Touching The Emotional Side Of Cancer

— There are many definitive truths involved in cancer research, care, and treatment. After testing, we might know that specific drugs work or don't work in certain instances. We may even know what the predicted outcome might be when comparing one surgical approach to another, but doctors do not have the luxury of working in absolutes. Absolutes may offer more peace than unknowns, but there are not many absolutes in cancer. Instead, there is a stream of endless unknowns, creating a chaotic and unpredictable environment for the feelings of anyone faced with a challenge like cancer. David Richman experience has shown that cancer usually crashes into one's life with a sort of primitive, metal-to-flesh force, and people don't often jump right into unpacking the vast array of emotion the experience evokes for them— sometimes they never do. Since David first recognized the common thread binding people touched by cancer—the tendency not to examine, discuss, or even acknowledge the emotional side of their experience—his goal has been to shine a light on the things we've all kept buried, in the hopes that people might better understand what they and their loved ones went through. Valeria Teles interviews David Richman — the author of "Cycle of Lives: 15 People's Stories, 5,000 Miles, and a Journey Through the Emotional Chaos of Cancer."  David is an author, public speaker, philanthropist, and endurance athlete whose mission is to form more meaningful human connections through storytelling. In his first book, Winning in the Middle of the Pack, he discussed how to get more out of ourselves than ever imagined. With Cycle of Lives, David shares the interconnected stories of people overcoming trauma and delves deeply into their emotional journeys with cancer. He continues to do Ironman triathlons and a wide range of endurance athletic events, having recently completed a solo 4,700-mile bike ride. He is married, lives in Southern Nevada, and has twins who are in college. To learn more about David Richman and his work, please visit: https://www.david-richman.com/     — This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.