The Cancer Survivor Show by The Chemo Girls

What is Triage Cancer? It is a wonderful organization which was created by Monica Fawzy Bryant and her sister, Joanna L. Fawzy Morales, both cancer rights attorneys. Their mission is to help survivors find optimal quality of life as they walk in and through their cancer story. She left us with this pearl of wisdom: "Stop & take a breath. Compile all of the information you need, then act." For instance, do you want to walk into your job right away and tell your boss that you have cancer? Maybe so, and maybe no. Triage Cancer is a non-profit organization that provides education and resources on the entire continuum of survivorship issues for survivors, caregivers, and healthcare providers because cancer touches the entire community. They provide information and steer people to the most appropriate resources, so in the beginning….Triage first!

Next week, stay tuned for an interesting interview with Miss Monica on healthcare reform!

Bruce Countryman offers us rare insight into male emotions and thought processes as he openly and eloquently shares his story. He and his wife, Ellen, walked into her diagnosis with breast cancer and through difficult treatment, together. In his transparency, Mr. Bruce offers insight into how he felt and what he thought as he processed their experience. Raw and vulnerable at times, Mr. Bruce talks about loss he had to work through. Make no mistake about it, a cancer diagnosis makes a powerful and lasting impact on the caregiver. They have their own set of fears, frustrations and pain. Validation can be found here, as Mr. Bruce shares his story of hope and faith.

We will forever be grateful to Brandon Davis and Pine Row Productions for helping us get started. While editing one day I came across this clip and was reminded of the generosity of my friend and how encouraging he was while we were recording our first five podcast. We miss you Brandon XOXOX! The Chemo Girls

Miss Susan and Miss Florence are cancer survivors as well as successful professionals and bloggers in their own right. After following and commenting on each others blogs, they decided to collaborate on a fantastic book. These ladies respective experience and perspectives meld into a book that helps those who have received a cancer diagnosis strive for a healthy and balanced mind and body. One of the many pearls of wisdom they shared was this question, are you making changes out of love (for your body) or out of fear?

What the HECK do we say? It is hard because we want to say or do something that will make it better somehow. Lucy & Sharon want to take that heavy burden from your heart! Your friend does not expect you to arrive like some sort of oracle with wisdom or information to soothe them. They are not looking for you to make this better at all! They do need some time to process what is happening in their life and they need you to be present while they do that. So, you are going to visit to show your love and support…wonderful! Be prepared to roll up your sleeves, put your feelings on the back burner, and tune your ears to "listen." Now, how to manage that anxious mouth so you do not end up with foot-in-mouth disease? Sit back and listen as Sharon & Lucy help you address that very issue.

Miss Molly lived as only the top 1.5 percent of Americans do, with couture clothes, jewels, a 6,000 square foot luxury home and all of the trimmings. So how was it that she found herself homeless, standing in a food line and fighting cancer all at once? This gutsy mother of 5 identifies with so many women, at every point of the financial spectrum, who are struggling through a cancer diagnosis. She understands making tough choices like: do I pay the house payment or the Cobra insurance payment, do I proceed with treatment or make the most of this new fantastic job, do I buy gas or milk with the last couple of dollars in my purse? As she searched out resources to help her and her new husband weather the financial storm through and following her treatment, she realized that none were available. As a result, her quest to get help became her quest to give help.

These fun ladies really believe that as survivors we owe a little payback to humanity. They are doing just that in a BIG way as they help so many women survivors cope. As founders of "The Plum" online magazine, The National Women's Survivors Convention and The Women's Survivor Alliance, Miss Judy and Miss Karen work tirelessly to offer hope, joy and solidarity to fellow cancer survivors across the globe. They use their "second acts" to reach out to others who need to find answers as well as comradery.

When we hear "Hey Ya'll" Lucy and Sharon can only think of one sister….Miss Karen. Take a seat and listen to her unique story which began with a decision (in high school) to move in with and take care of her grandmother who was battling breast cancer. Following that decision, when Karen was only 20, she was diagnosed with and began treatment for ovarian cancer. These two events propelled her into a 20 year career as a healthcare administrator with a well rounded perspective as caregiver, patient, survivor and bean counter. Her survivorship has been rich and varied and now includes her desire to establish a network of women effected by cancer where they can find their voice, improve their quality of life and embrace their new normal. She works to transform survivorship from a mood, to a movement. The result is the National Women's Survivor Convention. Pull up a seat and listen to this remarkable, positive, powerhouse of a woman.

Miss Judy shares her cancer story and the strong survivorship story she is creating in its wake. Her radiant and positive nature carried her through this process and pulls us into this interview. She is not only co-founder of The National Women's Survivor Convention, but also an acclaimed writer. Her writing career began as a child in an old Maple tree in her parent's back yard and has span her lifetime. This Michigan native will inspire you as she offers little tricks to interject hope into your journey. Don't worry, we will have more from Miss Judy soon!

Some young cancer patients learn that chemotherapy can have a strong impact on fertility before they begin chemotherapy, some learn during and sadly some do not discover this until their treatment is complete. Fertility is not just one more thing cancer seeks to rob from us, but this particular blow can feel unexpected, and can take the wind out of a patient's sails. The Livestrong Foundation's Fertile Hope Initiative offers support, information and access to programs in an effort to empower the patient where ever they are in the treatment process. Miss Emily Eargle helps us tackle this tough subject as she highlights the programs the Fertile Hope Initiative developed in response to the challenges faced by these patients. They work to restore the hope for a future family after chemotherapy. Come listen for a breath of fresh air as well as some well needed hope.