In this episode of the Patient From Hell, Samira sits down with Megan-Claire Chase, known in the cancer community as "Warrior Megsy." Megan-Claire shares her deeply personal experience of navigating breast cancer and its aftermath. From managing the physical and emotional toll of treatment to finding new ways to regain a sense of self, Megan-Claire offers a powerful account of resilience, self-advocacy, and the importance of asking for help. Her humor, storytelling skills, and openness bring a refreshing perspective on survivorship, making this an inspiring conversation for anyone facing adversity.

Key Highlights:

1. Self-advocacy is critical in healthcare, and sometimes, switching doctors is necessary to ensure your voice is heard.

2. The emotional impact of cancer extends beyond treatment, often manifesting in long-term physical pain and identity challenges.

3. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness—it's a vital step in dealing with the overwhelming aspects of cancer.

About our guest:

Megan-Claire Chase, also known as Warrior Megsie, is the Breast Cancer Program Director and host of the Our BC Life podcast at SHARE Cancer Support. As an invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) breast cancer survivor and passionate patient advocate based in Atlanta, GA, Megan-Claire is a dedicated champion for the needs of breast cancer patients, particularly in addressing the disparities faced by minoritized communities and those in the adolescent and young adult (AYA) communities.

In addition to her pivotal role at SHARE, she serves on Bayer Oncology's Digital Patient Council, is a patient advocate for the Oncology Data Advisor Editorial Board, and recently joined the Worth the Wait Charity advisory board. She also contributes as a writer and advisory board member for Patient Power, amplifying the voices of breast cancer patients.

Megan-Claire’s advocacy efforts include participating as a panelist on Leveraging Technology to Support Patient-Centered Multidisciplinary Oncologic Care at the 2024 ASCO Quality Care Symposium, co-authoring a podcast and infographic on genetic testing in metastatic breast cancer, collaborating with Pfizer on the Action Guide to Disrupt Inequitable Health Outcomes, and sharing her personal journey on PBS’s Beyond Cancer through Stories from the Stage. Her work has been spotlighted in notable publications like The New York Times, People Magazine, Cancer Health, Cancer Today, and CURE Magazine.

Beyond her cancer advocacy, Megan-Claire is a versatile voiceover actor, a dedicated social justice activist, and a proud cat mom to Phoebe.

My Cancer GPS™ is coming! Step-by-step subway maps that guide you through the entire cancer experience. Learn more here!⁠

Key Moment:

21 minutes: “Something that people outside of Cancerland may not fully understand is the side effects from the toxic treatments, the side effects from multiple surgeries, the pain that some get fades, they heal, but for others, like moi, I really got the motherload of permanent damage, permanent side effects, effects that happen like a year, two years post cancer. And so I, as I'm talking to you right now, I am in pain. And I often have people say, ‘you don't look like you're in pain.’ And I'm like, look, it's not Halloween yet. I don't want to scare you. If I looked how I truly, truly felt on the daily, you would think you're in a scary movie. And so, dealing with multiple types of pain, chronic pain, is something I never, ever thought would be part of my cancer experience."

Disclaimer: All content and information provided in connection with Manta Cares is solely intended for informational and educational purposes only. This content and information is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

In this episode of the Patient From Hell, we talk to Mike and Megan Scherer, a couple who faced fertility challenges after Mike's testicular cancer diagnosis at age 26. They share their personal journey through cancer treatment, fertility preservation, and eventually becoming parents through assisted reproductive technologies. The Scherers also discuss their non-profit organization, Worth the Wait, which provides financial assistance and support to young adult cancer survivors facing fertility issues. Their story highlights the emotional, financial, and medical complexities of fertility preservation and family building for cancer survivors.

Key Highlights:

1. Cancer treatment can significantly impact fertility, making it crucial for patients to discuss preservation options immediately after diagnosis.

2. The financial burden of fertility treatments for cancer survivors is substantial and often not covered by insurance, as was the case for the Scherers.

3. Through their non-profit Worth the Wait, the Scherers aim to alleviate the financial barriers preventing young adult cancer survivors from pursuing fertility preservation and family-building options.

About our guests:

Mike Scherer is a cancer survivor, co-founder and chief visionary of oncofertility charity Worth the Wait. He is passionate about helping other young adult cancer survivors lead meaningful lives in survivorship. He has shared his perspective with clinical and industry audiences nationally through speaking engagements, articles and podcasts. When he’s not advocating for cancer awareness, he enjoys spending time with his family and cycling. Mike is also a managing partner of Summit Financial Strategies, an investment management firm.

Megan Scherer is the co-founder and executive director of Worth the Wait. Megan advocates for patients and oncofertility nationally as a speaker and patient advocate. She enjoys the personal relationships she forms with young patients Worth the Wait assists and loves providing hope and inspiring others with her story as a caregiver, infertility patient, and mom to son Elliott. Before co-founding Worth the Wait in 2021, Megan held marketing communication leadership roles in the health insurance industry.

Manta Maps are coming! Step-by-step subway maps that guide you through the entire cancer experience. Learn more here!⁠

Key Moments:

At 29 minutes: "We look into the eyes of our child now and we don't think, man, you were an expensive little guy. We just think, we're so fortunate to have you here and be able to raise you. When we sat down to start Worth the Wait, we said, okay, if we were able to remove that financial barrier, would you be willing to go through what is also a difficult process? And the answer was yes." - Mike Scherer

At 32 minutes: "There's so many stories of AYA patients every week who are reaching out for assistance and there are people who are maxing out their credit cards to pay for [fertility treatments]. There's people I know that are selling t-shirts, that are selling popcorn, that are doing these things because this is the one thing in their life that they want to have a chance at." - Megan Scherer

At 38 minutes: “"You don't have time to waste and depending on the diagnosis you may have a very short window. Banking sperm takes a day but preserving eggs can take weeks, so you want to know upfront." - Megan Scherer

Disclaimer: All content and information provided in connection with Manta Cares is solely intended for informational and educational purposes only. This content and information is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

In this captivating episode of "The Patient From Hell" podcast, Dr. Sydney Barned shares her unique perspective as both a practicing physician and a seven-and-a-half-year survivor of stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Dr. Barned offers invaluable insights into the challenges of navigating a cancer diagnosis, the importance of patient advocacy, and the gaps in understanding between doctors and patients. Her story highlights the need for better communication, education, and support in cancer care, while also shedding light on the personal struggles and triumphs of living with cancer. We also delve into the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) funding study comparing the impact of using different types of material to understand palliative chemo for advanced cancer patients.

This episode was supported by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and features this PCORI study by Debra Schragg, MD, MPH.

Key Highlights:

1. Dr. Barned's dual perspective as a doctor and cancer patient provides a rare and insightful look into the complexities of cancer care.

2. The episode emphasizes the importance of patient education and self-advocacy in navigating cancer treatment and palliative care.

3. Dr. Barned's experience reveals gaps in doctor-patient communication and understanding, particularly regarding palliative chemotherapy.

About our guest:

Dr. Sydney Barned, is a dedicated physician and lung cancer advocate committed to advancing research, raising awareness, and supporting policy initiatives in the field of oncology. Diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer at the age of 33, she brings a unique perspective to lung cancer advocacy, combining her firsthand experience with her medical expertise to drive positive change in the fight against cancer. With a background in Internal Medicine and a focus on hospital medicine as an internal medicine hospitalist, Dr. Barned is actively involved in community outreach and educational initiatives aimed at empowering patients and healthcare professionals alike.

Key Moments:

At 3 minutes : "So I had to do a lot of compartmentalization and it was some a lot of the times it was tough especially when I got patients who were younger and you know they reminded me of myself.... I've diagnosed patients with cancer, treated the side effects of cancer, you know, had to have those difficult conversations where I'm like,’ look, treatment is not working. We need to switch to more comfort based measures.’ I've had to bring in hospice and, you know, I've even had to pronounce time of death. So I've seen the entire spectrum and I mean, one of the things that it definitely does make me, it makes me very grateful for the life that I have."

At 30 minutes: "Most patients when you're going through a diagnosis of cancer, you are not necessarily understanding everything because the emotions that are tied to hearing you have cancer. So just hearing that in itself is a blow, much less hearing you have advanced disease. That's going to be another blow as well. And a lot of the times when doctors are talking to you after hearing those two statements, it kind of sounds like, again, I'm going to be aging myself, but you remember Charlie Brown? When the adult was talking... you didn't hear anything. And that's kind of what it's like when a patient is hearing all of this information from their doctors."

Manta Maps are coming! Step-by-step subway maps that guide you through the entire cancer experience. Learn more here!⁠

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Disclaimer: All content and information provided in connection with Manta Cares is solely intended for informational and educational purposes only. This content and information is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.