Cancer and Chill (2025)

07/06/2020

Share words that matter, truly matter, with the person in your life who has cancer.

Please don't clobber them over the head with meaningless throwaway quotes like, "You got this" or "You're the strongest person I know."

Tell them how you feel about them. Interweave experiences you've shared that will uplift them.

On the Saturday before Easter, I had a special moment. My doorbell rang and as I came to the front door, I noticed that my friends and their family were standing outside of my house. They have five girls and they were standing there with a sign and it lit me up. It got me so excited.

These are dear friends of mine, we do life together, and they were there to cheer me up, as we had just gotten some news about new disease that had popped up.

As soon as I saw them, I was so excited. I wanted to get a picture. So, I went back inside my house. I got my phone. I stepped outside to take the picture and as I stepped outside, I realized there was a caravan of cars and golf carts of all my friends.

They were lined up one after another and for about three minutes, I couldn't move. I cried. It was so overwhelming.

The feeling of support from people truly matters. One by one each family came up and they all had signs and they all told me they loved me and they all prayed for me.

The words they shared, each and every family member and the kids and the signs and the pictures they made, it mattered. Your words matter.

06/06/2020

Ringing this bell always feels good. 👊

I got to ring this bell a few weeks back when I wrapped up my radiation regimen.

I had some mild fatigue this time around. But, all in all, I sailed through. I'm convinced it had to do with adjusting my diet, using intermittent fasting, and listening to my body!

05/06/2020

I'm curious. How do you feel about using social media to share your story? Have groups like these helped you on your cancer journey?

04/06/2020

When I was diagnosed with cancer on October 18th of 2013 (six and a half years ago), I didn't know one person who had ever battled cancer.

So, I turned to social media. Facebook became a lifeline for me and in today's episode of Cancer and Chill, we're going to talk about:

• Using social media to share your cancer diagnosis
• The pros and cons of using social media to share your story
• Why you may want to identify your reason for sharing your story
• Effective ways to use social media to share your story.. and more!

Tune in to this episode on Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you find podcasts.

Spotify: https://qoo.ly/36cv7f
iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1270-cancer-and-chill-58094125/

03/06/2020

I recently started Chemotherapy.

I had several friends ask me why I was doing Chemotherapy since we received a good initial report on Radiation Treatment.

Radiation and Chemotherapy are two different types of treatment. Both of these can kill tumors or lesions that have been found, but in my case, Radiation is the go-to for this.

The reason we are using Chemotherapy is that we are hoping and praying that it'll slow down or delay the disease from further progression.

02/06/2020

A lot of times when I speak to somebody who's not happy with their situation, it's because their doctor doesn't have a great bedside manner.

There are a lot of doctors who don't. But I'm not looking for a friend. I'm looking for the best doctor.

As cancer patients, we want the smartest physician on our medical team. Once we get that smart physician, we realize they are looking out for our best interest. Then, we feel good about the medical side of what they bring. It's at that time that we're going to try make them our best friend.

This is something that happens over time. It's not immediate.

01/06/2020

I'm living with cancer. I've been battling this disease for six and a half years now.

In creating the Cancer and Chill podcast, I wanted to build a community where those who were diagnosed or those who have a loved one who is diagnosed would come for positive messages and information from someone who has been there.

If you haven't listened to the podcast, head over to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform and subscribe today. Catch up on some of the past episodes. Write a review and let me know what you think!

Apple Podcasts: https://qoo.ly/36avcb
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2ntAyjnsjjHg8MwBgNI2QS?si=cs6ps0YfTB2wqG3hpB2DMQ

31/05/2020

Since being diagnosed with cancer, my priorities have changed.

I learned by watching my dad how important it was to have a strong work ethic throughout my career. I focused on this. I'm one of those kinds of people who can accomplish anything they put their mind to, but I'm also the kind of person who can only focus on a couple of things at a time.

A couple of years ago, I made the decision to walk away from a career I spent 30 plus years in, and that I loved, in order to focus on my health.

I started in the radio business at the age of 16 and loved every single minute of it. I evolved with the business several times over the years. But I knew that if I didn't step away, I was putting my life in danger.

Cancer has a way of smacking you right in the face. It's a gut punch. I've watched it take the strongest people into a fetal position.

If you asked me how cancer changed me, I always answered that it didn't have a monumental change on me as I was always pretty centered, but it did reset and tighten my priorities.

If I had to have cancer, I'm glad I got it the way I did.

I was diagnosed at 45. I think if I was diagnosed at 80 I'd probably be like, well, I had a good life. When you get cancer at 45 and you're told that there isn't a cure for your disease, it causes you to pause and decide who you're going to be the rest of your life.

Cancer has had its rough moments, but if today was my last day on earth, I can say, without hesitation, I've said everything I've needed to say. I haven't let an "I love you" go to waste.

30/05/2020

Throughout my cancer journey, I can pinpoint certain moments and lessons that have made a difference in my life.

One of those moments came when I met my dear friend Melissa. She's an acupuncturist at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville where I'm being treated. She has a doctorate in Chinese medicine and works inside the integrative health department.

I was sent to her by my physical therapist for relief from pain in my leg. She helped me with that pain. She helped me with tapering off opioids. She helped me with diet.

She helped me with stress relief. She helped me with being mindful.

She connected me with a doctor of integrative medicine. She connected me to a massage therapist. She connected me to a mind body health counselor.

She's been part of my care for over two and a half years and in that two and a half years, she has contributed more to my overall quality of life than any other person.

She's a connector. She doesn't try to be the person who comes up with all the solutions, but will connect me with others who can help up my life.

I'm so grateful to her for helping me and continuing to work with me.

28/05/2020

Chemotherapy has a horrible stigma. That can make it feel intimidating if you're newly battling and preparing to face this form of treatment.

Last week on the podcast, I talked about side effects related to radiation. This week, I'm tackling chemotherapy.

For me, the side effects of radiation and chemotherapy and how to work through those are completely different, even if the side effect falls into the same category.

For instance, I received fatigue from both radiation and chemotherapy. But, they are very different types of fatigue.

They present themselves differently. Because of this, I've learned that if you're going to get in front of these, you have to have an individualized strategy to minimize these side effects.

On this week's episode, I share:
• What I know in regard to chemotherapy side effects
• What I've experienced during chemotherapy
• The strategies I put in place to put myself in the best position to minimize them.

Listen to the episode on Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you find podcasts.

Spotify: https://qoo.ly/368ipa
iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1270-cancer-and-chill-58094125/

27/05/2020

If you've been diagnosed with cancer or someone close to you has been and you're feeling sort of lost, you're not alone. I've been in your shoes.

When I was diagnosed in 2013, I didn't know anyone who's life had been touched by cancer. That's what inspired me to create the Cancer and Chill community.

The community is a safe place. There's not a lot of medical information in there because I'm not a doctor and I'm not here to give medical advice.

What I am here to do is help you. "Hey, you've got cancer. Now let's just take a step back. Let's take a deep breath and let's figure out how we're going to get through this.

Sound like a group you want to be a part of? Consider this your personal invitation! We would love to have you. Join us today.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/745549015

26/05/2020

: Identify the gifts in your life, no matter what.

Cancer is a horrible disease. I wish I didn't have cancer. I wish cancer was cured for all.

But through all the bad, I've truly been blessed. I realized that I've been given many gifts as a result of the disease that has invaded my body.

I've learned to appreciate the simple things.

My perception of time has changed.

I've developed a greater sense of support and compassion.

So, I encourage you to recognize the gifts in your life. Write them down. Email them to me. Always remind yourself that there has been some good to come out of your cancer diagnosis.

Cancer and Chill

07/06/2020

06/06/2020

05/06/2020

04/06/2020

03/06/2020

02/06/2020

01/06/2020

31/05/2020

30/05/2020

28/05/2020

27/05/2020

26/05/2020

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