In this episode of “Mind, Body, Spirit, Cancer,” Pat Croce welcomes Jack Cornfield, a best-selling author and psychologist who is a master in the therapeutic arts of mindfulness and meditation. Cornfield defines what it means to be in the present with kindness and emphasizes how practicing a loving awareness can bring about positive changes in your life and the lives of others. He reminds us that meditation is a way to turn suffering into a peaceful heart, a method in which one can learn to take pain and hold it in a different way, noting, “Who you are is not defined by time; who you are is awareness itself.” 

Relevant Links: 

 - cancer.org/cancer/survivorship/coping/practice-mindfulness-and-relaxation.html 

 - cancer.org/cancer/latest-news/take-a-moment-with-meditation.html 

 - cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/side-effects/emotional-mood-changes.html 

 - cancer.org/cancer/latest-news/6tipsformanagingstress.html 

 - cancer.org/caregiverguide 

 - cancer.org/acscares 

Stephen A. Smith, a well-known sports commentator, analyst, and executive producer, visits with Pat Croce for this episode of “Mind. Body. Spirit. Cancer.” Smith talks about his career and the role his mom played in inspiring and motivating him to be a better person. Smith then discusses his mom’s cancer journey from her original colon cancer diagnosis in 2009 through her death in 2017. During that time, Smith relates how the entire family came together to serve as caregivers, and how he was proud to be able to support her – the woman who had always supported him with unconditional love – in her time of need, noting, “As devastating as it is, you have to remember, it’s not about you until they’re gone. As long as they’re there; it’s about them.” 

Relevant Links: 

 - cancer.org/caregiverguide 

 - cancer.org/acscares 

 - cancer.org/survivors 

 - cancer.org/getscreened 

 - cancer.org/fightcoloncancer 

Pat Croce welcomes John Kruk, a retired Major League Baseball player and current sports broadcaster, to this episode of “Mind. Body. Spirit. Cancer.” In addition to discussing his career in the major league, Kruk discusses his 1993 diagnosis and treatment for testicular cancer that had metastasized to his stomach. Kruk’s story underscores the importance of knowing your body, being your own advocate, and working with your healthcare provider to have regular checkups. 

Relevant Links: 

 - cancer.org/cancer/types/testicular-cancer.html 

 - cancer.org/survivors 

 - cancer.org/acscares 

 - cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/understanding-cancer-risk/cancer-facts.html 

Tig Notaro, a comedian, actress, writer, and producer, is the guest on this episode of “Mind. Body. Spirit. Cancer with Pat Croce”. Notaro, a stage two bilateral breast cancer survivor, relates how she got started in the entertainment industry and how a breast cancer diagnosis, coupled with other major life episodes eleven years ago, changed the way she lives her life. She focuses on how her view of taking risks evolved, and how taking a calculated risk in her professional life, plus the support of friends and family, helped her to recover both physically and mentally in her personal life. 

Relevant Links: 

 - cancer.org/breastcancer 

 - cancer.org/getscreened 

 - cancer.org/acscares 

 - cancer.org/reachtorecovery 

 - MakingStridesWalk.org