Episode 28: Race Against Death…I’m Not My Disease

Send us Fan MailSpecial note: the herb Shoba mentions is the herb is Aristolochia Indica , part of the Aristolochia family.   Intro: A cancer diagnosis can be one of the most difficult things you encounter in your lifetime. For many, you’re just living your life and out of nowhere you get a cancer diagnosis. What if you have been diagnosed 3 times like our guest today, how do you navigate your life and care for your loved ones and keep a positive outlook?It's normal to feel anxious or overwhelmed by the uncertainty ahead. While it may feel like a lot is out of your control, knowing what to do next can help you cope and stay positive as you make decisions for your future.It’s not easy, you may have a disease but it doesn’t have to define YOU!Hello everyone and welcome to Episode 28: Race Against Death…I’m Not My Disease.  I have Shoba Rao with us today.Shoba is a debut novelist with "My Race Against Death"  being her first memoir. She is a three-time cancer survivor and a kidney transplant recipient and shares lessons learned from her health struggles when opportunity arises, motivating people to live life to the fullest extent.She is a Distinguished Toastmaster and often shares her life journey in various speeches, focusing on inspirational speeches with a humorous touch. In her other life, she is a successful career woman in the Semiconductor Industry for the past 25 years and currently serves as Director of Manufacturing.  In her spare time, she enjoys exercising, reading books, dancing, painting, baking, cooking, and volunteering with various organizations. I wanted to bring Shoba on the show because of the journey she has been on and the lens that she has looked through on her journey of survival. Being diagnosed with a disease is hard enough and then working through the complexity of the healthcare system may seem daunting.   You may even reach that place of struggle of wanting to give up and letting that disease define who you are, but there is hope and optimism on your journey to live your best life.  Welcome to the show Shoba!Today we will discuss:1) Shoba Rao - Share with us your story.2) Navigating Cancer Treatments.3) Lessons from your Book Race Against Death.Be your own advocate  ( I can give couple of examples of what I mean here)How to talk to a cancer patient( Be empathetic)I am not my diseaseResources:https://www.shobarao.com  ( My website)https://www.myraceagainstdeath.com ( Book website)https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTRVJCQG  ( Link to my book at Amazon)Support the show