What happens when cancer crashes into your life and your livelihood? In episode 281 of the Gratitude Geek podcast, I sit down with entrepreneur and cancer thriver Deb Krier for a candid conversation about living with Stage 4 breast cancer while still showing up for your clients, your business, and yourself.
Deb and I skip the glossy “fight hard” clichés. We talk about the real stuff: nerve damage, port disasters, chemo fog, and all the unsolicited miracle cures strangers fling your way. We also talk about rebuilding a business in the middle of treatments, setbacks, and a body that doesn’t always cooperate. Sometimes we paused. Sometimes we powered through. And we both found new ways to work, lead, and stay human through the chaos.
This is the episode I wish I had when I was first diagnosed. It’s part support group, part strategy session, part redhead sass.
In This Episode:
• What “working through cancer” actually looks like
• Therapies and tools that genuinely help
• How to choose what to keep, delegate, or drop in your business
• Staying visible when your body is falling apart
• Why boundaries stop being optional
• Deb’s philosophy: “You’re the boss. Not cancer. Not your doctor.”
Connect with Deb Krier:
Website: https://tryingnottodie.live
Facebook Group: Support Group on Facebook
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/deborahkrier
Podcast: The Business Power Hour
Show Notes: https://kandasrodarte.com/281
About Deb Krier:
Deb Krier is the founder of TryingNotToDie.LIVE, a platform empowering people navigating cancer to live boldly and on their own terms. A longtime marketing and PR pro, she brings the same no-nonsense strength to her work and her health journey. Diagnosed with Stage 4 triple-positive breast cancer in 2015 and later thyroid cancer, Deb refused to let illness define her. She now supports others in taking ownership of their decisions, building community, and finding purpose, regardless of diagnosis.
Gratitude Shoutout:
Deb’s moment of gratitude was this conversation. Same here.
Timestamps:
00:00 When business and cancer collide
02:30 Stage 0 to Stage 4 overnight
06:15 Chemo, septic shock, and working from a hospital bed
09:40 Why Kandas paused the podcast
13:10 Ports, Herceptin, insurance, and evolving treatment
19:30 Complementary therapies
24:00 Why you need both oncology and primary care
27:10 How to fire your doctor
31:30 Humor as medicine
36:00 Medical marijuana and biosimilars
40:20 Cancer’s impact on business and boundaries
44:10 Advice for newly diagnosed entrepreneurs
47:00 Cancer doesn’t define your business
48:30 Gratitude and closing
If you're living with cancer while running a business, or supporting someone who is, this episode is for you. Cancer may change your schedule and your capacity, but it doesn’t get to take your voice.
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