Cindy “Smokey” Polinsky and Leonard “Fox” Geraci share a unique bond as lymphoma survivors who have gone through the same cancer treatment. In the world of cancer, “fear of the unknown and what’s to come’ can significantly impact survivors in their daily lives. In this episode of Keepin’ It Real, Smokey and Fox open up about fear and how past traumas can play a role.

Janna Jones was diagnosed with IIB melanoma in 2022. She completed immunotherapy and surgery but still found herself struggling in some aspects of her daily life. She battled fatigue, photosensitivity to the sun, and constant stomach aches. Despite having a great support system, Janna found it tough to connect on a cancer level because these individuals weren’t survivors, which made her feel alone.

“I knew I needed help, so I had to go out and get it,” Janna says. She shares how she discovered incredible groups, classes, and communities to rebuild her physical and mental strength after cancer.

Lisa Isom was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2010 and had her first recurrence a year later. After eight years with no evidence of disease, her cancer returned again in 2019. On this episode of Campfires of Hope, Lisa shares a heartfelt, personal letter that she wrote titled, Dear Cancer, wherein she describes her cancer journey and the effects it’s had on her life.

Cam Kiosoglous, a four-time U.S. Olympic rowing coach, is no stranger to embracing challenges. However, when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2010, followed by two thyroid cancer diagnoses the year after, his resolve was truly tested. After making it through and having no evidence of disease for nearly a decade, Cam faced his toughest challenge – learning his cancer had returned.

Cam keeps it real with us as he opens up about the hardest aspects of coping with a cancer recurrence and how he used techniques from his coaching experiences and support from his community to manage his mental health during the most difficult times.

Epic Experience director Colin Ferro was a special guest on Travel...Adventure...Wellness on WTBQ Radio to discuss how travel and adventure can benefit cancer patients/survivors physically and emotionally.

Learn more about how Epic Experience empowers cancer survivors to live beyond cancer at www.epicexperience.org

When Sara Marian Lucking was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer in 2022, she was on maternity leave from her career as a dermatologist. She shares that being a healthcare professional going through cancer had its pros and cons. While her background knowledge helped her get to a diagnosis faster, it was scary to know so much about the uphill battle she would face with her specific diagnosis and the side effects of her treatments—knowledge she told herself to “unlearn.”

As a doctor, she was very familiar with the burnout that many healthcare professionals experience as a result of not putting themselves first. After going through cancer treatment, Sara Marian says that changed. "I'm now prioritizing my health and being present for my family. I’m taking all the information I learned and trying to help other people.”

Learn more about how Epic Experience empowers cancer survivors to live beyond cancer at www.epicexperience.org

Brad Glassel, a stage three prostate cancer survivor, returns to the Campfires of Hope podcast for an episode of Keepin’ It Real. He discusses life following completion of cancer treatment and the difficulty of figuring out how to move on. After attending supportive communities like Epic Experience and local story slams, he discovered the importance of moving forward by embracing new challenges. Brad explains that while challenges may seem daunting at first, they can be overcome by taking small steps. He used that mentality to compile a series of short stories about his life into a book he recently published titled Those Days.

Learn more about how Epic Experience empowers cancer survivors to live beyond cancer at www.epicexperience.org

In the inaugural Keepin’ It Real episode on the Campfires of Hope podcast, we dig deeper into the mental and emotional side of a cancer diagnosis with Dana Shelton Lee, who is living with stage 4 colon cancer.

Dana discusses the impact that multiple recurrences, surgeries, and over 40 rounds of chemotherapy has had on her psyche. She keeps it real by sharing her rock-bottom moments and how she finds strength in self-care, living with intention, and helping others. Dana’s advice is to “find your tribe and learn to live a meaningful life with cancer,” and hopes her story will inspire others to thrive.

Learn more about how Epic Experience empowers cancer survivors to live beyond cancer at www.epicexperience.org