"I didn't expect the cancer to fix everything."

Many of us sit on cruise control through life, and it can be hard for people to find true perspective on both the fragility and the beauty of being alive until either something earth shattering happens or we are faced with our own mortality. Andres Varela spent most of his life from teen years struggling through depression, so when he was told by the doctor at only 30 years old that he had stage 3 colorectal cancer he didn't react like most others would, "If I had received the news of my cancer alone, I probably would have just let it take me."

Fortunately, Andres was not alone when he visited the doctor that day and he agreed to an aggressive chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment plan. Three surgeries later, Andres is now free of Colorectal Cancer, but of course living with a very different digestive system in place of what most of us have.

Looking for the "little wins" as he calls it, Andres is an inspiration, although he wouldn't say that of himself. He moves through each day seeking out the moments of joy that will elevate himself and those around him. He hasn't let go of the pain he went through because it helps in driving him to live a much more fulfilled and consciously present life.

In this episode, I had an incredibly moving conversation with Sandra Russell, a former psychotherapist and author of "The Feeling of Cancer".
Diagnosed with multiple myeloma, Sandra faces a relentless battle with an incurable cancer, which has pushed her to reevaluate life's priorities, embrace mindfulness, and navigate the complex layers of emotional health and self-care.

Her profound insights into self-compassion, the nuances of empathy versus sympathy, and the importance enjoying simple pleasures and personal indulgence over the manic pursuit of bucket-list activities make this episode a must-hear for anyone dealing with a cancer diagnosis.

Sandra shares here complete story in her book "The Feeling of Cancer" which is available in paperback and on Kindle.

Imagine you are diagnosed with a cancer that's so uncommon that even your doctor is uncertain of the pathway you need to take. You are isolated in your illness and you turn to investigating yourself online. Is it right that because your cancer is rare, that you should receive less support? When you have a rare cancer the treatment options are often more complex, and alongside complexity comes expense.

Rare Cancers Australia is a pillar of support for more than 40,000 Australians facing their own rare cancer experience right now. Cathy Slattery from Rare Cancers Australia talks openly about the challenges and differences that people with a rare or less common cancer encounter every day - from uncertainty in their health pathway, to the inequities in government support.