Beyond The Clinic: Living Well With Melanoma

AIM at Melanoma Foundation
  • 4.5 (15)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Monthly

Beyond the Clinic: Living Well With Melanoma features fresh perspectives into topics seldom discussed in the exam room. Director of Cancer Survivorship for Kaiser Permanente San Francisco, Raymond Liu, MD, hosts the Beyond the Clinic podcast featuring unfiltered discussions with researchers, caregivers, patients, and medical professionals. Each episode pulls back the curtain to share advice on handling life after a melanoma diagnosis and how to ride the emotional rollercoaster that often follows.

  1. Jul 6

    Finding Hope, Purpose, and Life Beyond Diagnosis

    What does it mean to truly live well after a melanoma diagnosis? In this heartfelt episode of Beyond the Clinic: Living Well with Melanoma, Dr. Samantha Siegel sits down with melanoma advocate Mary Margaret Braddock to discuss her journey from a Stage IB melanoma diagnosis at age 40 through three recurrences—and ultimately to no evidence of disease. Mary Margaret shares the emotional realities of living with uncertainty, balancing hope and fear, navigating survivorship, and discovering purpose through advocacy. Together, she and Dr. Siegel explore the challenges that often continue long after treatment ends, including scan anxiety, post-traumatic growth, finding a "new normal," and the healing power of connecting with others who understand the experience. This inspiring conversation reminds us that survivorship isn't simply about reaching the end of treatment—it's about learning how to live fully while carrying both the challenges and the gifts that cancer can leave behind. In this episode, you'll learn about: Living through multiple melanoma recurrencesCoping with uncertainty and scan anxietyThe emotional journey of survivorshipFinding meaning through patient advocacyThe value of peer support and connecting with othersBuilding resilience while embracing life's new normalWhy community can be one of the most powerful forms of healing Whether you're newly diagnosed, living with melanoma, supporting a loved one, or navigating life after treatment, this conversation offers encouragement, practical wisdom, and hope for the road ahead. About our Guest: Mary Margaret Braddock was initially diagnosed in 2016 with stage 1B melanoma at just 40 years old. Over the next decade, she experienced three additional recurrences; as of December 2025, she has no evidence of disease.  Her personal battle with melanoma has motivated her to raise awareness, fund research, and advocate for other patients. Her engaging personality makes her a natural public speaker, leading to invitations to school events and appearances in local media, where she encourages newly diagnosed patients and connects with fellow survivors.  Since 2023, Mary Margaret has served as Chair of AIM at Melanoma’s Steps Against Melanoma walk in Tampa, Florida. This role has been especially meaningful to her because it afforded her the opportunity to raise funds for melanoma research while promoting sun safety in her home state.  Most recently, her advocacy work has included attending the Melanoma Research Foundation’s Hill Day events and the Melanoma Research Alliance Research Retreat, where she contributed the patient perspective to their ongoing efforts.  Mary Margaret’s journey has been both physical and emotional. At every stage, she has navigated the coexistence of shock and survival, gratitude and grief, and setbacks and growth. She says that embracing this balance is the key to holding on to hope and adapting to a new normal.

    Finding Hope, Purpose, and Life Beyond Diagnosis

  2. Jun 1

    Navigating Intimacy After Cancer

    Sexual health is an important part of quality of life, yet it remains one of the least discussed topics in cancer care. In this episode of Beyond the Clinic: Living Well with Melanoma, Dr. Samantha Siegel is joined by cancer survivor, advocate, and executive director of After Cancer, Erin Sullivan Wagner, to explore the lasting impact cancer treatment can have on intimacy, relationships, body confidence, and overall well-being. Drawing from her own experience as a cancer survivor, Erin shares how unaddressed treatment side effects changed her life and inspired her to help transform the way healthcare providers approach sexual health conversations with patients. Together, she and Dr. Siegel discuss why these conversations matter, common barriers that prevent them from happening, practical strategies for patients and partners, and how survivors can advocate for the care and support they deserve. Whether you are newly diagnosed, living with melanoma, navigating survivorship, or supporting a loved one, this thoughtful conversation offers reassurance, practical guidance, and a reminder that sexual health is an essential part of whole-person cancer care—not an afterthought. Our Guest: Erin Sullivan Wagner is a cancer survivor, patient advocate, and Executive Director of After Cancer, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving sexual health and intimacy for people affected by cancer. After undergoing treatment for anal cancer, Erin found that the long-term effects on her sexual health and intimate relationship were never discussed by her healthcare team—a gap in care that inspired her life's work. Today, Erin advocates for patients, raises awareness, and educates oncology professionals about the importance of incorporating sexual health into comprehensive cancer care. Through After Cancer, she helps individuals and couples navigate the physical and emotional challenges of survivorship, including changes in libido, body image, fertility, dating, intimacy after ostomy surgery, pelvic floor dysfunction, LGBTQ+ relationships, and more. Her mission is to ensure that no cancer survivor has to face these deeply personal challenges without information, support, and hope.

    Navigating Intimacy After Cancer

  3. Apr 1

    Young Adult Cancer & Mental Health

    In this episode of Beyond the Clinic: Living Well with Melanoma, host Dr. Samantha Siegel sits down with Dr. Victoria Wytiaz, a medical oncologist at the University of Michigan, to explore the often-overlooked realities of life during and after a melanoma diagnosis for adolescents and young adults (AYA). Together, they discuss the unique challenges this age group faces—from navigating identity, independence, and relationships to coping with body image changes, fertility concerns, and the long-term psychosocial impact of cancer. This conversation moves beyond treatment to examine what it truly means to live with and beyond melanoma. Dr. Wytiaz shares insights from her clinical work and research, highlighting the importance of addressing “invisible” aspects of care—like emotional well-being, intimacy, and survivorship transitions—that are often left out of traditional oncology conversations. The episode also explores gaps in support systems, the role of community and peer connection, and how healthcare providers can better meet patients where they are. This thoughtful and honest discussion offers validation, perspective, and practical insight for patients, caregivers, and clinicians alike. About our Guest: Victoria Wytiaz, M.D., M.A.Dr. Wytiaz is a medical oncologist with a clinical focus in bone and soft tissue sarcoma. Here research interests include improving mental health outcomes, such as body image distress and anxiety, in adolescents and young adults with cancer, both during active treatment and throughout the survivorship period.

    Young Adult Cancer & Mental Health

  4. Mar 2

    Cancer Is More Than a Diagnosis: Mind, Meaning, and Healing

    Joining us today is Dr. Seamara Rocha Cadman, Chief of the Division of Psychiatry at City of Hope—one of the largest cancer research and treatment centers in the United States. In this deeply moving and illuminating conversation, Dr. Rocha Cadman shares her personal and professional journey into psycho-oncology, shaped by her experiences as an immigrant physician, a psychiatrist, a caregiver, and a family member profoundly touched by cancer. From losing her sister to breast cancer to later supporting her husband through a bone marrow transplant, her work is rooted in lived experience as much as clinical expertise. Together, we explore the unique psychological impact of cancer—from diagnosis through treatment, survivorship, and end-of-life care. Dr. Rocha Cadman offers compassionate insight into topics often misunderstood or overlooked: adjustment versus psychiatric illness, chemo brain, menopause-related cognitive changes, fear of recurrence, caregiver distress, and the emotional crash that can follow “good news.” We also discuss resilience, mindfulness, movement as medicine, integrative oncology, peer support, and the concept of post-traumatic growth—how people are changed by cancer, and how healing doesn’t always mean returning to who you were before. This episode is for patients, caregivers, clinicians, and anyone navigating serious illness—offering validation, clarity, and a reminder that you are not broken for feeling the way you feel.

    Cancer Is More Than a Diagnosis: Mind, Meaning, and Healing

  5. Jan 13

    The Integrative Care Approach

    Guest: Lisa Simms Booth, Executive Director, Smith Center for Healing and the Arts In this episode of the Beyond the Clinic, Living Well with Melanoma Dr. Sam Siegel welcomes Lisa Simms Booth, Executive Director of the Smith Center for Healing and the Arts—an organization dedicated to whole-person support for people with cancer, their families, and caregivers. Lisa shares the deeply personal story that shaped her nearly 30-year career in advocacy, public health, and patient-centered cancer work. After her mother’s ovarian cancer diagnosis, Lisa found herself navigating two worlds at once: the complexities of cancer care and the systemic barriers within the research and advocacy landscape. That experience became the catalyst for her life’s mission. Together, Dr. Siegel and Lisa explore: How personal experience can ignite a passion for advocacy Why resilience in cancer is a learned skill—not an inherent trait The emotional realities of caregiving and survivorship Smith Center’s “healing basket” approach to integrative support Practical ways people can manage stress, find community, and cultivate tools for emotional and spiritual well-being The importance of accessible, no-cost cancer support programs How patients can weave integrative practices into their medical care Lisa also offers a grounded, compassionate look at the nuances of topics like nutrition, mindfulness, emotional support, and how even a few minutes of intentional rest can change the trajectory of a day. Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, clinician, or advocate, this conversation offers wisdom, comfort, and a reminder that no one has to walk the cancer journey alone. Guest Bio Lisa Simms Booth joined Smith Center for Healing and the Arts following a nearly thirty year career in media, politics, community organizing, and advocacy. Lisa has always had a servant’s heart and has aspired to do work that improves the lives of others or empowers them to advocate for positive change. She has previously worked at FasterCures, a center of the Milken Institute, Biden Cancer Initiative, LISTEN, Inc., The Alliance for Justice, Children’s Defense Fund, and the National Rainbow Coalition.     As Executive Director, Lisa is responsible for strategic oversight, fund development, administrative and financial management, and community building. In addition to her work at Smith Center, Lisa is a member of the Professional Oncology Navigation Task Force (PONT), the American Cancer Society’s Leadership in Oncology Navigation (ACS LIONTM) Advisory Council and Cancer Support Community’s Cancer Policy Institute Advisory Board. She also serves on the Boards of Commonweal, the Microbiome Alliance for Disease Prevention and the National Organization of Arts in Health.

    The Integrative Care Approach

  6. 12/09/2025

    One Day at a Time: Caregiving Through Ocular Melanoma

    In this episode, we sit down with Vanessa Tompkins, wife and caregiver to Mike, who has been battling Stage 4 metastasized ocular melanoma. Over the past five years, Vanessa has supported Mike through weekly immunotherapy, four major surgeries—including the removal of his left eye, liver surgery, triple hernia repair, and open-heart surgery—and countless challenges along the way. A registered nurse, former hospice nurse, and current Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner, Vanessa brings professional expertise, personal experience, and unwavering compassion to her role as a caregiver. She is also a mother of three, grandmother of four, and devoted owner of her golden lab, Romeo. Guided by her motto, “One day at a time,” Vanessa shares insights into the realities of caregiving, the emotional resilience required, and the lessons learned in supporting a loved one through a complex and ongoing cancer journey. Tune in to hear her story, practical tips, and heartfelt reflections on the challenges and rewards of being a caregiver.

    One Day at a Time: Caregiving Through Ocular Melanoma

  7. 10/14/2025

    The Power of Peer Support in Melanoma Survivorship

    In this episode of Beyond the Clinic: Living Well with Melanoma, Dr. Samantha Siegel is joined by Katie Ostrovsky and Cheryl Marker from the MelaHomies community. Cheryl, diagnosed with Stage I melanoma in 2023, shares how she turned to online groups for education and support when her medical team left her with more questions than answers. Katie, a Stage IV survivor now, 11 years cancer-free, reflects on the emotional and practical challenges of survivorship — and how building the Mela Homies helped transform isolation into connection. Together, they explore the power of peer support, the gaps in survivorship care, and why community is just as vital as treatment. 👉 Tune in to hear their stories and learn how the MelaHomies are making sure no one faces melanoma alone.

    The Power of Peer Support in Melanoma Survivorship

  8. 09/09/2025

    Caring Through Loss: A Conversation on Bereavement

    In this powerful episode, we’re joined by Dr. Wendy G. Lichtenthal, a leading expert in grief and bereavement care. Dr. Lichtenthal is the Founding Director of the Center for the Advancement of Bereavement Care at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. A licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience, she brings deep compassion and groundbreaking research to the field of psychosocial oncology. We discuss the complexities of grief after cancer loss, the evolving nature of bereavement care, and how clinicians and caregivers can better support those navigating life after loss. Dr. Lichtenthal also shares insights from her work developing Meaning-Centered Grief Therapy and the EMPOWER intervention — both designed to help individuals find meaning and resilience in the face of profound sorrow. Whether you're a healthcare professional, a grieving loved one, or someone seeking to better understand bereavement, this conversation offers validation, hope, and expert guidance. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Wendy G. Lichtenthal, PhD Wendy G. Lichtenthal, PhD, FT, FAPOS is founding director of the Center for the Advancement of Bereavement Care at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Prevention Science and Community Health at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, which she joined in 2023. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and has worked as a grief specialist for over 20 years. In 2005, she began her career at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in New York City, where she was Founding Director of the Bereavement Clinic and Associate Attending Psychologist, and where she now serves as Consultant Faculty. She was a recipient of the 2012 International Psycho-Oncology Society Kawano New Investigator Award, the 2019 Association for Death Education and Counseling Research Recognition Award, and the 2023 American Psychosocial Oncology Society Outstanding Clinical Care Award. She is a Fellow in Thanatology and was elected a Fellow of the American Psychosocial Oncology Society in 2024. Her federally funded research has been supported by the National Institute of Mental Health, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Nursing Research, American Cancer Society, T.J. Martell Foundation, and MSK’s Cycle for Survival and has focused on grief and bereavement, cancer survivorship, intervention development and evaluation, and finding meaning in the face of adversity. She is an inventor of the Meaning-Centered Grief Therapy and EMPOWER intervention manuals that are used in her research.

    Caring Through Loss: A Conversation on Bereavement
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About

Beyond the Clinic: Living Well With Melanoma features fresh perspectives into topics seldom discussed in the exam room. Director of Cancer Survivorship for Kaiser Permanente San Francisco, Raymond Liu, MD, hosts the Beyond the Clinic podcast featuring unfiltered discussions with researchers, caregivers, patients, and medical professionals. Each episode pulls back the curtain to share advice on handling life after a melanoma diagnosis and how to ride the emotional rollercoaster that often follows.

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