Exercise isn’t just “nice to have” during cancer, it can function like treatment for the side effects: fatigue, muscle loss (sarcopenia), joint pain, neuropathy, weakness, and even lymphedema risk reduction.

In this episode of Patient from Hell, host + cancer survivor Samira Daswani sits down with Sami (exercise + cancer specialist focused on implementation) to break down what the research is finally confirming and what patients can do today, even with low energy, limited time, or zero equipment.We also unpack the headline-grabbing findings from the CHALLENGE Trial in colorectal cancer: a structured, coached exercise program was associated with a 28% lower risk of recurrence or new primary cancer and raises the bigger question: why isn’t exercise prescribed like medicine?

Key takeaways you’ll learn:

- Why strength training is the #1 lever for cancer-related fatigue + muscle loss

- How to reduce joint pain (including hormone-therapy related joint pain)Simple “wake the nerves up” tactics for neuropathy- Lymphedema: prevention vs management + why early assessment matters

- Chemo brain: why “automation” (classes + follow-alongs) can be the hack

- The starter protocol: 10–15 minutes, every other day

Chapter Codes

00:00 Exercise as “treatment” for cancer side effects (fatigue, sarcopenia, function)

00:30 Meet Sami: implementation theory (how she got into exercise + cancer)

02:37 “How I f***ed up into this” — origin story + early patient experiences

05:20 The headline research: what the CHALLENGE Trial showed

07:19 The big number: 28% lower recurrence/new primary (structured group)

08:40 Trial design: education vs coached/supervised exercise

11:03 Symptom playbook begins: what exercise helps most

11:35 Fatigue: why strength training rebuilds your “engine”

14:09 What counts as strength training (real-world examples)

15:46 Joint pain: lubrication, range of motion, yoga/Tai Chi basics

17:22 Hormone therapy joint pain: why feet + shoulders show up big

20:06 Plantar fasciitis: barefoot time + ball rolling + lifestyle traps

21:47 Neuropathy: “wake the nerves up” + balance + sensation tools

24:29 Lymphedema: prevention vs management + catch it early

28:04 Weakness: mitochondria, estradiol, and fast-twitch strength loss

30:34 Chemo brain: automate workouts so you don’t have to think

33:59 Safety fear: “If chemo didn’t kill you, a squat won’t” (starting smart)

38:33 Where to start: 10–15 minutes every other day

40:17 Two starter moves: sit-to-stands + countertop pushups

41:14 Just diagnosed? Keep routine—lower intensity + prioritize strength

42:25 Wrap + the bigger message: independence, quality of life, green light

About Patient From Hell

Patient From Hell is hosted by cancer survivor and founder Samira Daswani, who asks the questions most patients are too overwhelmed—or too afraid—to ask.

The show brings together doctors, researchers, advocates, and survivors to reveal evidence-based answers for patients navigating the chaos of cancer.

Subscribe for episodes that blend science, compassion, and clarity—without the medical jargon.

Connect & Follow Samira Daswani

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samiradaswani/

Manta Cares: https://www.mantacares.com

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard, or delay in obtaining, medical advice for any medical condition they may have, and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

Up to 90% of breast cancer survivors experience sexual health changes, yet almost no one is talking about it.

Today on Patient From Hell, host Samira Daswani sits down with Dr. Laila Agrawal, a leading clinician in oncology sexual health, to break the silence around libido loss, vaginal dryness, pain, body-image shifts, dating after cancer, orgasm changes, pelvic floor dysfunction, and how treatment impacts intimacy.

This episode answers the questions patients wish they could ask, but rarely get time for in an oncology appointment.

If you've ever wondered:

“Is sex safe during treatment?”

“Will my desire ever come back?”

“Should I use vaginal estrogen?”

“What’s normal to feel?”

— you’re in the right place.

Sexual health concerns in breast cancer are common, treatable, and deeply misunderstood. Dr. Agrawal explains:

- Why oncologists often avoid sexual health conversations

- The real reason libido drops during and after treatment

- The truth about vaginal estrogen and hormone-positive breast cancer

- How to talk to a partner when desire shifts

- How single women can navigate dating after cancer

🧠 Guest:

Dr. Laila Agrawal is a nationally recognized expert in sexual health for oncology patients. She specializes in survivorship care, menopausal symptoms, pelvic health, pain management, and evidence-based approaches to sexual wellness throughout cancer treatment. She is passionate about removing stigma and giving patients the tools, language, and confidence to advocate for their sexual well-being.

Chapter Codes

00:00 – Why sexual health is overlooked in oncology

01:45 – How many breast cancer patients struggle with sexual health

03:15 – Why oncologists avoid the sex conversation

05:02 – Biggest myths about sex during/after treatment

06:07 – Low libido: what’s actually happening

08:20 – Responsive desire vs spontaneous desire

09:50 – Vaginal dryness: causes, range, and treatment

12:34 – Moisturizers, hyaluronic acid & home remedies

13:45 – Vaginal estrogen: safety, controversy & guidelines

15:41 – Menopause, hormone shifts & severity of symptoms

17:30 – Pain during intercourse & pelvic floor dysfunction

19:27 – What to do if your cancer center lacks specialists

20:58 – Body image & sexuality after mastectomy

22:57 – Body image vs desire — how they interact

24:42 – When to see a sex therapist vs medical provider

26:29 – Partner communication and relationship impacts

28:10 – How to set boundaries without losing intimacy

29:55 – Dating during or after treatment

31:19 – How treatment affects ability to orgasm

33:28 – Is sexual recovery tied to treatment timing?

34:58 – Should you feel guilty for wanting sex after cancer?

35:40 – Myth busting: sugar, condoms, recurrence risk & more

36:37 – Is sex safe with a chemo port?

37:10 – Best sexual health resources for cancer survivors

About Patient From Hell

Patient From Hell is hosted by cancer survivor and founder Samira Daswani, who asks the questions most patients are too overwhelmed, or too afraid, to ask.

The show brings together doctors, researchers, advocates, and survivors to reveal evidence-based answers for patients navigating the chaos of cancer.

Subscribe for episodes that blend science, compassion, and clarity without the medical jargon.

🔔 Connect & Follow Samira Daswani

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samiradaswani/

Manta Cares: https://www.mantacares.com

We're joined by women’s health advocate and author Leslie Ferris Yerger, founder & CEO of My Density Matters. Diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer just two months after a “clear” mammogram and ultrasound, Leslie uncovers how dense breast tissue can hide cancer, why current screening standards fail many women, and what you can do to protect yourself.Leslie’s mission: make sure her story doesn’t become someone else’s. Her nonprofit empowers women to check their breast density, ask the right questions, and push for additional screening when needed.

✅ Listen to learn:

What breast density is — and why it matters

How dense tissue affects mammogram accuracy

When to ask for MRI or advanced imaging

Patient advocacy: how and when to push your doctor

Real steps you can take today

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro & background

01:17 – Clear mammogram → diagnosis journey

05:13 – Why dense breast tissue matters

12:58 – Understanding density categories & reports

18:47 – What to ask your doctor next

22:15 – Insurance, screening access & advocacy

26:54 – Leslie’s takeaways & how to take action

Guest Bio:

Leslie Ferris Yerger is a Tedx speaker, author of Probably Benign, and a women’s advocate with a laser focused mission. Leslie was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer in November 2017 after an ‘all clear’ mammogram and ultrasound, experiencing firsthand the failings of our current breast cancer screening standards.

As Founder and CEO of the not-for-profit My Density Matters, Leslie is determined to empower women to find out their breast density, learn their options, and advocate for themselves to get the additional breast cancer screening they need, so that her story doesn’t become their story. Leslie lives in Hawthorn Woods, IL with her husband John. She has 3 grown children: Evan, Julia, and Megan.

Resources:

My Density Matters → https://mydensitymatters.org/Purchase her book

“Probably Benign” → https://probablybenign.com/

Trigger warning: This episode covers breast cancer and screening challenges.

If you found this helpful, please like, subscribe, and share this with the women in your life. Your next mammogram might just end up different.

#BreastCancer #BreastDensity #WomenHealth #PatientAdvocacy #ScreeningFailure

Enjoyed this episode? Make sure to subscribe, rate, and review!

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Linkedin @MantaCares and visit our website at MantaCares.com for more episodes and updates.

All content and information provided in connection with Manta Cares is solely intended for informational and educational purposes only.

This content and information is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Dr. Liz O’Riordan — a former breast surgeon turned patient, author and speaker — about what really happens behind the scenes of a cancer diagnosis and treatment. We unpack the full spectrum: from surgery to recurrence, from myths to survival, and the long-term “new” life that follows. Dr O’Riordan brings the rare perspective of having been the doctor and the patient. If you or someone you know is navigating this journey, this conversation provides insight, clarity and hope.

Guest Links

• Website: http://liz.oriordan.co.uk

•Podcast “So Now I’ve Got Breast Cancer”

Book: Under The Knife, The Cancer Roadmap, The Complete Guide to Cancer, and more

⏱ Chapter Codes

00:00 – Introduction: Turning surgeon into survivor

02:12 – Why she chose breast surgery & what it taught her

04:17 – My diagnosis: stage 3, mastectomy, radiotherapy & hormone blockers

07:28 – Life after treatment: coping, identity loss & “new” normal

10:53 – Side-effects deep dive: chemo brain, fatigue, mental health

14:39 – Sexual health, body image & life after breast cancer

20:19 – Bone health, exercise & recurrence risk

24:53 – Shared decision making: lumpectomy vs mastectomy

32:37 – Diet myths, sugar & cancer: evidence-based truth

35:10 – Fasting, alternative medicine & what the research really says

42:57 – Life after cancer: “It’s not normal—it’s new”

44:47 – What matters now: strength, confidence & joy

📌 Why You Should WatchDr O’Riordan breaks down complex medical topics into relatable, actionable insights — from fatigue to sexuality, from diet myths to bone health, and from fear of recurrence to finding joy again. Whether you’re newly diagnosed, supporting someone you love, or simply curious about the patient experience — this episode offers clarity, authenticity and real talk.

👉 Subscribe and hit the bell to stay updated on future episodes of Patient from Hell.

Connect with Us:

Enjoyed this episode? Make sure to subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Linkedin @MantaCares and visit our website at MantaCares.com for more episodes and updates.

Disclaimer:

All content and information provided in connection with Manta Cares is solely intended for informational and educational purposes only. This content and information is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Janice Cowden, retired nurse and patient advocate, shares her remarkable triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) story. Five years following successful treatment for stage one breast cancer in 2011, Janice was diagnosed with a stage 4 metastatic TNBC recurrence. As of today she has 8 years of no evidence of disease (NED) under her belt. She shares how she stumbled upon the cancer community that inspired her to become the advocate she is today and the uncertainty that comes with NED. She also shares how she copes with losing friends in the cancer community through her patient advocacy work. We also have a rapid fire Q&A where she answers questions surrounding various medical terminologies, diagnoses, and more to keep you in the loop. NOTE: There is one clarification from the rapid fire Q&A session. The definition of disease free survival (DFS) is the time from random assignment (used in clinical trials and research studies to assign participants to different groups) to cancer recurrence or death from any cause (Gutman SI, Piper M, Grant MD, et al. 2013).Key Highlights:1. Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is stage four breast cancer that has spread to distant sites in the body.2. Finding events and communities centered around cancer not only supports cancer patients emotionally and socially, but can also serve as informational hubs. Being proactive in learning about your diagnosis, whether it’s through community and/or research on your own time, can help you feel confident with the choices you make. 3. While finding a community of other cancer patients can help, unfortunately this disease means that you will lose friends you make in these settings. It doesn’t necessarily get easier, but finding an outlet to cope with such losses is vital to your wellbeing.About our guest:Diagnosed with Stage IV triple negative breast cancer in 2016, five years after an early-stage breast cancer diagnosis, Janice launched into patient advocacy following training through Living Beyond Breast Cancer’s (LBBC) Hear My Voice Outreach program in 2017. As a peer-to-peer support and research patient advocate, Janice is passionate about supporting others with metastatic breast cancer, in addition to continually furthering her scientific knowledge base of this disease, treatments, and clinical trials, which she acquires through attending scientific breast cancer conferences and webinars. Janice is involved with several patient-founded and led organizations including PCDI, GRASP, and Project Life MBC. As a trained peer support volunteer, she is founder of an international online peer support group for patients newly diagnosed with MBC. She serves on the Board of Directors for METAvivor Research and Support Inc., and is an Advisory Board member for Project Life MBC. She is an individual member of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance. When she’s not busy with advocacy work, Janice enjoys traveling, reading, outdoor activities, and spending time with family, including her husband, two adult children and three grandchildren.Disclaimer: This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard, or delay in obtaining, medical advice for any medical condition they may have, and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

Author and motivational speaker Susan Svoboda shares her raw, scientific, and deeply personal journey through breast-cancer diagnosis and recovery.

Discover what she learned about modern cancer science, the hidden truths about lymph-node surgery, and why self-advocacy might be the most powerful form of medicine.

00:00 — Why she told no one about her breast cancer

01:30 — The story behind “I Hate the Color Pink”

02:45 — The mammogram that changed everything

04:20 — How her husband handled the diagnosis

06:00 — Finding the right surgeon through one bold question

07:45 — A tough conversation about body image and loss

10:00 — Running as a path to healing

13:00 — Post-surgery recovery and rebuilding strength

14:50 — What science says about lymph nodes and lymphedema

16:30 — How journaling became a lifeline during treatment

18:30 — Writing as therapy and empowerment

19:35 — Becoming your own best health advocate

21:10 — Her top advice for patients and caregivers

22:15 — Was she the “patient from hell”?

23:00 — The biggest lesson: learning to let go

23:50 — Finding purpose and helping others through her book

👉 Subscribe and hit the bell to stay updated on future episodes of Patient from Hell.

Connect with Us:Enjoyed this episode? Make sure to subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Linkedin @MantaCares and visit our website at MantaCares.com for more episodes and updates.

Disclaimer:

All content and information provided in connection with Manta Cares is solely intended for informational and educational purposes only. This content and information is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

In this episode of The Patient From Hell, host Samira engages with Charlotte Bayala, a caregiver who shares her journey through the challenges of supporting a loved one with cancer. The conversation explores the emotional and practical aspects of caregiving, the lack of agency often felt by caregivers, and the importance of self-care amidst the demands of the role. Charlotte reflects on her experiences, the lessons learned, and the strategies she developed to navigate the complexities of caregiving while maintaining her own well-being.

Chapter Codes

00:00 Introduction to Caregiving and Its Impact

05:37 The Shift: Diagnosis and Role of Caregiver

10:30 Agency in Caregiving: The Unasked Role

14:15 Survival Mode: Caregiver's Protective Instincts

18:19 The Caregiver's Learning Curve

25:44 Trial and Error: Navigating the Caregiving Journey

32:24 Rapid Fire: Insights and Reflections

Takeaways

Caregiving often comes without a clear role definition.

The transition to caregiver can be overwhelming and unexpected.

Mindfulness practices from yoga can help caregivers stay present.Caregivers often operate in survival mode, balancing protection and care.

Agency in caregiving is often unacknowledged, leading to stress.

The caregiver's role is strategic, requiring foresight and planning.

Caregivers need to prioritize their own health and well-being.

Trial and error is a significant part of the caregiving journey.

Communication with healthcare providers is crucial for effective care.

Caregivers should be recognized as integral members of the care team.

Subscribe and hit the bell to stay updated on future episodes of Patient from Hell.

Connect with Us:

Enjoyed this episode? Make sure to subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Linkedin @MantaCares and visit our website at MantaCares.com for more episodes and updates.

Disclaimer:

All content and information provided in connection with Manta Cares is solely intended for informational and educational purposes only. This content and information is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

In this episode of The Patient From Hell, host Samira Daswani speaks with Neal K. Shah — TEDx speaker, former hedge fund manager, and now social entrepreneur reshaping the caregiving economy.

After building a multi-billion-dollar hedge fund in his 20s, Neal’s life changed dramatically when cancer struck his wife. As her primary caregiver, he experienced firsthand the crushing financial toxicity, social isolation, and emotional toll caregivers face.

Today, Neal runs social enterprises tackling the caregiving crisis, has authored Insured to Death, and is exposing how AI is being weaponized by insurance companies to deny life-saving care.

This conversation covers:

The untold burden on family caregivers

Why health insurance often fails in catastrophic illness

How financial toxicity devastates households

The rise of AI-driven claim denials

Neal’s mission to “arm the resistance” with AI tools for patients

If you’ve ever wondered why healthcare feels broken — or how we can fix it — this episode will leave you informed and inspired.

🧑‍💼 Guest Bio

Neal K. Shah is a TEDx speaker, investor-turned-social entrepreneur, and caregiver advocate. Formerly a hedge fund partner by his late 20s, Neal left finance after his wife’s cancer battle to focus on fixing the broken caregiving system. He is the founder of multiple social enterprises, a national leader in the caregiving movement, and author of Insured to Death: How Health Insurance Screws Over Americans and How We Take It Back.

⏱️ Chapter Timecodes

00:00 – Introduction & Neal’s background

02:00 – From hedge funds to caregiving

05:00 – The hidden burden on family caregivers

08:00 – Why caregiving is isolating and overlooked

10:20 – ICU, coma, and decision-making as caregiver

14:00 – How caregiving changes your personality

16:20 – The financial toxicity of illness

19:00 – Writing Insured to Death

23:30 – Weaponization of AI by insurers

28:40 – Medical bankruptcy and broken insurance

31:15 – Singapore vs. U.S. healthcare models

34:30 – Positive uses of AI for patient advocacy

37:30 – Rapid fire: rights, myths, and advice

44:00 – Closing thoughts

Connect with Us:

Enjoyed this episode? Make sure to subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Linkedin @MantaCares and visit our website at MantaCares.com for more episodes and updates.

Disclaimer:

All content and information provided in connection with Manta Cares is solely intended for informational and educational purposes only. This content and information is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.