The C Word

“Survivorship can be tricky for some people; it comes with a lot of baggage, I don't love using the word survivor, but I'm not sure how else to describe where I am post-treatment.” Last year, Helen went on a quest to find other younger cancer survivors to try and define what cancer survivorship means. She connected with people in Australia, the UK, America, and Aotearoa. This episode is a montage of previous C Word guests talking about what cancer survivorship means to them.

Jacqui O'Connor is on a mission to change how we deliver and receive health care. Jacqui is the founder of Heart Place Hospital, where the focus is on healing the healer. After spending close to 27 years as a nurse, she had what she describes as a “mac truck moment”, which was the catalyst for her healing journey. She learned the importance of listening to our bodies and intuition after a health scare, and now advocates for breathwork and honouring our natural cycles as a way to heal.

Micaela Gibson was finishing a degree in music therapy when she started noticing some odd symptoms, such as a lump on her chest, unintentional weight loss, and drenching night sweats. Her parents encouraged her to get checked out, and it was discovered she had Hodgkin's lymphoma. After undergoing chemotherapy Micaela was declared in remission, and experience led her to realize she was interested in music therapy anymore, and decided to pursue a career in healthcare.

"Cancer doesn't discriminate; it doesn't care how old you are." Susan Haworth was diagnosed with cancer at age 9 and again at age 17. She joins Helen to discuss the physical and emotional challenges that come with cancer treatment and how she's learned to cope with these challenges.

Diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2018 at 26 Gaby Fanizzi quickly realized that she was in the minority of thyroid cancer patients because she was young. She started the Love Health Nachos Instagram page to connect with other young thyroid cancer patients and survivors. Gabby hosts monthly support groups for thyroid cancer patients and survivors, and has learned that her experience as a young cancer survivor differs from that of older patients.

Chanel Renee is a personal assistant and breast cancer survivor from Honolulu, Hawaii. She was diagnosed with bilateral invasive ductal carcinoma in 2019 and underwent a bilateral mastectomy. She had the support of family and friends, but knew that not everyone is so lucky. “I think it's really important to advocate for yourself and to love yourself, no matter what.” Chanel's story shows strength, hope, and resilience in the face of adversity.

In her first episode after taking a break, Helen shares the insights into cancer recovery and healing she's learned over the last few months. After hitting a brick wall, she found she needed time out from making the podcast and cancer content. When she created space, she discovered she still had a lot of healing to do to let go of the sense of loss and trauma her cancer diagnosis created.

Continuing the conversation on neurodiversity and navigating cancer diagnosis, Alissa Harris discusses her late diagnosis of ADHD. A cancer survivor, Alissa underwent treatment for thyroid cancer 15-years-ago. Drawn to high-pace, dopamine-inducing industries, she found herself in a continual cycle of burn-out, and when the pandemic hit in 2020 she found herself at home with to-do lists she never got through. After decades of being busy, the slowness of lockdown uncovered a hidden part of herself

Denise Carter-Bennett (Ngāpuhi; Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei; Ngāti Hine) was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when she was eleven. Denise is autistic and has ADHD and has faced a lot of medical issues in the past few decades! Her cancer diagnosis at such a young age had a big impact on her, now in her 30s she still grapples with side effects. Denise shares how she has learned to advocate for herself with doctors and how she has learned to appreciate her body for all it has been through.

Having watched her sister go through leukemia twice, April was determined to play an active, informed role in her own treatment, after a breast cancer diagnosis in 2018 . She used science-backed research in making decisions about her cancer treatment and care, and after just two months, her tumors disappeared. Then, in 2021, April's soulmate, Chris, died suddenly of lung cancer. He was misdiagnosed, which added to the shock of his death. These experiences led April to create Remission for Life.

Dr Liz O'Riordan was working as a consultant breast surgeon in 2015 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time. After decades of treating people with breast cancer, the doctor was now the patient and Liz realised how little she knew about the treatments and experience for breast cancer. Three years later cancer returned on her chest wall. She had both breasts removed which meant she couldn't move her left shoulder and was forced to retire.

Helen is joined by Amanda Wallace from deep in the US mid-west, Idaho. Amanda was diagnosed with leukemia in 2019 after experiencing flu-like symptoms. At the time she was working at her local movie theatre, and once she was diagnosed treatment happened almost instantly. Amanda had a recurrence in 2020 right in the middle of the pandemic. Going through cancer treatment is one thing, but going through it during a global pandemic? No one prepares you for that situation.

Cancer, Covid, and children are three C's you never hope to experience at the same time. In this episode, Jessica Licata shares her experience of having a beautiful baby and being diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma during the pandemic. Accessing healthcare as Covid ripped through Chicago was challenging, Jessica shares the lengths she went to in order to get a diagnosis. And why it's important to learn how to advocate for yourself.

Produced at Planet FM 104.6, community access media in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland