The Many Faces of Cancer
As a cancer survivor and thriver, I know how important community and support are when you are facing a cancer diagnosis. That’s why I created The Many Faces of Cancer Podcast.
Each week I will be interviewing amazing people with heartfelt and inspirational stories from all sides of the cancer journey: patients, survivors and thrivers, caregivers, family and friends, and professionals. I may even throw in a bonus episode once in a while talking about things that are important to us all.
We never think it will happen to us, until it does. This podcast will be about community, knowing you’re not alone in your journey. It will also be an opportunity for people to share their stories and hopefully help others.
I hope you will all tune in. While it will be cancer stories, we all learn from others and, ultimately, these are human stories, applicable to many other areas of life.
Episodes
144 episodes
Still Here but Forever Changed after Brain Cancer with Jason Berger
At 34, police officer Jason Berger experienced seizures that led to a diagnosis of primary central nervous system lymphoma. More than two decades later, he shares a story of repeated relapses, difficult treatment decisions, and the people who h...
Carried by Faith: Surviving Cancer, Grieving Loss and Choosing Joy with Terri Renella
What carries you forward when life gives you more than you ever imagined you could bear?For Terri Renella, the answer has been faith.Terri has faced extraordinary challenges — a rare and aggressive parotid gland cancer that return...
Don't Tell Me the Odds: 25 Years Beyond Terminal Cancer Diagnosis with Mike Swinden
In 2001, John Michael “Mike” Swinden was told he had multiple myeloma—an incurable blood cancer—and that even with an experimental clinical trial, the hope was for just three to five more years.Twenty-five years later, Mike is still here...
Turning Down the Volume: Finding Yourself After Cancer with Kathryn Pol
What happens when cancer forces you to stop carrying everything—and finally start listening to yourself?In this episode of The Many Faces of Cancer, Melissa talks with breast cancer survivor, mindfulness practitioner, certified ...
The Meaning of Life is to Live: Thriving with Cancer with Vic Ortiz
What does it mean to truly live when you know cancer may always be part of your life?Vic Ortiz was diagnosed in 2017 with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. His initial reaction was one familiar to so many people after hearing the wo...
When Life Changes the Plan: Grief, Joy and Learning to Play Again with Sarita Parikh
What happens when life changes so dramatically that “getting back to normal” is no longer the goal?In this episode of The Many Faces of Cancer, Melissa sits down with healthcare professional, entrepreneur, advocate, speaker and ...
From "Why Me?" to "What Now?": Finding Courage After Cancer with Nerissa Balland
What happens when cancer enters your life at a time when you're supposed to be focused on growing your family and raising your children?Nerissa Balland was 38 years old, five months pregnant and already raising a toddler when she was dia...
Changing the Future of Childhood Cancer with Julie Daubenmire
When Julie Daubenmire's 10-year-old daughter Hannah began complaining of knee pain during cross-country practice, her family assumed it was a routine sports injury. Instead, it became the beginning of a life-changing journey through osteosarcom...
Making Sense of It: From Diagnosis to Decision with Paul Davies
A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming—but what happens when the next words aren't “Here's what we're going to do,” but instead, “Here are your options. You decide”?In this episode of The Many Faces of Cancer, Melissa talks with Paul Dav...
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No Shame, Just Strength: Ali's Anal Cancer Story with Ali Stripling
When Ali Stripling left her corporate career to pursue her passion for women's health, cancer was the last thing she expected. Just one month later, she was diagnosed with Stage III HPV-related anal cancer.In this heartfelt conversation,...
Redefining Life with Incurable Cancer with JJ Singleton
When JJ Singleton was just 27 years old, he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer—a disease he believed only affected older adults. After surgery and chemotherapy, he thought cancer was behind him. Just weeks later, it returned.Today, mor...
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Living with Cancer, Not Dying From It with Kevin Griffiths
When Kevin Griffiths was diagnosed with bowel cancer at just 44 years old, his world changed overnight. Since then, he's endured multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and an incurable stage IV diagnosis. Yet six years later, Kevin con...
Healing Beyond The Cancer Diagnosis with Edna Castillo
Cancer treatment often focuses on surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, and medications—but what about the emotional side of healing?This week, Melissa sits down with cancer thriver, speaker, coach, and bestselling author Edna Castillo to ...
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Cancer, Data and Hope: How AI is Changing the Future with Russ Read-Barrow
AI is everywhere right now—but could it actually help people living with cancer?In this fascinating conversation, Melissa sits down with stage IV colorectal cancer survivor Russ Read Barrow, who decided not to wait for technology to chan...
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Heaven Is the Top of My Bucket List: The Faith and Legacy of Pam Erwin
Before this episode was released, our guest, Pam Erwin, passed away after living with advanced melanoma. We are honored to share this conversation as part of her legacy.Pam spent her life saying "yes" to wherever God called her. From ser...
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Running Past the Prognosis: One Man's Journey Beyond Stage 4 with Kevin Webber
When Kevin Webber was just 49 years old, he received devastating news: he had stage 4 prostate cancer and might have only two years to live.For many people, such a diagnosis could lead to fear, despair, and hopelessness. But Kevin made a...
The Care Between the Care: Bringing Humanity Back to Cancer Care with Ann Wax
Today’s guest is Ann Wax, RN, an oncology nurse with more than 50 years of experience caring for people affected by cancer. Today, Ann serves as an Oncology Doula™, speaker, educator, author, and patient advocate, helping patients and families ...
The Need for Easier Access to Resources and Asking Better Questions with Cyndy Peterson
Today's guest is Cyndy Peterson, diagnosed in 2022 with Stage 3B lobular breast cancer. She has a history of cancer in her family, so she always knew there was a chance she would experience it herself someday, and decided to deal with it when a...
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Finding Harmony after Cancer: Creating a Life You Love with Hayley Dubin
Today's guest is Hayley Dubin, Certified Health Coach, Metabolic Terrain Advocate, and founder of reVIVE Wellness. She also is the host of The Cancer Liberation Project Podcast. As a 28-year ovarian cancer survivor, her passion is to help peopl...
Living with Cancer: Strength Through Service with Debbie Hornor
Today's guest is Debbie Hornor, Senior National Consultant for Charitable Estate Planning in Mission Advancement at the American Heart Association, State Volunteer President for AARP Colorado, and currently in remission after primary angiosarco...
The Many Realities of Cancer Around the World with Carmen Monge
Today's guest is Carmen Monge, Hodgkin's Lymphoma survivor, researcher, and patient advocate working at the intersection of lived experience, research, and equity in cancer care, especially across different global healthcare systems.Carm...
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Raising Awareness for Living Organ Donation after His Kidney Transplant with Mark McIntosh
Today's guest is Mark McIntosh, founder of Victory Productions, a Denver-based non profit focused on lessening the impact of homelessness, education inequities and America's growing health issues concerning organ donation and wellness.Ma...
Keep Going... Even on the Hard Days with Amanda Ferraro
Today's guest is Amanda R. Ferraro, two-time AML leukemia survivor, stem cell transplant recipient, and seven-time brain surgery survivor, who has turned her journey into a powerful mission of advocacy and awareness.Amanda shares the raw...
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Fight for Yourself - It Could Be the Difference Between Life and Death with Demetrius Holiday
Today's guest is Demetrius Holiday, pediatric nurse practitioner, clinical assistant professor at Georgia State University, and she serves on the Patient Family Advisory Council for Emory Healthcare. She also volunteers as an Ambassador and Men...
Coaching Others to Rebuild Strength, Energy and Resilience after Cancer Treatment with Michael Griffith
Today's guest is Michael Griffith, cancer recovery coach and former CEO with a background in high-performance sport. After navigating his own throat cancer diagnosis and treatment, while supporting his wife through a terminal cancer journey, Mi...
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