The Cancer Project

In 2019, at just 35 years old, Keriann Engle was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. An avid runner who had spent years challenging herself through marathons and ultramarathons, Keriann suddenly faced a journey that would change her life. After undergoing a mastectomy, reconstruction, chemotherapy, and radiation, she began rebuilding her strength, only to learn two years later that her cancer had spread to her liver. Now living with stage four metastatic breast cancer, Keriann shares how she has navigated the uncertainty of recurrence while continuing to pursue a life filled with purpose, adventure, and hope.

In this empowering episode of The Cancer Project Podcast, Keriann opens up about the often overlooked mental health challenges of cancer, including anxiety, trauma, and the pressure to return to life as it was before diagnosis. Through therapy, medication, and learning to embrace a new normal, she discovered the importance of giving herself grace and seeking support. Her story highlights why cancer care must extend beyond physical treatment and why patients should never feel they have to navigate the emotional toll of cancer alone.

Keriann also discusses the fear of recurrence, the anxiety surrounding surveillance scans, and the importance of looking beyond statistics when facing a diagnosis. After being frightened by online survival statistics, her oncologist reminded her that she was an individual, not a number. Today, after more than four years without detectable disease while continuing treatment, Keriann hopes to show others that a stage four diagnosis is not the end of the road. Even when cancer becomes a long term part of life, there is still room for joy, connection, and meaningful experiences.

Through her continued love of running and growing involvement in the cancer community, Keriann offers a powerful reminder that life after a cancer diagnosis may look different, but it can still be a life well lived. Join us for an honest and inspiring conversation about resilience, mental health, and learning to move forward through uncertainty.

Episode Resources:

Support Metastatic Research: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/metresansupin/

Oklahoma Proton Center

https://www.okcproton.com/

https://www.instagram.com/okprotoncenter/

https://www.facebook.com/OKProtonCenter

The Cancer Project Podcast

https://www.instagram.com/the_cancerproject

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581844363126

https://www.tiktok.com/@protonguy

When life handed Julia Johns a breast cancer diagnosis, she did what any comedian might do: she turned it into a standup show. Diagnosed in 2022, Julia underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation, finding unexpected ways to process her experience through humor while she was still actively fighting cancer. Her jokes were not a way of minimizing the fear, pain, or uncertainty of cancer; they became a way to face those realities head-on, reclaim a sense of control, and keep moving through each difficult stage of treatment. Her journey eventually inspired her one-woman show, A Tale of Two Titties, where she shares the realities of cancer treatment with honesty, vulnerability, and plenty of laughs.

In this episode of The Cancer Project Podcast, Julia joins host David Raubach to discuss how she navigated cancer with humor during some of the most difficult moments of her life. From writing jokes shortly after her diagnosis to performing while undergoing chemotherapy and appearing onstage with a bald head, Julia found ways to make room for laughter even when the outcome was uncertain. She reflects on the emotional and physical challenges of surgery, treatment, and survivorship, as well as the complicated experience of trying to stay hopeful while confronting the possibility of death. Behind the punchlines, Julia shares how comedy helped her communicate what she was going through, connect with others, and hold on to her identity beyond her diagnosis.

Julia also discusses the importance of community, self-compassion, and recognizing that healing looks different for everyone. Her humor does not erase the difficult parts of her cancer journey; instead, it allows her to acknowledge them without letting them define her. Today, Julia continues to bring people together through comedy and her newest creation, The Littlest Late Show, a talk show experience starring kids. Thank you Julia for joining us on The Cancer Project and reminding us that laughter, community, and joy can coexist with fear and grief.

Episode Resources:

The Littlest Late Show:

https://www.instagram.com/thelittlestlateshow/

We Got This “Cancer Is A Joke” Stand Up Comedy Fundraiser:

https://wegotthis.org/pages/cancer-is-a-joke

Oklahoma Proton Center

https://www.okcproton.com/

https://www.instagram.com/okprotoncenter/

https://www.facebook.com/OKProtonCenter

The Cancer Project Podcast

https://www.instagram.com/the_cancerproject

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581844363126

https://www.tiktok.com/@protonguy

Giulia Rozzi has built a career around saying the uncomfortable things out loud, and she brings that same honesty to her experience with breast cancer. After a bilateral mastectomy, radiation, hormone therapy, and multiple reconstruction surgeries, Giulia found herself navigating not only cancer treatment, but also the emotional impact of losing a part of her identity and trying to recognize herself again.Giulia speaks candidly about the overwhelming process of making life changing medical decisions while feeling like she did not have all the information she needed. Her experience taught her the importance of self advocacy, asking questions, seeking second opinions, and understanding that there is no single right way to move forward.She also opens up about body image, mental health, and the complicated emotions that can come with surviving cancer. After initially choosing to remain flat, Giulia eventually realized that reconstruction was important to her and underwent a less common flap procedure. Through it all, she learned that wanting to feel comfortable in your body does not make you vain or ungrateful.For Giulia, humor became a way back to herself. Her Substack, Seven Bodies, explores the many versions of her body and identity throughout her cancer journey, giving her a space to talk about the realities of cancer that are often left unsaid.Today, Giulia uses her voice to remind others that surviving cancer is not the end of the story. Her message is simple: ask everything, ask for help, ask for more time, and most importantly, ask for what you need.Episode Resources:Seven Bodies Substack:https://giuliarozzi.substack.com/We Got This:https://wegotthis.org/https://www.instagram.com/wegotthisorg/https://www.facebook.com/wegotthis.orgWe Got This “Cancer Is A Joke” Stand Up Comedy Fundraiser:https://wegotthis.org/pages/cancer-is-a-jokeOklahoma Proton Centerhttps://www.okcproton.com/https://www.instagram.com/okprotoncenter/https://www.facebook.com/OKProtonCenterThe Cancer Project Podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/the_cancerprojecthttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581844363126https://www.tiktok.com/@protonguy

Anne Hamilton was diagnosed with stage 3C breast cancer at thirty-five years old. Her treatment included chemotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy, radiation, and multiple surgeries. But for Anne, finishing treatment did not mean the cancer journey was over. She found herself facing fear of recurrence, survivor’s guilt, a changing relationship with her body, and the difficult question of how to truly live again after cancer.

That experience ultimately led Anne to create the Survivorship Collective, a community focused on the emotional, spiritual, and existential challenges of life after cancer. Through community, therapy, somatic healing, spiritual practices, and research based approaches, the Collective creates space for survivors to feel seen and understood. Anne believes healing is not necessarily the same as being cured. For her, healing is about belonging and finding connection with others who have walked a similar path.

Anne also shares her personal experience with psilocybin and the research surrounding its potential role in helping people process some of the emotional challenges that can come with cancer. She emphasizes education, research, safety, and community as important parts of these conversations.

This conversation is ultimately about what happens after treatment ends and the work of learning to live again begins. Anne offers a powerful reminder that no one should have to navigate survivorship alone, and that healing can come through community, connection, purpose, and the people who help us find our way forward.

Episode Resources:

The Survivorship Collective:

https://survivorshipcollective.com/

https://www.instagram.com/survivorshipcollective/

Oklahoma Proton Center

https://www.okcproton.com/

https://www.instagram.com/okprotoncenter/

https://www.facebook.com/OKProtonCenter

The Cancer Project Podcast

https://www.instagram.com/the_cancerproject

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581844363126

https://www.tiktok.com/@protonguy

At 30 years old, Megan O’Neil knew something wasn’t quite right when she began experiencing pain in her chest. Due to her young age and overall health as an athlete, her concerns were initially dismissed by doctors. Megan persisted and eventually found a lump, leading to a conversation with her doctor about the increasing number of younger patients being diagnosed with cancer. She requested an ultrasound, which was followed by a mammogram, biopsy, and ultimately a breast cancer diagnosis.

Megan underwent chemotherapy and surgery and was declared cancer free. But with each passing year, follow up appointments brought a familiar anxiety as the possibility of recurrence lingered in the back of her mind. As Megan approached the five year mark, she experienced a sensation that was entirely new to her, yet she immediately knew something was wrong. Her cancer had returned.

On this episode of The Cancer Project Podcast, Megan opens up about her experiences with cancer, the health complications that have accompanied living with metastatic cancer, and the ways cancer has changed her as a person. She also emphasizes the importance of cancer research and the need to continue advancing our understanding and treatment of the disease.

Join us as Megan shares her honest and deeply personal story as the first episode of our special October series for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We are incredibly grateful to Megan for sharing her story with such openness and courage, and for using her experience to advocate for others affected by cancer.

Episode Resources:

Support Metastatic Research: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/metresansupin/

Oklahoma Proton Center:

https://www.okcproton.com/

https://www.instagram.com/okprotoncenter/

https://www.facebook.com/OKProtonCenter

The Cancer Project Podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/the_cancerproject

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581844363126

https://www.tiktok.com/@protonguy

n this episode of The Cancer Project, we sit down with ovarian cancer survivor and author Anna Focht. In 2015, what began as a routine annual appointment quickly changed Anna’s life when her doctor discovered a lump during a pelvic exam. Diagnosed with stage three B ovarian cancer, Anna underwent surgery followed by 18 weeks of chemotherapy while navigating treatment and trying to remain present for her family.

Anna opens up about the physical and emotional realities of her cancer journey, from the toll of treatment and the challenges of recovery to the importance of family, friends, and community. She reflects on the small victories that helped her move forward, including the moment she was finally able to ride her bike again, and the uncertainty that can remain even after treatment ends.

As Anna searched for ways to cope with her diagnosis, she found herself turning more deeply toward her faith. Through prayer, Bible reading, journaling, yoga, meditation, and time in nature, she began processing the emotions that came with cancer and discovering a greater sense of peace and purpose. That journey eventually inspired Psalm Trees, a collection of reflections and prayers shaped by her experiences with cancer, faith, sorrow, gratitude, and hope.

Now 11 years beyond her diagnosis, Anna continues to support other cancer patients and advocate for greater awareness and research for ovarian cancer. She speaks honestly about the loneliness of cancer, the importance of hope, and the reminder that every patient is more than a diagnosis or a statistic. Her story is ultimately one of finding faith and purpose in the midst of uncertainty and using what she has experienced to help others keep moving forward. 

Episode Resources:

Psalm Trees by Anna Focht:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FHJG3HBR?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback

Oklahoma Proton Center

https://www.okcproton.com/

https://www.instagram.com/okprotoncenter/

https://www.facebook.com/OKProtonCenter

The Cancer Project Podcast

https://www.instagram.com/the_cancerproject

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581844363126

https://www.tiktok.com/@protonguy

In this episode of The Cancer Project we are joined by Tenaciously Teal Board Chair and attorney Brooke Unruh. Brooke shares how her experiences with her close friend and law partner Anna, her mother’s cancer diagnosis, and her work with Tenaciously Teal have shaped the way she understands cancer, caregiving, family, and the importance of being there for others.

Brooke reflects on walking alongside Anna through her breast cancer journey while balancing their friendship, partnership, and the responsibilities of keeping their business running. After Anna passed away in 2016, Brooke continued her involvement with Tenaciously Teal, an organization that supports cancer patients with some of the everyday expenses and challenges that can become overwhelming during treatment.

Brooke also shares her family’s experience when her mother was diagnosed with lung cancer. She talks about the uncertainty that comes with waiting for answers, the overwhelming amount of information patients and families receive, and the importance of having someone alongside you during appointments to take notes, ask questions, and help process what the doctor is saying.

As an attorney who focuses on estate planning, Brooke explains why planning ahead can be especially important for cancer patients and their families. She discusses healthcare directives, powers of attorney, wills, and other steps that can help families navigate difficult situations while also encouraging people to have the conversations they may be tempted to put off.

Through her personal experiences, Brooke offers a thoughtful perspective on how cancer can change the way we see life and what matters most. From supporting someone through treatment to preparing for the unexpected, she reminds us that sometimes the smallest acts of compassion, preparation, and support can help carry some of the burden that comes with cancer.

Episode Resources:

Oklahoma Proton Center

https://www.okcproton.com/

https://www.instagram.com/okprotoncenter/

https://www.facebook.com/OKProtonCenter

The Cancer Project Podcast

https://www.instagram.com/the_cancerproject

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581844363126

https://www.tiktok.com/@protonguy

The time after an engagement is typically filled with excitement, wedding planning, and dreaming about the future. But for Morgan Lunardi and her fiancé, AJ, that exciting chapter quickly took an unexpected turn when Morgan was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma.

Shortly after their engagement, Morgan began experiencing troubling symptoms, including intense headaches and facial swelling. Scans revealed a 13-centimeter mass in her chest. Because of the tumor’s location, doctors warned that a biopsy could require opening her chest to obtain a sample. As Morgan and AJ traveled to their wedding venue in Cabo to plan their special day, the possibility of such a serious procedure weighed heavily on them.

Fortunately, doctors were able to complete the biopsy without opening Morgan’s chest. However, another complication meant she needed to begin chemotherapy a week earlier than planned. With their wedding less than a year away, Morgan decided to try cold capping during treatment in hopes of preserving her hair. The process uses extremely cold temperatures to restrict blood flow to the scalp and reduce hair loss during chemotherapy.

Alongside chemotherapy, Morgan also underwent radiation while continuing to work full time and plan her wedding. She shares what it was like to navigate cancer treatment while preparing for one of the biggest days of her life, and how quickly she went from thinking about wedding details to becoming a cancer patient.

Throughout her journey, Morgan leaned on other cancer survivors for advice, support, and answers to the questions that came with her diagnosis. Now, she is passionate about paying that support forward by helping others facing cancer, particularly when it comes to navigating treatment, fertility, and cold capping.

Today, Morgan is cancer free and living the life she fought so hard to get back to. She and AJ are married and are now the parents of two beautiful daughters.

Episode Resources:

Oklahoma Proton Center

https://www.okcproton.com/

https://www.instagram.com/okprotoncenter/

https://www.facebook.com/OKProtonCenter

The Cancer Project Podcast

https://www.instagram.com/the_cancerproject

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581844363126

https://www.tiktok.com/@protonguy

Twenty-three year old Valentina Prince was preparing to start veterinarian school in the fall when she experienced a sudden itch in her breast. Valentina thought nothing of it until she felt a new lump in her breast. She quickly made an appointment to have it looked at and suddenly found herself receiving a mammogram and being told this mass looks very abnormal and you need to schedule a biopsy as soon as possible. After difficulty finding a facility that could see her soon, her dad’s new job in Houston connected her to an oncologist that diagnosed her with stage three breast cancer.

Valentina quickly began treatment at MD Anderson as the cancer had already spread to her lymph nodes. She received sixteen rounds of intensive chemotherapy, and jokingly referred to it as her “strawberry margarita” while trying to take a positive approach to treatment, determined to one day achieve her dream of becoming a veterinarian. In addition to chemotherapy, Valentina received immunotherapy, radiation, and had surgery as a part of her treatment plan. She shares honest details about the many complications she had throughout treatment including allergic reactions, burns from radiation, and lymphedema.

After completing her intensive and exhausting treatment, Valentina rang the bell and spoke about the tidal wave of emotions she felt. She provides insight into what she wished she knew before undergoing treatment and her advice and mindset to those who are just beginning their cancer battle. Today, Valentina is cancer free and in her second year of veterinarian school at Michigan State University, continuing her dream of becoming what she affectionately refers to as a ‘dogtor’. 

Episode Resources:

Valentina’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogtorprince/

Oklahoma Proton Center

https://www.okcproton.com/

https://www.instagram.com/okprotoncenter/

https://www.facebook.com/OKProtonCenter

The Cancer Project Podcast

https://www.instagram.com/the_cancerproject

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581844363126

https://www.tiktok.com/@protonguy

What exactly does a medical physicist do, and how does their work impact a cancer patient's treatment? On this episode of The Cancer Project Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Ali Fatemi, a board-certified medical physicist specializing in radiation therapy and MRI physics, to explore the technology and people working behind the scenes of modern cancer care.

Dr. Fatemi breaks down how medical physicists help ensure radiation treatments are delivered safely and accurately, and explains why MRI could play an increasingly important role in radiation therapy, particularly proton therapy. We also discuss the potential of combining MRI and proton therapy to better identify tumors and deliver highly precise treatment.

The conversation also looks toward the future of cancer care and artificial intelligence. Dr. Fatemi shares why he believes AI won't simply replace doctors and medical physicists, but instead could change how they work, accelerate research, and give medical professionals more time to focus on solving complex problems. He also discusses the importance of validating and carefully testing new technology before it reaches patients.

Finally, Dr. Fatemi shares his journey from Iran to Canada and the United States, his transition from researcher to clinical medical physicist and entrepreneur, and his passion for taking innovative ideas out of the laboratory and bringing them into the clinic where they can ultimately make a difference for patients.

Episode Resources:

Smart Medicine Podcast:

 https://www.youtube.com/@SmartMedicinePodcast

Oklahoma Proton Center

https://www.okcproton.com/

https://www.instagram.com/okprotoncenter/

https://www.facebook.com/OKProtonCenter

The Cancer Project Podcast

https://www.instagram.com/the_cancerproject

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581844363126

https://www.tiktok.com/@protonguy