More Than A Diagnosis

After sharing where we’ve been, it’s time to talk about where we’re going!

In Part 2, Jes, Den, Karen, and Nerisa share what’s been happening behind the scenes at More Than A Diagnosis and what we’re working toward as we build our nonprofit.

Happy Mail is coming back! We’re talking about what’s changing, how you can help keep it going, and a new option inspired by our friend Danny, whose legacy continues to remind us why representation matters. We also share what’s in the works for our upcoming metastatic cancer sticker packs and why visibility for people living with stage 4 cancer is so important.

Plus, we talk about our bigger dreams for More Than A Diagnosis, from virtual community spaces and retreats to future programs that help people living with cancer and chronic illness feel less alone.

We’re building this organization while living with many of the same challenges as the people we hope to support. We don’t have it all figured out, but we know what we want to create: a community where people feel seen, supported, and understood.

We’re glad you’re here for what comes next.

Find us on social media and check out our newly redesigned website: morethanadiagnosis.org

Last December, we announced that More Than A Diagnosis was officially a nonprofit. Then life happened. And not just a little bit.

In this episode, Jes, Den, Karen, and Nerisa share what’s been happening behind the scenes, from cancer survivorship, chronic illness, and major surgeries to grief, family responsibilities, and the reality of trying to show up for something you care deeply about when your capacity is limited.

We talk about giving ourselves grace, the guilt that comes with stepping back, and what it means to build something sustainable while navigating our own messy middles. Because taking a pause doesn’t mean giving up.

If you’ve been struggling to keep up with life while managing everything that comes with illness, we hope this conversation reminds you that you’re not alone.

And this is just Part 1! In Part 2, we’re sharing what’s next for More Than A Diagnosis, including the return of Happy Mail and some things we’ve been working on behind the scenes.

Stay connected with More Than A Diagnosis on social media and join a community where no one has to navigate all the stuff that comes with illness alone.

Have you ever left a doctor's appointment feeling dismissed, confused, or questioning your own symptoms? You're not alone.

In this episode of More Than A Diagnosis, Den and Jes get real about the exhausting reality of self-advocacy when you're living with cancer, chronic illness, or unexplained symptoms. Drawing from their experiences as patients and Den's perspective as a nurse, they talk about medical gaslighting, learning to trust your body, asking questions without apologizing, and knowing when it's time to find a new provider.

Because looking fine doesn't mean feeling fine, and you shouldn't have to fight to be heard.

If you've ever been dismissed, doubted, or left an appointment feeling unheard, this conversation is for you.

💚 Keep the conversation going: Follow More Than A Diagnosis, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with someone who needs the reminder that their experience matters. What has helped you advocate for yourself in healthcare?

When illness becomes part of your everyday life, it doesn’t just affect the person who is sick. It changes relationships, too.

In this episode, Den and Jes have an honest conversation about the complicated reality of being cared for — and caring for someone you love. They talk about shifting roles, unpredictable symptoms, feeling like a burden, and the guilt that can come with needing help. They also get real about resentment, caregiver exhaustion, helplessness, and what happens when the relationship underneath the caregiver/patient dynamic starts to get lost.

But there’s another side to caregiving that doesn’t get talked about enough: the unexpected intimacy that can come from being seen at your absolute worst. They talk about learning to accept help without keeping score, having the hard conversations, communicating when you’re both exhausted, and finding ways to protect the relationship that existed before illness changed everything.

And then there’s the caregiver — the person who often gets overlooked while everyone checks in on the person who is sick. Who checks in on them? Who supports them? And what happens when both people are carrying more than they ever expected?

Whether you’re living with cancer or chronic illness, caring for someone you love, or navigating illness without the support you hoped for, this conversation is a reminder that everyone affected by illness deserves to be seen.

If this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it, and subscribe so you don’t miss the next conversation. Be sure to connect with us on social media or at our website morethanadiagnosis.org

Parenting is hard enough. But parenting while living with chronic illness, cancer, or unpredictable symptoms brings a whole other layer of guilt, fear, and uncertainty.

In this episode, Den and Jes have an honest conversation about what it’s really like to parent while sick. They talk about explaining illness to your kids, deciding how much to share, navigating missed activities and disappointing moments, asking your kids for help, and the guilt that comes with not being the parent you used to be.

They also talk about the unexpected things their kids can learn from watching them navigate illness—from empathy and understanding to asking for help, listening to your body, and taking care of yourself. Because being honest with your kids doesn’t mean you’re burdening them, and protecting them doesn’t always mean keeping them in the dark.

There’s no perfect way to parent through illness. No handbook. No roadmap. Just a lot of figuring it out as you go, one day, one conversation, and one appointment at a time.

✨ Connect with our community of survivors and folks living with chronic illness at morethanadiagnosis.org, and follow us on social media to continue the conversation. We’d love to hear about your experience parenting through illness.

After a much longer break than we had planned, we're back and we're starting exactly where we are… right here!

In this Season 3 premiere, Jes and Den have an honest conversation about what happens when life doesn't follow the timeline you planned. We talk about stepping away, finding our way back, and the pressure to have everything figured out when the reality is that we're all still navigating the messy middle.

This season isn't about pretending we have all the answers. It's about creating space for the conversations that don't always happen—the complicated, vulnerable, and deeply human parts of living with illness.

From relationships and parenting to healthcare advocacy, identity, grief, and everything in between, Season 3 is about going deeper into the stories behind the diagnosis.

And now we want to hear from you. What are you carrying into this season? What conversations do you wish more people were willing to have? What topics do you want us to talk about?

Visit morethanadiagnosis.org or find us on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook @MoreThanADiagnosis and send us a message. Your stories, questions, and experiences help shape this community.

We're so glad you're here.

More Than A Diagnosis is a podcast created by our nonprofit to encourage, support, and empower people navigating chronic illness and cancer.

Join childhood best friends and non profit co founders Den and Jes as they explore the human experience beyond medical labels through honest conversations, inspiring stories, expert insights, and practical resources. Whether you're a patient, survivor, caregiver, or simply supporting someone you love, you'll find hope, connection, and reminders that you are more than your diagnosis.

Learn more and connect with our community at morethanadiagnosis.org because no one should have to face a diagnosis alone.

This Season 2 finale is an honest pause, not a resolution. Jes and Den reflect on what feels steady, what still challenges them, and what they haven't fully figured out yet. This episode explores ongoing questions, unresolved emotions, and the conversations they're still navigating. Den and Jes are leaving space for curiosity, tension, and the promise of more to come in the next season. In the meantime please be sure to connect with the community on our website morethanadiagnosis.org or find us on social media. 

Boundaries are hard and sometimes saying no is even harder. In this episode, Jes and Den explore the ongoing challenge of people-pleasing — why we do it, why it persists, and how illness or long-term health challenges make it even trickier. They share reflections and strategies for recognizing your limits, holding your boundaries, and saying no without guilt. This conversation is for anyone who struggles to put themselves first while staying connected to others.

Support looks different after the crisis ends. In this episode, Den and Jes talk about how relationships shift once treatment is over but the reality of illness remains. We explore the difference between crisis support and long-term presence, what happens when people assume you're "better," and how your needs evolve over time. This conversation is about quiet changes, unspoken recalibrations, and learning to navigate support that doesn't look the way it once did.

Connect with us on our website or find us on social media.