number of questions she is asked during her advocacy work that reflect many people's lack of knowledge about their own bodies. The advocacy work s...

Mallory Casperson is the CEO and founder of Lacuna Loft.  A former aerospace engineer, Mallory was thrust into the cancer world after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma . During our interview we discussed: How her mother's cancer diagnosis, and subsequently her own diagnosis, caused her to leave the aerospace industry and start a non-profit. How Lacuna Loft began as Mallory's blog about her e...

[caption id="attachment_1609" align="alignleft" width="300"] Interview With 5-yr. Breast Cancer Survivor and Cancer Scientist Noel Peters[/caption] I had the pleasure of meeting Noel Peters in July of 2018 when I was invited to speak at the company where she works, Foundation Medicine. We quickly bonded after learning we were both Stage IV cancer patients. During our conversation we discussed: Wha...

[caption id="attachment_1565" align="alignleft" width="300"] A Routine Colonoscopy Saved His Life, With John Cavanaugh[/caption] in May of 2014 John Cavanaugh was diagnosed with colon cancer after a routine colonoscopy. John's story was profiled in this Colon Cancer Coalition's Faces of Blue article. On my 50th birthday, I promised my wife I would make an appointment for a full physical. On May 5,...

Kyle Woody is the founder of Jack's Caregiver Coalition , a non-profit organization striving to provide world-class hospitality to men who care cancer caregivers in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area. The mission of Jack's is to improve the way men think, feel and act in their role as cancer caregivers. During our conversation we discussed: The unique needs that men have when serving as caregivers. H...

How One Person Can Influence Favorable Cancer Legislation, With Michael Holtz[/caption] Michael Holtz is a 6 1/2 year survivor of Stage IIIB rectal cancer and is the author of the book It's Not Harder Than Cancer . Michael first appeared on this podcast in 2015. You can listen to that interview here . Michael and I discussed the cancer advocacy work he's been doing with the American Cancer Society...

The Lung Cancer Alliance; Supporting Lung Cancer Patients for over 25 Years[/caption] Andrew Ciupek is the Manager of Clinical Research at the Lung Cancer Alliance . For over 25 years the Lung Cancer Alliance has provided information, education and support to patients, survivors, caregivers and family members of those affected by the #1 cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. Andrew discusses the vario...

Charles Griffin, Jr. was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer at the age of 32. Shortly after, he discovered the Colon Cancer Alliance through their Facebook group COLONTOWN. It opened his eyes to the wonderful community of support for those impacted by this disease! Read his story below.    In my 34 years of life, I’ve earned a reputation for being a do-it-all kind of guy. I’m a husband to my col...

What an honor it is to share episode #100 with you. Never did I realize when I launched the podcast 3 1/2 years ago that I would someday be talking about such a milestone. I could not think of a better way to celebrate this important episode than by sharing Heather and Fred's story. I met them at Fight CRC's annual Call-on Congress earlier this year. Heather serves as an ambassador for Fight CRC ....

Randy Lopez is a 20-year survivor of Stage IV colon cancer. He was diagnosed in 1998 at the age of 34. We talked about the lasting impact that his diagnosis has had on him and how taking an integrative approach to his treatment, through the support of the Block Center for Integrative Cancer Treatment, helped him tremendously. He shared the variety of advocacy work that he's done, working with the...

Chad Schrack - WE Have Cancer There are two interviews in this episode. Chad Schrack is walking across the United States, from Arlington, Virginia, to Venice Beach, California, to raise awareness for colorectal cancer. Chad's wife Sheila is a 12 year survivor of Stage III colorectal cancer. You can read more about Chad's story here:  https://fightcolorectalcancer.org/cancer-stroll/ Follow Chad on...

Pride, Love and Cancer, With Paula and Lara Chambers - WE Have Cancer[/caption] Paula and Lara Chambers are high school sweethearts and have been together for over 30 years. In October of 2014 they traveled from their home in Houston, Texas to New York City so that they could be married. Paula had been dealing with "stomach issues" for some time. Unfortunately she became very ill immediately after...

Rafael Martin - WE Have Cancer[/caption] On June 15, 2018, Rafael Martin, a Special Education Teacher at Cypress Creek High School and a Cancer Survivor, will march 26.2 miles from a Subway in Davenport to Universal City Walk in Orlando.  He will be finishing a 50 mile march he started on Memorial Day.  He attempted to walk from the Lakeland Regional Health Hollis Cancer Center to Orlando on that...

Jessica is currently undergoing treatment for Stage IV colon cancer. Despite the fact that her symptoms were dismissed by doctors for years, she approaches life with positivity and gratitude. During our conversation we discussed how her cancer diagnosis has been the impetus behind her living a life less driven by fear and more focused on presence. One of the guides that has helped Jessica navigate...

After his brother Doc's death in 2017 from colorectal cancer, Joe Mahaffey has assumed the role of passionate advocate.  In March of 2018 Joe traveled to Washington, D.C., along with close to 200 fellow patients, survivors and caregivers, for Fight CRC's  annual Call-On Congress . Back home in North Carolina Joe has been working to fulfill one of his brother's dreams; to have a  colorectal cancer...

In March of 2011, just four months after Lee and Linda began dating, Lee was diagnosed with Stage II colon cancer. He underwent a partial colectomy and was able to avoid chemotherapy. In December of 2012 Lee and Linda got married and spent their honeymoon in Jamaica. When they returned, it was time for Lee's six-month CT scan. The scan revealed a slowly growing spot on Lee's liver. His oncologist...

For over three years The Colon Cancer Podcast has shared stories of information, inspiration and hope of those touched by colorectal cancer; your stories, your family members' stories, your friends' stories, your doctors' stories.   As I've reflected back on all of these incredible interviews I realized that the whole world can be inspired by these stories. The messages contained within these deep...