Episode 52

Humor & Grace After 2 Cancers

with Sarah McDonald

Humor & Grace After 2 Cancers

What happens when one cancer diagnosis is followed by a second life-changing diagnosis before you’ve had time to process the first?

Sarah McDonald is a two-time cancer survivor, author, TEDx speaker, executive coach, and advocate for rare cancer research. While building a successful career at eBay and planning for motherhood, Sarah was diagnosed with a rare salivary gland cancer. Just weeks later, she learned she also had Stage 3 breast cancer after pushing for additionaltesting and trusting her instincts.

Sarah shares the emotional toll of facing two cancers at once, the uncertainty of rare cancer treatment, and the heartbreak of learning cancer treatment would change her plans for having a family. She reflects on the doctors who changed her life, the importance of self-advocacy, and how integrative practices such as meditation, guided imagery, yoga, and acupuncture helped her find calm during the most difficult moments. She also discusses the inspiration behind her books, The Cancer Channel and The Cancer Companion, and how her experience led her to become a speaker, mentor, and advocate for others facing cancer.

Sarah’s story is a reminder that even in the darkest seasons, hope can grow through connection, self-advocacy, and the decision to use your experience to help someone else find their way forward.

Highlights:

 Why trusting your instincts and asking more questions can change the course of your care.

 How to navigate the fear, uncertainty, and emotional weight that often follows a cancer diagnosis.

 The role integrative therapies can play alongside medical treatment during recovery.

 What it looks like to find purpose and meaning after a life-changing health crisis.

 How friends, family, and caregivers can show up in ways that truly help someone facing cancer.

Mentioned Resources:

CanCare- www.cancare.org

Sarah McDonald – www.sarahemcdonald.com

About the Guest:

Sarah McDonald is a two-time cancer survivor, executive coach, and fierce advocate for those navigating life's hardest seasons. Diagnosed simultaneously with a rare salivary gland cancer and Stage III Breast Cancer, Sarah faced the unimaginable and came out the other side with a mission. She is the author of "The Cancer Channel" and "The Cancer Companion," a TED Talk speaker, a champion for Cycle for Survival with Memorial Sloan Kettering, and a coach who brings decades of executive leadership experience to her work. Sarah continues to use her voice to help others move forward.

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