Cancer U Thrivers

Talaya Dendy is an 11-year cancer survivor who, after her diagnosis, reevaluated her life and career, learning to put herself first and make healthier choices.

After being diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1987, Glen Kirkpatrick, a Scottish undercover police officer, battles cancer for over half his life, struggling with depression, suicidal thoughts, and drug-resistant chemotherapy, only to miraculously go into remission after accessing an expensive, alternative treatment in Mexico.

After surviving five different cancers and radiation treatments, Bill Potts took control of his cancer journey, only to have his sense of smell enhanced by his latest round of treatment.

You will learn:

1. How Bill Potts survived five different cancer diagnoses and avoided additional treatments with the help of a keen-eyed primary care physician.

2. How Bill discovered a new form of immunotherapy prior to it becoming mainstream and used it to successfully keep his lymphoma at bay for five years.

3. How Bill's wife detected the fourth return of his lymphoma and the aggressive chemotherapy and immunotherapy combination he underwent to treat it.

Bill Potts is a survivor of six different cancers, five times. He has experienced radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy treatments and is currently being treated at the Mayo Clinic for his most recent bout of lymphoma.

In her pursuit of writing the great American novel, Harvard-trained management consultant and hospital executive Cynthia Hayes is thrown into a tumultuous cancer journey; her goal is to survive the physical and psychological turmoil, but the irony of the situation threatens to overwhelm her.

You will learn:

1. The Psychological Turmoil of Cancer: Cynthia Hayes' experience of facing a cancer diagnosis and the psychological challenges that came with it.
2. Radical Hysterectomy: A look at the physical and emotional toll of undergoing a radical hysterectomy and the recovery process afterward.
3. Chemotherapy Side Effects: Cynthia's experience going through six rounds of chemotherapy and the impact it had on her body and emotions.

Cynthia Hayes is a former journalist, Harvard-trained management consultant, and hospital executive. She is the author of The Big Ordeal, which explores the psychological turmoil of cancer and how to cope with it.

Mark Kelly, a 30-year cancer survivor, shares his story of courage and resilience as he details his journey of fighting a rare and terminal cancer.

You will learn:

1. What it was like for Mark Kelly to be diagnosed with cancer at age 15.
2. The difficulties and challenges Mark faced during his cancer journey.
3. The success of Mark's treatment protocol.

Mark Kelly is a 30-year cancer survivor and retired ESPN researcher. He is the author of "My Mark Kelly: A Story" and has produced and hosted over 130 podcasts.

Note: This is an Encore Episode.

Magic Barclay faced cancer head-on and used holistic natural health to heal herself, inspiring a journey of life-changing learning.

Here's what I cover with Magic Barclay in this episode:

1. How Magic Barclay faced multiple life-threatening conditions, including stage four cancer, and decided to find the root cause of her health issues.
2. How Magic Barclay was forced to undergo surgery to keep custody of her children during her divorce, even though she wanted to take a more natural route to healing.
3. How Magic Barclay threw herself into natural therapies to make sure her cancer didn't return, and how she had to learn about all the body systems to investigate the root cause of her health issues.

Magic Barclay is the lead practitioner at Holistic Natural Health, Australia. After facing multiple life-threatening conditions, including stage four cancer, she decided to find the root cause of her health issues, which set her on a path of life-changing learning.

Tess Scott, is a Mom, a Grami, and a cancer survivor. Tess is a speaker, an author, and an encourager of women. Her book, “Listen, Sister! Finding Hope in the Freakshow of Life” features real-life shenanigans and points out glimpses of God in every day, offering women Hope in their own Freakshow.

• 02:41: He comes and says he's leaving. He's not happy.
• 03:48: I don't feel anything. It's just a good day.
• 05:23: So, I have all boys.
• 07:02: I did not do reconstruction.
• 08:51: I rocked the long Reba McEntire red wig
• 10:16: I think the biggest battle of cancer for me was in my head
• 13:39: This is the worst time in the world. Like God, what are you doing?
• 16:41: I didn't know there was going to be math.
• 19:08: I think they are self-absorbed.
• 21:24: was your worst moment in all of it?
• 23:15: what was your best moment
• 27:32: Everything cost me nothing. Zero, which is amazing.
• 29:23: Thriver Rapid Fire
• 31:35: what resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?

Resources

• Tess's website
• Tess on LinkedIn
• Tess on Facebook
• Tess on Instagram
• Email Tess

Dr. Lori Baker-Schena, MBA, has a doctorate in education and is the CEO and founder of Baker Schena Communications. Dr. Lori is a leadership coach and professional speaker who works with individuals, academic institutions, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and large corporations to strengthen their management and team-building skills.

• 01:44: I am actually a cancer survivor of two cancers.
• 03:21: but the doctor didn't think it was a tumor
• 04:21: you can be dead in three weeks or curable.
• 06:43: my particular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was unusual because it's called extranodal.
• 08:49: and it took 13 hours for them to drip it through because it was so toxic
• 10:23: I do a mammogram every year
• 12:22: it was tiny but incredibly aggressive.
• 14:17: I underwent four rounds of chemotherapy.
• 16:23: I really believe we need to give ourselves fighting chances with cancer.
• 18:26: I had a fantastic plastic surgeon
• 20:34: I've had so much pain
• 23:13: I needed a change
• 25:14: If I had not gone through that, it'd be a whole different story
• 27:49: what has been your worst moment in both cancer journeys
• 29:39: What was your best moment?
• 32:41: Thriver Rapid Fire
• 34:55: what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers

Resources

• Breast Cancer Support: I Got This!
• Breast Cancer Straight Talk
• Hormone Positive Breast Cancer Support
• Lori's website
• Lori on LinkedIn
• Lori on Facebook

Melissa Mullamphy does not want others to learn the hard way as she and her family did during her mom’s 8-month battle with ovarian cancer. Melissa is passionate about patient advocacy and helping others find their voice in a complex and increasingly dangerous healthcare system. Melissa has had many jobs in her life, from corporate America to psychiatric emergency rooms but nothing could prepare her for watching her mother suffer from medical mistakes, miscommunication, and errors.

• 01:45: Can you take us back to the beginning with your mother?
• 03:14: I noticed her stomach was distended like she was five months pregnant
• 05:40: You want to race and get in the front of the line.
• 07:21: She was a big stroke risk.
• 08:28: It came back with adenocarcinoma.
• 10:54: So we put more poison in an already sick woman.
• 12:50: Because my mom won't be alive in October.
• 14:45: All these buzzers are going off.
• 16:43: I'm the doctor, she's a patient, and I call the shots.
• 19:11: We were going for a cure.
• 21:24: She was poisoned, and her body
• 23:29: We're like, what in God's name is going on?
• 25:09: When you're ready, you know you just call.
• 27:57: Things have changed since Covid, which that's another story.
• 30:00: I thought, oh my God, what did I do?
• 31:49: I gave hospice feedback afterward.
• 34:47: I wrote a letter to the CEO of the hospital
• 36:56: I said no, she doesn't want a stomach tube.
• 38:53: Did you find any support as a caregiver?
• 40:25: If you could hold onto one memory forever about you and your mom, what would it be and why?
• 41:12: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the US, what would it be and why?
• 42:30: Thriver Rapid Fire
• 43:16: what's one resource that you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?

Tim McDonald is a force of nature who always helps anyone he can. He is a generous, kind, compassionate and brave soul who cares deeply about humanity and builds community wherever he goes. He is the former Director of Community at Huffington Post, Founder of My Community Manager, and Director of Communications at Social Media Club Chicago.

• 03:08: I got a call from the urgent care asking me if I could come over. 
• 05:00: I got my colonoscopy scheduled in the height of covid.  
• 06:52: He could see you had a tremendous blockage.  
• 09:12: Were they able to at least clear up the blockage?  
• 11:01: I got into a cancer center in Tampa. 
• 13:44: I didn't have scan anxiety at all. 
• 15:47: I had three years to live. 
• 19:36: How many months have you been in chemotherapy now?  
• 22:25: I had a colon resection.  
• 25:01: He did a physical inspection of my abdomen. 
• 28:33: There are only 14 centers in the U.S. that perform liver transplants. 
• 31:36: What was your worst moment? 
• 34:15: What has been your best moment? 
• 35:57: What is one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning? 
• 37:20: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U.S., what would it be and why? 
• 37:43: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.  
• 38:51: Aside from Cancer U, what's one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?

Resources 

• Tim on Facebook
• Tim on LinkedIn
• Tim's website
• Email Tim
• Call Tim +1 312.970.0846
• Colorectal Cancer Alliance