281: Business After Breast Cancer | Deb Krier

What happens when cancer crashes into your life and your livelihood? In episode 281 of the Gratitude Geek podcast, I sit down with entrepreneur and cancer thriver Deb Krier for a candid conversation about living with Stage 4 breast cancer while still showing up for your clients, your business, and yourself. Deb and I skip the glossy “fight hard” clichés. We talk about the real stuff: nerve damage, port disasters, chemo fog, and all the unsolicited miracle cures strangers fling your way. We also talk about rebuilding a business in the middle of treatments, setbacks, and a body that doesn’t always cooperate. Sometimes we paused. Sometimes we powered through. And we both found new ways to work, lead, and stay human through the chaos. This is the episode I wish I had when I was first diagnosed. It’s part support group, part strategy session, part redhead sass. In This Episode: • What “working through cancer” actually looks like • Therapies and tools that genuinely help • How to choose what to keep, delegate, or drop in your business • Staying visible when your body is falling apart • Why boundaries stop being optional • Deb’s philosophy: “You’re the boss. Not cancer. Not your doctor.” Connect with Deb Krier: Website: https://tryingnottodie.live Facebook Group: Support Group on Facebook LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/deborahkrier Podcast: The Business Power Hour Show Notes: https://kandasrodarte.com/281 About Deb Krier: Deb Krier is the founder of TryingNotToDie.LIVE, a platform empowering people navigating cancer to live boldly and on their own terms. A longtime marketing and PR pro, she brings the same no-nonsense strength to her work and her health journey. Diagnosed with Stage 4 triple-positive breast cancer in 2015 and later thyroid cancer, Deb refused to let illness define her. She now supports others in taking ownership of their decisions, building community, and finding purpose, regardless of diagnosis. Gratitude Shoutout: Deb’s moment of gratitude was this conversation. Same here. Timestamps: 00:00 When business and cancer collide 02:30 Stage 0 to Stage 4 overnight 06:15 Chemo, septic shock, and working from a hospital bed 09:40 Why Kandas paused the podcast 13:10 Ports, Herceptin, insurance, and evolving treatment 19:30 Complementary therapies 24:00 Why you need both oncology and primary care 27:10 How to fire your doctor 31:30 Humor as medicine 36:00 Medical marijuana and biosimilars 40:20 Cancer’s impact on business and boundaries 44:10 Advice for newly diagnosed entrepreneurs 47:00 Cancer doesn’t define your business 48:30 Gratitude and closing If you're living with cancer while running a business, or supporting someone who is, this episode is for you. Cancer may change your schedule and your capacity, but it doesn’t get to take your voice. Subscribe, rate, review, comment, and share. Join the Gratitude Geek community: http://kandasrodarte.com/subscribe Support the show: http://kandasrodarte.com/support Podmatch: http://kandasrodarte.com/podmatch Affiliate Disclosure: Some links may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices