Biomarker testing can reveal crucial details about a person’s lung cancer, helping care teams better understand what is happening at an individual level and find personalized care options.

In this episode, Loriana talks with Danielle Hicks, Chief Patient Officer at GO2 for Lung Cancer, about why comprehensive biomarker testing is so important—and how patients can confidently start these conversations with their care team. Drawing from her experience as a care partner, Danielle shares practical guidance on self‑advocacy, asking about testing, seeking second opinions, and staying informed throughout the care journey.

This conversation is designed to help patients and caregivers feel more prepared, heard, and empowered during what can be an overwhelming time.

👍 Like, subscribe, and share to help ensure more patients have access to information that supports informed care.

The emotional and mental impact of cancer is real and often overlooked.

Loriana is joined by clinical psychologist and psycho‑oncology specialist Dr. Gabriel Cartagena to discuss PTSD, anxiety, depression, and how the nervous system responds to a cancer diagnosis. Dr. Cartagena shares practical coping strategies, explains how stress can influence the treatment experience, and reinforces why mental health support is a critical part of cancer care for patients, care partners, and survivors.

👍 Like, subscribe, and share to help ensure more patients have access to information that supports informed care.

After a lung cancer diagnosis, it’s natural to have questions about what comes next. Biomarker testing can provide valuable information early on, helping patients and care teams better understand each person’s unique cancer.

In this episode, Dr. Stewart Yang, thoracic and molecular pathologist, joins Loriana to explain biomarker testing in clear, approachable terms. They discuss what biomarker testing is, the types of tests available, and how these insights reveal the biology of a tumor—information that can help guide informed care decisions.

You’ll also learn why biomarker testing is often recommended early in the process and hear the key questions patients should ask their care team to feel more confident, prepared, and involved in their care."

👍 Like, subscribe, and share to help ensure more patients have access to information that supports informed care.

In this raw and heartfelt episode, Ann Brown, Chief Marketing Officer for ArmorUp For Life®, shares her deeply personal story of being a caregiver for her husband during his cancer journey. From sleepless nights and emotional exhaustion to the quiet strength that comes from love, Ann opens up about the hidden realities of caregiving — and how the experience forever changes relationships, identity, and perspective.

This candid conversation explores the toll, resilience, and grace that define what it truly means to love someone through cancer.

Because cancer doesn’t just happen to one person — it happens to everyone who loves them.

Helpful Links for Caregivers:

American Cancer Society – Caregiver Support

https://www.cancer.org/support-programs-and-services.html

CancerCare – Caregiver Resources

https://www.cancercare.org/tagged/caregiving

National Cancer Institute – Caring for the Caregiver

https://www.cancer.gov/publications/patient-education/caring-for-the-caregiver

00:00 Welcome & The Overlooked Role of the Caregiver

Couples often feel they can’t talk to each other about intimacy after cancer treatment. Transitioning from patient/caregiver roles back to wife/husband roles can be challenging. That’s where Dr. Catalina comes in. She believes that our sexual health is the number one indicator of our mental, physical, social, and emotional health. For cancer survivors, addressing intimacy barriers is part of the healing process, reconnecting and finding new ways to experience closeness as part of the survivorship journey.

Dr. Stephanie Ross, founder of Illness Navigation Resources and a pioneer in integrative psychosocial oncology, explores the lasting toll cancer can take on mental health and intimacy. From couples struggling to reconnect, to children navigating a parent’s diagnosis, this candid conversation sheds light on the emotional side of survivorship—and how healing is possible.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure of what’s next—this episode is for you.

Want to make sure you never miss an episode of STAGE FREE? Subscribe, like, and give us a review. You can find us wherever you get your podcast!

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure of what’s next—this conversation is for you.

🧰 Resources from Dr. Ross:

•ACS: Psychosocial Support for Cancer Survivors -

www.cancer.org/cancer/survivorship/coping/understanding-psychosocial-support-services

•American Psychosocial Oncology Society -

https://apos-society.org/people-affected-by-cancer/coping-and-financial-resources/

•American Academy of Sexual Educators, Counselors, and Therapists: Sexual Health & Counseling Directory -

www.aasect.org/referral-directory

•Jasper Health – 1:1 Virtual Support for Cancer Patients and Survivors -

www.hellojasper.com

•American Association for Marital and Family Therapy: Couples & Family Therapy -

www.aamft.org/Consumer_Updates/Sexual_Health_new

•Pickles Group – Support for Kids & Teens -

www.picklesgroup.org

•Body Image Psychology for Survivors -

https://fingeretpsychologyservices.com/about

•988 Lifeline – 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Support -

https://988lifeline.org/

Just one year into remission, Megan Mulvey opens up about the whirlwind of emotions following her acute leukemia diagnosis—the shock of illness in peak health, the trauma of separation from her children, and the emotional toll of survivorship. Together with Loriana, she explores the power of faith, the strain on marriage, the grief of lost fertility, and the importance of prehab. Megan’s story of resilience includes 51 rounds of chemo, a bone marrow transplant, and the support that carried her through.

A raw look at survivorship and the unseen burdens cancer leaves behind.

Want to make sure you never miss an episode of STAGE FREE? Subscribe, like, and give us a review. You can find us wherever you get your podcast!

At 38, Tiah Tomlin-Harris was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. Instead of letting fear define her, she transformed her pain into advocacy—founding My Style Matters and creating a virtual support group with Breastcancer.org. In this powerful conversation, Tiah and Loriana discuss trauma, sisterhood, and the emotional aftermath of survivorship.

An inspiring reminder that survivorship is not just about staying alive, but living with purpose and connection.

Want to make sure you never miss an episode of STAGE FREE? Subscribe, like, and give us a review. You can find us wherever you get your podcast!

Leading breast cancer oncologist Dr. Kevin Fox speaks candidly about some of the biggest fears survivors face: recurrence, progression, the side effects of hormone therapy, weight gain, body image, intimacy, and lifestyle choices that may impact risk. This honest conversation delivers practical advice and reassurance for survivors navigating life after diagnosis.

A candid talk about what keeps survivors up at night—and what you can do about it.

Want to make sure you never miss an episode of STAGE FREE? Subscribe, like, and give us a review. You can find us wherever you get your podcast!

Dr. Kate Rosenblum shares her deeply personal shift from physician to patient, highlighting the emotional toll of cancer, the importance of seeking support, and the complexities of relationships during and after treatment. Together, she and Loriana discuss coping strategies for scanxiety and the ongoing journey of healing and empowerment.

Proof that even the healers need healing—and that no one walks this road alone.

Want to make sure you never miss an episode of STAGE FREE? Subscribe, like, and give us a review. You can find us wherever you get your podcast!