Voices

This series features stories from cancer patients, who share their experience coping with their life-changing diagnosis and treatment.

Season Two

Episode 1: Catherine Goff

When Catherine Goff was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma while attending college in the 1970s, it was the shock of a lifetime. Less surprising — but still life-changing — was her later diagnosis with breast cancer, a common secondary cancer for patients like Goff. Listen as she explains how the two diagnoses affected her physically and emotionally, and as she shares how she is doing today.

Episode 2: Ben Blaisdell

Ben Blaisdell was a popular 16-year-old when he started experiencing uncharacteristic chills, which eventually led to the surprising news that he had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Listen has he reads his college application essay about the experience, and discusses with his mother the effect it had on their family and how they are doing today.

Episode 3: Mike Johnston

When Mike Johnston felt a lump in his chest in 2009, he assumed it was a side effect of a high blood pressure medication. But after a routine doctor's visit, followed by a mammogram and ultrasound, Johnston's diagnosis was confirmed: He had male breast cancer. Hear Johnston reflect on his diagnosis and treatment, including how friends and family reacted to the news and why he has become such a big breast cancer advocate today.

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Episode 4: Emily Coughlin

Amy McHugh's daughter, Emily Coughlin, was a normal, active 4-year-old, until she started experiencing knee pain the ultimately led to a diagnosis of high-risk neuroblastoma. Listen as McHugh recalls what the experience was like for her and her family, and hear from Emily, now 11, what she remembers from her time in treatment.

Episode 5: Gabby Spear

Gabby Spear, a young, active mom, had never noticed a lump or pain before suddenly finding her breast cancer in November 2013, when she was 38. She was shocked. Hear Spear share what her treatment was like, how it affected her family, and how she talks about her BRCA-positive cancer with her two daughters.

Episode 6: Linda Solomon

Linda Solomon recounts her multiple myeloma treatment experience and coming to terms with a late-stage cancer. She is also joined by her husband, Alan, to talk about his caregiving experience and what life is like for them now.

Season One

Episode 1: SoulMates

Melissa and Noel were both diagnosed with stage III breast cancer in their 30s. Matched through Dana-Farber's SoulMates program, Noel was tasked with mentoring Melissa through her treatment, which began in early 2015. Now, as both women are finished with active treatment, the mentor-mentee relationship has blossomed into a friendship beyond breast cancer.

Episode 2: Living Well with 'Chronic' Breast Cancer

Duncan was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer in October 2015, but she isn’t fond of the phrase “stage IV” and prefers to say she has “treatable, non-curable cancer.” With that mentality, Duncan has been able to put her diagnosis into perspective and live life to the fullest. Eric Winer, MD, Duncan’s oncologist and former director of the Breast Oncology Program in the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers at Dana-Farber, joins Duncan to chat about her treatment experience.

Episode 3: Fertility Decisions as a Young Woman with Breast Cancer

Maggie was faced with a number of difficult decisions when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 28. Some of the biggest decisions she faced centered around her ability to have children later in life, and whether treatment would affect her future fertility. Ann Partridge, MD, MPH, Maggie’s oncologist and founder/director of the Program for Young Adults with Breast Cancer at the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers at Dana-Farber, joins Maggie to discuss some of the important decisions young breast cancer patients face.

Episode 4: Mastectomy or Not — Breast Cancer Surgery Decisions

Although they were both diagnosed with early stage breast cancer, Amanda and Judy elected two very different surgical treatments. They discuss their surgery options and decisions along with Dr. Tari King, chief of breast surgery at the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center. Read more about their story and what researchers say about deciding whether or not to have a mastectomy after a breast cancer diagnosis.

Episode 5: Balancing Motherhood and Breast Cancer

Gabby Spear and Colleen Sullivan discuss the ups and downs of balancing motherhood and breast cancer, how they communicated about their diagnosis, and how their roles changed throughout the course of treatment.

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