In this powerful episode of "Cracking Cancer," host Dr. Kyle Concannon sits down with co-host JJ Singleton, a colorectal cancer patient who has been undergoing continuous treatment for almost 10 years. JJ provides a raw, unfiltered look at the reality of treating cancer as a chronic disease, sharing his journey from a localized Stage II diagnosis to the devastating discovery of metastatic disease that required a decade of ongoing systemic therapy.
JJ recounts the most challenging chapters of his life, including the initial despair of endless chemotherapy, the 14 months he spent confined to bed and reliant on TPN (total parenteral nutrition), and the internal struggle to find hope when all his treatment options were failing. He discusses the emotional hurdles of survivor's guilt, the challenges of invisible side effects (like neuropathy and skin pain), and the difficulty of maintaining a sense of self-worth when life deviates dramatically from expectations. JJ's story is a testament to human resilience and the transformative power of advocacy, revealing how he leveraged his suffering to create a meaningful life and become a vital voice for others.
Key Takeaways
Chapters:
The Cracking Cancer Podcast's main focus is to further education about cancer and its effects on people and communities through continued discussion and to raise funds for the continued research of cancer treatments and positive outcomes. All raised proceeds go directly to the continued upkeep of this podcast and cancer research. To find out more about supporting the show and research endeavors, please go to the following website: www.crackingcancer.org
Attributions
The music track - Progression Pulse - is provided by Denys Brodovskyi through the Attribution 4.0 International License
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