From a Cinco de Mayo diagnosis in "CancerLand" to the frontlines of national advocacy, this episode features powerful insights from community educator and stage 2 anal cancer survivor Daniel G. Garza. Join the conversation as Daniel opens up about navigating the realities of a rare diagnosis as a Latino and HIV-positive man, breaking down stigmas with humor, dismantling toxic positivity, and learning how advocates can prioritize their own mental health and healing.

#theCancerLandpodcast #CancerAdvocacy #AnalCancerAwareness #LifeAfterCancer #comedy

Turn pain into purpose with this powerful episode of The Cancerland Podcast (S1 E16), where Danny, Brian, Jeff, and the new mental health addition Jamie, are joined by James Kiesewetter—a nearly 23-year colorectal cancer survivor, permanent ostomate, author, and founder of Keys Coaching. James shares his incredible journey of discovering his own tumor during a colonoscopy at age 31, navigating brutal treatments, and dealing with life-altering personal hardships. Together, the panel explores the intersection of cancer survivorship, the unique emotional weight carried by Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs), and how men can break through societal conditioning to embrace vulnerability, find their "new normal," and turn pain into a purpose-driven life

Email James here: james@kiescoaching.com

Kies Coaching on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmkies

.​#TheCancerlandPodcast #turnpainintopurpose #CancerSurvivorship #HighlySensitivePerson #LivingForward

Turning Pain into Purpose with Dave Diaz, a retired Army veteran and nine-year stage 4 prostate cancer survivor, who discusses his journey of resilience and rebuilding after a life-altering diagnosis. As the Executive Director of the nonprofit Reluctant Brotherhood, Diaz shares his deeply personal experience with aggressive treatments, the subsequent loss of his career as an air traffic controller, and the significant mental and emotional challenges he faced, including depression and identity loss. He explores the critical importance of finding vulnerability and community, detailing how his involvement in support groups helped him find his voice and improve his relationships. Now an author and speaker, Diaz provides resources to help men navigate their own cancer journeys and emphasizes that while illness may redefine one's days, it should never define who they are at their core.#ProstateCancer #CancerSurvivor #MensHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #TurnPainintoPurpose

S1 E14 Turning Pain Into Purpose with Michael VasalloJoin us for a powerful conversation with Michael Vasallo, a high school principal who transformed his diagnosis of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer into a global mission of advocacy. Mike shares his raw, honest journey from the "gut punch" of his initial diagnosis at age 46 to finding a vibrant community online.In this episode, we explore:The Power of Vulnerability: Why Mike started sharing his treatment journey on TikTok to provide a real look at life "in the throws" of the battle.

Advocacy & Education: The critical importance of biomarker testing, seeking second opinions, and navigating the challenges of medical insurance.

Hope Through Humor: How Mike uses his signature dance moves and positivity to light up the dark corners of a cancer diagnosis.Breaking the Stigma: A candid discussion on men's health and the necessity of self-advocacy and early detection.

Tune in to discover why Mike believes that while you may have cancer, it doesn't have you.#BladderCancer #PatientAdvocacy #BiomarkerTesting #MensHealth #CancerSupport #turnpainintopurpose

S1 E13 – Turning Pain Into Purpose with Dave Bjork

Welcome back to The CancerLand Podcast, where we turn pain into purpose. In this episode, hosts Jeff,Danny, and Brian sit down with the ultimate "Research Evangelist,"Dave Bjork. Dave is a lung cancer survivor, community builder, and dedicated patient advocate who has spent over 25 years bringing the patient's voice directly to clinical trials and cancer research.

Dave shares his personal journey from a shocking diagnosis at age 34 to finding his "lane" in research advocacy. We dive deep into his mission to humanize scientists, his past roleas a board member and "guardian" of the grassroots "The White Ribbon Project", the challenges of laboratory fundraising, and the vital importance of expanding lung cancer screening eligibility. Tune in for an inspiring and empathetic conversation on how every survivor and caregiver can use their unique story to make a global impact.

#CancerLand #LungCancerAwareness#PatientAdvocacy #CancerResearch #WhiteRibbonProject

What does true recovery look like when clinical treatment ends? In this episode of The CancerLand Podcast, patient advocate and 3-time cervical cancer survivor Samantha Russell joins Danny, Jeff, and Brian to break down the reality of life after cancer. Samantha opens up about breaking free from post-treatment anxiety, dismantling the social stigma surrounding gynecological health, and turning pain into purpose through her advocacy work with Evergrow Healing Company. Tune in for an honest, empowering conversation on self-advocacy, finding vulnerability, and fully living—not just surviving.​Hashtags:#CancerLandPodcast #CervicalCancerAwareness #PatientAdvocacy #CancerSurvivorship #WomensHealth

In this powerful episode of The CancerLand Podcast, hosts Jeff, Brian, and Danny welcome Dr. Aurora Lucas, who was diagnosed with EGFR-positive lung cancer at just 28 years old. Aurora opens up about confronting medical gaslighting, navigating complex health insurance hurdles, and dealing with the unique emotional weight placed on young adults and people of color. The conversation also takes a deeply vulnerable turn as the hosts share their own battles with the psychological impact of cancer—exploring the heavy realities of diagnostic depression and the profound mental shifts that happen long before treatment begins. It’s a raw, poignant look at the intersection of cultural expectations, survival, and the vital power of self-advocacy.#LungCancerSurvivor #CancerLandPodcast #PatientAdvocacy #YoungAdultCancer #MentalHealthMatters

In this episode of the Cancer Land podcast, we are honored to welcome Linda Trummer, a stage 4 blastoid variant mantle cell lymphoma survivor, storyteller, and poet (0:40). After facing an aggressive cancer diagnosis in 2015, being given 18 to 24 months to live, and spending three months in hospice, Linda not only defied the odds to survive but turned her hard-fought battles into a lifeline for others (0:51).

💡 Key Takeaways from This Episode

• The Healing Power of Community: Out of her own isolated moments in waiting rooms, Linda founded the Facebook support community Mantle Cell Lymphoma: The Journey (now in its ninth year) and its branch, The Caregivers' Journey (1:12).
• Survival Against All Odds: Linda shares her harrowing medical timeline, including surviving the highly toxic Hyper-CVAD chemotherapy regimen (9:50), a 5-week ICU stay on a ventilator due to COVID-19 (8:00), and a subsequent battle with severe sepsis (11:06).
• Fierce Self-Advocacy: Linda emphasizes the critical importance of patient input in medical research, finding cancer-specific specialists, and remembering that as a patient, you are always the one "driving the bus." (28:01)

• Patient Support: Search Facebook for Mantle Cell Lymphoma: The Journey (18:13)
• Caregiver Support: Search Facebook for The Caregivers' Journey (1:35)

🔗 Connect with Linda's Communities

• Patient Support: Search Facebook for Mantle Cell Lymphoma: The Journey (18:13)
• Caregiver Support: Search Facebook for The Caregivers' Journey (1:35)