When Chemo Brain Steals the Words: Finding Humor in Cancer Fog

World Cancer Day - And a Pause in the Podcast

It's World Cancer Day, and I am happy to share some good news: a clear progress report along with my gratitude for a supportive medical team and loved ones. This episode brings with it a temporary pause of the podcast to regroup, schedule guests, and better bring forward humorous stories from patients, caregivers, and medical staff. The goal remains to find and share the unexpected, often funny moments that come with a cancer journey while including more voices and perspectives in future episodes.

When Kind Words Miss the Mark

Kerri recounts a recent phone conversation with her hilarious friend, Chemo-Sabe, whom she met in the chemotherapy infusion bay. During their laughter-filled catch-up, amongst other things, they spoke about how people show up beautifully, but sometimes miss the mark with their well-intentioned support.  The episode explores how a compliment like “superhero” can sometimes feel heavy or unhelpful, and offers simple advice for supporters: listen, be mindful with words, and keep showing up - sometimes less enthusiastic praise and more steady presence is what patients need most.

When Chemo Brain Steals the Words: Finding Humor in Cancer Fog

Chemo brain describes the foggy, forgetful cognitive changes many people experience during or after cancer treatment, including trouble concentrating, finding words, remembering conversations, and multitasking. This episode is about my personal experience — a once-articulate speaker who suddenly struggled to find words, repeated stories, and became forgetful. Humor helped me, and others, to cope with this short-term side-effect of cancer treatment. I'm hopeful that it will help others do the same. And, I'm much better now! It just took a sense of humor and a bit of time.

The Honest, Hilarious Side of Cancer

Kerri, a breast cancer survivor who worked in a cancer center shares the candid, often funny and surprising conversations that happen between patients and staff. From questions about alcohol and chemo, losing the ability to taste, cravings, hair loss and bowel issues, the episode highlights how honesty creates connection, hope, and occasional laughter amid treatment. Cancer itself isn’t funny, but the vulnerability and openness it brings can lead to human, heartfelt, and sometimes hilarious moments that help patients and caregivers cope.

Heropause, menopause, and andropause - indiscriminate symptoms

This episode finds humor in the unexpected side effects of cancer treatment — forced menopause ("heropause"), night sweats, hot flashes, mood swings, weight changes, and adult-onset acne — and how laughter helped cope. It also touches on male symptoms like andropause through a patient story, the practical challenges of sweating and dehydration, and how treatment and community support made the experience more bearable.