In this Author Chat, Josie and Brad welcome Tim McDonald, stage IV colorectal cancer survivor, liver transplant recipient, patient advocate, and author of From Patient to Advocate: Turning Survivorship into Impact for Healthcare Advocates.
Tim shares how his diagnosis led him from self-advocacy to broader patient advocacy, including the search for second opinions, coordination between cancer and transplant teams, and the importance of finding providers willing to communicate across institutions. He discusses liver transplantation for select patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases, the emotional weight of survivorship, survivor guilt, grief, and how advocacy can be both meaningful and sustainable.
The conversation also explores Tim’s book, which serves as a practical guide for patients, survivors, and caregivers who want to turn lived experience into impact. Tim reminds listeners that advocacy does not have to be public or large-scale; sometimes it begins with helping one person feel less alone.
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