Telling your story can help someone else.

I have met a lot of folks navigating cancer treatments and life in cancer survivorship. That happens when you seek out others to hear their stories.

About six months after my treatment had ended, I learned a colleague from my networking group was dealing with prostate cancer. He is very private. As I was thinking about people to interview for my podcast he popped to mind. I didn’t have the stories of any men at that time, but I was not sure he would be open to sharing his story. I was talking with his son about insurance one day and floated the idea. He said, “I love the idea, but I don’t know if he will do it.” 

Later that day, I had returned a call to their office and Dane answered the phone. We chatted about business then I said, “I was wondering if you would consider sharing your cancer story on my podcast. I understand if you want to think about it and get back to me.” He immediately said, “I am in. When do you want to do it?” We scheduled it right then and there.

During our conversation in episode 24 of Unspoken Cancer Truths Dane shared about the challenges of having parents who don’t talk about medical issues and the importance of knowing our familial medical histories. (https://fitnessdesignsolutions.com/uct-with-jenn-cochran-episode-24-dane-david/).

He told his story in the hope that other people would tell their family members their stories to raise awareness of the need for screening and keeping up with check ups.

I often hear from newly diagnosed people who found the podcast that they felt less alone hearing that other people had similar experiences.

Has hearing someone else’s story or telling your story to someone helped you?

Continue the conversation in the facebook group Surviving is JUST the Beginning or follow me on Instagram.