Breast Cancer
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My Cancer Collage: Things I Honor & Highlight with My Personal Cancer Experience by Katie Dudas
Hello, my name is Katie. On the morning of Christmas Eve in 2019, I received the call that I had breast cancer. Not the ideal Christmas present. The news came four days after I was laid off from my full time job. To say my whole world changed that December is an understatement. What would follow would be months of tests to diagnose me as stage 2b, determine a treatment plan followed by 12 rounds of chemo, a bilateral mastectomy with partial reconstruction, 28 rounds of radiation, two upcoming reconstruction surgeries, and hormone suppression medication for the next several years. Whew! That’s a mouthful. I was also lucky enough to…
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Cancer, Statistics, and Coping with Uncertainty by Lisa Murphree
I used to love statistics. I loved how I could use statistics to understand my world and guide my decision-making. For example, knowing that seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front seat passengers by 45%[i] is great motivation to wear one. Being aware that running for one hour could add seven hours to your life[ii] makes you want to put your running shoes on. Thinking that you are doing the right thing is comforting, and it is satisfying when statistics confirm your decisions. From my late-twenties and into my thirties, I thought that if I did all the right things – exercise, eat right, maintain a healthy…
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Dear Cancer… Sincerely, Me – A Letter to Breast Cancer by Nicole Cox
Well, hey there all! My name is Nikki Cox and as a 2x Breast Cancer Survivor at the age of 35, I am sitting down writing my first blog ever, so bear with me please, thanks!! Briefly, to give you a little history of myself and how cancer comes in to play, I’ll start with a slight back story before diving right on in with my letter to “Cancer!” At the age of 30, year 2016, I was living my best life, dating my then boyfriend (now husband) Marcus for 5 years, had our now 7yr old daughter Ava (2yrs old at the time), and my 10yr old stepdaughter Laylah…
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The Survivor Series with Neha Kothari |Episode 25
Good People! Welcome to the next episode in The Survivor Series of This Exceptional Journey Podcast!! I can’t believe it is July already? It will be winter before we know it! This year with the podcast, you won’t be lulled by just my sultry vocal tones, you will also hear the personal journeys of other cancer survivors whose stories I am sure will touch your heart. My hope is that these amazing people inspire, empower and ignite you to go out there and live life fully despite what hand you are dealt. In this episode of the podcast, you will meet Neha Kothari, a fellow young adult breast cancer survivor who…
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The Co-Survivor Corner with Crystaline Barger and Kelley Johnson |Episode 24
Good People! Thanks for clicking over to my little corner of the podcast world and rocking with me! Welcome to the next episode of the Co-Survivor Corner where I interview caregivers and co-survivors of those of us that face cancer! These outtakes and interviews will be the real and honest look at those who care for others after a cancer diagnosis. You are in for a real treat! In this episode of the podcast, I chat with my girls, Crystaline and Kelley, and did we have a great convo about faith, resiliency, and the reality of dealing with breast cancer! Both of their mothers were diagnosed with breast cancer and they…
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The Co-Survivor Corner with Reginald & Gwen Murphy |Episode 21
Good People! Thanks for clicking over to my little corner of the podcast world and rocking with me! Welcome to the very first episode of the Co-Survivor Corner where I interview caregivers and co-survivors of those of us that face cancer! These outtakes and interviews will be the real and honest look at those who care for others after a cancer diagnosis. You are in for a real treat! In this episode of the podcast, I sit down and talk with my parents! When I tell you, you are in for a great time, I mean it! We discuss the ups and downs between my Dad and I being diagnosed with…
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You Should Just Do It!
Hey Hey Hey! I am sitting here in a small coffe shop thinking of all the things I want to accomplish and see come to fruition in 2019 and I am blown away with how much I have already moved toward those goals. You ever have a moment where you just sit and look back? You know those moments right? The ones where you can’t believe where you are because you thought you hadn’t made any progress?? Yeah, that’s me right now! One of the things I want to accomplish this year is to roll out a product for those of us in the cancer space. I just left a…
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The Survivor Series with Alex |Episode 17
Good People! Welcome to the next in The Survivor Series of This Exceptional Journey Podcast!! This year with the podcast, you won’t be lulled by just my sultry vocal tones, you will also hear the personal journeys of other cancer survivors whose stories I am sure will touch your heart. My hope is that these amazing people inspire, empower and ignite you to go out there and live life fully despite what hand you are dealt. In this episode of the podcast, you will meet Alex, a lymphoma survivor who is also a member of the Young Adult Cancer Support Group (YACS) with the Cancer Cancer Caring Center in Pittsburgh, PA.…
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The Survivor Series with Steven Welch |Episode 14
Good People! Welcome to the next in The Survivor Series of This Exceptional Journey Podcast!! This year with the podcast, you won’t be lulled by just my sultry vocal tones, you will also hear the personal journeys of other cancer survivors whose stories I am sure will touch your heart. My hope is that these amazing people inspire, empower and ignite you to go out there and live life fully despite what hand you are dealt. In this episode of the podcast, you will meet Steven Welch, a 2-year thyroid cancer survivor who is also a member of the Young Adult Cancer Support Group (YACS) with the Cancer Cancer Caring Center…
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The Survivor Series with Erin Pottgen |Episode 13
Good People! Welcome to the next in The Survivor Series of This Exceptional Journey Podcast!! This year with the podcast, you won’t be lulled by just my sultry vocal tones, you will also hear the personal journeys of other cancer survivors whose stories I am sure will touch your heart. My hope is that these amazing people inspire, empower and ignite you to go out there and live life fully despite what hand you are dealt. In this episode of the podcast, you will meet Erin Pottgen a fellow breast cancer survivor whom is also a member of the Young Adult Cancer Support Group (YACS) with the Cancer Cancer Caring Center…
