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What happens when cancer changes everything—and where do you turn when fear, uncertainty, and despair begin to take over?
In this first episode of Life After The Shadow, Tom Hammergren and Deacon George Labelle share the unlikely journey that took them from fraternity brothers at Mizzou to business partners, fellow Stage IV cancer thrivers, and ultimately co-hosts of a ministry built around hope.
Tom shares the deeply personal experience that inspired Life After The Shadow and introduces the framework that will guide future conversations: transforming fear into courage, anxiety into calm, despair into hope, and other emotional battles through real stories, practical strategies, and the truth found in God's Word.
If cancer has cast a shadow over your life or someone you love, this is where the journey toward hope and renewal begins.
From the publisher's feed
Life After The Shadow is a faith-based cancer podcast for patients, survivors, thrivers, caregivers, and families searching for hope, strength, and practical guidance after a cancer…
Hosted by Tom Hammergren, author of Life After The Shadow: A Spiritual Guide to Finding Hope and Renewal After Your Cancer Diagnosis, and Deacon George Labelle, the podcast continues the mission that began with the book—helping people navigate the mental, emotional, and spiritual challenges that come with cancer.
Tom and George both know what it means to hear the words, "You have cancer." Their personal battles with Stage 4 cancer give them a perspective that goes beyond simply talking about cancer—they are living the journey alongside their listeners.
Each episode features meaningful conversations with cancer patients, survivors, thrivers, caregivers, physicians, advocates, authors, and others whose experiences can help people facing cancer discover that there can still be hope, purpose, joy, and life after the shadow of a cancer diagnosis.
The conversations explore both the mental and emotional sides of cancer, including diagnosis and treatment, fear of recurrence, anxiety, depression, relationships, caregiving, faith, prayer, nutrition, advocacy, emerging treatments, survivorship, and finding purpose while living with cancer.
At the heart of Life After The Shadow are ten emotional battles commonly experienced during the cancer journey:
Shock → Acceptance
Fear → Courage
Depression → Joy
Anxiety → Calm
Loss → Fulfillment
Anger → Gratitude
Helplessness → Empowerment
Loneliness → Feeling Loved
Despair → Hope
Guilt → Self-Acceptance
Guests share what triggered these emotions, what helped them move forward, and the practical lessons they learned along the way. Some found strength through faith, prayer, and Scripture. Others discovered valuable resources, support organizations, lifestyle changes, new treatment approaches, books, communities, or simply another person who understood what they were going through.
This is not a podcast about pretending cancer isn't frightening or difficult. It is about discovering that cancer does not have to define the rest of your life.
Whether you were diagnosed yesterday, are undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy or targeted therapy, are living with Stage 4 or metastatic cancer, have reached remission, are struggling with fear of recurrence, or are caring for someone you love, Life After The Shadow was created to remind you that you don't have to walk this road alone.
You'll hear: Real stories. Real struggles. Real faith. Practical strategies. And genuine hope.
The podcast expands on the message of Tom Hammergren's book, Life After The Shadow: A Spiritual Guide to Finding Hope and Renewal After Your Cancer Diagnosis. Together, the book, podcast, and Life After The Shadow ministry are building a growing collection of stories, faith-based encouragement, practical cancer resources, and strategies designed to help patients and caregivers move beyond fear and toward hope.
Learn more about the book, podcast, ministry, and additional cancer support resources at LifeAfterTheShadow.com.
Because a cancer diagnosis may cast a shadow over your life—but the shadow doesn't have to be where your story ends.
Life After The Shadow — helping people find hope and renewal after a cancer diagnosis.