Continuing our Survivor series with a story that will blow your minds. You know I like to say that before cancer I lived on caffeine and cortisol. I may have avoided the bad foods and looked really healthy, but as I got closer to my GBM diagnosis (looking back) I realize just how stressed out I was and what a toll that took on my body, especially my immune system. Jennifer Dickenson was living a similar way - probably times ten - when she was diagnosed with glioblastoma. The good news is she's now a 14 year survivor, living her best life and is here to help all of us chase that same dream, to not only survive cancer but to live even better after diagnosis. Author, Speaker, Cancer Survivor and Outlier, Jennifer Dickenson is an inspiration and I know you'll love her story as much as I do. Please check out her book, A Case for Hope. Because she lost her ability to read and had to relearn it took Jennifer 7 years to write this book, and I cannot wait to read it.

https://www.amazon.com/shop/thatbrainyblonde/list/29B1GJ1R6EVEF?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_2X2H989MK6BZZAPV8MQJ

https://www.instagram.com/jenniferldickenson/

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I want to thank YOU for taking time of your day to listen. I don’t know if you’re here because you’ve gotten a tough diagnosis or someone you love has - or if you just want to learn more about how to feel empowered to change your story and find purpose in your life. But I’m glad you’re here. If I can beat a universally deadly cancer and live a better, happier life, truly grateful for my cancer wake up call, I know the tools I’ve learned will help you too. Your life is about to get so much better.
Please share the Brainy Blonde Podcast with someone you love. See you soon!
Love you, Rebecca

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Dr. Saskia Biskup is my hero, the doctor I attribute to my success in beating Glioblastoma for nearly eight years. Many of you know her as the innovator behind the "CeGat vaccine" or the vaccine in Germany. Dr. Biskup will explain in detail how the vaccine works, why she is specializing in GBM now but how she dreams this technology will one day help with many cancers. And she shares the news about the vaccine coming to the US in clinical trial in 2026. Please listen and share and let me know what questions you have afterwards. I will work on getting this into video format with captions as well.

Saskia Biskup, MD/PhD, is co-founder and managing director of Cecava. After inventing the neoepitope vaccine technology, she applied it to patients suffering from tumors of various origins in her doctor’s office in the setting of individual treatment attempts. Building on this experience, she co-founded cecava with her husband, Dirk Biskup (PhD), to conduct clinical trials to ultimately prove the efficacy of this novel therapy and to enable its approval for the benefit of cancer patients.

As a specialist in human genetics, Saskia is head of her own Center for Human Genetics and founder of the Medical Care Center for Diagnostics, Prevention, Oncology, and Gastroenterology (both in Tübingen, Germany). She is also co-founder and managing director of CeGaT GmbH, a leading global provider of genetic analyses for a wide range of demands in medical practice, research, and the pharmaceutical industry. In 2011, she was recognized as one of the ‘100 Women of Tomorrow’ by Germany’s Federal President, and in 2014, she received the Women Innovators Prize from the European Commission.

Between 2012 and 2014, she was medical director at the Institute of Clinical Genetics at the Olgahospital (Klinikum Stuttgart).

Saskia holds an MD and a PhD in genetics from the University of Würzburg.

https://cecava.com

https://rebeccadevine.wixsite.com/thatbrainyblonde/why-germany

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I want to thank YOU for taking time of your day to listen. I don’t know if you’re here because you’ve gotten a tough diagnosis or someone you love has - or if you just want to learn more about how to feel empowered to change your story and find purpose in your life. But I’m glad you’re here. If I can beat a universally deadly cancer and live a better, happier life, truly grateful for my cancer wake up call, I know the tools I’ve learned will help you too. Your life is about to get so much better.
Please share the Brainy Blonde Podcast with someone you love. See you soon!
Love you, Rebecca

https://www.instagram.com/thatbrainyblonde/
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Welcome back to the Brainy Blonde Podcast! Wow, you guys it has been quite a week. I am recovering from surgery and it’s a planned surgery as part of my protocol to prevent cancer because I now know my inherited cancer risk. It’s been quite a ride, but I’m sitting here thinking about how incredible the human body is once again and how fragile it can be.

Last week I was doing push-ups with a 15 pound weight between my legs and a few days ago I could barely walk from my bedroom to the bathroom, which is about 15 steps. On the flipside we are so darn strong. It’s amazing how we can come back from something really difficult and thrive!

Today on the podcast I am continuing the Survivor series with Amanda Melby. You are going to fall in love with Amanda. I’m telling you right now. She is sunshine. She is so funny, so warm and so kind. I am so excited to have made a new friend in her. Amanda is an ultra athlete and endurance athlete and while she was training for the most incredible intense endurance event that I’ve probably ever heard of called 29029 Everlasting she found out she had glioblastoma. 16 months later she is coming back and coming back strong.

What is incredible is not only how Amanda could be at the top of her fitness game and still get this horrible diagnosis (because that is how it goes with GBM), but on the flipside how this woman who has limited sensation in half of her body - half of her whole body - she has to tell you the story! - is still running. I’m so inspired by her I just love her to bits and I know you were going to be just as inspired.

Amanda wanted me to note the surgeon she talks about is Dr. Cheng and you can listen to him on Peter Atilla's podcast. I'll link it.

Amanda supports the Outlier Fund if you are looking for a place to donate in her honor as she continues to train.

https://peterattiamd.com/edwardchang/

https://www.theoutlierfund.org/

https://www.instagram.com/theamandamelby/?hl=en

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I want to thank YOU for taking time of your day to listen. I don’t know if you’re here because you’ve gotten a tough diagnosis or someone you love has - or if you just want to learn more about how to feel empowered to change your story and find purpose in your life. But I’m glad you’re here. If I can beat a universally deadly cancer and live a better, happier life, truly grateful for my cancer wake up call, I know the tools I’ve learned will help you too. Your life is about to get so much better.
Please share the Brainy Blonde Podcast with someone you love. See you soon!
Love you, Rebecca

https://www.instagram.com/thatbrainyblonde/
https://www.instagram.com/brainyblondepodcast

As you know, in season 2 we are shining a light on survivors. And today’s guest is someone you will not forget! She is the most lovely, radiant human. And she exudes gratitude and hope. I just know she’s going to have the same effect on you that she did on me.

First of all…I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve so often heard that it’s weird that I got glioblastoma because it’s “an old man’s disease.” Well, not only am I living proof that is not the case, I have met so many young women who’ve gotten diagnosed over the years - and many who are young mothers who get diagnosed during pregnancy or soon after giving birth. A little dive into the scientific research does not show that women get GBM as often as men or that pregnancy or hormones are related to the diagnosis, but this is an understudied disease and we all deserve better support.

Today I’m excited to introduce you to the lovely Laurie Bing Lopez. Laurie is an extraordinary survivor. What she initially laughed off as “mom brain” during pregnancy turned out to be something quite different. She was hospitalized while 8 months pregnant when doctors discovered an orange sized tumor in her brain. She had brain surgery mere days after an emergency c-section. Laurie credits her survival to faith, family and a decision to support her body’s healing with healthy food, supplements and other wellness tools, some I haven’t even heard of!

Here are some notes from Laurie:

here is the link for “Joani” my chosen navigator 🤍

https://healnavigator.com

This is the link for Dr. Leupnitz
https://www.n4hresearchinc.com

https://cancercenterforhealing.com

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I want to thank YOU for taking time of your day to listen. I don’t know if you’re here because you’ve gotten a tough diagnosis or someone you love has - or if you just want to learn more about how to feel empowered to change your story and find purpose in your life. But I’m glad you’re here. If I can beat a universally deadly cancer and live a better, happier life, truly grateful for my cancer wake up call, I know the tools I’ve learned will help you too. Your life is about to get so much better.
Please share the Brainy Blonde Podcast with someone you love. See you soon!
Love you, Rebecca

https://www.instagram.com/thatbrainyblonde/
https://www.instagram.com/brainyblondepodcast

Welcome to Season 2 of The Brainy Blonde Podcast. This season is all about YOU, the survivors. The warriors. You inspire me every single day.

I created the Brainy Blonde Podcast to spread hope - and to empower you with the tools I’ve been learning so that you too will be an outlier and beat the odds. In season 1 I connected you with experts on the future of not only medicine but true wellness. I shared my best secrets, some of my favorite humans. I connected you with research, new clinical trials, resources and experts to back it up.

In season 2 I’m going to connect you with some incredible survivors. You’re going to be so inspired listening to these stories. The thing about Brain cancer is it not only tries to steal your health but who you are as a person in the process. I’m obsessed with being the main character in my own life story 0 even if that story looks nothing like I thought it would before getting cancer. And I hope all of you feel the same way. You get to tell the story of your life, the way you want it told, whether or not someone already ruined the ending. None of us knows how long we get to be here, but we all want to live our fullest most authentic lives while we’re alive!

Today we are going to talk to Lou Starzl. Five years ago Lou got an unexpected and unwelcome surprise for Christmas: doctors found a tumor in his brain. And, yes, it was glioblastoma. But Lou was able to process the grief and fear that came with that devastating diagnosis and use to steer him in a new direction, one that not only changed the course of his health, but his life. And now he is helping and inspiring others with cancer. Lou is pedaling 1000 miles to celebrate his strength and raise awareness for Glioblastoma. Follow along on social media and mark your calendars for September 14th when he hits his final mile. We’re all rooting for you, Lou!

https://www.facebook.com/lou.starzl

https://www.facebook.com/breakthroughPHL

https://www.facebook.com/RAGBRAI

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I want to thank YOU for taking time of your day to listen. I don’t know if you’re here because you’ve gotten a tough diagnosis or someone you love has - or if you just want to learn more about how to feel empowered to change your story and find purpose in your life. But I’m glad you’re here. If I can beat a universally deadly cancer and live a better, happier life, truly grateful for my cancer wake up call, I know the tools I’ve learned will help you too. Your life is about to get so much better.
Please share the Brainy Blonde Podcast with someone you love. See you soon!
Love you, Rebecca

https://www.instagram.com/thatbrainyblonde/
https://www.instagram.com/brainyblondepodcast

If you're here, you're likely worried about cancer, how not to get it, how to heal from it or how to save someone you love. I believe we can all beat cancer. Your genes are not your destiny. Your prognosis is not your fate. You do have the power to change your story. What you do does matter.

So, now you want to know exactly what to do. And this conversation is going to help you figure that out. How knowing the specifics, not just about your cancer or cancer risk, but about how your body’s functioning right now, will tell you exactly what you need to support it.

Today’s guest is someone who has profoundly changed my life and helped guide me towards the right way to continue to prevent cancer recurrence. Patrice Surley is a functional nutritionist with over 25 years of clinical experience. Many of my GBM warriors know Patrice because she meets with patients who’ve gotten the toughest diagnoses. And it never scares her. Like a detective, she’s determined to find the secrets of your body, what’s getting in the way of your body’s ability to fight cancer, and how to decode the mystery, remove the obstacles, so your immune system can do it’s job.

She’s also part of your medical team, advocating for YOU as an individual, and appreciates that success is highest when nutrition, supplementation and medicine are used appropriately according to your personal needs.

Have you worried about cell phones and technology causing cancer, chemicals in your home or environment? Today we’re going to ease those worries a bit. Our bodies are stronger than we think.

If you have cancer, have you wondered if there are secret drugs your medical team isn’t sharing with you that could be the answer to your prayers? Things like Ivermectin, Metformin, Methylene Blue? THC? Nicotine? These are all being thrown around on social media and the Cure for cancer that your doctor’s not telling you. Is it real? Is it dangerous? We’re going to talk about all of these topics today.

I’m going to ask something of you. What’s the most important question you have about how to treat cancer beyond what your doctors are telling you? Or preventing it? Diet, supplement, repurposed drug…I want to know your questions. We’re going to do a follow up with mini deep dive sessions into each topic so you can hear the science, the research, and how to know if this is right for you. Also please let me know if you’d like to do an Instagram Live. I’m here to help YOU!

Please follow us on Social media, follow and subscribe to this podcast and share with someone you love. I want to keep connecting you with all of the experts who have helped me become an outlier so you too can beat the odds. But I need your support to keep creating this free content.

Patrice Surley, Integrative Oncology Nutritionist, Patient Advocate

https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrice-surley-43a5a15a

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I want to thank YOU for taking time of your day to listen. I don’t know if you’re here because you’ve gotten a tough diagnosis or someone you love has - or if you just want to learn more about how to feel empowered to change your story and find purpose in your life. But I’m glad you’re here. If I can beat a universally deadly cancer and live a better, happier life, truly grateful for my cancer wake up call, I know the tools I’ve learned will help you too. Your life is about to get so much better.
Please share the Brainy Blonde Podcast with someone you love. See you soon!
Love you, Rebecca

https://www.instagram.com/thatbrainyblonde/
https://www.instagram.com/brainyblondepodcast

If cancer runs in your family should you get tested? Do you want to? Why would you even want to know? What about other inherited diseases?

Today, I'm interviewing genetic expert Natalie Samson. You may have seen her on social media as the founder of Golden Genetics. And she is bringing all the good feels to the field of genetic testing and counseling.

We talk about what types of inherited mutations you can test for, from Alzheimers and dementia to cancer and autism. We differentiate somatic gene testing (testing of tumor tissue) from germline testing (inherited genes). We talk about how knowing your genetic makeup can inform everything from early detection to what treatments might be more effective based on your biology. Also, Natalie is an expert in nutrigenomics which inform lifestyle choices like nutrition, supplements and movement. We dive into the ketogenic diet for cancer and when it's not a good choice. And my favorite thing Natalie says is "there is no perfect genome." Indeed there is not. We are all unique and understanding our body's makeup will help us live better, healthier, longer lives.

Natalie Samson is a dedicated Board-Certified Genetic Counselor devoted to transforming healthcare through personalized, integrative, and preventative approaches. She also obtained her Integrative Health Coach Certification and is completing her Integrative and Functional Nutrition Certification. She established her own practice, Golden Genetics to introduce an integrative approach to genetic counseling and testing, combining it with nutrition and nutrigenomics. She focuses on cancer, neurology and nutrigenomics and her aim is to provide unparalleled, personalized care in genetic counseling and testing.

Licensed Certified Genetic Counselor (she/her)

natalie@goldengeneticshealth.com│ Direct (858) 330-0317

@goldengeneticshealth on instagram

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I want to thank YOU for taking time of your day to listen. I don’t know if you’re here because you’ve gotten a tough diagnosis or someone you love has - or if you just want to learn more about how to feel empowered to change your story and find purpose in your life. But I’m glad you’re here. If I can beat a universally deadly cancer and live a better, happier life, truly grateful for my cancer wake up call, I know the tools I’ve learned will help you too. Your life is about to get so much better.
Please share the Brainy Blonde Podcast with someone you love. See you soon!
Love you, Rebecca

https://www.instagram.com/thatbrainyblonde/
https://www.instagram.com/brainyblondepodcast

Today marks the 7th anniversary of my incurable brain cancer diagnosis. To celebrate this milestone, I'm dedicating this special episode to all my brainy friends, the brain cancer thrivers and their caregivers.

I'm thrilled to introduce you to the brilliant Dr. Andrea Wasilewski. In this episode we talk with Dr. Wasilewski, a board-certified neurologist, neurooncologist, and director of the Givens Brain Tumor Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

I'm so grateful to have Dr. Wasilewski as my primary neurooncologist and I know she's part of the reason I'm an outlier, alive and well seven years after a terminal cancer diagnosis. Dr. Wasilewski will discuss the pillars of health she thinks are essential to battling brain cancer, from lifestyle to food and mindset. We'll also talk about off-label drugs, homeopathic treatments, the future of cancer treatment and clinical trials.

If you are wondering if Glioblastoma is really as rare as they say or if the number of patients getting diagnosed each year is actually going up, we'll talk about that too. And the are two big takeaways here that you will not want to miss: should you get a 2nd opinion and how important is sleep.

As always, I'm here for you! Let me know wha you think of this episode.

Love you guys!

ABOUT:

Dr. Andrea Wasilewski

Director, Givens Brain Tumor Center

Minneapolis, MN

Allina Health

Board Certified Neurologist and Neurooncologst

2024 Mpls. St. Paul Magazine Top Doctors: Rising Stars

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I want to thank YOU for taking time of your day to listen. I don’t know if you’re here because you’ve gotten a tough diagnosis or someone you love has - or if you just want to learn more about how to feel empowered to change your story and find purpose in your life. But I’m glad you’re here. If I can beat a universally deadly cancer and live a better, happier life, truly grateful for my cancer wake up call, I know the tools I’ve learned will help you too. Your life is about to get so much better.
Please share the Brainy Blonde Podcast with someone you love. See you soon!
Love you, Rebecca

https://www.instagram.com/thatbrainyblonde/
https://www.instagram.com/brainyblondepodcast