Today's guest is Carmen Monge, Hodgkin's Lymphoma survivor, researcher, and patient advocate working at the intersection of lived experience, research, and equity in cancer care, especially across different global healthcare systems.

Carmen is the founder of MANO Beyond Cancer, a global initiative exploring survivorship through qualitative research, where she had conducted interviews with survivors from more than 60 countries. She also works as a researcher and patient advocate with Youth Cancer Europe. And the author of CAN-CAN, a children's book series designed to help explain the cancer journey, from diagnosis to life after treatment, in a holistic and accessible way.

We talk about hope, cancer research, cultural differences and disparities in cancer care, the challenges of getting treatment is another country from your homeland, common threads among survivors globally, and so much more!!!

Resources:

Carmen's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MANObeyondcancer

Carmen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mano_beyondcancer/

Carmen's contact info: https://linktr.ee/CarmenMonge

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My website: https://melissagrosboll.com

Email me: drmelissagrosboll@gmail.com

Today's guest is Mark McIntosh, founder of Victory Productions, a Denver-based non profit focused on lessening the impact of homelessness, education inequities and America's growing health issues concerning organ donation and wellness.

Mark lives with Amyloidosis, whose treatment spared his life but destroyed his kidneys. Thanks to a kidney transplant to save his life, he now advocates and raises awareness for living organ donation. He is also the chair of the 2026 Denver Transplant Games, being held in June.

We talk about the importance of organ donation, kidney health disparities among people of color, his 10 year mission to bring Colorado back to the healthiest state in the country, the National Transplant Games being held in Denver this year, and so much more!!

Resources:

Mark's Website: https://seekvictory.com

Mark's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmcintosh/

Mark's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/macanddoog/

Transplant Games of America: https://www.transplantgamesofamerica.org

National Kidney Registry: https://www.kidneyregistry.com/

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My website: https://melissagrosboll.com

Email me: drmelissagrosboll@gmail.com

Today's guest is Amanda R. Ferraro, two-time AML leukemia survivor, stem cell transplant recipient, and seven-time brain surgery survivor, who has turned her journey into a powerful mission of advocacy and awareness.

Amanda shares the raw, real, and often unspoken realities of life during and after cancer through her website and work as a freelance blogger. She uses her story to inspire resilience, honesty, and hope in others navigating their own battles.

We talk all about the mental and emotional toll of cancer and chronic disease, how every day is a new day, fighting to survive against the odds, and so much more!!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Amanda's story exemplifies prioritizing your mental health. It's a must listen!

Resources:

Amanda's website: http://cancerisanasshole.com/

Amanda's TEDx talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/amanda_rose_ferraro_through_pain_comes_optimism

Some of Amanda's writings:

https://www.curetoday.com/contributors/amanda-ferraro

Research Journal of Oncology

https://www.inquirer.com/health/expert-opinions/how-to-help-cancer-patient-20191212.html

Amanda's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cancerisanasshole

Amanda's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandarferraro/

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Email me: drmelissagrosboll@gmail.com

Today's guest is Demetrius Holiday, pediatric nurse practitioner, clinical assistant professor at Georgia State University, and she serves on the Patient Family Advisory Council for Emory Healthcare. She also volunteers as an Ambassador and Mentor for Imerman Angels, mentors youth through Black Girls Smile, Inc., and is owner and CEO of DDH Health Education Consultants, LLC, providing health education to medical providers, patients and caregivers.

Demetrius is also a head and neck cancer survivor and her story is one of determination and fighting every step of the way to get the care she needed. She has since used her own experience to become a better listener with her own patients and an advocate and mentor.

As we finish out April, which is also Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month, we talk about not taking "no" for an answer, the power of a strong support system, addressing disparities in healthcare, the importance of mentorship, and so much more!!

Resources:

Demetrius' LinkedIn: Demetrius Holiday DNP, MS, CPNP-PC

Demetrius' Email: deholiday74@gmail.com

Imerman Angels website: https://imermanangels.org/

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My website: https://melissagrosboll.com

Email me: drmelissagrosboll@gmail.com

Today's guest is Michael Griffith, cancer recovery coach and former CEO with a background in high-performance sport. After navigating his own throat cancer diagnosis and treatment, while supporting his wife through a terminal cancer journey, Michael saw a gap that few people talk about - what happens after treatment ends. His approach focuses on rebuilding strength, energy, and confidence through a structured, performance-based framework. Michael helps people move beyond survival and return to a life that feels capable again.

We talk about being a patient and caregiver at the same time, the challenges after cancer treatment, recovery strategies and the importance of movement and connection, finding balance in recovery, learning to trust your body again, and so much more.

April is Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month and Michael's story sheds a powerful light on this devastating cancer.

Resources:

Michael's website: www.epicwellbeing.co

Michael's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-griffith/

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My website: https://melissagrosboll.com

Email me: drmelissagrosboll@gmail.com

Today's guest is Nicola Nuttall, passionate fundraiser, speaker, author, and campaigner to raise brain cancer awareness after her daughter, Laura, lost her fight against glioblastoma at age 23. She works with charities to call for change in how brain tumors are treated, particularly in young adults. She and her husband Mark also run the Be More Laura Foundation which funds research in the hope of finding kinder, more effective treatments for glioblastoma.

We talk about Laura and her love of life and compassion for others, Laura's bucket list, the impact of a cancer diagnosis on an entire family, especially Laura's sister Gracie, how brain cancer treatment hasn't changed in decades, and so much more!!

What a powerful conversation! I can't wait for you to get to know Laura.

Resources:

Nicola's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-nuttall-a1a212215/

Be More Laura Foundation: https://www.bemorelaura.com/

Nicola's Book - "The Stars Will Still Be There" on Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/0f4ZMMGT

Brain Cancer Justice: https://www.braincancerjustice.org/

Our Brain Bank: https://www.ourbrainbank.org/

This is the UK petition Nicola is working on at the moment: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/738881

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My website: https://melissagrosboll.com

Email me: drmelissagrosboll@gmail.com

Today's guests are Megan and Mike Scherer, co-founders of Worth the Wait, a nationwide oncofertility non-profit organization. After Mike's experience as a testicular cancer survivor and their own fertility issues, they wanted to offer hope and resources for others navigating the world of oncofertility.

Worth the Wait's mission is to empower young adult cancer survivors on their path to parenthood. They provide financial support and educational resources for fertility treatments, adoption, and surrogacy while advocating for oncofertility within the healthcare system and beyond.

Having both Mike and Megan as guests, we talk about cancer from both the patient and caregiver perspective, fertility issues from reproductive cancers, the families Worth the Wait has helped build, making their mission a family affair with their son Elliott, and so much more!!!

This is a conversation that should happen so much more, especially in the young adult cancer space. Please share with those in your life that may be dealing with oncofertility concerns.

Resources:

Website: https://worththewaitcharity.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worththewaitcharity/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorthTheWaitCharity

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/79794452/

Megan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganscherer/

Mike's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-schererwtw/

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My website: https://melissagrosboll.com

Email me: drmelissagrosboll@gmail.com

Today's guest is Fiona Macrae, first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and metastatic breast cancer in 2020. She is continuing to thrive over 5 years later with regular treatments.

During her initial treatment, Fiona struggled to find travel insurance due to her diagnosis. She launched Insurancewith in 2011, an insurance brand with the aim of providing everyone with a medical condition with a fair and affordable travel insurance policy to cover their upcoming vacations. Insurancewith also supports charities that support their customers, donating over 250,000 pounds to charity over the years.

We talk about diagnosis as a new mom, the impact of secondary cancer so long after initial primary diagnosis, the challenges of travel in the UK after a cancer diagnosis, working to change the medical questionnaire needed to get travel insurance, the difference between travel risk and lifetime risk, and so much more!!!

Resources:

Fiona's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiona-macrae-0510a55/

Fiona's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamfimac/

Insurancewith Website: https://www.insurancewith.com/

Insurancewith Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Insurancewith

Insurancewith Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insurancewith_ins/

Follow:

Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/melissagrosboll/

My website: https://melissagrosboll.com

Email me: drmelissagrosboll@gmail.com