The Many Faces of Cancer

As a cancer survivor and thriver, I know how important community and support are when you are facing a cancer diagnosis. That’s why I created The Many Faces of Cancer Podcast. Each week I will be interviewing amazing people with heartfelt and inspirational stories from all sides of the cancer journey: patients, survivors and thrivers, caregivers, family and friends, and professionals. I may even throw in a bonus episode once in a while talking about things that are important to us all. We never think it will happen to us, until it does. This podcast will be about community, knowing you’re not alone in your journey. It will also be an opportunity for people to share their stories and hopefully help others. I hope you will all tune in. While it will be cancer stories, we all learn from others and, ultimately, these are human stories, applicable to many other areas of life.

The Many Faces of Cancer is a health podcast hosted by Melissa Grosboll, with 142 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Melissa Grosboll hosts The Many Faces of Cancer, a health show with 142 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #143

  Carried by Faith: Surviving Cancer, Grieving Loss and Choosing Joy with Terri Renella

  Sep 29, 202645 min

  What carries you forward when life gives you more than you ever imagined you could bear? For Terri Renella, the answer has been faith. Terri has faced extraordinary challenges — a rare and aggressive parotid gland cancer that returned multiple times, an ICU stay on a ventilator, difficult decisions about her treatment, the loss of both parents and three brothers, and eventually the unimaginable loss of her beloved son, George. Today, Terri is celebrating 10 years cancer-free, and through everything she has endured, her faith has become the foundation she continually returns to. In this deeply personal conversation, Terri takes us back to her cancer diagnosis and the frightening progression that followed. She shares why she sought multiple opinions, researched her options, became her own advocate, and ultimately chose a medical team she felt would work with her rather than simply tell her what to do. We talk about the importance of viewing your healthcare providers as partners and asking questions when something doesn't feel right — while recognizing that every person's cancer journey and treatment decisions are uniquely their own. But Terri's story extends far beyond cancer. After losing her son, George, she made a conscious decision not to bury her grief. Instead, she allowed herself to mourn deeply and leaned more fully into her faith. Through prayer, scripture, surrender and learning to release the things she cannot control, Terri has slowly found her way toward peace and purpose. One of the most beautiful lessons she shares is that joy can sit beside sorrow . Finding joy again doesn't mean the grief disappears or that we stop loving the people we've lost. It means allowing ourselves to experience both. Terri also shares why surrender isn't something that happens once. For her, it's a daily — and sometimes moment-by-moment — practice of trusting God, letting go of control and taking the next step even when she can't see where the road is leading. We also talk about the importance of real human connection, finding community, and Terri's growing desire to use everything she has lived through to help others — particularly parents who have experienced the loss of a child — believe that life can still hold meaning, purpose, peace and even joy. In this episode, we talk about: • Terri's rare and aggressive parotid gland cancer diagnosis • Surviving multiple recurrences and a life-threatening hospitalization • Becoming your own healthcare advocate • Finding doctors who feel like partners in your care • Navigating fear and difficult treatment decisions • How faith carried Terri through cancer and profound loss • Losing her son, George, and giving herself permission to truly grieve • Learning that joy and sorrow can exist together • What it means to surrender control and trust God • The importance of prayer, community and genuine human connection • Finding peace and purpose after unimaginable loss • Terri's desire to use her story to give hope to others Ten years cancer-free, Terri's story isn't simply one of survival. It's a story of faith — faith when the future was uncertain, faith in the midst of devastating loss, and faith that even after our darkest seasons, there can still be purpose, connection, peace and joy. Resources: Terri's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terriren Terri's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrilynn-renella-49ab332/ Follow: Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/melissagrosboll/ My website: https://melissagrosboll.com Email me: drmelissagrosboll@gmail.com

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #142

  Don't Tell Me the Odds: 25 Years Beyond Terminal Cancer Diagnosis with Mike Swinden

  Sep 22, 202640 min

  In 2001, John Michael “Mike” Swinden was told he had multiple myeloma—an incurable blood cancer—and that even with an experimental clinical trial, the hope was for just three to five more years. Twenty-five years later, Mike is still here. In this episode of The Many Faces of Cancer , Mike shares his remarkable story with the humor, stubbornness, faith, and determination that have carried him through an extraordinary life. From a career that included being a police officer, truck driver, soldier, artist—and even a teenage “shark walker”—Mike has never exactly taken the conventional path. He takes us back to the back pain and anemia that eventually led to his diagnosis, entering a clinical trial when there were few other options, undergoing two autologous stem cell transplants, and enduring treatment that left him profoundly weak. But this conversation is about much more than treatment. Mike talks candidly about the darkest moments of cancer, including the times he wondered whether he wanted to keep going, and the family, friends, faith, humor, and sheer stubbornness that helped him through them. He also shares why he believes hope matters, why accepting help is a strength, and what it has meant to become the person who can now offer hope to someone newly diagnosed. Twenty-five years after being given an expiration date, Mike has had adventures, made friendships, helped other cancer patients—and accumulated enough stories that his guardian angel, he jokes, is probably exhausted. This is a conversation about surviving the unimaginable, finding strength when you aren't sure you have any left, and refusing to let statistics write the rest of your story. In this episode: The unexpected symptoms that led to Mike’s multiple myeloma diagnosis Being offered one chance through a clinical trial Two autologous stem cell transplants and the physical toll of treatment Why Mike never wanted the odds to determine how long he would live The emotional lows that can accompany cancer Faith, anger, humor, family, and accepting help Becoming a source of hope for others facing cancer The surprising adventures that came after cancer And why Mike says, “You will not know how strong you are until you’re tested.” Resources: Mike's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-swinden-0081b51a/ Follow: Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/melissagrosboll/ My website: https://melissagrosboll.com Email me: drmelissagrosboll@gmail.com

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #141

  Turning Down the Volume: Finding Yourself After Cancer with Kathryn Pol

  Sep 15, 202643 min

  What happens when cancer forces you to stop carrying everything—and finally start listening to yourself? In this episode of The Many Faces of Cancer , Melissa talks with breast cancer survivor, mindfulness practitioner, certified yoga teacher, and New Lotus Collective founder Kathryn Pol about a cancer journey that changed far more than her physical health. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019, Kathryn remembers feeling as though she had spent years carrying the weight of everything—career, family, finances, relationships, and the belief that if she didn't hold it all together, everything might fall apart. Cancer became the moment that was finally “big enough to make her move.” Kathryn shares the fear surrounding her diagnosis, chemotherapy and hair loss, including the touching story of her husband shaving her head during treatment—and eventually learning to cut her hair as it grew back, something he still does seven years later. But much of this conversation is about what happened on the inside. Kathryn explains how yoga, mindfulness, breathwork, meditation, affirmations, and learning to quiet the noise around her helped change her relationship with stress, control, and healing. She offers a beautiful reframe for anyone who thinks yoga isn't for them: instead of seeing it as a “workout,” consider it a “work in.” As Kathryn puts it, when she began turning down the volume of life, the volume of herself got turned up. Melissa and Kathryn also talk about the unique connection within the cancer community, the often-overlooked experience of caregivers, and Kathryn's work with Susan G. Komen Colorado and New Lotus Collective. And when Melissa asks what she would tell the woman who heard “you have cancer” seven years ago, Kathryn's answer brings the entire conversation full circle: You don't have to figure everything out. You don't have to know the ending. You don't have to carry the ending. You just have to take the next step. In this episode: Kathryn's 2019 breast cancer diagnosis and treatment The fear and identity surrounding hair loss The often-unseen emotional burden carried by caregivers Why Kathryn once felt responsible for carrying everything How yoga became part of her cancer recovery Why yoga can be a “work in” instead of a workout Meditation without trying to “clear your mind” Learning to distinguish thoughts from truth Letting go of control—and why it's a lifelong practice The healing power of sharing your story Finding belonging within the cancer community Kathryn's involvement with Susan G. Komen Colorado Why healing is “simple, not easy” Taking the next step without needing to know the ending Resources: Kathryn's Website: www.newlotuscollective.com Kathryn's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575620872850 Kathryn's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newlotuscollective/# Kathryn's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-pol-03836611 Follow: Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/melissagrosboll/ My website: https://melissagrosboll.com Email me: drmelissagrosboll@gmail.com

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #140

  The Meaning of Life is to Live: Thriving with Cancer with Vic Ortiz

  Sep 8, 202646 min

  What does it mean to truly live when you know cancer may always be part of your life? Vic Ortiz was diagnosed in 2017 with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. His initial reaction was one familiar to so many people after hearing the words “you have cancer”: I'm going to die. But Vic's story quickly became about something else—learning, asking questions, finding the right medical team and, perhaps most importantly, discovering the extraordinary power of community. After an initial experience with a doctor who offered him one recommended path with little discussion, Vic followed a friend's advice and attended a prostate cancer support group. That first meeting changed everything. Suddenly he was surrounded by men who understood the language, the fear, the treatment decisions and the emotional weight of a prostate cancer diagnosis. Through their knowledge and experience, Vic began to understand his own disease and regain something cancer had taken from him: a sense of agency. In this episode of The Many Faces of Cancer , Vic and Melissa talk about the importance of being an informed participant in your own care, seeking second opinions and finding people who understand what you're experiencing. But their conversation goes much deeper than treatment. Now approaching nine years since his diagnosis and living with metastatic prostate cancer, Vic shares how cancer has changed his understanding of what it means to truly live. He talks about anticipatory grief, vulnerability, anger, connection and the unexpected gifts that can come when we're forced to confront our own mortality. As a therapeutic facilitator of cancer support groups, Vic has also witnessed what happens when people are given a safe place to say the things they may not be able to say anywhere else—and have someone respond, “I understand.” In this conversation: • Vic's path to an aggressive prostate cancer diagnosis • Why prostate cancer is not the same disease for every man • The importance of understanding your individual diagnosis • Second opinions and becoming an informed participant in treatment decisions • How a support group helped Vic regain a sense of control • The “reluctant brotherhood” of prostate cancer • Living with metastatic cancer and uncertainty • Anticipatory grief and grieving the future you thought you had • Why anger can sometimes mask fear, sadness and vulnerability • The particular challenge—and opportunity—of vulnerability for men • Moving from living primarily “in your head” to living more from the heart • How cancer can change relationships, priorities and our understanding of what matters • Why no one should have to face cancer alone As a teenager, Vic once asked his psychiatrist uncle one of life's biggest questions: “What's the meaning of life?” His uncle answered simply: “The meaning of life is to live.” Vic didn't appreciate the answer much at the time. Decades later, living with cancer has given those words an entirely different meaning. Because none of us knows exactly how much time we have. The question is: What are we going to do with the life we have now? Resources: Vic's Website: https://cancersupport.net/ Vic's Email: vortiz@cancersupport.net Follow: Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/melissagrosboll/ My website: https://melissagrosboll.com Email me: drmelissagrosboll@gmail.com

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #139

  When Life Changes the Plan: Grief, Joy and Learning to Play Again with Sarita Parikh

  Sep 1, 202644 min

  What happens when life changes so dramatically that “getting back to normal” is no longer the goal? In this episode of The Many Faces of Cancer , Melissa sits down with healthcare professional, entrepreneur, advocate, speaker and cancer survivor Sarita Parikh , whose life changed dramatically after a devastating accident left her with a traumatic brain injury—only to be followed months later by a breast cancer diagnosis. Sarita shares the extraordinary story of navigating brain injury rehabilitation and cancer at the same time, including the cognitive and physical challenges that made even routine appointments difficult. She also talks about the unexpected way cancer forced her to confront something she hadn't yet had the capacity to process: just how much her life had changed. Their conversation moves beyond diagnosis and treatment into the much bigger question of what recovery is actually for . Sarita shares the philosophy behind her evolving work with Mind, Body, and Play Therapies and her concept of “life-first care” —an approach that asks not simply how we help someone recover, but how we help them build the capacity to participate in a meaningful life. Melissa and Sarita also explore the importance of play, joy, awe, rest and connection—and why making room for those things doesn't mean ignoring the grief, anger and loss that can accompany cancer and trauma. Sarita also shares how attending Epic Experience camp finally allowed her to recognize that she wasn't an “imposter” in the cancer community and begin processing her diagnosis. Even more unexpectedly, the experience of play, nature and connection seemed to help her rediscover something she had struggled to do since her brain injury: simply take a deep breath. This is a conversation about accepting that life may never look exactly as it once did—and discovering that a different life can still be meaningful, joyful and very much worth living. In this episode: Surviving a traumatic brain injury and cancer in the same year Navigating cancer treatment with significant cognitive limitations The grief of losing the life you expected Why recovery shouldn't only be about “getting better” Sarita's concept of life-first care Building capacity while also honoring the need for rest Why adults need play just as much as children do Making room for grief, rage, joy and awe at the same time Feeling like an imposter in the cancer community The unexpected impact of Epic Experience Finding your people—and allowing others to help carry the load Sarita's message: Feel it all. Feel the fear, rage and grief—but don't try to carry it all alone. Find the people who can walk alongside you. Resources: Sarita's website: www.mbptherapies.com Sarita's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glowandgather/ , https://www.instagram.com/mindbodyplaytherapies/ Sarita's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glowandgather , https://www.facebook.com/mindbodyplaytherapies Sarita's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarita-parikh-glowandgather/ , https://www.linkedin.com/company/mind-body-play-therapies/ Follow: Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/melissagrosboll/ My website: https://melissagrosboll.com Email me: drmelissagrosboll@gmail.com

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on The Many Faces of Cancer. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.