Podcast appearances and mentions of joe bakhmoutski

This week, we are broadcasting an interview Peter Anthony recorded with Joe Bakhmoutski from the Simplify Cancer podcast about Peter's lived experience of having prostate cancer. If you've been a listener to the show, you will have heard Peter comment about his cancer experience. When Joe suggested he interview Peter, we knew it would be the perfect episode to broadcast on Radio Carrum. Link: https://simplifycancer.com/

Speaker, author, and podcast host, Joe Bakhmoutski, joins Steve & Peter on this week's 'Men with Spirit' Radio Carrum show. Joe uses his lived experience with cancer and mental health to share inspiration and advice to find hope in uncertain times. Link: https://simplifycancer.com/

This week's episode of We Get It features a chat with Joe Bakhmoutski, founder and champion of Simplify Cancer. Joe said, “Going through cancer forced me to have a long, hard look at myself and my life. I did not like some things, and some things no longer fit, so I adapted to be more present with the people I care about the most, and rediscovered my sense of purpose through helping others who want to lead a happier, more fulfilled life after cancer. I believe we can choose the way we live our life, to seek greater clarity in everything that we do, to show up at our best every single day, and hold on to hope that despite the struggle, things can — and do — change for the better!” LINKS: Finding Hope In Times Of Uncertainty Simplify Cancer Podcast Thank you to our partners at CIBC for making this web series possible!

Joe Bakhoutski is a cancer survivor and the author of two books – finding hope in times of uncertainty and simplify cancer, as well as the host of the Simplify Cancer Podcast. In this episode we talk about what it's like to be confronted with your mortality, how to find meaning in life despite the suffering, communicating what you need from people in your life, and much more. Please welcome Joe Bakhoutski.

Joe Bakhoutski is a cancer survivor and the author of two books – finding hope in times of uncertainty and simplify cancer, as well as the host of the Simplify Cancer Podcast. In this episode we talk about what it's like to be confronted with your mortality, how to find meaning in life despite the suffering, communicating what you need from people in your life, and much more. Please welcome Joe Bakhoutski. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode of We Get It, Karine speaks with Joe Bakhmoutski of Simplify Cancer about hope. Cancer is tough and it is Joe's mission to help more people find hope inside a crisis, have a greater impact on the world when facing uncertainty, and help those around us to carry on when times are tough. Thank you to our partners at CIBC for making this web series possible!

Joe Bakhmoutski is a coach, host of the podcast ‘Simplifying Cancer', and author who shares his story of discovery and resolve that developed through his fight against cancer. As a husband and father of a young son, Joe never expected to be dealing with cancer.  Following his diagnosis and during his recovery, he created his own path to optimal health and wellbeing to accompany medical treatment.  He shares his experience and insights in his 3 books, “Finding Hope in Times of Uncertainty: A Guide to Thriving in the Challenging World of Today",  "Simplify Cancer: Man's Guide to Navigating the Everyday Reality of Cancer “, and "Calm Before the Scan: How to Stop Worrying About Cancer Recurrence", filled with tools to restore hope and calm in the midst of chaos. In this episode we discuss: The value of having clarity on living the life we want, Why it's important to let family and friends know the best ways they can support us when we need it, How to be your own champion and collect the resources you need in order to thrive, Understanding that change will happen, and how to make peace with it, Finding purpose by looking outward to vide support and solutions to others.Check out this special video Joe made just for us, sharing his go-to strategy for tackling worry and how his new book can help someone in a challenging time (with links to very special gifts!):http://www.powertobehappy.com/happified/ 

Having lived with debilitating anxiety for a number of years, Joe Bakhmoutski did not anticipate he would also have to face testicular cancer.  Joe admits his cancer experience led him through the lowest depths of misery and pain to eventually forge a closer bond with his family.  Author of “Simplify Cancer” & “Finding Hope in Times of Uncertainty”, Joe has made it his mission in life to help others facing their cancer journey.  Creating a network of resources and support, Joe assists survivors in navigating their worries and stress, moving them to take back some control of their lives.Sharing a number of his pivotal learnings and resilience practices, Joe's contagious energy and positive outlook inspire a sense of Hope through adversity.Website: https://simplifycancer.comBook: Finding Hope in Times of Uncertainty: A Guide to Thriving in the Challenging World of Todayhttps://amzn.to/2JwxaIBInstagram: @simplifyguy

 For Joe Bakhmoutski (buck-moot-ski), going through cancer has been a journey through adversity to lose weight, get close with his family and make a greater impact out in the world.  Joe lives by the adage, " it's not what happens to you that defines you, but how you respond to it."  Today, Joe helps cancer survivors become more calm, confident and in control through his Simplify Cancer Podcast, Simply Cancer book and free seven day Take Your Life Back After Cancer challenge.  To learn more about the challenge, and to reach Joe, go to https://simplifycancer.com/

How do you make sense of life after cancer? What are you even supposed to do with yourself after all of this? And how do you go on living and living well knowing that death is real? This is Joe Bakhmoutski and welcome back to the Simplify Cancer Podcast! I have a fascinating conversation for […] The post Episode 075: Meaning of Life After Cancer with Dr William Breitbart appeared first on Simplify Cancer.

Hello fellow cancer thrivers! You are about to listen to our podcast… here is a sneak peak of what to expect!   Joe Bakhmoutski makes his third appearance to share concepts and ideologies from his new book. Always one to offer his ear and share his knowledge, Joe dives into how hope is so crucial to navigating the pandemic, and the 3 circles of hope that help guide us through cancer and beyond.   Website: https://simplifycancer.com/ Email: joe@simplifycancer.com   *** Time to listen to the podcast now ;) *** Music by http://www.bensound.com (BTW)   And just before you leave us today, reach out to us by email and our social media linked bellow! We can't wait to meet you there - soarabovecancer@gmail.com, https://www.instagram.com/soarabovecancer/ and  https://www.facebook.com/soarabovecancer/!   Many smiles, Alex and Gabrielle

Hello my fellow cancer thrivers! You are about to listen to my podcast… here is a sneak peak of what to expect! This month, we are learning about storytellers - cancer thrivers creating content and sharing their stories with the world.  Our storyteller this week is Joe Bakhmoutski.   To contact Joe - http://simplifycancer.com/contact/ https://www.facebook.com/SimplifyCancer/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK4p8uRC_S2K9fkwV5inNeA/featured http://simplifycancer.com/tylbac-registration-page/   *** Time to listen to the podcast now ;) *** Music by http://www.bensound.com (BTW)   And just before you leave me today, check out the blog and our social media linked bellow! I can't wait to meet you there! www.soarabovecancer.com and soarabovecancer@gmail.com   Gabrielle's Social Media… Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/soarabovecancer/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/soarabovecancer/   Alex's Social Media… Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alexmandarino/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/alex.mandarino.12   Many smiles, Alex and Gabrielle

This week on Brainwaves we talk Joe Bakhmoutski from Simplify Cancer about his lived experience with mental health and his journey with cancer.http://simplifycancer.com/

Joe Bakhmoutski was diagnosed with Testicular cancer in 2016.He founded Simplify Cancer  to provide support and advice to those touched by cancer. During our conversation we discussed: Why he created Simplify Cancer How he came to be diagnosed with Testicular cancer How people perceive various cancers and how some are deemed "embarrassing" What patients can do to prepare for their first oncologist appointment and the free tool he offers on his website to assist with this. The book he's writing to help men dealing with cancer. Links Mentioned in the Show Simplify Cancer - http://simplifycancer.com/ Joe's Interview With Lee Silverstein On the Simplify Cancer podcast - http://simplifycancer.com/ep055/ Follow Simplify Cancer on Instagram - https://instagram.com/simplify_cancer Follow Simplify Cancer on Twitter - https://mobile.twitter.com/simplifycancer WE Have Cancer Links Subscribe to the show - https://pod.link/wehavecancer Follow WE Have Cancer on Social Media Like our Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/wehavecancershow/ Join our private Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/wehavecancershow/ Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/wehavecancerpod Follow us on Instagram - https://instagram.com/wehavecancerpod Follow us on LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/company/wehavecancer Know someone touched by cancer who has an inspiring story? Nominate a guest to appear on the podcast - https://wehavecancershow.com/guest Email Lee Lee@wehavecancershow.com

Hey, this is Joe Bakhmoutski and welcome to Simplify Cancer Podcast! I've got a great conversation for you today.  I'm talking to my new friends, Gabrielle and Alex. They have a podcast called Soar Above Cancer, which I love and we have a fantastic chat today about what it's really like to be a young adult who's dealing with cancer. Here are some things that we cover today: The shock of being diagnosed with cancer as a young adult The importance of calling on your support network through treatment How relationships and friendships can change after cancer and much, much more! Links Soar Above Cancer website Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/soarabovecancer/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/soarabovecancer/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/alexmandarino/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/alex.mandarino.12 Full Transcript Joe:                 It's so fantastic to have you on, guys.  Alex, I really want to start with you first, what was life like before cancer? Alex:                Yes, so myself, before the time of diagnosis, right before that, I was about 20 years old, so I was in university, I was studying my Bachelor of Commerce degree.  That was interesting.  I was very into my academics.  I was very interested in school and into the business aspect, working as often as possible and on my studies and things like that.  When you're 20, you have a big social life, so I was trying to hang out with friends as often as possible, go out on Friday/Saturday nights, even physically I was in the gym as often as possible. I was very active, I was building up muscle.  At that time, in your life, you're figuring out where you are in terms of what you want to do, in terms of the type of person you want to be, you're meeting new people, you're meeting new friends.  It was a very fast-paced lifestyle in a sense.  It was at the time where you feel a little bit carefree and on top of the world. When you're 19/20 years old, first of all, you feel like you know everything and you feel like when you plan something out, you feel like that's what's going to happen and you're going to see it through to fruition.  Obviously, at the time of diagnosis, it changes your perspective on things, but prior to that, I was a very active human being.  It was a big drastic change when that happened. Joe:                 Yes, absolutely.  What about you, Gabrielle, what was it like for you? Gabrielle:        I was also in university.  Actually, similar experience as Alex, I was 19, I had completed my second year of my bachelor's degree.  I was like Alex, very involved with school, with friends, focusing on just getting it done and enjoy that life of a young adult.  That, like Alex said, is kind of carefree and really out there.  You get to experience a lot of new things and living on my own for the first time, too.  Then the diagnosis happens.  Then there's that huge drastic shift that a lot of young adults do live where you might become dependent again and the life just isn't the same. Joe:                 Yes, absolutely.  Gabrielle, what was going through your mind when you first found out that you had cancer? Gabrielle:        I tend to like to think that I was really thinking, “I've got this.” I think I was to some degree.  I think I was in denial, too, at first, about how big this cancer experience would actually become.  I like to think that my first initial thought was, “I can do this.” I've got this, we can go from there, and whatever happens, I can manage.  It won't be easy, but I can manage it. Joe:                 Yes, it's great that you felt that you could work it out.  Alex, did you feel the similar way? Alex:                I would say so, but initially, I would say shocked.  I'd say for the first ten seconds or so, I didn't really know how to react.  Obviously, your parents are in the room, so you want to be strong.  It's a new experience.

Hello my fellow cancer thrivers! You are about to listen to my podcast… here is a sneak peak of what to expect! When a cancer is diagnosed, it is important to keep in mind what matters most to you. How do you keep those things in your life? Joe Bakhmoutski talks to us about how he made that happen.    *** Time to listen to the podcast now ;) *** Music by http://www.bensound.com (BTW)   To contact Joe - http://simplifycancer.com/contact/ https://www.facebook.com/SimplifyCancer/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK4p8uRC_S2K9fkwV5inNeA/featured   And just before you leave me today, check out the blog and our social media linked bellow! I can't wait to meet you there! www.soarabovecancer.com and soarabovecancer@gmail.com Gabrielle's Social Media… Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/soarabovecancer/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/soarabovecancer/ Alex's Social Media… Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alexmandarino/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/alex.mandarino.12   Many smiles, Alex and Gabrielle

Hey, this is Joe Bakhmoutski and welcome to Simplify Cancer Podcast! Today you meet with Lee Silverstein who had cancer twice in his life, once as a child and once as an adult.  He has such an incredible attitude and he's using it to live the life the best way that he can and to help other people through his podcast called We Have Cancer.  Through this podcast, Lee shares information, inspiration, and hope for living the best life you can despite cancer. Here are some things that we cover today: Lee's inspirational A-G-E approach to dealing with cancer One powerful mindset that can help you during treatment How relationships and friendships can change after cancer and much, much more! Links We Have Cancer podcast Full Transcript Joe:                 Lee, I love your photos on Facebook and on your website and with you and your Batman gear.  Can you talk about that? Lee:                 I've been dealing with colon cancer for eight years.  The largest colon cancer support organisation in the U.S.  is the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.  They do a run, a 5k run, and a walk at different cities all over the country.  Each weekend a different city.  The first one is always in Tampa, Florida, which was last weekend.  Instead of giving out, like most of these events, they give out t-shirts, but because it's the other part of the body, they give out boxer shorts.  That's where the undi-name comes from.  People dress in funny costumes.  I was always a batman fan when I was a kid, so we called my team: Lee's Superheroes, and we all dressed up with batman shirts and shorts and boxers and all of that. Joe:                 Yes, that's fantastic, Lee.  I love that because I think both you and me, and I guess actually many of us, have really uncomfortable cancers in the most uncomfortable parts of the body.  Like, I had testicular cancer, you had colon cancer.  It feels weird to start to talk about it because it's private and sensitive, right? Lee:                 True, but I tell people when it comes to my disease, everybody uses the bathroom, everybody uses the toilet, and because we all do it, it shouldn't be something embarrassing.  I know it is, but I tell people: Don't let embarrassment kill you.  I interview so many people on my podcast who either they themselves waited and waited too long because they were embarrassed to say anything, to talk to their doctor.  Then the disease was more advanced than it should have been.  What's worse?  Being a little bit embarrassed or having to go through chemotherapy? Joe:                 Yes, exactly.  I think that's why it's even more important, like you say, to talk about it and to be honest and upfront.  Just so people feel more comfortable to show up at the doctors and say, “Can you have a look at this?  Can you check it out?” Lee:                 Absolutely.  You're absolutely right. Joe:                 Lee, I was really shocked to hear your story that you really first had cancer as a child.  What was that experience like? Lee:                 Well, from what I remember, when I was four or five years old, I'm surprised how much I do remember, the story behind that is when I was growing up, I had one sister at the time, another sister came along a few years later.  We were always getting sick, especially in the winter time, strep throat, throat infections.  When I was a kid, the popular surgery was to have your tonsils out if you kept getting throat infections.  They said, “We think we should take his tonsils out.” My parents took me to the hospital the day before the surgery just to do all the testing and bloodwork and all of that.  Something showed up very unusual in my blood test.  They said, wait a minute, this is not good, something's going on here.  They did some tests and found a spot on my kidney.  It turned out to be a rare form of paediatric kidney cancer called a Wilms Tumour.  Now, a Wilms Tumour if caught early,

  In this episode Joe Bakhmoutski joins me from Simplify Cancer.  Joe is a fellow Testicular cancer survivor.  He is coming up on two years of remission and has decided to help others diagnosed with cancer.  He has a great podcast with over 50 episodes.  He also has great articles and tools on his website at www.simplifycancer.com.  In this episode we discuss our cancer journeys, the importance of support groups and getting the most out of life after cancer.    Please subscribe to the podcast and if you enjoy the show please give the podcast an honest review.  If you have questions or if you are a survivor of cancer and would like to be interviewed please contact me at the podcast's site www.findinghopepodcast.com or via the email  findinghopepodcast@gmail.com.  

This is the seventh Short Takes episode.  In this episode I discuss new changes for 2019 and an upcoming interview with Joe Bakhmoutski from Simplify Cancer.   Joe is nearly two years out from testicular cancer.  In the interview we both share our stories and our passion to help newly diagnosed cancer patients.  He has been podcasting for over a year and has some great content both on the podcast and his site http://simplifycancer.com/  Please take a look at his site you will not be disappointed. Please subscribe to the podcast and if you enjoy the show please give the podcast an honest review on iTunes. If you have any questions or if you are a survivor and would like to be interviewed please contact me at findinghopepodcast@gmail.com.

Full Transcript Hey, my name is Joe Bakhmoutski, I am the creator of Simplify Cancer and it's weird that with cancer, you end up in this foreign country where you don't speak the language, you don't have a map to get around, and it's scary because you don't know who you can trust or how things are going to play out, and you have to figure out how everything connects together... And you can't stop thinking about it because every twitch, every ache and pain, and you ask yourself: is this cancer? This constant worry, it's a curse because you can't think straight. But it doesn't have to be that way! You can tackle cancer by learning it's every move, what you can expect, and what you can do about it. In no time at all, you can become an expert on your own cancer, and that puts you in the driving seat, puts you back in charge, and I'll give you 2 reasons why: First reason is external. You go to to another level of confidence when you dealing with cancer, it gives you a huge lift when you are working your specialists and waiting test results and talking to your family about because you're in charge, you know what's going on. When you start asking the right questions and all of a sudden, you and your specialist are having a conversation like equals. Oncologists, urologists, surgeons, they know that it's not like you're questioning their expertise. Honestly, they love patients who know what's going on because they can be direct and they don't have to dumb it down for you. Second reason is internal and it's even more powerful, it's knowing that you are now in control, you know what the next step is and what your options are so you can make informed decisions about treatment and follow up and the life beyond cancer. So how do you get on top of it and become what I call the next step expert? You don't need much time, in fact you only need about 5 minutes a day because you are going to leverage the knowledge that others have accumulated, those folks who went down that road before, who had the same cancer, who went through the same treatment. They have already survived cancer, or maybe they are just 1 step ahead of you, or even at the same place you are right now, they know what you are going through, they know how scary it all is, and they will tell you everything you need to know. So let's say you just got diagnosed and now you are about to go and see your oncologist for the very first time. How do you prepare? I suggest you go to a reputable site like Cancer Council here in Australia, or National Cancer Institute in the US or Macmillan Cancer Support in the UK and you read up on your cancer, just enough to have questions, and trust me, you will have questions, we all do, and then take those questions to the online forum for your cancer, and this forum it's a community, it's folks like you and me who get together online and they answer questions and share their experience because they've been through it, they know exactly what it's like, and they want to help. What can you expect from the procedure next week? How long does it take for your hair to grow back after this type of chemo? Will I be able to work during this treatment? Who is the best specialist to work with in your area? These are the things that nobody talks about that you need to know! I can't tell you how much it's helped me and so many others, this is huge! True story from a testicular cancer forum. Plus, it's completely anonymous so you don't have to edit anything out, you can tell it like it is, so there is no awkward or uncomfortable questions. Talking to folks who have been through it gives you confidence over what is happening and what you can expect from treatment, and all you need is 5 minutes a day and you can get all your questions answered by people who really get you and who know exactly where you're coming from. To save you time and hassle of searching for it, I will send you a list of the best online communities in a PDF,

Today, I'm talking to Christoffer, he's an expert in psychosocial cancer research and we take a plunge into the deep and murky waters of the psychology of cancer, the psychological repercussions of cancer on you and those you love. Here is what we cover: How diagnosis can change the way you see yourself Evidence that psychological stress does not cause cancer The impact of mindset on survivorship Social factors that play a huge role in our approach to treatment Dealing with 3 major late effects that come with cancer The need to treat cancer as a collective disease and much, much more! Links Christoffer Johansen's Research Profile Episode 007: How To Use Your Inner Resources To Better Deal With Cancer Episode 016: Your Survivorship Blueprint Full Transcript Joe:                 Hey, this is Joe Bakhmoutski, and welcome to Simplify Cancer Podcast. Joe:                 Christoffer, you know cancer changes the way other people see you.  That can have a huge negative impact on how you see yourself.  What's your perspective on that? Christoffer:       I think that most of the reasons why other people are changing their point of view on a person who has been diagnosed and treated for cancer, is that it raises fears about dying and you are suddenly close to a person who you know is undergoing a really severe treatment, which is life threatening, and you are mirroring yourself in this person.  Therefore, you are actually getting afraid, not that you are going around with an epidemic, speaking on an infectious disease that you in some ways feel the vulnerability of this person.  It's in a way transferred to yourself.  Therefore, you think that is the reason why, or that is some of the reason why there is a change in the interaction between the people that are dying from cancer and their close relatives and friends and colleagues and so on. Joe:                 You think it's they are afraid of dying themselves? Christoffer:       In a way, their fear of dying, which is a constant issue that we're talking with is becoming more realistic, so to speak, in a cancer patient, but it is also mirroring out or spreading out in the closes surroundings as a phenomenon.  One of many phenomena that is close to cancer disease. Joe:                 Yes, absolutely, Christoffer.  What about the self-image?  What about how the people see themselves?  Do you notice that people who are cancer patients and cancer survivors, do they start to see themselves in a different way and perceive themselves to be different and behave in a different way, the way they are out in the world? Christoffer:       We know from some of the scientific studies, that there is some degree of self-stigmatization that's coming along with a cancer diagnosis.  First of all, you can imagine that those patients having a cancer, which we know is closely related to lifestyle, for example.  Let's say, lung cancer is associated with smoking, we may feel guilt, ascribe the guilt to their own behaviour.  Therefore, feel that they are the reason why they have cancer. I know that there are several places where people who have lifestyle associated cancers are asking for treatment time slots, which is in the early morning or late afternoon, not to meet other patients and to tell them which diagnosis they have and what they are treated for, because they are afraid and do not feel that they can stand up for the diagnosis that they have, because it's clearly mostly associated with lifestyle.  For that reason, that is an example of change. There are also these diseases where you hardly lose control with some of the vital functions.  Let's say you get a colostomy or you get a prostate cancer, so you don't control your urination as well as you did beforehand.  Then these diseases, you also see a kind of a social self-isolation because it's difficult to do down to the supermarket or be in company with other friends or conduct activities...

In this episode, I'm talking to Rochelle who is amazing at articulating her cancer adventure in a way that's universal. So even if your experience is different, you can still find so much that you can relate to! In this episode, we cover: The bombshell of diagnosis and the alien reality of cancer Why trust in your specialist is critical Why some people are the rock of support (and why some people drop off) Ups and downs of chemotherapy The importance of connecting cancer experience Emotional ebbs and flows during cancer The lost art of listening Links Cancer Connect Cancer Council Victoria ThinkHatch Marketing & Communications Full Transcript Joe:                 Hey, this is Joe Bakhmoutski and welcome to Simplify Cancer Podcast.  Right now, you're going to hear from Rochelle, who is a cancer survivor and what's really amazing about Rochelle is that she can articulate what this cancer adventure has been like for her in a way that's universal.  Even if your experience is different, you can still find so much that you can relate to.  I really hope that we can find an hour or two with Rochelle somewhere down the line because there's just so much to unwrap.  For now, enjoy.  Rochelle, thank you so much for doing this.  I've been really looking forward to it.  First of all, tell me, how did you react when you found out that you had cancer? Rochelle:         Obviously, there was a huge element of shock.  My symptoms were nothing more than a shallow cough, a reasonable amount of weight loss and a little bit of exhaustion.  Given that I had a new-born son, weight loss during breastfeeding was very normal to me, exhaustion is obviously part of the new-born package and I am prone to coughing and throaty-type illness, generally speaking.  I don't get sick very often but if ever do, it's normally a cough. I really didn't notice.  I think the shock of not actually feeling particularly unwell and then discovering, as a gross optimist, I think I told you earlier that I'm terrible optimistic, discovering something as significant and severe as cancer, as a diagnosis was shocking.  Almost a little bit unbelievable. Joe:                 When you say unbelievable, how long did this feeling last for?  Did it change? Rochelle:         My father is a medic.  He quickly diagnosed me.  I often joke that he thinks he's like a diagnostician, like Dr.  House from the TV show.  I think he semi-diagnosed me and sent me to a doctor and as soon as I saw her, she sent me for a CT scan and shortly after that, a biopsy.  I knew very quickly that something was going on, but no one actually had used the C-word, so I didn't actually understand the severity of what I was being tested for or what was suspect.  I think when she then called me in on the morning of my birthday. Joe:                 Oh no! Rochelle:         Yes, 8:30am, to say, “Listen, Rachelle, you've got Hodgkin's lymphoma.” That shock was probably the result of just really not having any understanding that that's what was potentially on the cards.  As soon as I saw the oncologist the next day, and he told me my odds and told me my treatment plan, shock really dissolved almost instantly into, right, action stations, let's crack on, we've just got to get better.  The shock didn't last very long for me.  I think it possibly lasted a little bit longer for my partner and my family.  I transitioned very quickly into, I just need to get through this. Joe:                 Yes, good on you, because you're completely unprepared when it happens, right? Rochelle:         Completely unprepared.  Also, I've not really been to hospital, I've not really ever been unwell in any significant way.  I've never had much involvement with the medical profession.  Part of the shock is not only, oh my goodness, I have cancer, which is surely something that happens to other people.  Part of the discomfort initially is also,

In this episode, I'm talking to Suzanne Chambers who has a fantastic book that helps men deal with prostate cancer. Filled with tremendous insights and practical advice, this book should be prescribed like medicine.  In this interview, Suzanne shares: How to use your inner resources to better deal with cancer The importance of recognising your own instinctive reactions Becoming the expert on your own illness Separating the dubious advice from the truth 3 types of coping Making big decisions under stress How to deal with intrusive thoughts around cancer Links Facing the Tiger: A Guide for Men with Prostate Cancer and the People Who Love Them Suzanne Chambers Academic Profile Full Transcript Joe:                 Hello, my friends.  This is Joe Bakhmoutski and welcome to Simplify Cancer Podcast.  Today, I'm talking to Suzanne Chambers.  Suzanne is a psychologist who has been helping folks with cancer for many years.  She took all that knowledge and all of that experience and put it into a fantastic book called: Facing the Tiger.  That is specifically aimed at men dealing with prostate cancer, but most of the insights shared in this book is universal.  Suzanne is practical, down to earth, and profound.  I promise you're going to love it.  Suzanne, I know you've done so much more than writing this book, but please tell about yourself, about who you are, what you do and what you're passionate about? Suzanne:         Sure.  My background is that I'm both a registered nurse and a registered psychologist.  I've done many things in my professional history.  I started out as a registered nurse in intensive care.  That was a very dramatic profession.  Then I ended up working for the Cancer Council in Queensland, working with people with cancer in the community and developing community-based support services.  It was really a journey of learning for me that started there. This was back in 1989 I started working with people with prostate cancer.  My best teachers were the ones who had had cancer themselves, who were very generous with sharing their stories with me.  How I got into it, was I would go away and learn what the professions and what the research had to say, come to some conclusions about what might help people, and then I would bring it back to my community of people who had experienced cancer, and share that with them.  I'd say, “What makes sense to you out of this and how would you use this information?” It was a really collaborative process that developed my way of thinking from all of those years ago.  Obviously, that's a couple of decades ago, that informed how I think about coping with cancer and what I say to people with cancer when I'm trying to give assistance to them. Joe:                 That's fantastic, Suzanne, that you talk about it as a learning experience.  When you looked at the research and you tried to bring it into practice and get feedback from real-life people, did you find that in terms of the research out, did it align with how people tried to deal with it in real-life, so to speak? Suzanne:         I think it did.  The way that I look at research is, having cancer is really confusing for most people because it's a shocking experience for most of us.  Trying to make sense of it is really hard because you're stressed and your anxious.  The point of psychological research in this area, I always say, is to help us with a map.  To help us go, ah-ha, that's why I feel this way, that's what this means, that's what driving that, therefore, some ideas for how I can help myself might be this. From my point of view, if anyone is doing psychological-type research with people with cancer, they have to be very focused on being creative in finding solutions for people to help them in a difficult circumstance, manage the best they can.  Most people are doing the best they can, most people do well but sometimes you can get overwhelmed.

In this episode, I'm talking to Karen Barrow, a New York Times journalist who has put together a truly unique and inspiring project to tell the story of what happens when the treatment ends. This book should be on every cancer patient's coffee table for those dark times when you don't know if there's a light at the end of all this... Stay strong, you can get through it! Here's what we talk about in this interview: Why survivor stories make you feel less alone The universal emotions through cancer we all can relate to The importance of seeing the light at the end of the tunnel How you deal with cancer is a choice Why some people reject the term “survivor” The naturally occurring shift in priorities when you get cancer Links Picture Your Life After Cancer (Amazon) Picture Your Life After Cancer (New York Times) Well Blog (New York Times) Karen's Work at New York Times Full Transcript Joe:                 Hey, this is Joe Bakhmoutski and welcome to Simplify Cancer podcast.  Today, we're going to hear from Karen Barrow, who's put together this incredible, this inspiration books called: Picture Your Life After Cancer.  It's really amazing and I hope you check it out.  Let's get into it.  Karen, thank you so much for doing this.  I really appreciate your time. Karen:              No problem. Joe:                 Karen, your book puts cancer in a really different light.  I guess in many ways, people find positives, a new appreciation of life, is that something that you expected? Karen:              Just a little background, we stated Picture Your Life After Cancer online, as a digital project, in 2010.  It was primarily a way of collecting images of people who were dealing with cancer, who considered themselves after cancer.  After cancer for a lot of people could be after diagnosis, or after treatment, or after cure, or after accepting death or a relevant death.  I didn't really know what I would get.  It was amazing to see the percentage of stories that came in, that were very positive and that were stories of people who found spins to put on their experiences that helped them appreciate life more, helped them appreciate friends and family more, and help them appreciate their own health more. Joe:                 Absolutely, because it's given – I've seen a lot of books and I've tried to find a lot of resources online, offline and everywhere.  I think your book really captures a voice that is missing, a voice that hasn't been heard before.  Do you feel that voice is heard out in the greater community, like do people have maybe a better sense of what cancer is about?  I know it started as an online project and turned into a book later, do you think people have a better sense of what it's like? Karen:              I think within the book, people can find stories that they relate to, and that helps them feel less alone in the process of going through cancer, because if you're going through treatment, it's very individualized, it's very specific to you, the kind of cancer you have, the treatments you're choosing, how you're choosing to deal with side-effects, but the impact it has on your mental psyche and your family and your friends is more universal than I think people realize.  If you go through the book and you read stories from other people, you'll find some that you have nothing in common with, but you'll find plenty that resonate with you and it makes your experience feel less unique and, in that way, easier to understand. Joe:                 Yes, absolutely, because I find when I was going through it, I remember that there wasn't really much out there that is positive, because there is a lot of academic resources and there are a lot of biographies and things like that.  There really isn't anything that is positive, that is in the title of your book, Picture Your Life After Cancer.  You can say, “Wow, I'm going through all of this horrible stuff right now,

In this episode, I'm talking to Darryl Mitteldorf who shares what is unique about men facing cancer and other insights and perspective from helping folks as the oncology social worker. Darryl goes above and beyond to help men who face cancer as well as the gay and lesbian community in dealing with cancer through many innovative projects delivered by Malecare, organisation founded by Darryl. Here's what you going to find out in this interview: Crucial and unique challenges for men facing cancer How to work through your feelings when you are diagnosed Unveiling the biggest myth about men and cancer The voice for gay and lesbian and transgender and bisexual cancer survivors Why some folks run away when they found out about your cancer Overcoming dating challenges for cancer survivors A unique way to keep track of your symptoms and why that's crucial for your specialist Why now is the perfect time to be selfish when you are dealing with cancer Links Malecare LGBT Cancer Project Cancer Match Cancer Graph Health Unlocked Full Transcript Joe:                 Hello, my friends.  This is Joe Bakhmoutski and welcome to Simplify Cancer Podcast.  Today, we're going to hear from Darrel and his insights through the years he spent doing oncology social work.  He has done so much incredible stuff, with helping the gay and lesbian community deal with cancer, helping the underprivileged.  He created this amazing dating website for people who had cancer, and he's had so many other great projects.  Truly, Darrel is a voice that needs to be heard, so check it out.  Darrel, thank you so much for doing this.  First, I want to start with, I want to really ask you, why did you become a social worker and how did you become involved in oncology? Darryl:              A thousand years' ago, when I was younger, actually, I think about 34 years' ago, I actually left college and started working in banking.  Made a lot of money in that, then took a year off, like a delayed gap year to travel around.  I volunteered in a couple of refugee resettlement camps and camp back to the States where I live.  I thought, what better way for me to spend my time?  A friend of mine clued me into social work as a profession.  Her husband was HIV positive and finally died from that.  She became a social worker and I just followed her to the university that she went to, NYU.  Yes, it all started from there.  A very gratifying career. Oncology, though, my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer a few years after I had become a social worker.  I started looking into that.  There's been a lot of unsettled work around psychosocial issues in oncology and cancer survivorship.  I thought, rather than focus on refugees or HIV or the old stuff, where it's already overpopulated with social workers.  In the late 1990s, there were really very few American social workers looking at cancer survivorship, so I thought that could be a place I could be innovative and make a contribution to the field. Joe:                 Yes, absolutely.  That's quite a change from banking into social work.  It definitely feels like it's very personal, you're so involved.  What drives you on, Darrel, what do you want to achieve in what you do? Darryl:              It's partially revenge.  Cancer took my dad's life and the lives of a lot of people in one sense.  It might even take mine one day, so far, I'm lucky, but who knows?  It's a field where you can really see tangible results, with drug addiction or refugee resettlement, you never really know what's going to happen with a patient after you're through with them.  With cancer, they're either happy or sad.  The work that I do has very little to do with helping people live longer, but it has everything to do with helping people to live better and be happier in spite of their diagnosis and in spite of all the stressors of the stating treatments that they have to undergo.