The Many Faces of Cancer

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 Davies, a prostate cancer survivor, television producer, lifelong educator and Chair of Trustees for Tackle Prostate Cancer in the UK.

Because Paul's father died from prost...

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, Ali shares the symptoms she ignored, the shock of hearing the words "it's cancer," and the difficult reality of chemoradiation treatment. She also opens up about something many survivors experience...

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, more than a decade later, JJ is living with stable but incurable cancer after a clinical trial became the treatment that changed—and ultimately saved—his life.

In this inspiring conver...

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 continues to prove that a terminal diagnosis doesn't have to mean the end of living.

In this inspiring conversation, Kevin shares how cancer transformed his priorities, deepened his appreciation ...

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 explore how calming the nervous system, listening to your intuition, and processing emotions can profoundly change the cancer experience.

After being diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer ...

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 change healthcare. Instead, he began building AI tools to help manage his own cancer journey.

After multiple surgeries, chemotherapy treatments, and metastatic disease spreading to his liver and lu...

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 serving as a Disaster Relief chaplain alongside her husband, Dave, to helping build churches, schools, and vocational programs in Benin, West Africa, her faith wasn't something she simply believed&mdas...

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 different choice. Rather than allowing his prognosis to define him, he decided to use his diagnosis as a force for good—for his family, his friends, and anyone facing difficult circumstances.

...

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 navigate the emotional and human side of the cancer journey.

Throughout her career, Ann discovered that some of the most meaningful aspects of care happen outside of treatments, procedur...

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 and if it happened, and not worry about it otherwise. She has gone through her journey with grace and humor, sharing her experience with others.

We talk about lobular breast cancer, diep flap r...

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 people overcome the physical, mental and emotional challenges that the cancer journey can bring. She helps her clients let go of the fear and take control of their health, so that they can feel co...

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 angiosarcoma of the breast and reoccurrence. She has spent her career in public health policy work, community health, healthcare quality improvement, and so much more. To say she is dedicated to servin...

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.

Carmen is the founder of MANO Beyond Cancer, a global initiative exploring survivorship through qualitative research, where she had conducted interviews with survivors from more than 60 countries. She a...

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.

Mark lives with Amyloidosis, whose treatment spared his life but destroyed his kidneys. Thanks to a kidney transplant to save his life, he now advocates and raises awareness for living organ donation....

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, real, and often unspoken realities of life during and after cancer through her website and work as a freelance blogger. She uses her story to inspire resilience, honesty, and hope in others naviga...

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 Mentor for Imerman Angels, mentors youth through Black Girls Smile, Inc., and is owner and CEO of DDH Health Education Consultants, LLC, providing health education to medical providers, patients...

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, Michael saw a gap that few people talk about - what happens after treatment ends. His approach focuses on rebuilding strength, energy, and confidence through a structured, performance-based fra...

Today's guest is Nicola Nuttall, passionate fundraiser, speaker, author, and campaigner to raise brain cancer awareness after her daughter, Laura, lost her fight against glioblastoma at age 23. She works with charities to call for change in how brain tumors are treated, particularly in young adults. She and her husband Mark also run the Be More Laura Foundation which funds research in the hope of finding kinder, more effective trea...

Today's guests are Megan and Mike Scherer, co-founders of Worth the Wait, a nationwide oncofertility non-profit organization. After Mike's experience as a testicular cancer survivor and their own fertility issues, they wanted to offer hope and resources for others navigating the world of oncofertility. 

Worth the Wait's mission is to empower young adult cancer survivors on their path to parenthood. They provide financial suppor...