Unmasking the Impact of Cancer: Identity and Anticipatory Grief

Unmasking the Impact of Cancer: Identity and Anticipatory Grief

Episode 55- Show Notes: Host Gwen Kelly introduces Combating Cancer and shares her stage three astrocytoma diagnosis at 19, explaining the podcast's goal of creating a safe, honest space for anyone affected by cancer. Building on a prior episode about anticipatory grief, she describes grieving not only the fear of death but the fear of losing her identity and being seen only as "the girl with brain cancer." Gwen discusses how hair loss and changes to appearance affected her self-image, how she used hair techniques and makeup as emotional armor and a way to regain control, and how exhausting it was to manage others' discomfort, staring, pity, and gossip about her medical information. She reflects on survivorship and ongoing trauma despite clean scans, urges listeners to grieve their old selves without shame, and asks supporters to treat patients as whole people and keep diagnoses private. Discussed in this episode: * Welcome to Combating Cancer * Anticipatory Grief and Identity * Hair Loss and Hyperawareness * Mirrors, Photos, and Healing Myths * Control Through Hair and Makeup * Cancer as Gossip and Exposure * Normalcy Survivorship and Community * Advice for Patients and Supporters * Privacy Healing and Closing More from Gwen: Get in touch with our team for sponsorship inquiries or guest host submissions: gkelly@assethr.com [gkelly@assethr.com] Follow and join the community: Website: https://www.combatingcancer.org [https://www.combatingcancer.org] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CombatingCancer [https://www.youtube.com/@CombatingCancer] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/combating-cancer/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/combating-cancer/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BwfwuJT81/?mibextid=wwXIfr [https://www.facebook.com/share/1BwfwuJT81/?mibextid=wwXIfr] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/combatingcancer_?igsh=azNjM3RlcmJwcWxn [https://www.instagram.com/combatingcancer_?igsh=azNjM3RlcmJwcWxn] Discussed in this episode: * Welcome to Combating Cancer * Clean Scan Update * Scan Day Spiral * IV Struggles and Breakdown * When People Disappear * Why Some Can't Show Up * Focus on Who Stayed * Unexpected Support * Let People Love You * Final Thanks and Goodbye More from Gwen: Get in touch with our team for sponsorship inquiries or guest host submissions: gkelly@assethr.com [gkelly@assethr.com] Follow and join the community: Website: https://www.combatingcancer.org [https://www.combatingcancer.org] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CombatingCancer [https://www.youtube.com/@CombatingCancer] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/combating-cancer/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/combating-cancer/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BwfwuJT81/?mibextid=wwXIfr [https://www.facebook.com/share/1BwfwuJT81/?mibextid=wwXIfr] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/combatingcancer_?igsh=azNjM3RlcmJwcWxn [https://www.instagram.com/combatingcancer_?igsh=azNjM3RlcmJwcWxn]

Losing a Parent Young: The Grief No One Talks About

Episode 54- Show Notes: Host Gwen Kelly, a stage III astrocytoma brain cancer survivor, welcomes 22-year-old Megan McCoy, whom she met on TikTok, to discuss how cancer affected her family. Megan shares that her mother was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer when Megan was 16 during COVID after a missed mammogram, later developing spine and liver metastases, and died in January 2023; Megan describes anticipatory grief during her freshman year of college, fears about milestones her mom would miss, and the anger that led her to try cancer research before pursuing nursing. She explains how working in a cancer hospital deepened her empathy for patients, highlights the importance of treating patients as people, and emphasizes the vital role of community support from family, friends, school, and her soccer team, including celebrating her brother's birthday the day after their mom died. Megan recommends resources like Pittsburgh's The Caring Place and advises preventive scans, self-advocacy, living fully, and telling loved ones you love them! Discussed in this episode: * Welcome to Combating Cancer * Meet Megan via TikTok * Megan's Story and Career Path * Empathy in Oncology Care * Hearing the Diagnosis at 16 * Anticipatory Grief Explained * Anger and Channeling Grief * Grief Resources and Support Groups * The Village That Carried Her * Family Dynamics and Guilt * Advice for Teens Facing Cancer * Final Thanks and Goodbye More from Gwen: Get in touch with our team for sponsorship inquiries or guest host submissions: gkelly@assethr.com [gkelly@assethr.com] Follow and join the community: Website: https://www.combatingcancer.org [https://www.combatingcancer.org] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CombatingCancer [https://www.youtube.com/@CombatingCancer] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/combating-cancer/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/combating-cancer/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BwfwuJT81/?mibextid=wwXIfr [https://www.facebook.com/share/1BwfwuJT81/?mibextid=wwXIfr] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/combatingcancer_?igsh=azNjM3RlcmJwcWxn [https://www.instagram.com/combatingcancer_?igsh=azNjM3RlcmJwcWxn] Discussed in this episode: * Welcome to Combating Cancer * Clean Scan Update * Scan Day Spiral * IV Struggles and Breakdown * When People Disappear * Why Some Can't Show Up * Focus on Who Stayed * Unexpected Support * Let People Love You * Final Thanks and Goodbye More from Gwen: Get in touch with our team for sponsorship inquiries or guest host submissions: gkelly@assethr.com [gkelly@assethr.com] Follow and join the community: Website: https://www.combatingcancer.org [https://www.combatingcancer.org] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CombatingCancer [https://www.youtube.com/@CombatingCancer] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/combating-cancer/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/combating-cancer/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BwfwuJT81/?mibextid=wwXIfr [https://www.facebook.com/share/1BwfwuJT81/?mibextid=wwXIfr] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/combatingcancer_?igsh=azNjM3RlcmJwcWxn [https://www.instagram.com/combatingcancer_?igsh=azNjM3RlcmJwcWxn]

When Cancer Changes Your Circle

Episode 53- Show Notes: Host Gwen Kelly welcomes listeners to Combating Cancer, sharing her background of being diagnosed with stage three astrocytoma brain cancer at 19 and her goal of creating a safe, honest community for anyone impacted by cancer. She announces her scans came back great again, but describes how scan-day anxiety returned after a long hospital wait and multiple failed IV attempts, leaving her emotionally drained despite good results. The experience leads into the episode's main theme: how cancer and other major hardships change relationships, especially when people you expected to show up don't, which can feel like a deep betrayal. Gwen reflects on learning that some people aren't emotionally equipped to handle illness, while others unexpectedly step in with consistent support, including a rekindled high school friendship. She encourages listeners to grieve absences without overlooking those who do show up and invites anyone feeling alone to lean on this community. Discussed in this episode: * Welcome to Combating Cancer * Clean Scan Update * Scan Day Spiral * IV Struggles and Breakdown * When People Disappear * Why Some Can't Show Up * Focus on Who Stayed * Unexpected Support * Let People Love You * Final Thanks and Goodbye More from Gwen: Get in touch with our team for sponsorship inquiries or guest host submissions: gkelly@assethr.com [gkelly@assethr.com] Follow and join the community: Website: https://www.combatingcancer.org [https://www.combatingcancer.org] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CombatingCancer [https://www.youtube.com/@CombatingCancer] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/combating-cancer/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/combating-cancer/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BwfwuJT81/?mibextid=wwXIfr [https://www.facebook.com/share/1BwfwuJT81/?mibextid=wwXIfr] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/combatingcancer_?igsh=azNjM3RlcmJwcWxn [https://www.instagram.com/combatingcancer_?igsh=azNjM3RlcmJwcWxn]

Blooming Minds: What That Night Meant Beyond the Numbers

Episode 51- Show Notes: Host Gwen Kelly welcomes listeners to Combating Cancer, sharing that she was diagnosed with stage three astrocytoma at 19 and created the platform as a safe, honest space for anyone impacted by cancer. She recaps the Blooming Minds gala for brain cancer research at Brackett's Crossing Country Club, noting that nearly $300,000 was raised after expenses in partnership with the Brain Cancer Research Alliance, with funds going directly to research. Gwen reflects on the emotional weight of the event, including a slideshow of brain cancer statistics and photos that highlight grief, love, loss, and hope, and she honors families who showed up despite profound loss. She urges listeners to be present and intentional with loved ones, shares how cancer has deepened her faith, thanks guests and supporters for trusting her with their stories, and encourages grieving people to keep saying their loved one's name and sharing their story so no one fights alone. Discussed in this episode: * Welcome to Combating Cancer * Blooming Minds Recap * The Slideshow Moment * Hold Your People Close * Faith and Hard Questions * Honoring Shared Stories * Love Without Waiting * Final Thanks and Goodbye More from Gwen: Get in touch with our team for sponsorship inquiries or guest host submissions: gkelly@assethr.com [gkelly@assethr.com] Follow and join the community: Website: https://www.combatingcancer.org [https://www.combatingcancer.org] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CombatingCancer [https://www.youtube.com/@CombatingCancer] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/combating-cancer/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/combating-cancer/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BwfwuJT81/?mibextid=wwXIfr [https://www.facebook.com/share/1BwfwuJT81/?mibextid=wwXIfr] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/combatingcancer_?igsh=azNjM3RlcmJwcWxn [https://www.instagram.com/combatingcancer_?igsh=azNjM3RlcmJwcWxn]

What It's Really Like to Love Someone With Cancer

Episode 50- Show Notes: Host Gwen Kelly, diagnosed with stage three astrocytoma at 19, welcomes her newly announced fiancé, Jake Cregan, to Combating Cancer to share their relationship story and how cancer shaped it. They recount meeting at a mutual friend's birthday party on March 8, when neither planned to attend, and how Gwen disclosed her cancer early and Jake responded by not treating her differently. Soon after, Jake faced his own health scare, and Gwen supported him through appointments, giving him insight into the waiting and uncertainty of scans. They discuss Gwen's later breast cancer scare, difficult brain scan results, feeling like a burden, and Jake's advice: show up, be honest, don't aim for perfect words, and stay. Jake describes proposing privately on Gwen's balcony, and they share plans to focus on the Blooming Minds brain cancer research gala before wedding planning, likely aiming for 2027, while emphasizing faith and support. Discussed in this episode: * Welcome to Combating Cancer * How We Met * Sharing the Diagnosis * Jake's Health Scare * Dating With Uncertainty * Breast Cancer Scare * Bad Brain Scan News * Feeling Like a Burden * Advice for Couples * The Proposal Story * Wedding Timeline Plans * Support and Faith * Closing and Contact Info More from Gwen: Get in touch with our team for sponsorship inquiries or guest host submissions: gkelly@assethr.com [gkelly@assethr.com] Follow and join the community: Website: https://www.combatingcancer.org [https://www.combatingcancer.org] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CombatingCancer [https://www.youtube.com/@CombatingCancer] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/combating-cancer/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/combating-cancer/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BwfwuJT81/?mibextid=wwXIfr [https://www.facebook.com/share/1BwfwuJT81/?mibextid=wwXIfr] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/combatingcancer_?igsh=azNjM3RlcmJwcWxn [https://www.instagram.com/combatingcancer_?igsh=azNjM3RlcmJwcWxn]