My Cancer Story: Personal Narratives of Resilience

It is estimated that roughly 1.8 million people are diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States. While there are several treatments for cancer available today, outcomes will vary because of family history, early screening, and the type of cancer detected. This Public Health Out Loud episode will focus on something that’s not always talked about from a medical perspective: the personal stories of survivors. Gail McDonald’s story begins at a retail store when her family noticed her sudden weight loss, eventually leading her to see her doctor. Listen to her recall those memories —as if they happened yesterday— and the thoughts that were racing through her mind.Joining Gail as a recent cancer survivor, Dr. Amy Nunn describes what it was like being diagnosed with cancer in the middle of a pandemic. Dr. Nunn is a professor of behavioral and social sciences at the Brown University School of Public Health and the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Public Health Institute. Tune in for another episode with Dr. Jim McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan as they help the speakers piece together their uplifting and poignant stories.