Sheryll Jalbuena joins us from City of Smiles, Bacolod City, in the Philippines. She was diagnosed at 37 with Stage III breast cancer. Sheryll retired from her banking career to become a full-time wife and mom. In this episode Sheryll reads her essay “Why Not Me?” from the 2023 “New Normal” issue of Wildfire. Sheryll’s story is about searching for and finding acceptance within a cancer diagnosis. April and Sheryll will talk about what survivorship looks like finding meaning and priorities, choosing to stay connected with and giving back to the cancer community, and the impact of cancer on career decisions. They will also discuss what breast cancer experiences can look like in the Philippines.

Connect with Sheryll:

https://www.instagram.com/sajalbuena/

https://www.facebook.com/sheryll.ascalonjalbuena

Purchase the “New Normal” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/newnormal23

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Magazine:

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Desi Maldonado was diagnosed at 44 with Stage III triple negative breast cancer. She is an assistant director of procurement services, an artist, wife and grandmother. In this episode Desi reads her essay “Lymphedema” from the 2023 “New Normal” issue of Wildfire. Desi’s story is about living alongside secondary lymphedema - a topic not discussed enough in the cancer space. April will explain what lymphedema is as she dives into Desi’s experience with it. April and Desi will talk about what set off Desi’s lymphedema, how lymphedema awareness and preventive measures get lost in the chaos of a cancer diagnosis, and occupying the complicated space of survivor’s guilt blended with a lymphedema struggle. They will also discuss the importance of sharing truths to help shoulder the load of our stories and reveal hope.

Connect with Desi: https://www.instagram.com/bestofdesi/

Purchase the “New Normal” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/newnormal23

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Magazine:

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions

Chiara Riga of Santa Cruz, CA returns to The Burn for a second time. She is a marketing operations manager who was diagnosed at 27 with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. In this episode Chiara reads her essay “I Thought All Love Was Off the Table” from the 2023 “Love & Intimacy” issue of Wildfire. Chiara’s story is about finding love after a breast cancer diagnosis, and putting hope back on the table. April and Chiara will talk about what it was like shifting from living with her caregiver mom and moving in with her partner, how to manage a container for cancer in a relationship, and the challenge of explaining cancer to her future in-laws with language and cultural barriers. They will also discuss planning life around cancer and share travel planning tips while living with MBC.

Connect with Chiara: https://www.instagram.com/chiaravscancer/

Purchase the “Love & Intimacy” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/love23

Listen to another episode of The Burn featuring Chiara: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/9ab23b08-72b2-4a54-8af9-451c54c76be4

Buy the Wildfire book Igniting the Fire Within: Stories of Healing, Hope & Humor, Inside Today’s Young Breast Cancer Community: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVJ629F?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Get the free Wildfire “Hot Flashes” email newsletter: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/newsletter?rq=newsletter

Learn about Wildfire writing workshops: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/workshops

Shop Wildfire merch & more: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop

*Free* Get Wildfire and The Burn freebies here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/free

More about Wildfire Magazine:

https://www.wildfirecommunity.org

https://www.instagram.com/wildfire_bc_magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/wildfirecommunity

Information on submitting your story for consideration to be published in Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/submissions