CURE Talks Cancer

On the final day of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, CURE® revisited Micah Bernstein, an 11-year-old, three-time survivor of neuroblastoma, whom we last interviewed in 2018. 

In this episode of “Cancer Horizons”, Micah and Jeff provide an update on their lives since 2018, discuss how the childhood cancer space has changed over the past 10 years, their ongoing advocacy efforts and partnering with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to raise over $100,000 for neuroblastoma awareness and research.  
While Micah continues to use her voice to help other children with cancer, she said she also hopes to carve an identity for herself outside of cancer as a “normalish” child who eats snack food, plays clarinet and works on a novel. She shares tips for dealing with fears of cancer recurrence, what she wishes people knew about childhood cancer survivors and more.  

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When Angelia Carpenter was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma in 2009, she thought she knew what to expect. After all, her mother was diagnosed with the same cancer just four years ago. She went to the doctor and followed the recommended steps.  
But everything changed seven years later, when she noticed what she thought was just a pimple on her breast.    
 
In this episode of “Cancer Horizons,” the 62-year-old Missouri resident recounts her experience of being diagnosed with secondary angiosarcoma after undergoing breast cancer treatment, traveling to multiple oncologists to seek treatment for her extremely rare cancer, writing a book with her family about her experiences and more. 

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Christine Whelchel wasn’t going to let breast cancer slow her down. The Tennessee native and piano teacher was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2021 and less than a year later, she was a “Jeopardy!” champion. 

Whelchel made headlines in March when she appeared in the Feb. 28, 2022, episode of “Jeopardy!” without her wig to normalize what cancer recovery looks like. This decision was applauded by “Jeopardy!” fans and cancer survivors around the world.  

On her decision, Whelchel said, “My hair had just gotten to that point where I was more comfortable. I was getting less self-conscious about it, but then the idea of being on national TV with (my short hair) was a big step. I'm thinking, do I really want to do this? ... I decided this is something I need to do. This is something that people need to see, that this is what we (cancer survivors) go through.” 
Whelchel won four consecutive games and racked up $73,602 in winnings. 

On today’s episode of Cancer Horizons, Whelchel discusses her cancer and “Jeopardy!” journeys, as well as what it was like to audition for “Jeopardy!” the day before her double mastectomy and much more.

For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.

After being diagnosed with kidney cancer — which was a possible result of exposure to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City – Steven Edwards realized that he had to be his own advocate. Pivotal to his advocacy was asking questions and getting as many professional opinions as possible. 
“I probably would consider whether it was the right doctor for me in the first place if a doctor was upset about getting a second opinion, because it’s all about gathering education and becoming educated yourself,” Edwards said in an interview with CURE®. 
Edwards went through multiple different treatments, including the participation on a clinical trial, and continues to push for better outcomes for himself and other survivors through being an advocate for the Kidney Cancer Association and KidneyCAN. 
Through cancer setbacks like a diagnosis of metastatic disease in 2017, classifying Edwards’ disease as stage 4, he continues to seek information in this rapidly changing field. After all, “There’s only way to go, and that’s forward,” Edwards said. 

Sara Montiel was 36 when she received a diagnosis of breast cancer. She recalls that genetic tests to identify any targetable mutations came back negative. And so, Montiel, a wife and mother of a daughter, made the decision to undergo a double mastectomy.

Montiel described her choice as wanting to only pass through this journey once, which she says is ultimately why she went with a double mastectomy. 

At the time, she decided she was going to undergo breast reconstruction surgery after the double mastectomy. However, Montiel developed an infection and after consultations with her care team, made the choice to go flat. 

In this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, Montiel discusses the body image issues she developed after her double mastectomy and subsequent infection, but she also concludes by saying how cancer was ultimately a blessing in disguise.

“Having cancer is a blessing,” Montiel said in an interview with CURE®. “Because if you have the opportunity to find yourself again, we (then) have the opportunity to love ourselves from the inside. And I think that … when this love emerges again, then the outside will glow also. It doesn’t matter if we lose our hair; doesn’t matter if we lose one boob or two boobs … (as long as we are) glowing from the inside, that is the value.”