The Burn

Beth Gainer is an author who is an educator, as well as a professional writer and editor. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 39, and is now 22 years out from her diagnosis. In this episode she reads her piece “First Comes Cancer Then Comes Divorce” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2016 “Love & Intimacy” issue.  Beth’s essay is about how cancer affected her marriage.  April and Beth will talk about writing from a scar vs. a wound, Beth’s cancer induced infertility and subsequent adoption, and Beth gives advice and hope for those whose partners don’t show up for them when cancer comes.  April and Beth will also discuss the complicated feelings of wanting to move on from the cancer community.

More about Beth: [email protected]

For another episode about cancer and marriage listen to Jenny Collin’s episode “What a Pen Name Can Unlock”: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/2e9011c7-6c09-48f1-b712-9c8f10cea72d

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to [email protected]

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Gretchen Stelter is a freelance book editor & writer from Madison, Wisconsin.  She was diagnosed with breast cancer at 39.  She has volunteered with Girls, Inc. for nine years and co-chaired the Safety & Security Committee for ThrillerFest, which is a conference for thriller writers.  In this episode, Gretchen reads her piece “Let Me Hear Your Body Talk” from the Wildfire book, “Igniting the Fire Within” and which was originally published in our 2022 “Cancer Culture” issue.  Gretchen’s essay is about the ways we share our body by choice - or not.  April and Gretchen will discuss the ways our bodies are objectified sexually and medically, reconciling receiving unwanted body attention pre-cancer to becoming invisible sometimes after a cancer diagnosis, and the loneliness that can come with breast cancer both inside and outside the cancer community.  They will also talk about choosing when to step out of the cancer closet and the possibility of when sharing can backfire.  

More about Gretchen:

 https://twitter.com/editorStet

https://www.instagram.com/editorstet/

https://www.facebook.com/GretchenSWriterEditor/

https://www.gretchenstelter.com/

Purchase a copy of the “Cancer Culture” issue of Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/printcc22

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to [email protected]

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

This week in honor of Li-Fraumeni Syndrome Awareness Month, we have selected this episode from February 2022 to re-share.  It features Whitney O’Connor who discovered her link to Li-Fraumeni Syndrome when diagnosed with breast cancer.   Li-Fraumeni Syndrome is just one of the many genetic mutations that can lead to a breast cancer diagnosis.  

Whitney was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called the Li-Fraumeni Syndrome. She has been diagnosed with breast cancer twice – the first time at 30 and then again at 32.  While her diagnosis of Li-Fraumeni Syndrome provided the hint to a cancer mystery, it also gave Whitney a built-in support system because the gene ran in her family. In this episode, Whitney reads from her piece “The Cancer Gene” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2021 “Family” issue.  Her essay is included in the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within.”

More about Whitney: https://www.instagram.com/boobiequeenchronicles/

More about Li-Fraumeni Syndrome: https://www.lfsassociation.org/what-is-lfs/

More about The Boobie Queen Company: https://www.boobiecrowns.com and  https://www.facebook.com/boobiequeenchronicles

Purchase a digital copy of the “Family” issue of Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/digital-download-family2020

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

More about Wildfire: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org.

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

April Renn is a student, and an eccentric mother of one.  She was diagnosed at 36 with Stage II breast cancer and carries the PALB2 gene.  April is a long-term survivor being 5+ years out from diagnosis.  In this episode she reads her piece “From Mom I Got Strength, Led Zeppelin and PALB2” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2019 “Genetics” issue.  April’s essay is about being sandwiched between her mother and her young daughter, with breast cancer swirling all around. April and April Renn will talk about long-term survivorship topics: not being currently active in the breast cancer community, long-term side effects of treatment, and feeling freedom in really seeing yourself when accepting and facing mortality.  They will also discuss raising and teaching daughters about breast health and genetic predispositions.  April Renn shares about a novel she is working on and how the free Wildfire journal she downloaded helped her to return to writing.  Her essay is included in the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within.”

Purchase a digital copy of the “Genetics” issue of Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/digital-genetics19

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to [email protected]

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Jamil Rivers is a powerhouse.  Diagnosed at 39 with Stage IV de novo metastatic breast cancer (MBC), she is a CEO, devoted mama, wife and passionate advocate.  Since diagnosis, Jamil has become an advocate using her cancer experiences to advance legislative policy, medical research and customize support to better meet the needs of individuals impacted by breast cancer, particularly metastatic and African-American patients. She launched The Chrysalis Initiative which provides mentoring, resource navigation, and outreach for African-American women.  In this episode Jamil reads her essay “Fighting for Equality in an Unequal Society” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Legacy Stories” issue.  Her essay is about using one’s story to advocate for deep change within a system that has been broken and biased for a long time.  April and Jamil will discuss the meaning behind The Chrysalis Initiative name, how cancer revealed Jamil as a leader to help others, and creating an equitable healthcare space in a landscape of discrimination and substandard support.  Jamil gives advice for others living with MBC that want to start new projects, and talks about when she knew her advocacy work was impacting lives.

More about Jamil: https://www.instagram.com/truejamilkali/

More on The Chrysalis Initiative:

1 (800) 929-4979

https://thechrysalisinitiative.org/

https://www.instagram.com/chrysalisinitiative/

https://www.facebook.com/chrysalisinitiative/

https://twitter.com/chrysalisinit

https://www.linkedin.com/company/chrysalis-initiative

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs-NCZTCIXspPb3Q44XFzxQ

More about BC Navi: https://www.bcnavi.com/s/

National Comprehensive Cancer Network: https://www.nccn.org/business-policy/business/academy

Purchase a print or digital copy of the “Legacy Stories” issue of Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/mbc22

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to [email protected]

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Stephanie is a retired hair stylist, writer, and advocate for AdvancedBreastCancer.net. Stephanie was diagnosed stage IIIa at 25, and then stage IV at 31. In this episode Stephanie reads their essay “My Life and Being Wrong” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Legacy Stories” issue.  Stephanie’s unusual cancer story is about a very unexpected pregnancy.  Stephanie and April will discuss the importance of using your story for advocacy, reasons for being private with your cancer story, and being an example to our children when it comes to cancer.  They will also talk about Stephanie’s future plans to write a book with helpful tips on how to get started. 

More about Stephanie: https://www.instagram.com/_the_radiatedlizard/

Purchase a print or digital copy of the “Legacy Stories” issue of Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/mbc22

More breast cancer stories from LBGTQIA2S+ community members: “Slowing Down to Write One Moment with Dawn Amodeo” https://player.captivate.fm/episode/a082c76d-bd6e-4345-adc5-2b3ac29af98f

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to [email protected]

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Other resources mentioned in this episode:

Bright Spot Network https://www.brightspotnetwork.org/

Mighty and Bright https://mightyandbright.com/

Camp Kesem https://www.kesem.org/

AdvancedBreastCancer.net https://advancedbreastcancer.net/

We are delighted to welcome Ann Camden back for another episode of The Burn. Ann was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer at 38. She then had a Stage IV recurrence at 45. More recently, she was diagnosed with leptomeningeal disease - fluid of the brain, spine and many other organs. Ann is a mother of twin teenage girls and married to her college sweetheart, Jeff. In this episode Ann reads her piece “A Three-Prong Legacy Effort” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Legacy Stories” issue. Ann’s story is about creating the tangible things you pass down.  April and Ann discuss where you spend time and energy on creating a legacy to remember, leaving legacy journals intended for loved ones to read after passing on, and being human, messy and unfinished while building legacy.  They will also discuss what we actively choose to pass on to our children, and normalizing conversations about cancer with them.  Ann’s essay is included in Wildfire’s book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor” out now.  

More about Ann: https://www.instagram.com/anncamdennc/ and https://down-not-out.com

Purchase a print or digital copy of the “Legacy Stories” issue of Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/mbc22

Enjoy listening to “Rooting Stories in Music: Riding Shotgun” also featuring Ann Camden: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/5ce9e575-0744-4515-95e3-14050ca66d8f

More about the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: https://www.sabcs.org/

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to [email protected]

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Holly Taylor was a sergeant in the US Army National Guard, and then became a kindergarten teacher.  She was diagnosed at 37 with stage IV breast cancer after earlier breast health concerns were dismissed.  She is now a stay-at-home mom. In this episode Holly reads her stirring piece “I Want” for Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Legacy Stories” issue where she expresses all her wants that she desires for her young daughter.  April and Holly will talk about what it was like for Holly to write and read this essay to her daughter, getting your wishes out of your body through writing, and how Holly keeps a memory legacy box for her daughter while living with metastatic disease.  They will also discuss teaching breast health and self-advocacy with your children.

More about Holly: https://www.instagram.com/crazycurlyholly/

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to [email protected]

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Ashely Blair Doyle is a retired newspaper worker, graphic designer, artist, and advocate.  She was initially diagnosed at 28 with early stage breast cancer, and then at 34 with stage IV MBC.  She carries the PALB2, exon 9 & 10 deletion gene mutation.  In this episode Ashley’s mom Victoria reads Ashley’s poem “You and I” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Legacy Stories” issue.  Ashley’s piece is a powerful love letter to her husband.  April and Ashley will talk about finding what you want to express through the act of writing, sharing space in a marriage with metastatic breast cancer, honoring caregivers, and Ashley’s PALB2 gene advocacy. April will also ask Victoria what it was like to read Ashley’s poem for this episode.  

More about Ashley: https://www.instagram.com/ashleyblairdoyle/ and http://ashleykickingcancer.blogspot.com/p/about.html

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to [email protected]

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Kim Harms is an author and librarian who was diagnosed at 40 with breast cancer.  In this episode Kim reads her piece “When the Return on Your Dollar is Intangible” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “Money & Cancer” issue.  She shares the value of choosing to spend money on making memories with her family.  April and Kim will discuss the complexities of financial decisions in light of a cancer diagnosis, figuring out what we need and finding ways to reach a money goal, and the emotional release of storytelling.  They will also talk about Kim’s book and the intersection of writing and cancer.

More about Kim: https://www.instagram.com/kimharmslifereconstructed/ and http://kimharms.net/

Order Kim’s book:  https://www.amazon.com/Life-Reconstructed-Kim-Harms/dp/1641705671/ref=sr_1_1?crid=JXJVM6TDTZ8R&dchild=1&keywords=life+reconstructed+kim+harms&qid=1617629917&sprefix=life+reconstru%2Caps%2C276&sr=8-1

Rrequest free mastectomy pillows: http://kimharms.net/free-mastectomy-pillows/

Get the free Wildfire email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

Send your voice recording testimonial to [email protected]

*Free* The Burn Writing Companion: Guided Prompt Journal (Vol. 1): https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/the-burn

Buy the Wildfire book “Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860