The 30 Stories Podcast

A Doctor Who Felt Right Wendy opens the conversation by reflecting on a life she genuinely enjoys: retirement, travel and reading anything she can get her hands on. That sense of fullness makes what came next feel even more jarring. After noticing a small lump in her cheek, she found herself moving from doctor to doctor without real answers. One of the most interesting parts of her story is how clearly she trusted her own instincts. Even before she had a diagnosis, she knew she needed someone who would not dismiss her and that search led her to a surgeon whose kindness, honesty and attentiveness immediately stood out. Choosing Care With Intention Once Wendy learned she was facing a rare cancer connected to her parotid gland, the uncertainty of it all could have made her feel powerless. Instead, the episode keeps returning to one important insight: care is not just about expertise, it is also about trust, clarity and how a doctor makes you feel. Wendy talks about major surgery, time in the ICU, the discomfort of a trach and a wired jaw, and the difficult decision to forgo radiation after an insurance delay pushed treatment past the original window. What makes the episode especially memorable is how she frames these experiences. She does not tell her story as a string of setbacks. She tells it as a process of learning who would really stand beside her, listen to her and respect her choices. Faith, Support & Self-Advocacy The warmest moments in the episode come from Wendy’s reflections on support. She describes how deeply held she felt by her son, her sister, her church and friends praying for her from Barbados and beyond. She also shares small moments that took on huge meaning, including a nurse whose name felt like a sign that she was exactly where she needed to be. By the end, Wendy’s message feels both practical and reassuring: know your body, keep asking questions, follow your intuition and do not settle for care that leaves you feeling unseen. The episode lands on a hopeful truth that feels earned: even in a frightening and uncertain chapter, it is possible to find steadiness, speak up for yourself and move forward with grace.

Diagnosis, Shock & the Start of a New Reality Hanley shares the story of his son Duke’s neuroblastoma diagnosis with the kind of detail only a parent can carry for decades. What begins as a snapshot of family life and a multigenerational business quickly shifts into a moment that changed everything, when Hanley noticed something was wrong and a frightening diagnosis followed just before Duke’s third birthday. From there, he walks listeners through the shock, the uncertainty and the sudden need to make life-altering decisions fast. Treatment, Caregiving & the Long Middle As the episode unfolds, Hanley reflects on the long stretch of treatment that followed, including chemotherapy, major surgery, relapse, stem cell transplant and radiation. What makes the conversation especially moving is not just the scale of what Duke endured, but the way Hanley remembers it through the small human details: early hospital mornings, the search for the right surgeon, the role of humor, SpongeBob tapes and the exhaustion that comes with loving a child through crisis. He also speaks candidly about fear, trust and the emotional toll that remains even after the hardest chapter has passed. What gives the episode its power is Hanley’s perspective now, more than two decades later. He speaks with deep gratitude about the life Duke has built, and with humility about how the experience changed him as a father, a husband and a person. The conversation becomes not just a story about survival, but a reflection on instinct, family, faith and the quiet ways hope keeps showing up when people choose to keep going.

Jennifer’s story begins with a moment she could not ignore. On a drive home in 2013, she discovered a lump on her neck and, drawing on her experience as a dental hygienist, felt almost immediately that something was wrong. What follows is one of the most compelling parts of the episode: a long stretch of dismissal, inconclusive tests and repeated reassurances from clinicians who told her it was not cancer, even as her instincts told her otherwise. One of the most interesting threads in the conversation is how clearly Jennifer trusted her own judgment. She kept pushing, kept asking better questions and kept looking for answers until she finally got a diagnosis of HPV-mediated tonsil cancer. The episode becomes especially powerful when she describes refusing to settle for a treatment path that did not feel right to her, eventually finding a surgeon who offered a then-cutting-edge robotic approach that aligned with both her research and her intuition. What gives the episode its lasting warmth is that Jennifer’s story does not stop at survival. She speaks honestly about the physical cost of treatment, the emotional aftermath, the isolation of survivorship and the long road back to herself. Yet what rises to the top is not bitterness, but clarity: a deep belief in self-advocacy, gratitude and using painful experience to help others feel less alone.

Laura shares a deeply reflective account of living with stage 4 metastatic parotid carcinoma, a rare cancer that began in her parotid gland and later spread to her lungs. One of the most striking moments in the episode is her description of going in for what she thought would be a routine surgery and waking up to learn that the tumor was cancerous, had affected her facial nerve, and had changed the course of her life in an instant. From there, she walks listeners through a demanding stretch of surgeries, radiation, chemotherapy and reconstruction, speaking with honesty about pain, uncertainty and the emotional shock of it all. What makes this conversation especially compelling is the way Laura frames her experience. Rather than speaking only about diagnosis and treatment, she explores what the illness revealed about identity, self-worth and the need to stop living in constant survival mode. She reflects on family history, spirituality, intergenerational patterns and the long process of learning how to care for herself with the same devotion she once gave to everyone else. Her perspective on advocacy is also especially strong, whether she is discussing second opinions, changing providers, asking better questions or finding a care team willing to meet her with both rigor and respect. The episode also offers a warm, grounded look at support, healing and what it means to keep living fully while still in process. Laura speaks beautifully about chosen family, therapy, support groups, scan anxiety and the practical wisdom of not carrying everything alone. She returns again and again to a few core ideas: listen to your body, ask for help and make space for life’s simple pleasures, rest and joy even in the middle of uncertainty. The result is a conversation that feels intimate, emotionally intelligent and quietly hopeful.

Stef shares the shock of realizing something was seriously wrong while still being told she was too young and healthy for cancer. She talks about working as a nurse, noticing a lump, pushing through pain, and having to fight for answers until a specialist moved quickly and confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. One of the most affecting parts of the episode is how she describes the diagnosis call, the ringing in her ears, the blur that followed, and the instinct to comfort her parents even as her own world had just shifted. The conversation then moves into treatment and its lasting impact. Stef reflects on major surgery, reconstruction using tissue from her arm, and the unexpected symbolism of a tattooed phrase becoming part of the tongue that gave her “new life.” She is especially candid about radiation, describing it as the harder part of the journey, from severe mucositis and weight loss to losing her sense of taste and relearning how to eat, drink, and navigate daily life with dry mouth and long-term side effects. What makes the episode stand out is how clearly Stef connects survival with reinvention. She speaks about the myth of “going back to normal,” the need for better survivorship care, and how her own experience changed the way she understands healthcare, control, support, and hope. By the end, the conversation feels less like a story about returning to who she was and more like a story about becoming someone wiser, steadier, and more open to grace.

Christine Fader shares a deeply personal caregiving story shaped by love, advocacy and extraordinary emotional complexity. She reflects on her husband Michael’s head and neck cancer diagnosis, the long path to getting answers and the shock of learning that a specific throat pain was something far more serious. One of the most striking parts of the episode is her account of how his childhood trauma affected cancer treatment, especially the radiation mask, and how they worked with the care team to make that process possible without sacrificing his sense of control. The conversation becomes especially powerful as Christine describes what caregiving looked like in real time. She speaks candidly about balancing information, fear and practical problem-solving while supporting a partner who processed illness very differently than she did. The episode also explores unusual and difficult moments in Michael’s treatment journey, including a rare arterial hemorrhage during radiation and the later diagnosis of a second, unrelated cancer, which brought an entirely new wave of pain, uncertainty and grief. What makes this episode stand out is Christine’s clarity about what caregivers often carry quietly. She offers thoughtful insight into anticipatory grief, the importance of asking for specific help and the emotional aftershocks that can linger long after treatment or loss. By the end, the episode opens into something larger than one family’s story, becoming a meaningful reflection on trauma-informed care, the hidden labor of caregiving and the ways people try to create purpose after devastating loss. To learn more about Christine and for resources she offers visit her website: christinefader.com 

Jean LaMantia, a registered dietitian and cancer survivor, shares how her early clinical nutrition training shaped her love of problem-solving and patient care. She then reflects on her own Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis, which escalated quickly and gave her a deeply personal understanding of fear, uncertainty and the physical toll of treatment. That experience changed the way she thinks about patient support and made her more attuned to what people are actually able to manage when they are sick. A major focus of the conversation is how unrealistic nutrition advice can feel during active treatment. Jean speaks candidly about severe nausea and the sheer difficulty of eating during chemotherapy, explaining that survival sometimes looks far less idealized than standard wellness messaging suggests. Her point is not perfection. It is practicality. She voices that nutrition guidance during treatment should be symptom-based, compassionate and grounded in what helps a patient get through the next day, not in aspirational advice that ignores how hard treatment can be. The episode also turns to lymphedema, a topic Jean says is underrecognized despite how many cancer survivors may be at risk. She explains how lymph node removal and radiation can increase that risk, especially in head and neck cancer care, and outlines why informed conversations before treatment matter. She also discusses the lack of accessible lymphedema resources, which led her to write a guide on the subject. She also shares several risk-reduction ideas that may help patients feel more informed and more in control.

Michael and Michelle open by sharing a grounded portrait of their life together: they met in law school, built separate law practices, and are raising 2 children while holding tightly to everyday joys like boating, reading, running, cooking and family time. That sense of normalcy matters because the episode quickly shifts into a very personal account of cancer returning, and how a family’s identity, routines and relationships can become both a refuge and a source of strength when serious illness enters the picture. Michael reflects on 2 major cancer events, first in 2018 and again more recently, both involving his tongue. He describes the uncertainty that led to diagnosis, the difficulty of aggressive chemotherapy, the pain and lasting effects of radiation, and the emotional weight of facing surgery while also fearing the possible loss of speech and swallowing. Still, what comes through most strongly is not despair but determination. He speaks candidly about hope, trust in his medical team, the value of staying active when possible, and the daily choice to keep moving forward even when the road is physically and emotionally exhausting. The episode also becomes a broader conversation about family resilience, caregiving and communication. Michael and Michelle talk honestly about what it means to tell children hard truths, how differently each child absorbs fear, and how therapy, encouragement and emotional steadiness can help a family stay connected through uncertainty. Along the way, the conversation makes room for surprising human details such as food cravings during treatment, the comfort of routine, and moments of humor that make the burden a little lighter. The result is a thoughtful, deeply human episode about illness, perspective and choosing hope without pretending the experience is easy.

Lori shares how her oral cancer journey began with a sore on her tongue that would not go away. Although one early evaluation minimized the issue, her dentist pushed her to seek further care, which led to a diagnosis on the spectrum between severe dysplasia and microinvasive cancer. From the start, Lori emphasizes the importance of listening to your instincts, getting multiple opinions, and choosing a surgeon who is not only highly skilled but also someone you trust and can communicate with over time. She describes a long treatment path that stretched over many years. Her surgeon took a careful approach, removing as little tissue as possible to preserve her ability to speak and eat, while continuing to monitor and treat recurring problem areas. Eventually, after about 15 years of repeated biopsies and smaller procedures, the cancer became more invasive and required a larger surgery, reconstruction using tissue from her leg, and radiation. Lori speaks candidly about how difficult radiation was for her, including severe dry mouth, pain, difficulty eating and speaking, and the emotional strain of daily treatment. Throughout the episode, Lori reflects on what helped her endure and recover. She talks about being her own advocate, getting a second opinion, keeping follow-up appointments, and finding small ways to regain a sense of control. She also shares practical advice, from asking technicians to communicate during radiation to finding products and routines that made side effects more manageable. Now, years later, Lori says life is good. Her speech is not exactly what it once was, but she can still work, travel, enjoy restaurants and live with deep gratitude for where she is today.

Cancer treatment can reshape everyday life in ways many people never anticipate, including what happens inside the mouth. Jill Meyer-Lippert shares what she’s learned as the founder of Side Effect Support and why her mission centers on comfort, confidence and quality of life during and after treatment. This episode connects the clinical blind spots with practical solutions patients, caregivers and providers can act on.   Jill's website: https://sideeffectsupport.com  

In this episode, Avi shares what it was like to grow up with cancer so early in life that survivorship became his version of normal. He opens up about family, identity, marriage and the quiet ways a childhood diagnosis can shape adulthood. It is a thoughtful conversation about perspective, purpose and what it means to build a meaningful life after cancer.  

Ebony shares what life looks like after finishing treatment for adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare salivary gland cancer. She talks candidly about recovery after radiation, including fatigue, sleep issues, facial tightness, daily exercises, and the “half-life” reality that symptoms can keep unfolding even after you ring the bell. She walks through the long arc of her diagnosis and treatment, from an early lump that initially tested benign to a turning point when surgery revealed malignancy and positive margins. After chemo and photon therapy, new symptoms on the road led to more scans, an exploratory biopsy, and the discovery that this cancer can be “sneaky,” tracking along nerves. That resulted in a major multi-surgeon operation, followed by highly targeted proton therapy and a new phase of healing shaped by scar tissue and severe lymphedema. Along the way, Ebony names the emotional terrain: grief that is not linear, fear of what’s around the corner, and the identity shift that comes with changes to her face and career as a performer. She also offers practical advice for patients early in treatment: prioritize nutrition, protect rest and boundaries, and get specific about how others can help, so support actually meets the moment.

30 Stories is a podcast from the THANC Foundation featuring honest conversations with cancer survivors and caregivers, created to reduce isolation and remind listeners they are not alone. So please join us in April when we launch our first full episode.   If you want to share your own story, either in writing or in this podcast format, we would love to hear from you. Submit your story online at… https://thancguide.org/share or by sending an email to [email protected]