When We Had Cancer

Larissa Morgan is the director of health justice transformation at Penn Medicine, an oncology nurse previously, and is plain ol’ honest about the challenges of having a breast cancer diagnosis, including entering the survivorship period. She recommends taking people up on the help they offer you and listening to your body if you need to take time off. Tune in to this week’s episode of “When We Had Cancer,” to hear about Larissa’s journey since diagnosis.

Song Credits: Easy on Me, by Adele; Clair de Lune, by Claude Debussy

Doris Piccinin is outdoorsy—she loves hiking and skiing, embraced farm-to-table cooking long before it became trendy, and absolutely adores her dog. As a breast cancer survivor, Doris shares her experience navigating treatment, managing side effects, and finding her way through survivorship. But her role in the cancer community doesn’t end there: she is a cancer dietitian at the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center and brings her therapy-dog-in-training to support both patients and staff.

Tune in to this month’s episode to hear Doris’s story—from diagnosis and treatment to survivorship, healing, and helping others along the way!

Song Credits: Easy on Me, by Adele; Clair de Lune, by Claude Debussy

Catherine Hagele is a dragon boat fanatic, leader in the standardized patient program at Penn Medicine and discovered her own breast cancer via self exam several years ago. Today, she tells me about mindfulness and feeling each of her emotions, her enormous support system, and paddling in the Schuyllkill river alongside other breast cancer survivors--including an international competition in Germany! 

Song Credits: Easy on Me, by Adele; Clair de Lune, by Claude Debussy

Keisha is in her gynecologic oncology fellowship specializing in cervical cancer with research interests in patients' narratives. She's also a wife and a mother of 2 young ones. She's chatty, bikes all around Philadelphia, and carries around her yoga mat in anticipation of her CorePower yoga class later in the day. Tune in to this interesting episode to hear about warning signs of cervical cancer, the HPV vaccine, talking to patients about hospice, 'sexy' qualitative research, and how we are providers can take care of ourselves. 

Tanya Lumpkins, MD, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024, and before that she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Navigating the healthcare system was nothing new; Dr. Lumpkins was used to being a patient that had to see multiple specialists. However, having the label as "cancer patient" took a whole new role, especially in how it offered perspective on racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes, understanding genetic risk, seeing shortcomings of the health care organization, and even how it inspired travel and joy in her retirement. Life is short and so it should be enjoyed. More than 1 year after her breast cancer diagnosis, Dr. Lumpkins shares her story with her very own daughter, Sarah Marion, MD, podcast host of "When We Had Cancer" and physician, herself. 

Ms. Kathleen Haden, ANP, is a nurse practitioner who now focuses mainly on cancer prevention strategies in clinic. But her journey is an interesting one: training to be a nurse practitioner when it was very uncommon (and not nearly as straightforward!), working in HIV/infectious disease units at the NIH alongside Dr. Fauci, independently figuring out what wellness strategies work for her, and now teaching nursing students how to figure out what works for them. Tune in to this episode of When We Had Cancer to hear a unique story about taking care of cancer patients from the perspective of an award-winning nurse practitioner!

Enjoy this week's episode, free to rate the podcast on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts, and reach out to [email protected] if you (or someone you know) would be a good fit for a future episode! Thanks for listening :)

~Sarah

Song Credits:

Easy on Me, by Adele

Clair de Lune, by Claude Debussy 

Song Credits:

Easy on Me, by Adele

Clair de Lune, by Claude Debussy 

Dr. Craig Slingluff is a surgical oncologist and immunology researcher who treats and investigates melanoma, respectively. But he also was diagnosed with cancer, himself. Two years ago, he found out he had metastatic prostate cancer. With family and faculty support, Dr. Slingluff has a new perspective on life, which includes better work-life balance and gratitude exercises. Tune in to this week's episode to hear more about the intersections of work, disease, and coming to terms with one's own mortality.

Enjoy this week's episode, free to rate the podcast on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts, and reach out to [email protected] if you (or someone you know) would be a good fit for a future episode! Thanks for listening :)

~Sarah

Song Credits:

Easy on Me, by Adele

Clair de Lune, by Claude Debussy 

Her breast cancer diagnosis in 2008 did not just have her thinking about death and dying, it inspired a second career: chaplaincy. Ms. Ann Marie Smith, MDiv, began volunteering with hospice care after her breast cancer journey, and eventually got her masters in divinity before doing her chaplain residency. Now a chaplain with the UVA Cancer Center, Ms. Smith provides care to cancer patients with a unique perspective given her similar position 15 years prior. Tune in to this week’s episode to learn more about the extent of chaplain services, the broad definition of grief and loss, ways to cope with emotional burden, and hear this woman’s perspective on what happens once we die.

Take a listen to this week's episode, feel free to rate the podcast on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts, and reach out to [email protected] if you (or someone you know) would be a good fit for a future episode! Thanks for listening :)

~Sarah

Song Credits:

Easy on Me, by Adele

Clair de Lune, by Claude Debussy 

Starting off the 3rd season of "When We Had Cancer," which newly features providers (in the general sense) of cancer patients, is an interview with Dr. Fumiko Chino. Dr. Chino is a radiation oncologist in Manhattan, New York City, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Daughter of a radiation oncologist and sister to two radiation oncologists, Dr. Chino discusses many things that fall under the emotional wellbeing and challenges of cancer providers, including 1) the tribulations of growing up with a hard-working physician-mother; 2) the extent of our cancer therapies; 3) research that tailors to patients' needs; 4) the importance of flexibility and boundaries with work; 5) connecting and empathizing with patients; and 6) celebrating the wins with cancer care wherever you can.

Take a listen to this week's episode, feel free to rate the podcast on whatever platform you listen to your podcasts, and reach out to [email protected] if you (or someone you know) would be a good fit for a future episode! Thanks for listening :)

~Sarah 

Song Credits: 

Easy on Me, by Adele

Clair de Lune, by Claude Debussy 

Maggie is a 34-year old cancer survivor who, frankly, isn’t thankful she ever was diagnosed. Maggie’s cancer compromised her fertility, brought upon anger, and played awful waiting games with biopsy results. Tune in to this week’s episode to hear about a rare cancer diagnosis, family planning, second opinions from doctors, and the role of therapy. 

Song Credits: 

Easy on Me, by Adele

Clair de Lune, by Claude Debussy