Tabooty

Join Melissa as she sits down with Kentisha Mazeke to discuss her mother's diagnosis and the important topic that nobody wants to talk about - end of life. Kentisha shares some of the ways her mother continued to take care of her, even beyond her final days.  

In this episode of Taboo-ty, we sit down with one of our 2018-2019 Ambassadors, Paula Chambers-Raney, to talk about the financial toxicity that can come with a cancer diagnosis. Not only was Paula facing a life-changing diagnosis, but she was facing the financial burden placed upon her due to a lack of equity for same-sex couples and insurance coverage.

In this month's episode of Fight CRC's Tabooty Podcast, we sit down with Tim McDonald to hear his story and how he became involved in advocacy work. Tim aspires to share his story as much as possible, to create ripples in the colorectal cancer community, that could potentially help change how we see treatments as standards and not "outside the box" ideas. 

To continue our Ambassador Series, this month Jelena Tompkins joins us to discuss how she was able to maintain her fitness during treatment and how it's different now.

Tune in as Melissa sits down with 2022 Ambassador, Yla Flores, in the next episode of our Ambassador Story Series. The decision in 2019 to get screened—for everything that was due at her age—lead to a colorectal diagnosis for Yla. She encourages everyone 45 and older to get screened—even if you don't have symptoms.

In this episode, we sit down with Fight CRC Ambassador Spencer Dayton. Diagnosed at age 22, he is already wise in the area of his sexual health and how to maintain intimacy with his partner when things don't go as expected.

Melissa speaks with Beth Kornegay to get the scoop on – you guessed it – poop. Everyone poops, right? Well, Beth is our resident, “poop expert.” Not only does Beth know all about her own poop, she also knows what her coworkers' poop looks like. For Beth, and a lot of relentless champions of hope, pooping has so much physical and emotional baggage that cannot be just flushed away. Listen in to hear about Beth's journey as a stage III survivor, and how she's been able to use her experience to help others.

In this next installment of the Ambassador Story Sharing Series on Fight CRC's Taboo-ty Podcast, Mike sits down with Fight CRC Ambassador JJ Singleton as he shares his story and includes helpful information from the survivor perspective on certain side-effects you may encounter during treatment and how to overcome them. JJ and Mike also discuss the importance of nutrition when facing a cancer diagnosis—Listen in!

In this next installment of the Ambassador Story Sharing Series on Fight CRC's Taboo-ty Podcast, Mike sits down with Joe Bullock- an advocate, climber, survivor, father, wolfpack leader, and all around relentless champion of hope for all affected by colorectal cancer. Joe shares his story and includes helpful information from the survivor perspective for those interested in how genetics play a role in CRC diagnosis, as well as how he seriously he takes awareness about family history. Joe is amazing storyteller, but don't take my word for it, come listen in and hear for yourself!

This month on the Tabooty Podcast, we continue our Ambassador Podcast Series with Episode 2: Kimberly Holiday-Coleman. Kimberly walks us through the true meaning of resilience and describes how powerful your perspective can be in the fight against CRC. The sincerity and elegance of her words make listening to her story a beautiful experience.

We sit down with Fight CRC ambassador Dr. Carmen Fong to more about her story and learn about surgery options for colorectal cancer patients. 

On this episode of Taboo-ty, Mike is joined by Dr. Jaime Bruce of Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt to discuss one of the most common questions after receiving a cancer diagnosis - How do I tell my kids? Through insights, stories, and sharing resources, Jaime will help you understand how to approach this difficult conversation and make it your own!

On this episode of Tabooty, Mike meets with Trevor Maxwell, founder of Man Up to Cancer to answer the question: What does it really mean to survive cancer like a man? It doesn't mean going to war, it means finding brotherhood, compassion, and strength amongst other men willing to make the courageous choice to be vulnerable.

In this special 4/20 episode of the Tabooty Podcast, advisor to Fight CRC Andi Dwyer discusses medical cannabis, survivorship, and more with Stage IV survivor Paul Rawate"[Medical marijuana] has given me the opportunity to live a normal life. Don't be afraid to go out and find ways to help yourself get treatment assistance that can help you through your struggles- if it works for you." - Paul RawatePaul Rawate is a colorectal cancer survivor who lives in Massachusetts.

On this episode of the Ta-booty podcast, Mike is joined by Shiela Hammer, assistant clinical professor of social work at Northern Arizona University, to help you keep the best New Year's resolution you can make- a commitment to caring for yourself! Sheila and Mike explore self care from both personal and clinical angles, ultimately discovering the differences between self-comfort and self-care while discussing how you can make self-care a fulfilling routine in your life.

We sit down for a Q&A with Dr. Scott Kopetz, from MD Anderson Medical Center, about The upcoming flu season, the coronaviris pandemic, and cancer care.

We sit down for a Q&A with Dr. Al Benson, an Oncologist and Professor of Medicine at Northwestern University, on the most relevant details colorectal cancer patients need to know about engaging in virtual care.

Sexual health is an important topic for many cancer patients and survivors, and unfortunately, it can often be overlooked by providers.In this podcast, Dr. Sharon Bober, Founding Director of the Sexual Health Program at the Dana-Farber, discusses how to navigate a variety of sexual health issues that often come up for colorectal cancer patients and survivors.

Listen in to this Tabooty Podcast episode as Ed, stage IV survivor and Fight CRC Ambassador, discusses his experience in quarantine due to the novel coronavirus.

In this episode of Tabooty, we talk with Michael who explains his surprise in receiving a colorectal cancer diagnosis under age 50. He then shares his journey of living with an ostomy, followed by the challenges he is navigating post-reversal. "I was really happy to have the reversal....Once you get the reversal, there's a journey from there." Listen in to get Michael's tips for living with LARS.

If you're concerned about how COVID-19 will affect any surgical procedures you may have scheduled (or will be scheduling in the near future) as it relates to colon or rectal cancer, Dr. Ryan Fields, MD Professor of Surgery, Chief of the Section of Surgical Oncology, Division of General Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine unpacks what patients need to know.

Dr. Al Benson, a GI Medical Oncologist at Northwestern University, a Fight CRC Medical Advisory Board Member, and chair of the NCCN CRC panel breaks down these guidelines and what patients should do during the coronavirus pandemic if they are on chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or other treatments.

In this podcast, Jamie Aten, stage IV CRC survivor and clinical psychologist, talks about the power of community while facing a cancer diagnosis. He explores the current language of cancer and explains how those touched by cancer can create their own way of identifying with their disease.

In this month's podcast, we talk about tumor and cell storage. Michel Sadaka, founder of StoreMyTumor, discusses how this process, which is not currently a standard of care, could help patients link up to personalized medicine and immunotherapy, either now, or in the future.

Neuropathy is a common side effect for colorectal cancer patients. In this Taboo-ty episode, Dr. Dana Cardinas talks about Chemo Induced Peripheral Neuropathy and her experience as a stage IIIC colon cancer survivor.

In this Taboo-ty Podcast episode, Dr. Rona Yaeger from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center discusses biomarkers and how they affect colon cancer and rectal cancer patients. She talks about some common biomarkers, but focuses on 'circulating free DNA' and the future of personalized medicine.To learn more about biomarkers, visit FightCRC.org/biomarked

In this month's podcast, Schuyler Cunningham, MSW, LICSW, LCSW-C, BCD, talks all about the psychology of trauma and how trauma can affect cancer patients and survivors.Additional links:https://fightcolorectalcancer.org/fight/library/may-2019-cancer-and-trauma-webinar/https://fightcolorectalcancer.org/blog/may-mental-health-awareness-month/

In this month's podcast, Liz Brockland discusses her work in Chicago with North Side Housing and Supportive Services. Among other things, Liz, a community health nurse, helps previously homeless individuals access colorectal cancer screening.

Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) is a group of symptoms, such as fecal incontinence or urgency, frequent or fragmented bowel movements, difficulty emptying your bowels, and increased gas, following low anterior resection of the rectum.In this month's Taboo-ty Podcast, CRC survivor, Jon, talks about all things LARS. He reviews the “must-haves” a person with LARS should carry with them at all times, the ups and downs of symptoms like frequency, and more.

In this month's Taboo-ty Podcast, listen in as Fight CRC Ambassador, Alejandro, shares his story. He advocated for tests to find out what was going on with his body, stating “I might be overdoing this, but I don't want to be a statistic.” Alejandro's story may sound familiar to others diagnosed under age 50 and serves as a powerful example of standing up for yourself to ensure you receive the testing and treatment that you need.

Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy which uses the aid of various art modalities (like painting or drawing), to encourage a patient to express themselves. In this month's Taboo-ty Podcast, Jean McCaw, MA, ART-BC, talks about art therapy and its benefits for cancer patients and their families.

Curious about medical cannabis? Dr. Ashley Glode from the University of Colorado explains some basics about medical marijuana in this episode of Taboo-ty.

In this month's Taboo-ty Podcast episode, we interview Jon, a CRC survivor living with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP). Listen in as Jon shares his story about his FAP diagnosis, his thoughts on FAP and his family, and the importance of finding community and support.

In this month's Taboo-ty Podcast episode, we interview Serena Talcott Baughman, MS, CGC, Genetic Counselor. The discussion is about preimplantation genetic testing, also called PGT, which can be used to identify embryos at risk of having a specific genetic or chromosomal condition (for example, Lynch syndrome or FAP). Learn more about PGT on this podcast as we dive into the science, process, controversy, and basic information of this technology.

In this month's Taboo-ty Podcast episode, we interview Lindsay. She's an oncology nurse recently diagnosed with colorectal cancer-she writes a blog sharing her experiences on both sides of the port. In this chat, Lindsay talks about her hesitation to seek medical care for her symptoms, her APR surgery and recovery, and more.

In this month's Taboo-ty Podcast episode, we share the audio of a webinar presented by Violet Kuchar, stage IV survivor, which was hosted by the Colorado Colorectal Cancer Screening Program and Fight CRC in the summer of 2018. Violet sheds light on early age onset colorectal cancer. She was diagnosed at age 31 with stage IV cancer in the emergency room after a long time dealing with symptoms. In this episode, she talks about her diagnosis, the incredible role of patient navigation, the benefits of being part of a patient community, and the challenges faced by those who live a long time with cancer.

In this month's Taboo-ty Podcast episode, Fight CRC interviews Chelsey Schneider, CSO, from SavorHealth. We hit a variety of food-related hot topics: alcohol, probiotics, and food safety. Listen in to learn about how these affect colorectal cancer.

In this month's Taboo-ty Podcast episode, Fight CRC interviews Fight CRC Advocate, Riley, who was diagnosed during pregnancy.

In this month's Taboo-ty Podcast episode, Fight CRC's Michell Baker interviews David Jackson, DG OG One, about his cancer diagnosis. He discusses the importance of raising awareness and opening discussions about this disease, especially among African American men. He speaks candidly about his initial discomfort with the colonoscopy procedure. And importantly, he talks about the importance of keeping an uplifting support network around you during treatment.

In this month's Taboo-ty Podcast episode, Fight CRC interviews Jean DiCarlo-Wagner, a stage IIIc colorectal cancer survivor and yoga therapist. Jean explains how yoga therapy helped her after her diagnosis and through survivorship and how it may benefit other cancer survivors. Since 2005, she has been teaching yoga in San Diego, California and online and offers a class called Yoga for Healing – A Cancer Survivors Class. Visit Jean's website, Yoga Being http://yogabeing.net/

In this month's Taboo-ty Podcast episode, Fight CRC interviews Joanna Burgess BSN, RN, CWOCN, about life with an ostomy. Joanna answers some common questions people have about ostomy, including skin preparation, emergency supplies, tips for travel and staying active, and more. Joanna, who has lived with an ostomy since age 3, currently works as a wound, ostomy, and continence nurse (CWOCN) in addition to serving on the board of the United Ostomy Associations of America.

In this month's Taboo-ty Podcast episode, Fight CRC interviews Jana Bolduan Lomax, PsyD, Founder of Shift Healing, about survivor's guilt. Simply put -survivor's guilt the guilt a person feels when they have gone through a traumatic experience and survived, and others have not.

In this month's Taboo-ty Podcast episode, Sheila Hammer, LCSW, addresses the holiday blues and how they could affect you. As we ease into the holiday season, stress goes up, social engagements multiply, diets change, and money gets spent. Listen in to hear how to manage some of the challenges that often accompany this celebratory time of the year and how to prepare yourself to bring in the new year with a positive outlook.

In this month's Taboo-ty Podcast episode, Chelsea Holland, sex therapist at the Intimacy Institute talks about the mental blocks many colorectal cancer patients and survivors face when it comes to sexuality and intimacy. She shares plenty of useful tips on how to navigate this sensitive issue.

In this month's Taboo-ty Podcast episode, complex GI nurse, Andrea Lee, talks about the benefits mindfulness practices can have on colorectal cancer patients and their loved ones. She shares some recent research on the subject, explains tips to get started, and inspiresusall to give it a try. This is a podcast not to be missed as it's filled with loads of information that can improve the quality of life for everyone touched by colorectal cancer.

In this month's Taboo-ty Podcast episode, Kristina Smith reflects on her experience as a caregiver – the ups and the down. Being a loved one of someone with colorectal cancer means there is a shift to a new normal, which is not an easy adjustment. Kristina shares her perspective and gives advice to other caregivers, spouses and loved ones of those fighting CRC, in addition to tips for others on how to keep communication afloat during a challenging time.

In this month's Taboo-ty Podcast episode, Dr. Kristin Kilbourn from the University of Colorado and Fight CRC's Andi Dwyer discuss some unique challenges that could be associated with having a genetic predisposition to colorectal cancer.

In this month's Taboo-ty Podcast episode, Alaina Newell, physical therapist in Denver, CO talks all about physical therapy and how it can help a wide array of side effects from pelvic radiation.

In this month's Taboo-ty Podcast episode, Sheila Hammer, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at the Cancer Support Community, talks about her journey working with those touched by cancer. She explains the ins and outs of psychosocial health and the importance of reaching out for support. This podcast offers great information for survivors and caregivers alike.

In this Taboo-ty Podcast episode, Caroline Lee, a stage IV colon cancer survivor, talks about her cancer experience – from diagnosis through treatment – and how staying physically active helped her maintain a sense of normalcy during this very difficult time. Some of her top pieces of advice include:Start small! Set a small, easily attainable fitness goal.Find a workout partner to help you get out and about and stay accountable.Think beyond the gym… get outside, breathe the fresh air and play!

In this month's Taboo-ty Podcast episode Chelsey Wisotsky, CSO, from Savor Health breaks down how fiber, sugar and red meat are processed in the body and how they could affect colorectal cancer.