Shangrong Lee was diagnosed with hormone positive breast cancer at age 43 in 2017. Shangrong is a mother, wife and marathon runner. She is a Baddie Ambassador with For the Breast of Us, and a Young Advocate Alumni for Living Beyond Breast Cancer. In this episode, Shangrong reads her essay “The Story About My Body” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Body” issue. Shangrong’s piece is about receiving a cancer diagnosis that transports her back in time growing up Asian when she felt like her body wasn’t a safe space because she looked different from ridiculous American beauty standards. Then she found running, and found her way to feeling safe in her body again. April and Shangrong will discuss running as an enjoyable lifestyle, body comparisons, and accepting body betrayal. They will also talk about Shangrong’s advocacy work with For the Breast of Us and Living Beyond Breast Cancer.

More about Shangrong: https://www.instagram.com/shangrongs.vibes/

More about our episode sponsor:

Less Radical Podcast

https://cancerculture.substack.com/podcast

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4mMdQpSdVr9kKSGXTfYLmo

Resources mentioned in this episode:

https://www.breastofus.com/

https://www.lbbc.org/

Purchase the “Body” issue of Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-body24

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

Hannah Haworth was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 41, and she carries both the Check2 and ATM genetic mutations. Hannah is an author of teen fiction and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and daughter. In this episode, Hannah reads her essay “The Deformed Woman” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Body” issue. Hannah’s piece is about attending a support meeting only to hear a woman raging about the changes to her body and realizing she is not angry about her similar body, but rather, feels transformed. April and Hannah will discuss Hannah’s experience of writing her usual fiction books versus cancer memoir, embracing the privilege of aging, and the road to finding a support group that resonates. Hannah will also share two of her favorite writing prompts.

More about Hannah:

https://www.instagram.com/hannahjayneauthor/

https://www.hannah-jayne.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHannahJayne

More about our episode sponsors:

Less Radical Podcast

https://pod.link/1767700499

https://cancerculture.substack.com/podcast

Resensation

https://www.resensation.com/?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADC90IQsJbb48LEuw53Hoo9Fa3Pln&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1Yy5BhD-ARIsAI0RbXbQpYzvDXACzT2cKM-g-ZJI6bN5bNUUr0TsWnPK8Mx5xGLxXpLFuMYaAotqEALw_wcBhttps://www.resensation.com

https://www.instagram.com/resensation?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

https://www.facebook.com/resensation/

Purchase the “Body” issue of Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-body24

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:

This week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a little fall break from our regular podcast schedule to enjoy some Halloween fun. Production assistant Monica Haro selected this episode from January 2022 to reshare. Enjoy!

Megan-Claire Chase was diagnosed with lobular breast cancer at 39 after watching her mother go through her own cancer. Her mom was still very much in need of caregiving when Megan was diagnosed and this led to some hard truths about being a daughter and a caregiver to a parent. What do you do when you need love and nurturing while at the same time being that for a parent? In this episode, Megan reads her piece "When Cancer Worlds Collide'" from Wildfire Magazine's 2018 "Caregivers" issue.

More about Megan-Claire: https://www.instagram.com/warriormegsie/

Get the “Caregivers” issue here: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-caregivers

Listen to more episodes centered on caregivers:

Well, Let’s Start a Podcast by Danielle Hernandez

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/958ded9e-a99d-4531-be9c-e9d459dc49a2/

I Call Her Mother by Diana Mae Vega

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/aa086054-221d-4dce-96c5-bb28f4451138/

Let the Mirror Shatter by Wang Shein

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/7fb3d4a9-b5d7-4a17-9d7e-419fab782f86/

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

Psychotherapist Erin Weiss returns to The Burn for a third visit. Erin was diagnosed with Stage IV de novo metastatic breast cancer (MBC) following her first mammogram at age 42. She’s been living with MBC since August 2019. In this episode, she reads her essay “Barbershop Quartet” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Body” issue. Erin’s piece is about her experience of life’s traumas as told in four parts via haircuts that culminate with the cut that comes due to a cancer diagnosis. April and Erin will discuss Erin’s process for sharing different and varied stories from her breast cancer experience, and the writing that happens away from the keyboard. They will also talk about the loss of femininity hair loss evokes, realizing the trauma wrapped up in long hair, and the relationship between identity and living with MBC. This episode contains explicit language.

More about Erin: https://www.instagram.com/emweiss/

More about our episode sponsor AnaOno:

https://www.anaono.com/

https://www.instagram.com/anaonointimates/

Purchase the “Body” issue of Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/digital-body24

Listen to past episodes featuring Erin:

A Guest Room for MBC

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/7f4b0f3b-d769-4ef9-bacb-ddfed49a86ef/

Feeling Good as Hell?

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/0facf0f6-8529-4634-bd65-5bed0ce76546/

Listen to past episodes featuring AnaOno founder Dana Donofree:

10 Years Learning to Love a New Body

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/2550ea8c-41b9-4314-9072-f612cf7394ba/

Chest Inclusivity

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/03ba8e52-d604-4937-91e4-689238b12bfe/

More episodes about hair:

Permanent: It Was Never Just About Hair with Stephanie Kinkel

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/b7d01912-1bd1-47c4-9f2a-2c547ed328b9/

Hair with Rebecca Hall

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/1a34adcc-dc65-439d-8c42-f6a9de3677dc/

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...

Susan DiGregorio of Maine was diagnosed just days before her 38th birthday with Stage Ib hormone positive breast cancer. Susan is a mom, wife, volunteer and also works in real estate. In this episode, Susan reads her piece “The Hidden Struggle of Secondary Infertility” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Family” issue. Susan’s story is about the complexities surrounding her inability to have another child after cancer. April and Susan will discuss the roles pets play in cancer, finding acceptance with hormone therapy side effects, and the time and layers in recovering from cancer’s aftermath. They will also talk about the significance of connecting with others within the cancer community.

More about Susan:

https://www.instagram.com/suelaspada/

https://www.facebook.com/susan.laspada

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-digregorio-24495b25/

Purchase the “Family” issue of Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/family24

Listen to more episodes from the “Family” issue:

March 13 with Kate Rowbotham

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/118270c8-979b-466f-8b7a-53d025106a08/

Mama with DeDe Drake

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/0cf1633e-3721-4522-bd72-efb5a51146d9/

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

Lauren Tarpley of South Carolina returns to The Burn for a second visit. She was diagnosed at 34 with Stage II, HER2+ breast cancer. Lauren is a mom, wife and third generation urban homesteader. In this episode, Lauren reads her piece “Lucy’s Long Journey” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Family” issue. Lauren’s inspirational story is about unexpected and amazing experiences surrounding her post-cancer miracle baby. April and Lauren will talk about the challenges of not being able to breastfeed, finding the lessons in your own story, and the books Lauren has written. They’ll also discuss Lauren’s plans for her recently purchased farm.

More about Lauren:

https://www.instagram.com/typeaguidetocancer/

https://www.instagram.com/thefarmacychs/

Listen to another episode featuring Lauren:

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/105cd59d-202d-48aa-9567-a3d41ee28fc4/

Purchase the “Family” issue of Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/family24

If you liked this episode, you might like this one too:

Pregnancy After Cancer with Meghan Koziel

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/459ec640-fd41-4ee9-8fe8-46feec0f758a/

Listen to more episodes from the “Family” issue:

March 13 with Kate Rowbotham

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/118270c8-979b-466f-8b7a-53d025106a08/

Mama with DeDe Drake

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/0cf1633e-3721-4522-bd72-efb5a51146d9/

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/

DeDe Drake of Michigan was a mother of a toddler when she was diagnosed with Triple Negative breast cancer at 39. In this episode DeDe reads her essay “Mama” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Family” issue. DeDe’s story is about being in the middle between parenting her young daughter and needing the loving support of her own mom - all under one roof. April and DeDe will talk about the transformation of DeDe’s relationship with her mom through cancer, the vulnerability in asking for and accepting help, and the ways people can be specifically proactive when showing up to support. They will also discuss the reckoning and grief in the aftermath of treatment.

More about our episode sponsor Triage Cancer: https://triagecancer.org/

Purchase the “Family” issue of Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/family24

Listen to more episodes from the “Family” issue:

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/118270c8-979b-466f-8b7a-53d025106a08/

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

Ash Davidson was diagnosed with breast cancer at 42 that was discovered during during gender affirming surgery. In this episode Ash reads his essay “Longing to Belong” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2024 “Queer” issue. Ash’s story is about the unique challenges in a medical landscape that often fails to acknowledge the diverse narratives within the cancer community. April and Ash will talk about what it’s been like sharing his story multiple times, finding and making queer support in cancer, and the desire to advocate in the cancer community, and feelings about scars. They will also discuss feeling unsafe in your body and intimacy after breast cancer.

More about Ash:https://www.instagram.com/transashtoning/

Purchase the “Queer” issue of Wildfire Magazine: https://www.wildfirecommunity.org/shop/p/queerincancerland24

Listen to more episodes from the “Queer” issue:

Slowing Down to Write One Moment with Dawn Amodeo https://player.captivate.fm/episode/a082c76d-bd6e-4345-adc5-2b3ac29af98f/

Stay Visible with Stephanie Millett

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/bf5a9ce5-4858-43b1-88ff-d4b00cb8623c/

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Queering Cancer https://queeringcancer.ca/

National LGBT Cancer Network https://cancer-network.org/

Rethink Breast Cancer https://rethinkbreastcancer.com/

Young Survival Coalition https://youngsurvival.org/

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: