The Burn

Vanessa Cuccurullo is a two-time cancer survivor who was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma at 20 and breast cancer at 48. She is the founder of Mrs. C Botanicals, a clean cannabis brand, and lives between New York City and Shelter Island with her family.

In this episode, Vanessa shares her essay, “The Life I Choose, Every Day,” from the 2025 Living Well issue of Wildfire Journal. The piece reflects on a deeply personal moment one year after treatment during a wellness retreat in Portugal, where she experiences a ritual of reclamation after cancer. Instead of returning to who she was before cancer, Vanessa steps fully into who she is now.

April and Vanessa talk about losing yourself in who you become to other people before and after cancer, embracing joy, and choosing when and where to share your cancer story. Vanessa also shares how founding Mrs. C Botanicals and incorporating cannabis into her life has supported her well-being in survivorship.

More about episode sponsor Young Survival Coalition: https://youngsurvival.org/

Learn more about Vanessa: https://vanessacuccurullo.substack.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGn6sg__rox_qayzZ76vh7bQHWSrFbPD3hoZbY6-XMQcWMdCwq4VUbJR5ej8ms_aem_K1f_UqPWLKMWUcUiZlbzRQ

https://www.instagram.com/nescucc/

Purchase the Living Well issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/secondtime

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

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

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

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

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Listen to more episodes of The Burn from The Second Time Around issue of Wildfire Journal:

Fishkeeping with Liz Grissom: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/6df4e954-7188-4f13-b72f-0a86cc3c2dd3/

Reclaiming Myself the Second Time Around with Shayna Welsh: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/63fb5a68-0e43-4805-9746-8c094dd01266/

At 27, Sarah Deer was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. By 33, she faced a metastatic recurrence. An English language arts teacher turned librarian, Sarah now lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband, Ryan.

In this episode, Sarah shares her essay “The Gift of Koselig” from the 2025 “The Second Time Around” issue of Wildfire Journal. Her writing invites us into a world of sensory grounding, reclaiming pleasure, and daring to seek joy even in the face of a terminal diagnosis.

April and Sarah will talk about Sarah’s current season of survivorship, the contradictions living alongside cancer, and intentionally cultivating balance in life.

More about episode sponsor Rethink Breast Cancer: https://rethinkbreastcancer.com/

 More about episode sponsor Young Survival Coalition: https://youngsurvival.org/

Learn more about Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/seruhjane/

Purchase the The Second Time Around issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/secondtime

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

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

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

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

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Listen to more episodes of The Burn from The Second Time Around issue of Wildfire Journal:

Fishkeeping with Liz Grissom: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/6df4e954-7188-4f13-b72f-0a86cc3c2dd3/

Reclaiming Myself the Second Time Around with Shayna Welsh: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/63fb5a68-0e43-4805-9746-8c094dd01266/

Pye is a returning guest to The Burn, having last joined us in January 2023. She is a writer and artisan who was first diagnosed with breast cancer at 37, and again at 59. Pye’s work has appeared in five issues of Wildfire to date. She lives in Western Pennsylvania with her husband, Steve, a photographer.

In this episode, Pye reads two poems she wrote for the 2025 “The Second Time Around” issue of Wildfire Journal. These poems explore the strange familiarity and quiet revelations of facing cancer again after more than two decades.

April and Pye talk about what it’s been like to be an ongoing contributor to Wildfire, the differences in cancer care across decades, parenting with cancer at two very different stages of life, and how you decide who to share details of your diagnosis with. They also discuss the role of art in Pye’s life.

More about episode sponsor iRise Above Foundation: https://www.iriseabovefoundation.org/

More about episode sponsor Young Survival Coalition: https://youngsurvival.org/

Learn more about Pye:

https://www.instagram.com/blog.forthegirls/

https://www.blogforthegirls.com/

Listen to My Story in Ink with Pye Pajewski: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/305b98f0-e162-45ec-a886-e831dca7d671/

Purchase the The Second Time Around issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/secondtime

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

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

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

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

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Listen to more episodes of The Burn from The Second Time Around issue of Wildfire Journal:

Fishkeeping with Liz Grissom: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/6df4e954-7188-4f13-b72f-0a86cc3c2dd3/

Reclaiming Myself the Second Time Around with Shayna Welsh: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/63fb5a68-0e43-4805-9746-8c094dd01266/

Liz Grissom was diagnosed at 33 with Triple Negative breast cancer, and had a recurrence at 41.  She is a talent development partner, enjoys running, drawing and marveling over a great book. She lives in Virginia with her two sons, firefighter spouse, and their dog. In this episode, Liz reads her essay “Fishkeeping”  from the 2025 Second Time Around  issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about the moment when everything changed—again. When recurrence doesn’t come with a handbook, when you’re trying to plan summer vacation but end up rerouting your entire life. April and Liz will talk about parenting through cancer, sharing the news of a cancer diagnosis with loved ones, using metaphors in storytelling and coming to acceptance with cancer.

More about our episode sponsors:

After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD): https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org/

Cold Crowns: https://www.coldcapcrowns.com/

Learn more about Liz:https://www.instagram.com/liz.grissom/

Purchase the “Body” issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/body24

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

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

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

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

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Enhanced Show notes: 

Direct episode link for social: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/63fb5a68-0e43-4805-9746-8c094dd01266/

Embed:

Transcript link: https://share.descript.com/view/edc4w3EIlAl

Shayna Welsh Show Notes

Release date: Jan 21, 2026

Title: Reclaiming Myself the Second Time Around with Shayna Welsh

Episode: E211 (C261)

Shayna Welsh represents the very young age group of breast cancer patients—those diagnosed in their early 20s. Shayna was first diagnosed at 23 with Stage II triple-positive breast cancer, and then again at 25 with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. Shayna is a member of several breast cancer organizations, including the Young Breast Cancer Project, Living Beauty, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, and Under the Pencil. In this episode, Shayna reads her essay, “Reclaiming Myself the Second Time,” from the 2025 The Second Time Around issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece explores the liminal space where identity is rebuilt—scar by scar, photo by photo, and moment by moment. April and Shayna discuss the impact of Shayna’s cover photo on The Second Time Around issue of Wildfire, feeling things on your own timeline, whole-brain activities, and the complexities of living in the world with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer.

More about this episode’s sponsors:

 AnaOno: https://www.anaono.com/

https://www.instagram.com/anaonointimates/

Young Survival Coalition (YSC): https://youngsurvival.org/

Learn more about Shayna: https://www.instagram.com/thrive_with_shayna/

Purchase the The Second Time Around issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/secondtime

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

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

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

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

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Lilly Ribner was diagnosed at 37 with Stage I, Triple Negative breast cancer. She is a stay at home mother of two young children. In this episode, Lilly reads her essay “Through Her Eyes” from the 2024 Mothers & Daughters issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about a moment where three generations exist at once: a mother losing her memories, a daughter facing breast cancer, and a little girl sweeping up the curls her mother just shaved from her head. April and Lilly will talk about a moment of control found in cancer, radical presence, befriending anxiety, finding community, and survivorship. They will also explore the liminal space where roles reverse, caring for a parent while navigating motherhood through cancer.

More about episode sponsor After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD): https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org/

https://www.instagram.com/abcdafterbreastcancerdiagnosis/#

Learn more about Lilly: https://www.instagram.com/lillyribner/

Purchase the Mothers & Daughters issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/mothers24

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

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

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

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

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Erin Perkins was diagnosed at 34 with Stage II, Triple Negative breast cancer.  She is a volunteer, writer, Young Breast Cancer Project board member, and stay-at-home parent. Erin is a self-published author of “Young Breast Cancer Your Story and Mine: A Compact Guide”.  In this episode, Erin reads her essay “The Way It Felt” from the 2024 Mothers & Daughters issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about motherhood and memory and what happens when the fear of leaving your children collides with your own childhood wound of being left. April and Erin will talk about embodied writing, cancer activating old wounds, parenting before and after cancer, and Erin’s self-published book. They will also discuss the words that changed Erin at her friend’s deathbed.  

More about episode sponsor iRise Above Foundation: https://www.iriseabovefoundation.org/

https://www.instagram.com/irise_above/

Learn more about Erin:

https://www.erinleeperkins.com/

https://www.instagram.com/erinleeperkins/

https://erinleeperkins.substack.com/

Purchase the Mothers & Daughters issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/mothers24

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

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

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

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

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Julia Tabisz was diagnosed at 25 with Triple Negative breast cancer. She is a journalist, editor, and a mom with a passion for writing and competitive Irish dance. Julia happily lives in the woods of Maryland with her son and daughter. In this episode, Julia reads her essay “A Mother’s Biggest Problem” from the 2024 Mothers & Daughters issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is a story about motherhood, and how swiftly perspective can be upended by a cancer diagnosis while still brushing tiny teeth and tucking in tiny bodies. April and Julia will talk about journalistic writing versus writing to process and heal, how being given writing prompts unlocks flashes of memory, and how Irish dance has kept Julia connected to herself.

Learn more about Julia: 

https://www.instagram.com/sisterhoodunplugged/

https://sisterhoodunplugged.com/

Purchase the “Mothers & Daughters" issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/mothers24

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

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

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

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

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Lauren Bruns was diagnosed at 38 with Triple Positive breast cancer while just eight weeks into her second pregnancy. Lauren is a former competitive dancer, engineering graduate, and earned her MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.  She is currently a management consultant. Lauren loves traveling, biking, swimming, NYT games, and rooting for her beloved Cleveland sports teams.  

In this episode, Lauren reads her essay “My Pony-Tale” from the 2025 Hair issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about how keeping her hair through cold capping felt like both a gift and a disguise during a pandemic pregnancy.  April and Stephanie will talk about moments of hope in cancer, the duality of being pregnant while going through cancer treatment, and what newborn bonding looked like for her family because of cancer.

More about episode sponsor Wildflower Health Coaching: https://www.wildflowerhealthcoaching.com/

https://www.instagram.com/yourkickasslifeaftercancer 

Learn more about Lauren: https://www.instagram.com/brunsle/

Purchase the “Hair” issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/body24

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

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

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

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

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Stephanie Marnocha was diagnosed at 33 with Stage III breast cancer.  Stephanie is a licensed clinical social worker and outdoors lover. She lives in Denver with her four-legged adventure buddy, Annie. In this episode, Stephanie reads her essay “Being Myself” from the 2024 Body issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about body autonomy and standing by a choice that goes against the grain.  April and Stephanie will talk about really seeing yourself when the mastectomy bandages come off, anorexia, losing time to inner dialogues, and insights on keeping a journaling practice. They’ll also discuss cancer and fertility.

More about episode sponsor After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD): https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org/

Learn more about Stephanie: https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.marnocha

Purchase the “Body” issue of Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/body24

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

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

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

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

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Journal: 

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Journal: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions