Cancer U Thrivers
Cancer U
Cancer patients, caregivers, survivors, and providers share inspiring stories to teach you how to navigate our complex healthcare system. On the Cancer U Thrivers Podcast, real people share true stories.
Host Andrea Wilson Woods is an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and patient advocate. She founded the nonprofit Blue Faery after losing her sister Adrienne, whom she raised, to stage IV liver cancer at age 15. Andrea is the CEO and co-founder of Cancer University, an online platform for cancer patients and caregivers.
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Top 10 Cancer U Thrivers Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Cancer U Thrivers episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Cancer U Thrivers for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Cancer U Thrivers episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Share Your Story: Jodie Lin
Cancer U Thrivers
05/03/22 • 33 min
Jodie Lin is a 2X breast cancer survivor/thriver, wife, mother of five wonderful children, animal lover, and National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, NASM certified Nutrition Coach, and Holistic Cancer Coach. Jodie is passionate about helping others balance their health and advocate for themselves.
- 01:13: Can you take us back to the very beginning of that first journey with breast cancer?
- 03:09: I don't have a family history of breast cancer.
- 05:13: There were lumps that I was starting to feel in my breast.
- 07:14: They sent my biopsy results to John Hopkins.
- 09:03: It was just a scary number, and I didn't want to deal with those odds.
- 11:02: I was kind of focusing on her health and trying to help her.
- 13:17: They came back saying that both implants had ruptured and that was the source of my pain.
- 15:08: My first thought was I don't want to do chemo.
- 17:37: Research has shown that many women who have had bilateral mastectomies or just mastectomies end up with damage done to the nerves.
- 19:47: What was your worst moment in all of this?
- 20:35: How about your best moment?
- 22:09: I got certified in holistic cancer coaching.
- 24:40: What is one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning of that first cancer journey?
- 26:44: I literally had to chase after the diagnosis and that's really frustrating for some people.
- 27:38: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 29:46: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 30:54: Aside from Cancer U, what's one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
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Share Your Story: Randy Lopez
Cancer U Thrivers
07/30/21 • 41 min
Randy Lopez is a featured spokesperson for the Colon Cancer Alliance and a stage four cancer survivor. He was featured in CNN’s Special Investigation Saving Your Life hosted by Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Randy appeared on CBS’ Health Watch Colorectal Cancer Digestive Health Awareness Webcast hosted by Dr. Travis Stork of The Doctors. He was previously a board member for the National Colon Cancer Coalition based in Minnesota.
- 00:25: Randy is a featured spokesperson for the Colon Cancer Alliance and a stage four cancer survivor.
- 02:16: She just did a digital exam and told me it was an internal hemorrhoid.
- 04:33: I remember just being so painful.
- 06:26: That went well and then went through chemo.
- 08:10: Did they take a portion of your colon out?
- 10:01: By that time, we had just moved back to California.
- 12:23: We’re not recommending you go through chemo again.
- 14:45: I was doing meditation to keep my mind going.
- 16:15: How long was this sort of second treatment?
- 18:33: We're grateful for the doctors.
- 20:15: But if I saw people that are going through cancer, they're in their 70's.
- 22:04: I found five or six people who had survived stage four liver cancer, exactly what my sister had.
- 24:43: What was your best moment during all of this?
- 26:41: I think you definitely find out who your friends are.
- 28:18: I remember sitting in the passenger seat and looking out the window and I just lost it.
- 30:25: I wanted to hear the word change and when we finally heard the words change, it was bad news.
- 32:10: I don't want to forget that there were days that I did not feel at all like I can't even cope.
- 35:28: I just went to have an endoscopy just this last week.
- 36:37: What is the one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning?
- 37:30: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why I would change?
- 38:59: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 40:12: And aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
Share Your Story: Freddye Stover
Cancer U Thrivers
03/22/22 • 45 min
Freddye is a mother, a nurse, and a singer. She has been a nurse for 34 years! She has been a professional singer for 25 years. She currently works as a GI surgical oncology outpatient nurse with pancreatic, rectal, and colon cancer patients. She performs for charitable events every year. She has performed in local hospitals. As a twice breast cancer survivor, she gives her time and energy to those who are fighting their cancer and to those who have lost a loved one to cancer.
- 01:39: Tell me about becoming a nurse and why oncology?
- 04:07: My mother ended up dying of two different kinds of cancers.
- 06:46: Did nursing school prepare you to be an oncology nurse back then?
- 09:27: I was 30 when I graduated from nursing school.
- 10:52: Take us back to the beginning of your cancer journey.
- 13:36: Cancer runs rampant in my family on both sides.
- 15:43: You had a mastectomy on one breast?
- 17:03: I told him I said I think it's back.
- 20:04: I had to laugh my way through it both times because my friends and family were so morbid.
- 22:52: They say nurses make the worst patients.
- 25:02: She had lymphoma and colon cancer.
- 28:04: I think he died less than three months within the diagnosis.
- 31:15: We've seen a lot as far as cancer and death in our family, but I'm trying to understand it.
- 31:57: What was your worst moment?
- 34:33: What about your best moment?
- 35:58: I was the first one to graduate from a four-year college.
- 38:52: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 40:13: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 41:31: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
Share Your Story: Brigitte Cutshall
Cancer U Thrivers
06/22/21 • 50 min
Brigitte is the founder of Gemini Media, host of Real Things Living Podcast, Author, a Health Advocate who focuses on delivering the best solutions to her clients. She’s an accomplished business professional in the communications, publishing, and print management industry.
- 01:28: I first got diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006.
- 04:17: And I kept saying what the hell is causing this?
- 05:43: It’s called an acoustic neuroma.
- 06:32: We're just gonna radiate your brain. Excuse me?
- 07:42: I chose a method called cyberknife.
- 12:18: We would I call it the monster.
- 13:09: I just wanted to be there for my sons to graduate.
- 15:51: I had to be the fighter to find the solution.
- 18:27: What were your before and after moments?
- 21:26: My cancer, my health, and my family are a priority.
- 22:10: I had my double mastectomy on my 49th birthday.
- 23:38: What was your worst moment?
- 24:36: What about your best moment?
- 27:55: What is the one thing Bridget you wish you had known at the very beginning of that very first cancer journey?
- 31:48: Wow those are some really nice ones.
- 34:16: I think you should get two opinions and if those two opinions don't match, get a third right?
- 40:23: If you could do only one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
- 45:50: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 46:50: Tell us about the resources that you have for cancer patients and caregivers.
Resources
- ShareCare.com
- Real Things Living: A Coloring Journal by Brigitte Cutshall
- Real Things: 6 Ways to Embrace Life by Brigitte Cutshall
- Expecting the Good: Inspiration from a Bad Ass with a Big Heart by Brigitte Cutshall
- Real Things Living Podcast
Share Your Story: Kelly Rogers
Cancer U Thrivers
06/08/21 • 38 min
Twelve years, Kelly Rogers was diagnosed with skin cancer. As a wellness coach for eight years, she was shocked that her healthy diet, holistic practices, and supplements hadn’t prevented cancer. She lost half her nose and some of her ears.
- 01:50: I had no health insurance.
- 02:50: I might cut off half your nose.
- 04:48: Wow, I'm not ready for this.
- 06:25: I needed a lot more work on the spirit and I needed a lot more work on the body.
- 07:58: Today, my life is so very different.
- 10:38: I can do the surgery and I can do the reconstruction.
- 11:33: They took the first chunk out of my nose.
- 12:22: Part of my cheek was removed.
- 15:33: I looked like the elephant man when I left.
- 17:18: We're going to a happier place.
- 18:12: What was the worst time for you during that cancer journey?
- 19:18: I kind of stayed away from doctors.
- 21:04: I was suicidal every week. I know it's hard to believe because I'm such a fun person
- 24:35: I've continued to have things cut out, chunks cut, things burned off or frozen.
- 25:10: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US and what would it be and why?
- 27:59: I do transformational breathing. It's very helpful.
- 31:10: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 32:41: What is the one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
- To order Sparkle Products, go to ClubSparkleMN.com
- To contact Kelly, email her at [email protected] or call her at 952-470-7336.
- Note: Kelly is a sales representative for Nectura. Cancer U does not endorse, approve, or sell Nectura products.
Share Your Story: Patricia Doucet
Cancer U Thrivers
09/30/22 • 29 min
Patricia Doucet speaks and writes with clarity, compassion, and humor–encouraging women to never give up. A Christian wife, mother, cancer survivor, cancer caregiver, divorcee, mental health and relationship coach, artist, and pianist–she is on a mission to inspire women who are on their own journey–from brokenness to beloved.
- 02:45: It was very slow-growing thyroid cancer.
- 04:14: I got another lump in the same place.
- 06:17: I have never heard of that kind of surgery.
- 08:54: Did you say anything to him at the next follow-up appointment?
- 11:05: I did a lot of therapy so I could keep my neck upright.
- 13:06: She had melanoma before I got cancer.
- 14:37: How was your experience as a caregiver different than when you were a patient?
- 15:06: What was your worst moment in those five years?
- 17:31: She had gotten breast cancer quite young.
- 19:20: What was your best moment?
- 22:17: I didn't learn how to love myself 100% until my 40s.
- 23:27: What is one thing you wish you'd known at the beginning of your cancer journey?
- 24:26: If you could do one thing to improve health care in Canada, what would it be and why?
- 25:56: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
Resources
Share Your Story: Dr. Veronique Desaluniers
Cancer U Thrivers
07/13/21 • 35 min
Dr. Véronique Desaulniers, better known as Dr. V, is the founder of Breast Cancer Conqueror® and the 7 Essentials System®, and co-founder of My Breast FriendTM. Her signature process has empowered thousands of women in over 56 countries around the world.
- 00:33: Dr. Veronique JR better known as Dr. V is the founder of Breast Cancer Conqueror.
- 03:30: That’s when I created the step-by-step guide called the seven Essential System.
- 05:47: Fast forward a couple of years then I was clear; I was no longer actively cancerous or producing cancer.
- 07:42: We bring women together and we've created community because as you know, it can be a very lonely journey, right?
- 09:52: What about the actual testing as you mentioned, different blood tests. How does the average person get access to something like that?
- 12:15: You want to make sure that your thyroid levels are optimal especially for breast cancer.
- 14:00: We are all susceptible to cancer.
- 15:55: I grew up in a very toxic environment.
- 18:07: If there's a lot of conflict going on in your head, there's chaotic energy, your immune system is going to be compromised.
- 20:30: What do you think was your worst moment?
- 21:42: What was your best moment?
- 22:50: What is the one thing that you wish you had known at the very beginning of your first cancer journey?
- 23:39: It’s okay to give yourself permission to relax, to take a nap, to meditate [and] to be calm.
- 25:48: You know our thoughts speak to every single cell in our body and affect our DNA.
- 27:33: If you could do one thing to improve healthcare in the US, what would it be and why?
- 31:03: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 31:50: Aside from Cancer U what is the one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
Share Your Story: Kim Sorrelle
Cancer U Thrivers
08/16/22 • 45 min
Kim Sorrelle is an entrepreneur, director of a non-profit organization, author, speaker, and lover of all people. Four months after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, her husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, passing away just six weeks later. Kim began questioning the true meaning of love so she dedicated a full year to figure it out. The things that she discovered about love are unlike anything you've heard before and are chronicled in her book, Love Is.
- 01:32: How did this breast cancer diagnosis come about?
- 03:58: He just grabbed onto me and held me.
- 06:25: What stage and what type of breast cancer did you have?
- 08:53: I had to have a complete hysterectomy because of the hormone receptors.
- 10:05: I had a male doctor I told him to pick the size.
- 14:50: I'm trying to call him and I'm not getting anywhere because his phone is off.
- 17:01: The numbers were absolutely outrageous way higher than in the last lecture.
- 19:29: Why do you want your husband to have pancreatic cancer?
- 21:44: He had one round of chemo and his numbers never returned to a point to be able to have another round.
- 23:59: We had hospice involved from the beginning and had an incredible experience with them.
- 26:24: It just happened that fast.
- 28:18: She seemed 100% at peace and the hospice nurse was like okay she's probably going to go today.
- 30:07: I would have done anything in the world for that man.
- 32:20: What is one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning?
- 34:15: It was more of a transition than just a moment in time with him leaving.
- 35:28: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why?
- 37:02: I don't think doctors get any kind of training on how to talk about dying.
- 39:15: The two focuses of the lab were pancreatic and breast cancer.
- 40:44: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
- 41:49: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
The Evolution of Cancer Care: Insights from Dr. David Stewart
Cancer U Thrivers
06/13/23 • 54 min
- Recognize the surprising relationship between everyday habits and cancer risk factors such as smoking, drinking, and obesity.
- Debunk the widespread myth surrounding the blood-brain barrier and its implications for chemotherapy and brain tumor treatments.
- Tackle the challenges involved in clinical trials, from delicate safety regulations to finding the right eligibility criteria and endpoints.
- Comprehend the vital significance of empathy in oncology for facilitating tough discussions, ensuring patient well-being, and expediting progress.
- Acknowledge the lasting impact of mentorship in medical training and its role in shaping the next generation of knowledgeable and innovative doctors.
Share Your Story: Karey Spransy
Cancer U Thrivers
10/12/21 • 44 min
Karey Spransy is a stage IV-4 colon cancer survivor who uses her experience to teach others how to be more resilient through the Joy Of Moving On. She uses grace and humor to make you laugh, cry, and cry-laugh about the absurdities of life and feel inspired to find your JOMO.
- 02:20: We met in the totally again romcom way at a sales conference in the US.
- 04:10: Yoga was just part of my routine, at least three or four days a week.
- 06:19: I'm in so much pain, I can hardly stand up straight.
- 08:32: They’ve got to make sure that my colostomy is working properly.
- 10:05: My mother had already beaten breast cancer.
- 12:14: Colon cancer was not even on my radar at all.
- 14:03: I was incredibly sensitive to cold, even room temperature water felt like I was drinking glass.
- 15:57: So instead of there being a green stem, that's the exit for your body.
- 18:26: That thing on your left ovary has grown.
- 20:04: I went on the family medical leave act at that point.
- 22:06: I told my friends and family how much they loved me.
- 24:30: I ended up getting a full hysterectomy.
- 26:26: With a colostomy, you can pretty much eat like you normally do because it's way down in your colon, and it comes out like normal solid stool.
- 28:13: I still get bad bouts of diarrhea that will keep me home for two or three days at a time.
- 29:12: What was your worst moment?
- 32:31: What was your best moment?
- 34:08: What is one thing you wish you had known at the beginning of your cancer journey?
- 36:10: What is one thing that you would do to improve health care in the US?
- 38:59: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions
- 40:20: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?
Resources
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FAQ
How many episodes does Cancer U Thrivers have?
Cancer U Thrivers currently has 154 episodes available.
What topics does Cancer U Thrivers cover?
The podcast is about Health & Fitness, Podcasts, Self-Improvement and Education.
What is the most popular episode on Cancer U Thrivers?
The episode title 'Share Your Story: Jodie Lin' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Cancer U Thrivers?
The average episode length on Cancer U Thrivers is 40 minutes.
How often are episodes of Cancer U Thrivers released?
Episodes of Cancer U Thrivers are typically released every 6 days, 23 hours.
When was the first episode of Cancer U Thrivers?
The first episode of Cancer U Thrivers was released on Apr 12, 2021.
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