Empower Radio : Empowering You for a Better Life: The Cancer Warrior

The Cancer Warrior
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Mel Majoros on October 28,2009 9:00pm
 
Mel Majoros has been sharing her battle with breast cancer online for nearly 2
years now on her blog titled "The Cancer Warrior".  After being named one of the
top cancer blogs in the country, Mel is taking her advocacy and inspiring
outlook a step farther with her new weekly show on Empower Radio.
Visit her blog www.thecancerwarrior.blogspot.com
9.2.10 Melissa Jones of Alexslemonade.org - Imagine if you were a child and all
you had ever known was cancer.  That was Alex Scott, who was diagnosed with
Neuroblastoma before her first birthday in 1996.  Alex battled cancer hard, and
day after her fourth birthday, She told her mom, that when she got out of the
hospital she wanted to have a lemonade stand. She said she wanted to give the
money to doctors who had helped her.  Amazingly she had raised 2,000 for "her
hospital.  Alex held lemonade stands every year until her death in 2004 at the
age of 8, but she knew that with her help many people had started their own
lemonade stands and raised over $1 million dollars for Alex\'s Lemonade Stand.
[Click to Play]
8.27.10 Idelle Davidson of YourBrainafterchemo.com - Being faced with a cancer
diagnosis is hard, so is the treatment.  Every cancer survivor has side effects
from chemo,but what if they continue long after treatment is over?  Idelle
Davidson is a breast cancer survivor and author. She discusses chemobrain, some
of its symptoms, what you can do to help manage it and how it affected her in
her book http://www.yourbrainafterchemo.com. [Click to Play]
8.20.10 Eric Galvez of Masskickers.org - Imagine following your dream of
becoming a physical therapist only to need one yourself. Thats what happened to
Eric Galvez, he was diagnoses with a meningioma, a brain tumor.  Fortunately for
Eric it was benign, but he had to give up his dream of being a physical
therapist and start the road to recovery.  During this time he wrote a book
called "Reversal, when a therapist becomes a patient" and wanted to give back to
help others so he started an organization to help other brain tumor and brain
cancer patients called http://www.masskickers.org [Click to Play]
8.12.10 Kathy Betz of Bike4BreastCancer.org - When Kathy Betz first started
bike riding for charity she had no idea that soon after her mother would be
diagnosed with breast cancer.  Wanting to help her mom and the local women in
the community she founded http://www.bike4breastcancer.org. [Click to Play]
08.05.10 Deloris and Mark Bailey - When Deloris and Mark Bailey's son Brandon
was diagnosed with cancer when he was 4 years old they wanted to give him
something that would make him feel at ease when he was at the hospital.  They
gave him a chemo bear and told him that everything he goes through the bear will
go through too.  That was 6 years ago and Brandon is in remission.  Deloris and
Mark want to give all children diagnosed with cancer a chemo bear and that is
why they started http://www.friendslikeus.org [Click to Play]
07.29.10 Jack Bouffard i2y.com  -  Imagine if you were a young adult survivor
and you go to your local hospital to find resources to help you cope with cancer
and survivorship and all you find is resources for the older cancer patient. 
What would you do.  You would look on the internet for support.  That is exactly
what Jack Bouffard did.  Not only did he find information about
http://www.i2y.com, but now he is a part time employee, helping other cancer
patients navigate through treatment and survivorship. [Click to Play]
07.20.10 Recording Artist Sarah Mattea - When recording artist Sarah Mattea's
friend Nadia got ovarian cancer, she wanted to write a song for her. 
Unfortunately instead of singing "I am here to stay (Nadia's Song)" at Nadia's
benefit party, she sang it at her memorial service.  Find out more about Nadia
www.nadsquad.com the amazing young woman who inspired this song and more about
recording artist and singer Sarah Mattea, (CLICK FOR FACEBOOK PAGE) who is
donating a portion of the proceeds of the song to the Ovarian Cancer Research
Fund www.ocrf.org . [Click To Play]
07.15.10 Darren Neuberger of Let's Talk About It - Imagine if you were
diagnosed with cancer and you were in treatment in the hospital for 2 years, and
you were still able to maintain a positive mental attitude. What would you do? 
Give back of course!  Meet Darren Neuberger of www.letstalkaboutit.viviti.com,
an acute lymphocytic leukemia survivor, radio show host, author, life coach and
Inspirational speaker. [Click To Play]
07.09.10 Doug Ulman of Live Strong - Imagine you are 19 and in college, you
have the whole world ahead of you, then you have 3 seperate cancer diagnoses. 
How would you react?  Would you give back?  That is exactly what Doug Ulman did.
 In addition to creating the http://www.ulmanfund.org for young adults he is
also the ceo of http://www.livestrong.com [Click to play]
7.1.10 Joe Bacal of www.controlamidchaos.com - When people are faced with a
cancer diagnosis, they tend to take a look at their life and make changes.  That
is exactly what Hodgkins Lymphoma survivor Joe Bacal did.  He gave up his job as
a test driver for Toyota and became a Baja Racer. Not only that he won his first
race.  Find out how he compares his racing to cancer and why it is
www.controlamidchaos.com [Click to Play]
6.24.10 Julie Houlker and Glenda Standeven from ChoosingToSmile.com - How would
you react if you were told you had breast cancer, then a recurrance?  What if
you were told that you had to have your leg surgically removed in order to save
your life?  That is what happened to Julie Houlker and Glenda Standeven. Even
with everything they have gone through, they are still www.choosingtosmile.com
[Click to Play]
6.17.10 Ryan Hamner has been in and out of hospitals since he was 3 years old,
is a 4 time cancer survivor and an accomplished musician.  He is giving back to
the cancer community in a unique way. He is on tour to Hope Lodges and Hospitals
across the Southeast playing his inspirational music to other cancer survivors. 
Ryan's music and tour schedule can be found at www.hearthehearttour.com. [Click
to Play]
6.11.10 Talking about lymphoma advocacy with caregiver Karl Schwartz and
survivor Liz McMillan.  They created www.lymphomation.org and patients against
lymphoma on facebook. [Click to Play]
6.3.10 - Lynn Lane of www.voiceofsurvivors.org - Meet Lynn Lane, a prostate
cancer survivor who gives back to the cancer community by giving survivors a
voice. Its all about survivorship on this weeks podcast.
www.voicesofsurvivors.org [Click to Play]
5.28.10 Pat Moon - If you found out you had cancer would you put your treatment
on hold to follow your dream?  That is what Pat Moon did.  Pat is a Non Hodgkins
Lymphoma survivor, who put off his treatment last year to race in the Iditarod.
[Click to Play]
5.21.10 Christine Miserandino - How would you react if in your teens everything
you dreamt of doing was gone. That's what happened to Christine Miserandino, she
was diagnosed with lupus at sixteen and she was training to be a dancer.  She
had to give up that dream, but she found a new cause, championing lupus
awareness with her humor, courage and her website  www.butyoudontlooksick.com.
[Click to Play]
5.14.10 - Survivor Douglas White - Imagine if you went to the dentist to get
your wisdom teeth removed and you found out you had cancer.  That's what
happened to Douglas White a stage four Squamous Cell Carcenoma of the tongue and
neck survivor. Doug has kept a positive mental attitude throughout treatment and
survivorship.  [Click to Play]
5.5.10 Dr. Heidi Huck - Empower Radio's Mel Majoros talks with Dr. Heidi Huck,
a 17 year breast cancer survivor and gastroenterologist at Great Lake Digestive
Health Associates in Michigan.  She shares her unique perspective of being a
Doctor and a cancer survivor. [Click to Play]
4.28.10 Lara Ryan of Comfyforchemo.org - Lara Ryan's sister Kimberly Hansen was
diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer.  During her chemo treatments she had a
blanket that her family gave her.  She noticed other patients didn't have a
comfy blanket like hers.  It was Kimberly's last wish to have some comfort like
that during treatment.  Listen as the Cancer Warrior, Empower Radio's Mel
Majoros, talks about how www.comfyforchemo.org was born. [Click to Play]
4.21.10 Aaron Spicer of Stupidcancer.com - If you were a young person diagnosed
with a rare form of a late stage cancer how would you react? And once you were
done with treatment would you help others? Empower Radio’s Mel Majoros speaks
with Aaron Spicer, a young adult survivor who helps other young adult survivors
get busy living with help from www.stupidcancer.com. [Click to Play]
4.14.10 Alisa Savoretti of My Hope Chest - If there was an organization to help
uninsured women get their breast reconstruction done after mastectomy, would you
help it?  There is, and breast cancer survivor Alisa Savoretti needs your help
to keep it going.  Find out how you can help www.myhopechest.org. [Click to
Play]
4.7.10 Derek Fussell of camodreams.org - If you are a parent of a child with
disabilities or a terminal illness and your child wants to go on a hunt or a
fishing adventure where would you take them?  I talk to Derek Fussell, who has a
great organization that does just that called www.camodreams.org. [Click to
Play]
3.31.10 Cancer survivor Angella Hamilton - What would you do if your insurance
was cancelled after your treatment and you still had prescriptions to take? 
Angella Hamilton, a breast cancer survivor talks about life after cancer, her
prescriptions which cost her almost $1,000 a month and how www.rxaid.us helped
her.
3.24.10 Donald Wilhelm of This Time's A Charm - Imagine having cancer not once
or twice but five times over the course of ten years and still maintain a
positive mental attitude throughout.  Meet Donald Wilhelm, an inspiring cancer
survivor and author of Thistimesacharm.com.
3.17.10 Jason Sissel of Endure to Cure - Just carry on my spirit is what Jason
Sissel's grandfather asked him to do shortly before passing away from cancer. 
Jason did just that by helping kids with pediatric cancer by founding
www.enduretocure.org
3.10.10 Paul Poth of targetcancer.info - Imagine being diagnosed with a rare
form of cancer at the age of 38, a cancer so rare even the doctors don't know
how to treat it.  That is what happened to Paul Poth.  Find out about his
inspiring life, why he started www.targetcancer.info, and about his friends
Michael Goodenow and Carl Bishop, they wrote a song in his honor and you can
listen to it on www.happyendingsongs.com
3.3.10 Andrew Gemmel of Protectyourpair.org - Imagine being in and out of
hospitals your whole life because of heart problems, surviving cancer not once
but twice, maintain a postive mental attitude throughout all that and be only 24
years old.  Meet Andrew Gemmel, an inspiring cancer survivor who wants to give
back to the cancer community and has started a non profit called
www.protectyourpair.org
2.24.10 Mike Moroz of Face The Sun - Mike Moroz wrote a script about a family
who faces a misdiagnosis of cancer. It was based upon his friends life, and
inspiring battle with cancer.  It's a story about hope, courage and living life
to its fullest.  Find out why I think this movie should made and check out the
website for yourself at www.facethesunmovie.com
2.18.10 Dealing With Dad -What do you do when your loved one with cancer is in
denial and doesn't want your help?  I talk to a brother and sister about that. 
Find out how "bro" and "sis" deal with their dad.
www.dealingwithdad.wordpress.com.
2.10.10 BreastCancer.org - When you think of a fundraiser for your event, would
you think of bowling? I speak to Hope Wohl CEO of BreastCancer.org and Karen
Young Director of Marketing of Breastcancer.org.  Find out how this event came
about, how they got high caliber corporations such as ING, Proctor and Gamble
and Turner Broadcasting behind their event and how you start your own bowling
fundraiser.
2.5.10 World Cancer Day - Mel Gives Her Opinion On World Cancer Day And What
Change She Would Like To See.
1.26.10 Jim Laughlin from LIfeIsGood.com - What started out as a dream for two
brothers in Boston. Find out how Bert and John Jacobs wanted to spread the
message of positivity with their t-shirts.  Their cousin, Director of
Communications Jim Laughlin tells me how it all started with just a simple
thought, that Life is good.  http://www.lifeisgood.com
1.20.10 Andy Koehn from thirtyseconds.us. Caregiver and husband Andy Koehn
discusses his wife Laura's battle with stage four breast cancer, how he is
coping with her loss, and how he is living in the moment. Visit his website
www.thirtyseconds.us.
1.16.10 Georginne Bradley from Imaging Foundation - When you get cancer it
changes everything, not only your world but the world around you.  Find out what
uterine cancer survivor Georginne Bradley is doing to save the oceans and what
you can do to help by going to her website www.imagingfoundation.org
1.6.10 Signify Pink - What started out as a fundraiser for a colleague at a
hospital in Iowa is now a growing company that sells inspirational apparel &
merchandise with the slogan "Fight Like a Girl".  Account Exec Glenda Elliott
shares how you can fight cancer with your own unique fundraisers with
www.signifypink.com
12.28.09 Your Health  - 4 minutes that could save a life.  Mel shares her
personal experiences about the importance of getting a physical and being
pro-active with your own health.
12.21.09  Ovarian Cancer -  Learn the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer that can often
go unnoticed, and what you can talk to your doctor about to find out if you are
at risk.  Guests are Dr. Daniel J. VerBurg OB/GYN of Verburg Gynecology in
Petoskey, MI and ovarian cancer survivors Liz Corey and Vicki Allen. Vicki 
became an ovarian cancer advocate after her diagnosis and now  works for the
Arizona Chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. 
http://www.ovarian.org
12.15.09  The inspiring story of Tabitha DeGruy.  Tabitha spent the first three
years of her life in Children's Hospital due to birth abnormalities.  She was
born without a right arm and at 9 months old her right leg had to be amputated
but that didn't stop her from keeping a positive attitude and a desire to help
others. She started an organization called A fiveOh4 Uplifting which creates
goody bags and uplifting mail for Children and adults battling any illness or
disability, Children and women in homeless shelters and anyone who needs
uplifting. She is definitely an inspiration. Visit Tabitha's website
www.afiveoh4uplifting.org
12.08.09  New Cervical Cancer Guidelines & Health Care Debate -  Mel is joined
in a spirited debate by Conrad Fischer, MD, doctor, and author of Routine
Miracles (www.routinemiracles.org), and cervical cancer survivor Tamika Felder
of www.tamikaandfriends.org.
11.30.09 Sherill Smith of Yoga Bear. Yoga Bear is an all volunteer non-profit
organization dedicated to providing cancer survivors with more opportunities for
wellness and healing through the practice of yoga.www.yogabear.org.
11.24.09 Colon cancer survivor Vicki Barrilieux. Her story will be featured in
a commercial during the Thanksgiving broadcast on Fox Television of
Kaleidoscope: A Celebration of Survivorship Through Sport and Song. Vicki will
share her inspiring personal story and how she got involved with this event.
11.23.09 Mel talks about the new government mammography guidelines with Kathy
Jacobsen, RN and the Community Health Educator of Charlevoix (MI) area hospital
www.cah.org, I also speak with Tasha hall a young adult breast cancer survivor
who was diagnosed when she was 26 and is currently in treatment. Finally we
speak to Ann Murray Paige, 38, breast cancer survivor, journalist and filmmaker
of www.thebreastcancerdiaries.com
11.11.09 Meaghan Edelstein of spiritjump.org.  Meaghan was diagnosed with
stage3B cervical cancer at the age of 28.  She was given little chance of
survival but decided to fight.  During her numerous surgeries, treatments and
radiation she recieved cards and gifts from family, friends and strangers.  She
wanted to make a difference and thought about how the cards and gifts she
received raised her spirits. Spirit Jump allows people to send a card or gift to
a cancer fighter or survivor, to lift their spirits, just as hers were lifted.
11.04.09  Lisa Jacuzzo of www.livelifesolid.com is Mel's special guest. 
LiveLifeSolid produces gifts with inspirational and positive messages.  Sick of
seeing all the negativity everywhere, LiveLifeSolid was formed, bringing their
own "solidisms" (inspirational sayings) and positive mojo to clothing, and
gifts.
10.26.09  Mel is joined by Stacy Martello from Fight Pink, a group Stacy and
her daughter Amanda founded.  Amanda is a Muay Thai boxer, and wanted to "Fight"
in the ring for her mother and others diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Diagnosed in
April of 2008, Stacy overcame her diagnosis and felt the need to give back to
her community and the Breast Cancer community at large. Fight Pink is a non
profit organization that connects survivors, children of survivors and others in
the breast cancer community.  Stacy and Mel talk about the "pinking" of products
during breast cancer awareness month.  Learn more atwww.fightpink.org.
Check out this great video that is racking up over a million views on YouTube. 
One Cancer patient says it's striking a chord because "it shows the joy,
comaradarie, and commitment that it takes to make a difference"  It was just
featured on ABC News November 30th! 
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/pink-glove-dance-youtube-video-spreads-breast-cancer/story?id=9210224