Episode 38

Health Uncensored with Dr. Drew

with Dr. Drew Pinsky and Susan Sabo-Wagner
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Health Uncensored with Dr. Drew

After our national spotlight on Health Uncensored with Dr. Drew Pinsky, we’re excited to share the full extended podcast version featuring bonus conversation with Dr. Drew you didn’t see on TV.

Darcie Wells, President & CEO of CanCare, joins Dr. Drew Pinsky on Health Uncensored and Susan Sabo Wagner, VP of Clinical Innovation at American Oncology Network (and a leukemia survivor), to show why emotional support isn’t extra—it's essential to cancer care. Listeners hear how CanCare’s survivor-to-patient matching, now powered by smart tech, brings calm, courage, and practical hope to patients and caregivers nationwide. SEO: emotional support for cancer, peer support, survivorship, American Oncology Network, young adult cancer.  

Susan shares her turning point—diagnosed with AML as a teen and treated with an autologous bone marrow transplant—underscoring why hope and connection matter at every stage. Darcie highlights rising diagnoses among younger adults and how whole-family support can steady spouses, kids, and grandparents when cancer collides with daily life.  

You’ll learn how peer support integrates with clinical care, why navigation and social needs (transportation, food security) affect outcomes, and how stories of long-term survivorship sustain belief on hard days. You’ll also hear how precision medicine changes treatment paths while human connection helps people endure them. The message is simple: you’re not alone, and a survivor can stand beside you—today.

Highlights:

00:00 – The power of human connection in cancer care
Darcie Wells opens with why no one should face cancer alone and how survivor support brings calm during chaos.

02:48 – How CanCare pairs patients with survivors who’ve been there
Learn how CanCare’s matching system works and why sharing lived experience makes emotional healing possible.

04:40 – Technology meets compassion: smarter survivor matching
Darcie explains how new tools and algorithms help CanCare connect patients with the right survivor faster.

05:40 – Building emotional support into oncology care
Susan Sabo Wagner shares how the American Oncology Network partners with CanCare to meet patients’ emotional needs alongside medical treatment.

06:36 – A leukemia survivor’s journey to leadership
Susan recounts being diagnosed with AML as a teen and how that experience shaped her mission to help others through innovation and empathy.

08:05 – Whole-family support: when cancer affects everyone
Darcie and Susan explore how caregivers, spouses, and children need guidance too—and why supporting them improves outcomes.

10:15 – “Having someone who understands is priceless”
Darcie reflects on the life-changing reassurance patients feel when talking to someone who’s walked the same road.

11:34 – Hope as powerful medicine
Darcie shares research showing patients with strong emotional support often experience better survival and recovery.

12:13 – Younger patients, more treatable cancers, new hope
Dr. Drew discusses how rising diagnoses in younger adults are met with advances in precision medicine and targeted treatments.

13:05 – Why connection matters more than ever
The conversation closes with a message that technology and science may guide treatment, but compassion carries people through it.

Mentioned Resources:

CanCare- www.cancare.org

Book – www.cancare.org/hopebook

About the Guest:  

Dr. Drew Pinsky is the host of Health Uncensored with Dr. Drew, where he brings medical insight and heartfelt conversation to today’s most important health topics. A board-certified physician and addiction specialist, Dr. Drew is known for making complex issues relatable and empowering audiences to take charge of their well-being.

Susan Sabo-Wagner is the Vice President of Clinical Innovation at American Oncology Network (AON) and a leukemia survivor.  With over 25 years in oncology care and leadership, she leads clinical strategy, program innovation, and partnerships that elevate patient outcomes nationwide. Her personal experience as a survivor fuels her commitment to advancing compassionate, equitable cancer care.

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Ep 41

Finding Holiday Joy with Cancer

with Darcie Wells
What happens when the holidays arrive while you’re still healing from cancer? In this solo reflection, host Darcie Wells, President and CEO of CanCare, speaks directly to cancer survivors and caregivers who feel out of sync with the “most wonderful time of the year.” She names the quiet realities of this season after cancer, including gratitude pressure, FOMO around old traditions, scanxiety before medical tests, caregiver exhaustion and the sharp ache of missing someone who is no longer here. Darcie shares the words of survivors who describe feeling like life is happening in two worlds at once, and reminds you that your feelings are valid, even when they are messy. She offers simple tools for this season: redefine what a “good” holiday looks like, set kind but clear boundaries, create new or gentler traditions, and honor both grief and gratitude without pretending. She also suggests ways to remember loved ones with small memorial rituals while still allowing moments of peace and joy to emerge. Above all, Darcie invites you to see your presence as the greatest gift. Your holiday does not have to be perfect. It just has to be yours, and you do not have to walk through it alone. Tips For Managing The Holiday: The holidays can be beautiful, but after cancer, they can also feel overwhelming or emotionally complicated. If this season feels different than it used to, you are not alone. These tips can help you move through the holidays with more peace and self-compassion. 1. Redefine What “Holiday Success” Means Meaningful matters more than perfect. Smaller gatherings can feel deeply fulfilling. Quality time is more important than the number of events. Rest is a gift, not a weakness. Prioritize what matters and let the rest go. 2. Set Boundaries and Communicate Your Needs Say yes only to what feels manageable. It is okay to decline invitations or leave early. Let loved ones know how they can support you. Limit conversations that may feel triggering. Prepare simple responses such as “I am focusing on enjoying today.” Redirect intrusive questions. Ask a trusted person to help shift conversations. 3. Create Traditions That Fit Where You Are Now Choose traditions that bring genuine joy. Include gratitude practices that feel authentic. Build in breaks and recovery time. 4. Honor Your Emotions It is okay to feel sad, anxious, or overwhelmed. Grief and joy can coexist. Reach out for support when emotions feel heavy. 5. Care for Your Health Stay consistent with medication. Hydrate, rest, and care for your body. Honor your physical limits. 6. If You Are Missing Someone Create rituals that honor their memory. Light a candle, share their stories, or include something they loved. Allow space for grief and joy. A Gentle Reminder Your holidays do not have to look the way they used to. Cancer changes you, and it is natural for your celebrations to change to o. Make the focus presence, peace, and moments of connection. Your holiday season does not have to be perfect. It just has to be yours. Mentioned Resources: CanCare- www.cancare.org Book – www.cancare.org/hopebook
Ep 40


Hope for Cancer Caregivers

with ‍Rose Gerber
What helps a caregiver stay steady when cancer changes everything? Caregivers carry so much of the emotional weight of cancer, yet their needs are often overlooked. In this powerful episode, Darcie Wells joins the Community Oncology Alliance with host Rose Gerber for a conversation that shines a light on the unseen side of caregiving and the hope that grows when no one has to carry the burden alone. Rose, a long-term breast cancer survivor, and Darcie talk about why caregivers deserve as much care, compassion, and emotional support as the person going through treatment. They discuss the role of trained peer volunteers and how emotional support changes the caregiving experience for both the patient and the family. Darcie reflects on caring for her mother, stepfather, and grandmother as each faced cancer, all from a distance. She remembers wanting to help but not knowing where to turn, and later realizing how much a companion with lived experience would have eased the fear and isolation. Her message is clear. Your role matters. Caring for yourself strengthens the care you give. Hope grows when someone walks beside you with understanding. Highlights: • Learn why caregivers often hide their stress and how that impacts the support system. • Hear how CanCare trains volunteers to provide safe, compassionate emotional space. • Understand why relationship-based matching helps caregivers feel seen and understood. • Discover simple communication habits that help caregivers support loved ones. • Gain insight into long-term caregiving needs and why support must adapt over time. Mentioned Resources: CanCare- www.cancare.org Book – www.cancare.org/hopebook COA - communityoncology.org About the Guest: Rose Gerber is a long-term breast cancer survivor and host of the Community Oncology Alliance podcast. Diagnosed while raising young children, Rose’s journey through treatment shaped her calling to ensure that others facing cancer are supported, informed, and heard. Today, she leads patient advocacy and education for the Community Oncology Alliance, managing the COA Patient Advocacy Network and working alongside oncologists, nurses, survivors, and policymakers across the country. Her work has taken her to Washington, D.C., national media platforms, and community cancer centers nationwide, empowering patients and protecting access to community-based cancer care.
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