What does hope look like when a young mother hears the word cancer for the first time?

We welcome Marissa Henley, cancer survivor, author, speaker, and mother of three, to share her story of faith, fear, and long-term healing after a rare cancer diagnosis. At age 34, Marissa was diagnosed with angiosarcoma, an aggressive and uncommon cancer, just one day before her birthday. With three small children at home, her world shifted instantly as she faced treatment decisions, uncertainty, and the weight of not knowing how much time she might have.

Marissa shares the moment she discovered a lump, the shock of hearing a diagnosis she had never heard of, and the prayer that carried her through those early days. Her treatment led her to MD Anderson Cancer Center, where an unexpected clinical trial made continued chemotherapy possible. Through months of travel, separation from home, and intense care, she experienced both deep grief and unexpected peace.

Now more than fifteen years cancer free, Marissa reflects on how her journey shaped her faith, motherhood, and calling to support others. Through writing and speaking, she offers honest encouragement for survivors, caregivers, and anyone walking through suffering. Her story is a reminder that while cancer changes everything, hope can still grow in the middle of it.

Highlights:

1. How Marissa navigated a rare cancer diagnosis while parenting three very young children
2. What survivorship really feels like after treatment ends and the support fades
3. Why specific help matters more than good intentions when loving someone with cancer
4. How faith, grief, and joy can exist together during a cancer journey
5. What it means to build a life after cancer without minimizing the loss that came before

Mentioned Resources:

CanCare- www.cancare.org

Book – www.cancare.org/hopebook

Marissa Henley – www.marissahenley.com/

About the Guest:

Marissa Henley is a cancer survivor, author, speaker, and spiritual leader. Diagnosed in 2010 with a rare cancer called angiosarcoma while raising three young children, her journey deepened her faith and shaped her passion for supporting others through difficult seasons.

She is the author of Loving Your Friend Through Cancer and After Cancer: Thriving with Hope. Through her writing, speaking, and leadership in women’s ministries, Marissa offers honest reflections on grief, fear, and faith, helping women find hope and meaning beyond a cancer diagnosis.

Love the podcast? You’ll be moved by the book. The Hope in the Face of Cancer book shares inspiring, real stories from survivors, caregivers, and healthcare heroes. Raw, uplifting, and full of heart—for anyone seeking hope and connection. Get your copy: cancare.org/hopebook.

About Our Host:

Darcie Champagne Wells is the President and CEO of CanCare, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to providing support to the cancer community by pairing cancer patients with survivors. Since joining in November 2020 as the third President & CEO, Darcie has driven significant growth, increasing one-to-one support matches by 45% and healthcare

What happens when the person shaping future nurses suddenly becomes the patient?

Dr. Lorraine Frazier, Dean of the Columbia University School of Nursing and a nationally respected nursing leader, joins Darcie Wells to share how a 2022 breast cancer diagnosis transformed her life and leadership. With decades of experience in nursing education, research, and evidence-based practice, Dr. Frazier brings a rare perspective shaped by both professional expertise and lived experience as a survivor.

Her journey into nursing began at age eleven while caring for a chronically ill father. That early exposure taught her how deeply families experience illness and how much compassionate communication matters. Years later, cancer placed her on the other side of care, revealing how easily patients can feel unseen during moments that are anything but routine.

Dr. Frazier reflects on the power of human connection, presence, and being truly heard. She shares how small gestures can change everything for someone facing treatment. She also explains how lifestyle changes, movement, nutrition, faith, and stress management became essential tools in her healing.

Today, she feels healthier than ever and more grounded in what matters most. Her story reminds listeners that healthcare is not only about science. It is about humanity. Hope grows when people walk alongside one another, especially in the moments that feel most uncertain.

Highlights:

• Why a patient’s “first day” is never routine, even when it feels ordinary to providers

• How evidence-based care and human connection must work together

• What breast cancer taught a nursing leader about presence and touch

• How small daily choices can support healing and long-term health

• Why sharing your story can become a lifeline for someone else

Mentioned Resources:

CanCare- www.cancare.org

Book – www.cancare.org/hopebook

About the Guest:

Dr. Lorraine Frazier is the Dean of the Columbia University School of Nursing, a nationally respected healthcare leader, and a breast cancer survivor. Since 2018, she has led one of the nation’s premier nursing programs with a vision rooted in equity and compassion.

In 2022, her work became deeply personal when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her journey through treatment strengthened her commitment to patient-centered care and advocacy. She now brings both leadership and lived experience to her role on the CanCare Board of Directors, supporting others on a path she knows firsthand.

What happens when caregiving, grief, and love all collide at once?

Christina Napoleon is a number one bestselling author, certified grief educator, keynote speaker, and the world’s leading positive widow coach. After caring for her husband through a five-year terminal cancer journey while raising their young daughter, Christina faced widowhood, solo parenting, and profound loss with little support that truly understood spousal grief.

Her turning point came when she realized that many grief spaces focused only on loss, not on how to live after it. Through her own healing, Christina began creating the tools she wished had existed during her darkest days. From understanding anticipatory grief and widow's fog to redefining self-care for caregivers, she transformed pain into purpose.

In this moving conversation, Christina shares what caregiving truly demands, why self-care is not selfish, and how grief impacts the body, memory, and identity. She explains how small, compassionate practices can restore steadiness and how community becomes a lifeline after loss. Her story offers validation for caregivers, widows, and anyone navigating grief while still showing up for others.

This episode serves as a reminder that love is profound, healing is not a linear process, and hope can return, gently, one breath at a time.

5 Key Highlights

1. How anticipatory grief begins at diagnosis, not loss, and why that matters
2. Why caregivers often lose themselves and how to begin reclaiming strength
3. What widow's fog looks like physically, emotionally, and mentally
4. How honest language helps children process illness and loss
5. Why community and shared understanding are essential to healing

Mentioned Resources:

CanCare – www.cancare.org

Book – www.cancare.org/hopebook

Christina's Books and Website – www.thepositivewidow.com

About the Guest:

Christina Napoleon is a #1 bestselling author, keynote speaker, certified grief educator, and the world’s leading Positive Widow coach. After caring for her husband through a five-year journey with terminal cancer while raising their young daughter, Christina emerged from profound loss to create the support she could not find. Through soul-centered tools, compassionate guidance, and community, she helps widows move through grief with gentleness and rediscover hope. Her book, The Positive Widow, and her private online community offer comfort, connection, and healing to women navigating life after loss.

Christine is offering a free gift to our community:

Email thepositivewidow@outlook.com to receive:

• A Financial Reference Sheet After Loss

• Hopeful Morning & Peaceful Evening Soulmaps, gentle checklists especially helpful for caregivers

What happens when the holidays arrive while you’re still healing from cancer?

In this solo reflection, host Darcie Wells, President and CEO of CanCare, speaks directly to cancer survivors and caregivers who feel out of sync with the “most wonderful time of the year.” She names the quiet realities of this season after cancer, including gratitude pressure, FOMO around old traditions, scanxiety before medical tests, caregiver exhaustion and the sharp ache of missing someone who is no longer here.

Darcie shares the words of survivors who describe feeling like life is happening in two worlds at once, and reminds you that your feelings are valid, even when they are messy. She offers simple tools for this season: redefine what a “good” holiday looks like, set kind but clear boundaries, create new or gentler traditions, and honor both grief and gratitude without pretending. She also suggests ways to remember loved ones with small memorial rituals while still allowing moments of peace and joy to emerge.

Above all, Darcie invites you to see your presence as the greatest gift. Your holiday does not have to be perfect. It just has to be yours, and you do not have to walk through it alone.

Tips For Managing The Holiday:

The holidays can be beautiful, but after cancer, they can also feel overwhelming or emotionally complicated. If this season feels different than it used to, you are not alone. These tips can help you move through the holidays with more peace and self-compassion.

1. Redefine What “Holiday Success” Means: Meaningful matters more than perfect. Smaller gatherings can feel deeply fulfilling. Quality time is more important than the number of events. Rest is a gift, not a weakness. Prioritize what matters and let the rest go.

2. Set Boundaries and Communicate Your Needs: Say yes only to what feels manageable. It is okay to decline invitations or leave early. Let loved ones know how they can support you. Limit conversations that may feel triggering. Prepare simple responses such as “I am focusing on enjoying today.” Redirect intrusive questions. Ask a trusted person to help shift conversations.

3. Create Traditions That Fit Where You Are Now: Choose traditions that bring genuine joy. Include gratitude practices that feel authentic. Build in breaks and recovery time.

4. Honor Your Emotions: It is okay to feel sad, anxious, or overwhelmed. Grief and joy can coexist. Reach out for support when emotions feel heavy.

5. Care for Your Health: Stay consistent with medication. Hydrate, rest, and care for your body. Honor your physical limits.

6. If You Are Missing Someone: Create rituals that honor their memory. Light a candle, share their stories, or include something they loved. Allow space for grief and joy.

A Gentle Reminder: Your holidays do not have to look the way they used to. Cancer changes you, and it is natural for your celebrations to change to o. Make the focus presence, peace, and moments of connection. Your holiday season does not have to be perfect. It just has to be yours.

Mentioned Resources:

CanCare- www.cancare.org

Book – www.cancare.org/hopebook

Love the podcast? You’ll be moved by the book. The Hope in the Face of Cancer book shares inspiring, real stories from survivors, caregivers, and healthcare heroes. Raw, uplifting, and full of heart—for anyone seeking hope and connection. Get your copy: cancare.org/hopebook.

About Our Host:

Darcie...

What helps a caregiver stay steady when cancer changes everything?

Caregivers carry so much of the emotional weight of cancer, yet their needs are often overlooked. In this powerful episode, Darcie Wells joins the Community Oncology Alliance with host Rose Gerber for a conversation that shines a light on the unseen side of caregiving and the hope that grows when no one has to carry the burden alone.

Rose, a long-term breast cancer survivor, and Darcie talk about why caregivers deserve as much care, compassion, and emotional support as the person going through treatment. They discuss the role of trained peer volunteers and how emotional support changes the caregiving experience for both the patient and the family.

Darcie reflects on caring for her mother, stepfather, and grandmother as each faced cancer, all from a distance. She remembers wanting to help but not knowing where to turn, and later realizing how much a companion with lived experience would have eased the fear and isolation. Her message is clear. Your role matters. Caring for yourself strengthens the care you give. Hope grows when someone walks beside you with understanding.

Highlights:

· Learn why caregivers often hide their stress and how that impacts the support system.

· Hear how CanCare trains volunteers to provide safe, compassionate emotional space.

· Understand why relationship-based matching helps caregivers feel seen and understood.

· Discover simple communication habits that help caregivers support loved ones.

· Gain insight into long-term caregiving needs and why support must adapt over time.

Mentioned Resources:

CanCare- www.cancare.org

Book – www.cancare.org/hopebook

COA - communityoncology.org

About the Guest:

Rose Gerber is a long-term breast cancer survivor and host of the Community Oncology Alliance podcast. Diagnosed while raising young children, Rose’s journey through treatment shaped her calling to ensure that others facing cancer are supported, informed, and heard. Today, she leads patient advocacy and education for the Community Oncology Alliance, managing the COA Patient Advocacy Network and working alongside oncologists, nurses, survivors, and policymakers across the country. Her work has taken her to Washington, D.C., national media platforms, and community cancer centers nationwide, empowering patients and protecting access to community-based cancer care.

Love the podcast? You’ll be moved by the book. The Hope in the Face of Cancer book shares inspiring, real stories from survivors, caregivers, and healthcare heroes. Raw, uplifting, and full of heart—for anyone seeking hope and connection. Get your copy: cancare.org/hopebook.

About Our Host:

Darcie Champagne Wells is the President and CEO of CanCare, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to providing support to the cancer community by pairing cancer patients with survivors. Since joining in November 2020 as the third President & CEO, Darcie has driven significant growth, increasing one-to-one support matches by 45% and healthcare referrals by 66%. In 2022, she initiated the Impact Acceleration Initiative to further expand...

How do you hold on to hope when cancer returns years later?

Meet Don, a two-time thyroid cancer survivor, CanCare volunteer, and ministry leader whose journey runs on faith, family, and service. His first diagnosis came at 22 after a biopsy led him from strep throat checks to major surgery in New England; years later, as a husband and father, he faced cancer again in Houston. Through both chapters, Don anchored to prayer, community, and a growing conviction that every day is a gift. He shares how a frightening diagnosis reshaped his priorities, deepened his relationship with God, and opened the door to unexpected love as he reconnected with Jeanette, now his wife of 34 years.

Don’s “but God” turning point led to action. He began encouraging fellow patients at the hospital, then launched a church ministry called HOPE—Healing Others through Prayer and Evangelism. Today, as a trained CanCare volunteer and Ambassador, he walks beside others so no one faces cancer alone. Listeners will hear practical ways to find courage, invite support, and keep perspective when responsibilities feel heavy. Don’s message is simple and strong: you are not alone, hope is real, and better days are ahead.

Highlights:

[02:42] – Finding strength through faith after a shocking diagnosis

Don shares how a simple sore throat led to a cancer diagnosis at 22 and how prayer, family, and his church community grounded him when everything changed.

[07:12] – What happens when you discover God is truly enough

During his second diagnosis years later, Don explains how his faith deepened and how he learned to trust God’s plan even when fear and uncertainty returned.

[14:58] – Why hope is more than wishful thinking

Don defines hope as “confident expectation” and shows how perspective and purpose can replace fear, even when circumstances don’t change.

[21:10] – Turning pain into purpose through service

After finding healing, Don began visiting other patients, then launched HOPE—Healing Others through Prayer and Evangelism—to help others walk through cancer with support and faith.

[28:55] – The lasting power of connection and laughter

Don and Darcie reflect on how encouragement, humor, and community keep hope alive, proving that no one should ever face cancer alone.

Mentioned Resources:

CanCare- www.cancare.org

Book – www.cancare.org/hopebook

About the Guest:

Don Williamson is a 2x cancer survivor, loving husband, father, and man of faith. First diagnosed at just 22 years old with Stage III thyroid cancer, Don’s journey through cancer strengthened his faith and led him to a love story he never expected. Years later, as a husband and father, he faced cancer again, which led him to create a ministry for others facing cancer. Today, Don shares his story to inspire others and volunteers with CanCare to support those who are walking a path he understands well.

Love the podcast? You’ll be moved by the book. The Hope in the Face of Cancer book shares inspiring, real stories from survivors, caregivers, and healthcare heroes. Raw, uplifting, and full of heart—for anyone seeking hope and connection. Get your copy: cancare.org/hopebook.

About Our Host:

Darcie Champagne Wells is the President and CEO of CanCare, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to providing support to the cancer community by pairing cancer patients with survivors....

What happens when medical care meets human connection?

Darcie Wells, President & CEO of CanCare, joins Health Uncensored with Dr. Drew Pinsky, along with Susan Sabo Wagner, VP of Clinical Innovation at American Oncology Network (and a leukemia survivor), to show why emotional support isn’t extra—it's essential to cancer care. Listeners hear how CanCare’s survivor-to-patient matching, now powered by smart tech, brings calm, courage, and practical hope to patients and caregivers nationwide. SEO: emotional support for cancer, peer support, survivorship, American Oncology Network, young adult cancer.

Susan shares her turning point—diagnosed with AML as a teen and treated with an autologous bone marrow transplant—underscoring why hope and connection matter at every stage. Darcie highlights rising diagnoses among younger adults and how whole-family support can steady spouses, kids, and grandparents when cancer collides with daily life.

You’ll learn how peer support integrates with clinical care, why navigation and social needs (transportation, food security) affect outcomes, and how stories of long-term survivorship sustain belief on hard days. You’ll also hear how precision medicine changes treatment paths while human connection helps people endure them. The message is simple: you’re not alone, and a survivor can stand beside you—today.

Highlights:

00:00 – The power of human connection in cancer care

Darcie Wells opens with why no one should face cancer alone and how survivor support brings calm during chaos.

02:48 – How CanCare pairs patients with survivors who’ve been there

Learn how CanCare’s matching system works and why sharing lived experience makes emotional healing possible.

04:40 – Technology meets compassion: smarter survivor matching

Darcie explains how new tools and algorithms help CanCare connect patients with the right survivor faster.

05:40 – Building emotional support into oncology care

Susan Sabo Wagner shares how the American Oncology Network partners with CanCare to meet patients’ emotional needs alongside medical treatment.

06:36 – A leukemia survivor’s journey to leadership

Susan recounts being diagnosed with AML as a teen and how that experience shaped her mission to help others through innovation and empathy.

08:05 – Whole-family support: when cancer affects everyone

Darcie and Susan explore how caregivers, spouses, and children need guidance too—and why supporting them improves outcomes.

10:15 – “Having someone who understands is priceless”

Darcie reflects on the life-changing reassurance patients feel when talking to someone who’s walked the same road.

11:34 – Hope as powerful medicine

Darcie shares research showing patients with strong emotional support often experience better survival and recovery.

12:13 – Younger patients, more treatable cancers, new hope

Dr. Drew discusses how rising diagnoses in younger adults are met with advances in precision medicine and targeted treatments.

13:05 – Why connection matters more than ever

The conversation closes with a message that technology and science may guide treatment—but compassion carries people through it.

Mentioned Resources:

CanCare- www.cancare.org

Book – www.cancare.org/hopebook

About the Guest:

Dr. Drew Pinsky is the host of Health Uncensored with Dr. Drew, where he brings medical insight and heartfelt conversation to today’s most important health...

How do you turn unbearable loss into lasting impact?

Andrea Wilson Woods, patient advocate, speaker, and founder of Blue Fairy: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association, shares the powerful legacy of her sister Adrienne’s book, I’d Rather Be Dead Than Deaf: A Young Woman’s Journey with Liver Cancer. What began as one young woman’s journal became a voice for thousands facing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)—one of the world’s deadliest yet most preventable cancers.

As Adrienne’s guardian and caregiver, Andrea faced a system unprepared to support young adults with cancer. Out of that heartbreak came Blue Fairy, now a national nonprofit providing education, advocacy, and emotional support for HCC patients and their families. Andrea explains how today’s targeted and immunotherapies are changing outcomes, why patient stories matter, and how caregivers can stay organized and hopeful through chaos.

This episode is a tribute to Adrienne’s courage and to every family walking the same path. It’s a reminder that even in the hardest moments, advocacy, love, and education can create real change—and that hope always has another chapter.

Highlights:

00:42 – The story behind I’d Rather Be Dead Than Deaf

Hear how Adrienne Wilson’s journals became a powerful book that gives a voice to young adults facing liver cancer.

02:15 – Why Andrea founded Blue Fairy

Learn how one sister’s loss inspired a national nonprofit that now educates, advocates, and supports HCC patients and families.

04:12 – Understanding hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

Discover what makes HCC one of the deadliest cancers—and why prevention and early screening are key.

06:45 – Today’s breakthroughs in liver cancer treatment

Andrea explains how targeted therapies and immunotherapies are improving both survival and quality of life.

09:03 – A caregiver’s turning point

Find out how Andrea went from feeling powerless to becoming her sister’s strongest advocate and a voice for others.

11:20 – The Blue Fairy approach to advocacy

See how education, storytelling, and community support drive real change in awareness and policy.

13:47 – Caregiver tools that make a difference

Learn Andrea’s practical “binder system” for keeping records, test results, and notes organized through treatment.

16:02 – Palliative care vs. hospice—knowing the difference

Hear Andrea’s clear explanation of these two terms and how each can improve quality of life at different stages.

18:25 – Why stories save lives

Understand how personal stories like Adrienne’s can move doctors, influence research, and inspire others to seek help sooner.

21:05 – Finding hope after loss

Andrea shares what healing looks like after grief—and how Blue Fairy continues Adrienne’s legacy through education and compassion.

Mentioned Resources:

CanCare- www.cancare.org

Book – www.cancare.org/hopebook

Blue Farey - https://www.bluefaery.org/

About the Guest:

Andrea Wilson Woods is the founder and president of Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association, a nonprofit she created in memory of her sister Adrienne. A cancer caregiver, patient advocate, speaker, podcaster, and award-winning author, Andrea has turned personal loss into a mission of hope, empowering families facing liver cancer through awareness, education, and support.

Love the podcast? You’ll be moved by the...