In this episode of the Patient From Hell, Samira sits down with Megan-Claire Chase, known in the cancer community as "Warrior Megsy." Megan-Claire shares her deeply personal experience of navigating breast cancer and its aftermath. From managing the physical and emotional toll of treatment to finding new ways to regain a sense of self, Megan-Claire offers a powerful account of resilience, self-advocacy, and the importance of asking for help. Her humor, storytelling skills, and openness bring a refreshing perspective on survivorship, making this an inspiring conversation for anyone facing adversity.

Key Highlights:

1. Self-advocacy is critical in healthcare, and sometimes, switching doctors is necessary to ensure your voice is heard.

2. The emotional impact of cancer extends beyond treatment, often manifesting in long-term physical pain and identity challenges.

3. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness—it's a vital step in dealing with the overwhelming aspects of cancer.

About our guest:

Megan-Claire Chase, also known as Warrior Megsie, is the Breast Cancer Program Director and host of the Our BC Life podcast at SHARE Cancer Support. As an invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) breast cancer survivor and passionate patient advocate based in Atlanta, GA, Megan-Claire is a dedicated champion for the needs of breast cancer patients, particularly in addressing the disparities faced by minoritized communities and those in the adolescent and young adult (AYA) communities.

In addition to her pivotal role at SHARE, she serves on Bayer Oncology's Digital Patient Council, is a patient advocate for the Oncology Data Advisor Editorial Board, and recently joined the Worth the Wait Charity advisory board. She also contributes as a writer and advisory board member for Patient Power, amplifying the voices of breast cancer patients.

Megan-Claire’s advocacy efforts include participating as a panelist on Leveraging Technology to Support Patient-Centered Multidisciplinary Oncologic Care at the 2024 ASCO Quality Care Symposium, co-authoring a podcast and infographic on genetic testing in metastatic breast cancer, collaborating with Pfizer on the Action Guide to Disrupt Inequitable Health Outcomes, and sharing her personal journey on PBS’s Beyond Cancer through Stories from the Stage. Her work has been spotlighted in notable publications like The New York Times, People Magazine, Cancer Health, Cancer Today, and CURE Magazine.

Beyond her cancer advocacy, Megan-Claire is a versatile voiceover actor, a dedicated social justice activist, and a proud cat mom to Phoebe.

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Key Moment:

21 minutes: “Something that people outside of Cancerland may not fully understand is the side effects from the toxic treatments, the side effects from multiple surgeries, the pain that some get fades, they heal, but for others, like moi, I really got the motherload of permanent damage, permanent side effects, effects that happen like a year, two years post cancer. And so I, as I'm talking to you right now, I am in pain. And I often have people say, ‘you don't look like you're in pain.’ And I'm like, look, it's not Halloween yet. I don't want to scare you. If I looked how I truly, truly felt on the daily, you would think you're in a scary movie. And so, dealing with multiple types of pain, chronic pain, is something I never, ever thought would be part of my cancer experience."

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