WE Have Cancer

After being diagnosed with breast cancer and having her son face a near-death bout with Diabetic Ketoacidosis, Michelle Moore-Fanger felt devastated, broken, and tired. But she used her hurdles as motivation to continue helping others through her charity and now a book.

Michelle Moore-Fanger is the author of “A Mother's Grace: Healing the World, One Woman at a Time” and the founder of the Mother’s Grace Foundation.

• Introduction
• The impact of having a nurse for a mother

Michelle tells a story about how her mother, who had a congenital heart defect, continued to work as a nurse helping pediatric cardiac patients. Michelle’s experience having a nurse for a mother was a driving factor to writing the book.

• Memories

Michelle’s mother passed away when she was five years old, leaving her with very few memories. She recalls a few of the things she remembers for Lee.

• Having an impact

Growing up without a mother and going through cancer herself, Michelle has had the type of tough experiences that allow her to empathize with others better. She believes it’s that empathy that enables her to help others so well.

• Hurricane Katrina

One of Michelle’s first fundraisers was to support those impacted by Hurricane Katrina. She explains how she came to the idea and connected with a woman from the area to assist those in need.

• Breast cancer diagnosis

After helping so many, Michelle found herself in need of help and support after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

• Diabetic Ketoacidosis

With her own diagnosis, Michelle’s seven-year-old son was near death and had to be rushed to Phoenix Children’s Hospital with Diabetic Ketoacidosis.

• The premise of “A Mother’s Grace”

As Michelle explains, her own cancer diagnosis and her son’s medical issues were simply devastating to her emotional state. As she details, the constant flow of information and the worry that comes with it left her broken and tired.

• Creating the Mother’s Grace Foundation

Having gone through her own troubles, Michelle decided she should create a non-profit that can help other mothers take the time to be with their children

• Finding other women facing tragedy

Michelle says it’s divine the way she’s found other women going through a life tragedy. She shares a story about finding and helping a woman who eventually went on to create Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels and Comfycozy’s for Chemo.

• The future

Michelle thinks her foundation is doing all the right things and helping so many people but she wants to expand to help even more. She discusses how the foundation works currently and its current rate of pass-through.

• Funding and how you can help

Mother’s Grace currently gets a majority of its funding through private donors. Michelle attributes that to the word-of-mouth, social media, and magazine reach they’ve had. While they don’t currently have a grant writer, the foundation is starting to apply for grants.

Michelle Moore - A Mother’s Grace Book

Mother’s Grace Foundation - Website

Mother’s Grace Foundation - Email

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Summer Watson was at the top of the world. She’d signed a recording contract with Sony and was living her life to the fullest until a routine mammogram found Stage 4 breast cancer in 2004. Despite being given just weeks to live, Summer has allowed her love of music and a positive outlook to propel her forward and keep her alive.

Summer Watson is a classical music superstar who just released her latest EP “Unveiled.” But after being diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer in 2014 and being given just weeks to live, things looked bleak. She’s leaned on her love of music as well as her bright and perky attitude to heal.

• Introduction
• The attraction to music

Summer got into music at four years old, which all started with some music lessons and blossomed into something much bigger.

• How did Summer’s parents react to her rising fame?

Summer explains how her parents’ and music teachers’ encouragement helped propel her to college for music and eventually to a massive recording contract with Sony.

• Covering Sting

Being in a train accident in 2002 helped Summer realize the fragility of life. In the famed Abbey Road Studio to record her first album, a producer pointed out she should do a cover of Sting’s song, “Fragile.”

• Breast cancer diagnosis

Summer was diagnosed with breast cancer after getting a routine mammogram in 2014. She talks a bit about the process and the initial diagnosis.

• Surviving

Despite the initial breast cancer diagnosis giving Summer just a few weeks to live, she remains here to this day. But it wasn’t easy. Summer discusses how she had to spend time recovering, both physically and mentally, and some of the things she did along the way to get to this point now.

• How her relationship with music changed

Having breast cancer naturally changed Summer. She began getting out of her comfort zone, jamming with bands and other musicians, and becoming a vocal coach. She’s now writing and recording her own music as she’s found more joy in singing.

• Coping with COVID-19

Summer’s life experiences have helped her form a new life view. Lee and Summer talk about how that new view has helped her through the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Staying positive and becoming stronger

Summer shares her outlook on how mindfulness and not feeling sorry for herself have allowed her to live life to the fullest. Lee and Summer talk about how having a positive attitude and a purpose might have helped keep them alive.

• Unveiled

Summer Watson’s latest EP is called “Unveiled” and as Lee points out, there’s a line in the chorus of the title song that says “when your heart is broken, the world is unveiled.” Summer talks about the meaning of that line and her philosophy to life.

Summer Watson - Unveiled

Summer Watson - Instagram

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Getting any type of cancer diagnosis can be terrifying, but it’s even worse when you don’t really understand what’s happening. On this episode of WE Have Cancer, Lee talks with Carly Flumer about her experiences -- from getting a thyroid cancer diagnosis herself to now advocating for medical professionals to use health literacy concepts to improve patient compliance.

Carly Flumer received a thyroid cancer diagnosis at 27 years old and found the journey confusing, frustrating, and even offensive at times. All it took was one doctor drawing a picture to better explain her condition and it all made sense. Carly now works for the National Cancer Institute and as an independent advocate for improving how doctors inform patients.

• Introduction
• Thyroid cancer diagnosis

At an annual physical, a doctor found a lump in her throat. Though an ultrasound proved the lump wasn’t actually cancer, they did find something else they wanted to get a little closer look at. A biopsy later and Carly had her thyroid cancer diagnosis.

• Thyroidectomy

With metastasis, Carly ended up needing further treatment, including a total thyroidectomy.

• “The good cancer”

Throughout her journey, Carly heard she had “the good cancer” as a way of helping try to ease fears. But Carly found the term to be offensive and believes it doesn’t make things any less stressful or difficult.

• Advocacy through experience

Having found her journey with thyroid cancer to be confusing and difficult. From people downplaying her experiences to doctors failing to explain things properly, Carly shares what she feels is a common problem that can make all the difference for non-compliant patients.

• Compliance vs. Non-compliance

Carly breaks down what she feels is non-compliance from a patient perspective and how she believes the doctor plays a big part in a patient’s success. From lapses in medication to getting scans and bloodwork done on time.

• Working at the National Cancer Institute

Carly talks about how she came to work at the National Cancer Institute during her journey with thyroid cancer. She discusses how her job helps other patients learn about new and emerging cancer treatments through clinical trials.

• Clinical trials for cancer

Through her own experience going through clinical trials, Carly explains what clinical trials offer to patients. She also breaks down how clinical trials can differ -- from trying new treatments to finding specific tumor markers.

• Why and when should patients look at clinical trials?

Beyond what clinical trials are at a base level, Lee and Carly talk about why someone might want to participate in a clinical trial and when they should begin looking for one.

• Phases of clinical trials

Carly explains the different phases of a clinical trial and what each phase might offer to both patients, doctors, and researchers alike.

• Advocating for improving patient education

With the experience of her doctors struggling to really teach her about her cancer or the support systems available, Carly is taking up the charge instead. She talks about how she’s been an advocate for improving patient education by sharing her story with others, and how it’s given her a sense of empowerment along the way.

• Twitter chats and advocacy

Carly found Twitter chats during grad school and has begun using the social media format as a part of her advocacy. She’s helped not only other patients but other advocates, doctors, nurses, and even executives of healthcare companies.

Health Literacy Media - Instilling health literacy

National Cancer Institute

American Thyroid Association

Carly Flumer - Twitter

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Receiving a cancer diagnosis is nothing short of a shock -- whether it’s you personally or a loved one. But it’s how you handle the journey that can really make all the difference in what the next steps look like. This episode of WE Have Cancer is all about patient empowerment and learning how to have a healthy relationship with the diagnosis. Lee is joined by Dr. Paul Anderson to discuss what he means by empowerment and how you can achieve it.

Dr. Paul Anderson is the author of “Cancer: The Journey from Diagnosis to Empowerment.” Through his own decades of experience, Dr. Anderson has seen first-hand what patient empowerment can do to someone’s care and how cultivating the right mentality can improve both the quality and quantity of someone’s life after a cancer diagnosis.

• Introduction
• What does patient empowerment look like?

A cancer diagnosis can be a supremely shocking thing that kickstarts a bunch of different emotions. How someone responds to that can be truly empowering. Dr. Anderson talks about what he thinks empowerment looks like in the face of a cancer diagnosis.

• What makes up patient empowerment?

In order to be empowered through your journey with cancer, you cannot ignore it. Dr. Anderson believes empowerment involves having a healthy relationship with the cancer diagnosis, and being able to both face that head-on and being in charge of the situation.

• Becoming an empowered patient

While the journey to empowerment takes on different looks at times, Dr. Anderson found it involved getting beyond the anger, denial, and confusion of the cancer diagnosis. Ultimately, it boiled down to not being a hapless victim but taking charge.

• Bob and Gia

A part of Dr. Anderson’s book involves the journey of two patients -- both at different ends of the spectrum in handling their diagnosis. While both dealt with the anger and difficulty with their initial diagnosis, Bob stayed stuck there while Gia embraced the journey. Dr. Anderson found that taking Gia’s empowerment approach tended to improve the quality and quantity of life a patient had.

• Living like Gia

Becoming empowered is a step-by-step process. Some steps will be harder for some while others may already have them figured out. But Dr. Anderson designed the book to help hand hold people through to acceptance.

• Mindfulness and other integrated medicine practices

Dr. Anderson has noticed things like meditation and mindfulness exercises have started to gain more acceptance as a part of cancer treatments in recent years. They can be used as a part of patient empowerment.

• Combatting scanxiety

Regular cancer scans and lab work can be some of the most anxiety-inducing parts of the journey and can be problematic even years after an initial diagnosis. Dr. Anderson notes that it’s normal to feel that anxiety but the trick is to understand it’s going to happen so you can better accept it. Dr. Anderson also points back to meditation and mindfulness as a way to go from acknowledging that anxiety to tempering it. Lee shares his own story about dealing with anxiety and patient empowerment.

Dr. Anderson's website - https://www.consultdranderson.com

Cancer: The Journey From Diagnosis to Empowerment - https://www.amazon.com/Cancer-Empowerment-Dr-Paul-Anderson/dp/1544515995

Follow Dr. Anderson on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/draonline/

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Follow Dr. Anderson on Twitter - https://twitter.com/DrPaulAnderson1

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On this episode of WE Have Cancer, Lee is joined by Shelley Buck and Kathy Curtis, co-authors of “Leave Your Light On: The Musical Mantra Left Behind by an Illuminating Spirit.”

The grieving process can look dramatically different from person to person and situation to situation. For Shelley, it took the form of writing a book with her son Ryder, and her friend Kathy. Shelley opens up about how her son’s cancer diagnosis changed their relationship and even her parenting style, and was a catalyst to share his spirit with the world. Shelley and Kathy talk about writing the book as a way to extend Ryder’s legacy while also using it as an essential part of their grieving process.

Shelley Buck and Kathy Curtis are co-authors of the book “Leave Your Light On: The Musical Mantra Left Behind by an Illuminating Spirit.” After Shelley’s son Ryder was diagnosed with cancer, she poured her heart into writing their story. With the help of a lifelong friend and healing writer Kathy, Shelley was able to work through her grief with a creative outlet, letting her son's light shine on.

• Introduction
• What’s it like to hear your child has cancer?

So often, the focus is on the cancer patient themselves. As Shelly talks about, receiving the diagnosis from her son left her breathless but put her into a spin of activity.

• How did a cancer diagnosis change the relationship?

With her son being 22 at the time and Shelly needing special permission to get information from the doctor, she had to learn how to let go and let him take the lead.

• Exasperation

From more of an outsider’s perspective as Shelly’s lifelong friend, Kathy talks about Ryder’s personality and how exasperating he could be, even during treatment.

• Telling Ryder’s story

Kathy, one of the authors of the book, saw it as an honor and big responsibility to portray Ryder the way he saw himself. Kathy also saw it as an opportunity to help Ryder leave a lasting legacy.

• Light on

Shelley gives some background about the title of the book, “Leave Your Light On” and where the term came from.

• How Ryder would feel about his legacy

With the book and a character being named after him in the movie “Frozen 2,” Shelly talks a bit about how she feels Ryder would feel about how he’s being portrayed and remembered now.

• The finality of the word “lose”

Echoing a similar sentiment as Lee, Shelley talks about how she feels about words like “lose” and “dead” in this context.

• Helping a friend through grief

Kathy was there to help Shelley and the rest of the family through the grieving process, both as a counselor of sorts and as a lifelong friend. She talks about some of the things they dealt with while writing the book and grieving over Ryder.

• Friendship and support

Shelley talks about her friendship with Kathy and discusses what her support meant to her throughout this process.

• Grieving through writing and the hole that has been left

By going through everything to write the book and with Kathy’s guiding hand, Shelley was able to use the process to grieve over Ryder. Shelley also talks about how the family is coping with Ryder’s passing.

• Using music to cope

Ryder was well known for his love of music, even from a young age. So when he was diagnosed with cancer, he naturally turned to music. Shelley tells a story about how Ryder played and wrote music throughout his treatment.

• How Kathy came to use writing to heal

Kathy dealt with her own pain and grief as her mother was diagnosed with cancer and passed away. That’s where she found the power of writing through the grieving process, using it to say everything she felt she wanted to say to her mother.

• Helping others 

Shelley and Kathy give their insight on how to open up your heart again after losing a loved one -- From embracing the process to being open to a continuation of the relationship inside yourself.

• Ryder Buck Scholarship Foundation

As a music lover, it only made sense for the scholarship foundation to be about music as well. As a part of Ryder’s legacy, the foundation has awarded 17 scholarships since 2014.

• Fond memory - Kathy

Kathy, who is hearing impaired, was overwhelmed when she first got her hearing implant. One of her fondest memories of Ryder was that day and how his light and enthusiasm when talking to her made everything better.

• Fond memory - Shelley

Shelley doesn’t have a single fond memory but remembers how Ryder lit up the room when performing on stage.

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Leave Your Light On - Website

Leave Your Light On - Book

Shelley Buck - Twitter

Shelley Buck - Instagram

Ryder Buck Scholarship Foundation - Website

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On this week’s episode of WE Have Cancer, Lee sits down with Jason Mendelsohn, a Stage-4 tonsil cancer survivor and HPV advocate. Jason shares his story about being diagnosed with HPV-related cancer and his journey to becoming a well-known advocate for the HPV vaccine and awareness of HPV in men. 

The pair talk about the stigma surrounding the disease and how Jason has coped in the aftermath. Jason also discusses his motivation for being such an advocate and what he’s looking to do next.

Jason Mendelsohn was diagnosed with Stage 4 tonsil cancer at 44-years-old. Now recovered, he’s on a mission to bring awareness of HPV cancer, the HPV vaccine to the world while especially trying to break the stigma of HPV in men.

• Introduction
• Superheroes

Those that are currently or have gone through cancer and treatment are often called heroes. With a brand revolving around Superman, Lee asks Jason what he thinks about the term hero.

• Discomfort in talking about HPV in men

With people often asking why he has no discomfort or embarrassment talking about HPV in men, Jason takes a minute to share some of the real numbers behind the disease.

• How do you get HPV?

HPV is most often contracted by sexual transmission. As Jason notes, most men won’t ever know they had it while some men end up getting cancer decades later from it.

• Jason’s HPV diagnosis

After finding a small lump on his neck, Jason went to the doctor thinking it was nothing serious. But a few days later, Jason was diagnosed with Stage 4 tonsil cancer.

• HPV awareness

Jason believes he’s had a small part in raising the general consciousness about the disease through sharing his story in interviews. He believes that he’s simply doing his part to help others that might not know about it and could be saved by the vaccine.

• Breaking the stigma

Cancer often comes with a stigma and a sense of embarrassment, especially something like HPV-related cancer due to the sexual aspect of the disease. Jason shares a story and talks about how his story helps people realize how common it is and that there’s nothing to be embarrassed by.

• Emotions after his HPV diagnosis

While he was already a fairly emotional person with a big heart, his journey has helped Jason appreciate the little things more. He also tells a story of recording messages for his children after being diagnosed and wanting to create more memories for them.

• Using music to cope

Jason and Lee talk about how music can be like meditation.

• What’s next?

Jason is already spending his time lobbying on Capitol Hill and putting his energy and resources into the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance. He’d also like to do a TED Talk to help eliminate the stigma surrounding HPV in men.

Jason Mendelsohn (Superman HPV) - Website

Follow Jason on Instagram - https://instagram.com/supermanHPV

Follow Jason on Twitter - https://twitter.com/supermanHPV

Head and Neck Cancer Alliance - Website

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This week on the WE Have Cancer podcast, Lee sits down with Brodi Nicholas, the founder and CEO of One At a Time -- a non-profit charity that helps create positive experiences and fulfills the dreams of children fighting life-threatening illnesses.

Lee and Brodi talk about how it all started with his next-door neighbor, Samantha, and has grown into an international foundation. From beginning with some simple bracelets and helping Sam realize her dreams, to being featured on the Hallmark Channel, helping children all over the United States, and even expanding into the Philippines.

Brodi Nicholas is the founder and CEO of One At a Time, a non-profit charity helping children with life-changing ailments. Brodi started by just helping a next-door neighbor after she was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Since then, it’s grown into a formal 501(c)3 non-profit that helps children and families all over the United States and in the Philippines. 

• Introduction

Lee introduces Brodi.

• Sam’s Acute lymphocytic leukemia diagnosis

Brodi shares the story of how he found out Sam was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia and where his journey starts.

• Bracelets

With a realization of Sam’s condition, Brodi got to work to try and make things just a little easier for her. With the help of some friends and neighbors, Brodi began creating bracelets to sell at his shows and online to get Sam a new gaming console.

• Going above and beyond

After raising $2,500 for Sam, Brodi wanted to know how else he could help. With dreams of playing the drums, swimming, and riding a bike, Brodi got the work once again, helping Sam realize all of those dreams in very big ways.

• Growing to a non-profit to help others

After sponsoring Samantha, Brodi wanted to help other children and their families. After two years of cash-in-an-envelope-type of dealings, Brodi made the One At a Time charity official and continues to grow it to this day.

• Kids helping kids

Brodi realized that getting other children involved was a great opportunity. Not only does the extra help benefit everyone but having children involved allows them to see people with disabilities and ailments as just like everyone else.

• How the One At a Time charity works

Brodi talks a bit about how the charity works - sponsoring one kid a month, building awareness of the illness they’re going through, and granting one of their wishes of either a gift or an experience.

• Transitioning to virtual events during the coronavirus

With COVID-19 canceling in-person events, One At a Time has pivoted to holding virtual events. That includes teaming up with some characters so the children can have a call from some of their favorite princesses and cartoon characters.

• How One At a Time is growing and evolving

Brodi shares his vision for the charity moving forward, including scaling things up into different countries while still providing a personal touch to each child they sponsor.

• Making it to television

Lee saw the foundation on the Hallmark Channel one day. Brodi shares the story of how that came to be and how that moment helped the charity pop off suddenly.

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One At a Time - Website

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On this week's episode of the WE Have Cancer podcast, Lee talks with Eileen Powers, an artist, cancer patient, and creator of Can You Make Hair For Me.

While some view their cancer diagnosis as a battle or war as a way to cope, Eileen turned to art. With a loss of her hair and self-identity, Eileen noticed how uncomfortable her friends were with her journey and her cancer. So, she turned a negative into a positive by asking people to make hair-related art for her as a way of more comfortable and opening a dialogue about her diagnosis.

Eileen Powers is an artist and creator of Can You Make Hair For Me. When she was diagnosed with lymphoma, she used her art background as a way to not only cope with having cancer and to forge a self-identity, but also to connect to those around her that she felt were uncomfortable.

• Introduction

Lee introduced Eileen and her background as an artist

• Being blank

Much like a blank canvas, Eileen describes herself as being blank. She discusses how being blank and able to redefine herself is a positive.

• Flipping the narrative

Lee and Eileen share their thoughts on the terms most often used to describe dealing with cancer, including words like "battle" and "fight." They talk about their personal dislike of viewing cancer as a competition or war and give their outlook.

• Dealing with death

Continuing on the previous topic, Lee and Eileen talk about how the fear of death shapes how we talk about cancer and to the patients dealing with it.

• Eileen's follicular lymphoma diagnosis

Eileen shares her cancer story. From a routine colonoscopy, her doctors diagnosed her with follicular lymphoma. Eileen talks about her reaction and that feeling of becoming a different person upon her diagnosis.

• Getting a 2nd opinion

With scheduling difficulties, frequent trips to the emergency room in excruciating pain, and the feeling no one was listening, Eileen got a second opinion from a different hospital. This oncologist didn't agree with the initial diagnosis and got her started on treatment right away.

• Extensive treatment

With a second opinion, Eileen started chemotherapy which worked so well to reduce the size of her tumors that her intestines began getting tangled up. She needed emergency surgery to remove several feet of her small intestine.

• Recurrence and stem cell treatment

A few months after several rounds of chemotherapy and surgery, Eileen's cancer was back. This time, she entered a research study that included stem cell transplant and immunotherapy.

• Eileen's big project

After losing her hair and her self identity to cancer treatment, Eileen began to feel isolated as friends would drop food off but not stick around. It was there Eileen realized she needed to redirect people's energy in a way that was more helpful and turn a negative into a positive. So, she asked people to make hair for her -- whatever that meant to them -- as a way to bridge the gap and get people talking.

• Can you make hair for me

With the idea figured out, Eileen has taken it to new heights. She talks about some of the more interesting pieces she's received, including an art exhibition started at Lesley University with their expressive therapy grad students. Eileen also talks about what the project has done for her and those around her.

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Can you make hair for me - Instagram

Can you make hair for me - Website

Lesley University exhibition 

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Joining Lee this week on the WE Have Cancer Podcast is Jordan Griffith of The Griffith Family Foundation. Jordan talks about his father’s pancreatic cancer and how that helped create the Griffith Family Foundation, Sideline Cancer, and a massive basketball tournament.

Jordan discusses the foundation and its impact, both on his family as well as what it’s doing to fight against pancreatic cancer. He also dives into some of the best moments of The Basketball Tournament and what that’s meant for the foundation and its ability to raise awareness and funds.

Jordan Griffith’s father, Greg Griffith, was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. With the help of friends and the local community, The Griffith Family Foundation was formed, as well as creating Sideline Cancer. As an ambassador and board member, Jordan has helped see the foundation put in the spotlight on ESPN as a part of The Basketball Tournament.

• Introduction to Jordan Griffith
• Jordan’s father and the start of the story

Instead of worrying about his prognosis after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Jordan shares how his father instead wanted to know how he could help the doctor. Jordan also talks about how his father would feel seeing the changes in the community.

• The Griffith Family Foundation and Sideline Cancer

Jordan shares the story about how the foundation was created, how it evolved over time, and why it’s centered around basketball.

• TBT: The Basketball Tournament

With the foundation based on basketball, it only made sense to create a basketball tournament. Jordan talks about how the tournament was created and quickly expanded to being on ESPN.

• The foundation’s impact

Lee and Jordan talk about where the funds raised are going and the hopeful impact of the foundation in awareness of pancreatic cancer.

• How has the family changed?

After Jordan’s father passed away, he says the family was able to bond over their shared experiences with the foundation and from working on it.

• The long-term goals of the foundation

Jordan opens up about the changing dynamics of the foundation and some of the things he wants to see happen.

The Griffith Family Foundation

Sideline Cancer

Sideline Cancer - Instagram

The Basketball Tournament

Marcus Keene’s shot in the tournament

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

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Lee sits down with Caroline Rose in this week’s episode of the WE Have Cancer podcast to discuss non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and how a rescue dog helped the healing process.

Through taking care of her dog Riley, Caroline was able to find hope, forgiveness, love, and so much more during her journey with stage-4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Caroline turned a letter to her dog into so much more and now uses her story with Riley to help others find hope during diagnosis and treatment, as well as guide her through the aftermath of remission.

Caroline Rose had battled stage-4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at 27 years old. Instead of letting fear grip hold of her life, Caroline turned to hope and a rescue dog named Riley. Helping rehabilitate Riley after neglect and abuse allowed Caroline to heal in her own way and it formed a bond and drive that has continued on. She’s since turned her story into a website, public speaking events, and soon, a book: Dear Riley Rose.

• Introduction to Caroline Rose

Lee introduces Caroline, how he came to know her and what he found interesting with her personal story.

• Why has a dog played such an important role

With everything seemingly going against it, Caroline found her future dog Riley and some unconditional love.

• Turning that love into a story

With the pair intertwined, Caroline wrote a letter to Riley, forming the basis of her website and an upcoming book.

• Finding hope

At a time when things can seem hopeless, the right story can change everything. That’s what Caroline kept hearing from people at public speaking events so she made it a core part of her message.

• Caroline’s diagnosis

At 27 years old, Caroline was in the best shape of her life. She had run several marathons and was in training to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. But when she went to get vaccinated for the trip, routine blood work showed a problem.

• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma side effects

Caroline shares some of the side effects treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma has had on her life.

• The aftermath of remission

Now in remission for 10 years, Caroline opens up about how treatment can feel like a finish line with little guidance in how to handle life afterward.

• Having cancer with children

Caroline also talks about how she’s managed her diagnosis and treatment all with her children. From using a child psychologist to creating a picture book of the experience to share with her daughter, Caroline opens up about what she told her children and how they went through it as a family.

• Finding joy and laughter

Caroline says she hopes her children would remember her laughter when they think about their combined journey. Whether it be the dogs, family, and friends, Caroline talks about where she’s found joy and laughter throughout it all.

• Forgiveness and love

Caroline discusses how she was hard on herself during diagnosis and treatment and how she was able to forgive herself and heal.

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Dear Riley Rose

Dear Riley Rose - Instagram

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Know someone touched by cancer who has an inspiring story? Email Lee