In this episode, the guys sit down with Leah Phillips, a Stage 4 EGFR-positive lung cancer survivor, advocate, and the co-founder of the Young Lung Cancer Initiative. Leah shares her powerful journey from a shocking diagnosis at age 43 to turning her personal trial into a mission of education and support. Together, they discuss the vital need to dismantle the stigmata surrounding lung cancer, the rising demographic of young onset patients, and why powerful self-advocacy and second opinions are the ultimate lifesavers in the exam room.

#LungCancerAwareness #SelfAdvocacy #EGFRPositive #YoungOnset #CancerSurvivorship

In this episode of The CancerLand Podcast, co-hosts Danny Gereg, Jeff Stibelman, and Brian O’Sullivan sit down with bladder cancer warrior, patient advocate, and author Michelle "Chelle" Reed.

​Michelle shares her raw and deeply personal journey following her 2018 diagnosis of chronic non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. From navigating early misdiagnoses and medical gaslighting to managing ten recurrences, she details the critical turning points in her care—including the life-saving realization of the importance of specialized urologic oncology. Now eight years a survivor, Michelle discusses her mission to turn pain into purpose by fostering self-advocacy, creating community support through her studio Bless Your Vibes, and providing practical tools for fellow patients via her authored Cancer Care Book.

​Key Themes Covered:

• ​Overcoming Misdiagnosis: Recognizing the warning signs of bladder cancer, such as painless bleeding, and the dangers of settling for standard urgent care responses.
• ​The Reality of Recurrence: Navigating the psychological impact and physical challenges of managing multiple recurrences.
• ​The Power of Self-Advocacy: Why finding your voice and seeking specialized second opinions is the most critical job a cancer patient has.
• ​Creating Resources for Healing: Transforming the lived survival experience into art, literature, and active community mentorship.

• ​Video Link: The CancerLand Podcast S1 E7 - Michelle Reed

S1 E6: Turning Pain into Purpose with Maria Mickiewicz​What happens when your life changes in an instant, right in the middle of postpartum motherhood? In this deeply honest episode of The CancerLand Podcast, hosts Jeff Stibelman, Danny Gereg, and Brian O'Sullivan sit down with patient advocate, storyteller, and survivor Maria Mickiewicz.​Maria is widely known as a trailblazer in hyperhidrosis advocacy through her blog My Life as a Puddle, but her healthcare journey holds layers that many chronic illness and cancer patients know all too well. From managing intersecting diagnoses to navigating a fractured healthcare system, Maria shares how she learned to find her voice in the exam room—and why self-advocacy is a matter of survival.​In this episode, we dive into:​The Intersecting Path of Autoimmune Disease: How a diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis (UC) paved the way to uncovering Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis through unexpected mental health bloodwork.​The Shock of Papillary Thyroid Cancer: Diagnosed just a year after the birth of her son, Maria opens up about the emotional toll of a hidden cancer, undergoing a two-part thyroidectomy, and the painful choice to end breastfeeding early to undergo Radioactive Iodine (RAI) treatment.​The Reality of Life After a Thyroidectomy: Managing lifelong medication, understanding the crucial balance between T3 and T4 hormones, and distinguishing between general anxiety, over-medication, and perimenopause.​The System is Jacked: A candid look at the financial barriers of modern medicine, from high-deductible insurance traps to the staggering out-of-pocket costs for essential biologic and maintenance medications.​The Hidden Stigma of Hyperhidrosis: Reclaiming identity from a condition affecting over 365 million people globally, and how the social anxieties of childhood prepared Maria to confront the medical establishment head-on.​"I can be changed by my circumstances, but I refuse to be reduced by them." — Maya Angelou​Connect with our guest:Follow Maria's ongoing advocacy work and read her story first-hand at her foundational blog, My Life as a Puddle.​Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast episode is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical condition or treatment plan.