Encompassing Cancer

April is National Minority Health and Cancer Awareness Month! At Cancer Pathways, we're only able to 'Face Cancer Together' when we recognize and work to address health inequities that exist in the community. In this episode, Lauren starts by providing a few statistics to demonstrate some inequities that exist when it comes to cancer diagnoses, screening rates, and mortality. She then talks about the social determinants of health and tells listeners about Cancer Alley – an example of environmental injustice/discrimination that everyone should know about. Tune in and check out the resources below to get more involved and to help advocate for communities that need additional support!

Additional Resources:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Social Determinants of Health
• Prevent Cancer Foundation: Cancer is not equal
• Louisiana 'Cancer Alley' and Screening Resources:
  • Rise St. James
  • Inclusive Louisiana
  • Louisiana Cancer Center
  • Louisiana Cancer Prevention & Control Program
  • Louisiana Breast and Cervical Health Program
• Environment/Environmental Justice:
  • Deep South Center for Environmental Justice
  • Superfund Sites

In this episode, Lauren shares an inspiring conversation with Lisa Thompson, who is a Seattle-based mountaineer, author, and breast cancer survivor. Lisa is the 2nd American woman to summit K2 and has summitted the highest mountain on all seven continents. She talks about what first inspired her to get into mountaineering, how climbing gave her the motivation she needed to get through her breast cancer diagnosis, how the mountains have shaped her as a woman, overcoming the limiting beliefs we put on ourselves, women in the wilderness and so much more! At the start of the episode, Lauren shares information about upcoming events and workshops at Cancer Pathways that we would encourage you to check out below.

Additional Resources:

• Learn more about Lisa Thompson
• Cancer Pathways upcoming events:
  • Girls Scouts W. WA Summit (4/22/23)
  • Girl Scouts E. WA (Spokane) Summit (5/6/23)
  • Sparkle Saturday Vancouver (4/29/23)
  • Quit Tobacco Workshop

Happy spring equinox! We're excited to kick off spring with a very important and insightful episode. Lauren is joined by Monica Bryant, who is a cancer rights attorney and the co-founder/Chief Operating Officer of the non-profit, Triage Cancer. Monica shares all about the legal side of cancer and understanding what your rights are as a cancer patient. We discussed laws that protect you as a patient (and a caregiver!), requesting accommodations in the workplace, and disability insurance. Triage Cancer has many important and relevant resources that we would encourage you to check out.

Additional Resources:

• Triage Cancer
  • Employment Rights State Laws
  • Quick Guide to Disability Insurance
  • Legal and Financial Navigation Program
• Cancer Pathways' Resource Hub

March is colorectal cancer awareness month! In this episode, Lauren starts by providing a general overview of who colorectal cancer impacts and who is primarily at risk. She then talks about colorectal cancer risk factors, prevention, screening tests and treatments, and questions to ask your doctor if you are diagnosed. Don't forget to keep learning more and check out the valuable resources below:

Additional Resources:

• About Colorectal Cancer
  • Statistics
  • Screening tests
  • Treatment
• Colorectal Cancer Quiz
• Questions to Ask Your Doctor

It's our 1-year podcast birthday!! Woop woop! We are so grateful to continue serving as a trusted resource for you, your family, and your loved ones. In this episode, Lauren chats with one of her best friends, Anders, about his experience as a previvor and getting screened for colon cancer on a more regular basis (minute 9:12). Anders shares how he found out he's at a heightened risk, tips for pre- and post-colonoscopy, how being open with his healthcare provider has been helpful, and the importance of collecting your family history.

To kick off the episode, our program director, Amy, shares how you can get more involved in our February donation challenge and how your donation directly supports our programs.

Additional Resources:

• Cancer Screening Tests
• About Cancer Previvors
• About Colorectal Cancer
• Donate to Cancer Pathways

February is National Cancer Prevention Month, so we will be spotlighting the importance of prevention and screening all month long! In this episode, Lauren shares five self-care/self-love practices to try out – just in time for Valentines Day. Each of these tips helps in creating a healthier lifestyle, which naturally lends itself to cancer prevention. We encourage you to share the episode with a friend and let us know if you decide to try out any of these suggestions!

Additional Resources:

• Cancer Pathways Gentle Yoga - Sign Up
• Cancer Pathways Cancer Unwrapped contest
• Yoga with Adrienne
• Fred Hutch's Cook for Your Life

January is National Blood Donor Month - a time for spreading awareness about the importance of making a blood donation AND scheduling an appointment! It's important now more than ever because we are currently in a code red blood shortage, meaning blood is being transfused quicker than it's being donated. Tune in to learn what the donation process is like, how to find out what your blood type is, and the types of donations you can make. Plus, we have our very own Hanna Safley come on (min. 15:22) to share how blood donations were life-saving for her as a two-time cancer patient.

Additional Resources

• Schedule your appointment to donate TODAY and learn more:
• American Red Cross
• Bloodworks Northwest

Advocacy is a critical component to making real change in the community. For our very first episode of 2023, Lauren chats with Triana Arnold-James (minute 3:45), as well as Kate Boyenga and Kaprice Welsh (minute 26:05) at Georgia ObGyn Society about the work they do to improve education and access to cervical cancer screening and care. This episode is an inspiring reminder that we can all serve as change agents in our community! We also talk about the upcoming 6th annual Cervical Cancer Awareness Day in Georgia on January 19th and the impact the event has each year.

Additional Resources

• REGISTER HERE to attend Cervical Cancer Awareness Day 2023
• 1.0 CE available for medical professionals
• View recordings of previous events here

Happy Holidays! In the final episode of the year, our staff shares their biggest accomplishments and what they're most looking forward to in 2023. At the end of the episode, Lauren shares Cancer Pathways' ten biggest program successes and highlights from the year.

To spread the holiday cheer, we're doing a giveaway with this episode! Tune in to find out how to enter to win one of three $30 Amazon gift cards! The giveaway ends January 3, 2023.

World AIDS Day takes place each year on December 1st to unite people in the fight against HIV, show support for people living with HIV and AIDS, and to commemorate those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses. In this episode, Lauren clarifies the difference between HIV and AIDS and discusses a few common misconceptions about the condition that can lead to stigma. Lauren is then joined by Glenn Rockowitz to discuss the organization he started to bring comedy and humor into the homes of people diagnosed with AIDS and cancer in the '90's. They also talk about AIDS-associated cancers, how the epidemic has changed over the years, the difficulties associated with survivorship, and the importance of laughter when dealing with a chronic condition.

Additional Resources:

• CDC: HIV/AIDS Basics
• CDC: HIV Treatment as Prevention
• NCI: HIV Infection and Cancer Risk
• Cancer Pathways Support Groups
  • Quit Tobacco Workshops