More Than A Diagnosis

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...

In this special bonus episode, we honor our friend Danny—a Texas guy through and through, a fierce advocate, and one of the rare men diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Danny was more than met the eye. We met him on TikTok, where his bold voice, advocacy for cannabis, and signature phrases like "Best Day Possible" and "Buckle the f ck up" made a lasting impression. But beyond the screen, Dann...

When Ashley was diagnosed with breast cancer, she chose reconstruction, like many women. But after years of unexplained symptoms, she made the courageous decision to explant. In this episode, Jes and Den sit down with Ashley to talk about her experience with breast implant illness (BII), navigating explant surgery, and her healing journey after cancer. They also discuss self-advocacy, trusting you...

Have you ever wondered, "Am I overreacting—or is this my intuition?" When you've lived through trauma, chronic illness, or medical gaslighting, it can be hard to tell the difference. In this episode, Jes and Den talk about how trauma and illness can shake our self-trust, blur the lines between anxiety and intuition, and make decision-making feel impossible. They share personal stories, break down...

Ever find yourself saying, "I don't have time for this" when a wave of emotion hits? Or maybe you're more of a "shove it down and deal with it never" kind of person? Either way, you're not alone—and this episode is for you. In "How to Feel Your Feelings (Without Freaking Out)," we break down what it actually means to sit with your emotions without spiraling, overthinking, or pretending they don't...

We're not saying mental health struggles are funny—but sometimes, laughing through them is what keeps us going. In this episode, we dive into the role of humor as a coping tool when things get heavy. From the science behind laughter and stress relief, to the difference between laughing  with yourself vs. at yourself, Jes and Den break down the beautiful, messy, and sometimes questionable ways we u...

One of the hardest parts of a diagnosis isn't just the illness itself—it's watching people you love slowly fade away. In this episode, we dive into a painful but all-too-common experience: losing friends after a chronic illness or cancer diagnosis. Why do people ghost us when we need them the most? Is it fear, guilt, or simply not knowing what to say? We open up about our own experiences with fadi...

In this heartfelt episode, we speak with Lys, a fierce and compassionate advocate living with advanced gastric cancer. Lys opens up about her journey from misdiagnosis to living without a stomach, and the challenges that come with disease progression. Her story is one of resilience, love, and advocacy, reminding us all that we're more than our diagnosis. Listen in as she shares her truths, the les...

Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)—three words that can change everything in an instant. It's aggressive, harder to treat, and often underfunded, leaving many patients feeling like they're navigating an uphill battle with limited options. On Triple Negative Breast Cancer Awareness Day (3/3), we're flipping the script. Den interviews Jes, who knows firsthand what it's like to be diagnosed with TN...

Did you know that 1 in 10 people lives with a rare disease? Despite this, many conditions remain underrepresented, misunderstood, and overlooked. Today, on Rare Disease Day, we're shining a light on what it really means to live with a rare disease—because awareness isn't just about facts and statistics; it's about real people, real struggles, and real stories. In this special episode, Jes turns th...

Ever been told, "You're so strong" and felt… weird about it? You're not alone. In this episode, we're unpacking the well-meaning but complicated praise that often gets thrown at people facing illness, grief, and hardship. Jes and Den dive into why people default to calling us "brave" and "inspirational," how that can feel more like pressure than support, and what we actually need instead. From the...

When you're diagnosed with cancer or a chronic illness, the world around you shifts. Conversations get awkward, support can feel surface-level, and suddenly, you're navigating something huge with no real roadmap. That's exactly why we started More Than a Diagnosis—to create the space we wished we had when we were first diagnosed. In this episode, we (Den & Jes) share our personal stories, how we r...