Combating Cancer

Gwen Kelly
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Education
  • Updated Weekly

Join Gwen Kelly, Host and Founder of Combating Cancer, a podcast focused on strength, resilience, and hope. Creating a space where people can share their personal cancer journeys—whether that involves navigating treatment, celebrating remission, or honoring the memory of a loved one.

  1. 3d ago

    Who Are You Outside of Cancer?

    Episode 73- Show Notes: Host Gwen Kelly introduces Combating Cancer and reflects on being diagnosed with stage three astrocytoma brain cancer at 19 and nearly five years out, exploring how cancer can shrink life into appointments and survival. She argues that while getting through treatment can be enough, people eventually need purpose—small reasons that make tomorrow matter—and should keep "pouring into" what brings joy without forcing productivity. Gwen shares what helped her feel like herself: her dog Bruce, journaling and poetry, staying in college and seeing friends, working out when able, and developing a personal faith during treatment. She emphasizes that no single person, hobby, job, or relationship can be an entire support system, encourages listeners (patients, caregivers, or anyone in a hard in-between season) to start small, and explains that continuing her passions prevented her identity from being replaced by cancer. Discussed in this episode: What Gets You Up Cancer Takes Over Survival to Purpose Fill Your Cup Joy Anchors  More Than One Thing  Start Small Again After Treatment Ends  Meaning Beyond Milestones Final Questions  Closing and Share  More from Gwen:  Get in touch with our team for sponsorship inquiries or guest host submissions: gkelly@assethr.com Follow and join the community:  Website: https://www.combatingcancer.org YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CombatingCancer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/combating-cancer/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BwfwuJT81/?mibextid=wwXIfr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/combatingcancer_?igsh=azNjM3RlcmJwcWxn

  2. 3d ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: No Magic Pill with Blake Mycoskie

    Introducing What If the Treatment Is Making You Worse? | Laura Delano & Blake Mycoskie from No Magic Pill with Blake Mycoskie. Follow the show: No Magic Pill with Blake Mycoskie At 13, Laura Delano was told she had an incurable mental illness and would need psychiatric medication to manage it. What followed were years of diagnoses, hospitalizations, multiple medications, and a worsening mental health crisis. In this episode of No Magic Pill, Blake Mycoskie sits down with Unshrunk author Laura Delano to explore the question that ultimately changed the course of her life: What if it wasn’t treatment-resistant mental illness? What if the treatment itself was part of the problem? Drawing from Laura’s two-decade journey and Blake’s own experience with a bipolar II diagnosis and psychiatric medication, they explore physical dependence and withdrawal, the risks of tapering too quickly, informed decision-making, and what can happen when we look beyond a diagnosis to understand the deeper context behind our suffering. This isn’t a conversation about being for or against medication. It’s about agency, curiosity, and asking better questions about our mental health—including one that reframed Laura’s own journey: instead of only asking “What’s wrong with me?” what if we also asked “What happened to me?” Because sometimes healing begins not with another quick fix, but with understanding what our pain has been trying to tell us. No quick fixes. No shortcuts. No Magic Pill. #NoMagicPill #BlakeMycoskie #LauraDelano Enough Foundation's mission is to spread reminders in every form — bracelets, messages, actions, community — until feeling ENOUGH becomes the cultural default. To learn more, visit weareenough.co.  Produced, Directed, and Cinematography by Wubetu Shimelash / IG: Wubetu Shimelash Disclaimer: No purchase necessary. While supplies last. Visit http://www.weareenough.co/rules for full terms. More information on Blake’s other projects here:  Morning Water  Morning Water is a daily hydration formula that restores energy, balance, and performance with essential electrolytes, minerals, and nutrients in one simple routine.  To learn more, visit morningwater.co and use code NOMAGICPILL for 25% off your first order. SONIA  Sonia is a conversational AI companion designed for emotional support. Through voice and text, it offers guided wellbeing sessions, including meditations, journaling, personalized recommendations, and practical exercises. To learn more, visit www.soniahealth.com and download it on the App Store. MOOVLAB At MOOVLAB, we bring health and wellness to your workday.  MOOVLAB - the answer to sitting is moving.  To learn more, visit www.moovlab.com Follow Blake on Instagram and stay up to date with Lemonada on Facebook and Instagram. For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at lemonadapremium.com. Subscribe to Spotify Premium to watch ad-free video. Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical questions or concerns you may have. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

    You Might Also Like: No Magic Pill with Blake Mycoskie

  3. Sep 23

    Cancer, Keto & The Pressure to Do Everything Right

    Episode 72- Show Notes: Host Gwen Kelly shares her experience navigating diet advice during cancer treatment, clarifying the episode isn't a claim that keto cured cancer or that diet doesn't matter, but a personal account. Diagnosed at 19 with stage three astrocytoma brain cancer, she tried a ketogenic diet during 30 days of proton radiation after her radiation oncologist mentioned some patients felt they tolerated treatment better. With help from a dietitian friend and strong support from her mom, she followed a simple food list, noticed hidden sugars, and formed strong associations with certain foods. She gradually stopped keto before pill-form chemotherapy and didn't notice a meaningful difference in how she felt between radiation on keto and chemo without it. She reflects that dietary changes often provide a sense of control amid uncertainty, advises consulting an oncology team or registered dietitian before major changes, and cautions against believing there is one perfect cancer diet. Discussed in this episode: Cancer Diet Noise Keto Suggested Making Keto Work Radiation Routine Stopping After Radiation Did It Help Control Through Food Advice And Caution Closing Thoughts More from Gwen:  Get in touch with our team for sponsorship inquiries or guest host submissions: gkelly@assethr.com Follow and join the community:  Website: https://www.combatingcancer.org YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CombatingCancer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/combating-cancer/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BwfwuJT81/?mibextid=wwXIfr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/combatingcancer_?igsh=azNjM3RlcmJwcWxn

  4. Sep 16

    The People Who Weren't There

    Episode 71- Show Notes: Host Gwen Kelly reflects on how answering "What do you do?" often leads to disclosing her stage three astrocytoma brain cancer diagnosis at nineteen and watching people's perception shift into pity, shock, and questions. She describes cancer unexpectedly surfacing in ordinary moments like a routine physical and coaching tennis, even though she no longer looks like she's in treatment. Gwen explores relationships with people who met her after treatment, including her fiancé Jake, who knows her story but didn't live it with her, and notes that even those who were present couldn't fully feel what she felt. She concludes that she doesn't need others to completely understand, but to listen, believe the ongoing weight of survivorship, and love her without making cancer the center of who she is. Discussed in this episode: The What Do You Do Question Meet Gwen And The Podcast When People See You Differently Cancer In Ordinary Moments Loved Without Knowing Cancer Gwen Jake And The Parts He Missed Understanding Versus Acceptance Believe Me Love Me Still Peace With Who Was There Closing  More from Gwen:  Get in touch with our team for sponsorship inquiries or guest host submissions: gkelly@assethr.com Follow and join the community:  Website: https://www.combatingcancer.org YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CombatingCancer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/combating-cancer/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BwfwuJT81/?mibextid=wwXIfr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/combatingcancer_?igsh=azNjM3RlcmJwcWxn

  5. Sep 9

    What Does Cancer Actually Feel Like?

    Episode 70- Show Notes: Host Gwen Kelly explores the assumption that cancer must "feel" like something, sharing that she had Stage 3 astrocytoma brain cancer at 19 while feeling completely normal. She recounts years of chronic back pain starting at 15, multiple spine MRIs that showed nothing, and the exhaustion of having real pain without an explanation. On March 6, 2022, she had a grand mal seizure in front of trusted people, leading to the discovery of the tumor; she notes she never had headaches, vision problems, or prior seizures. After tumor removal, her back pain largely improved, though doctors can't confirm any connection or how long the tumor existed. Gwen emphasizes there is no universal cancer feeling, and symptoms often come from treatment or may be absent, telling listeners they may have had nothing to notice or miss. Discussed in this episode: Can You Feel Cancer Meet Gwen And The Question Years Of Back Pain The Seizure That Changed Everything No Classic Brain Tumor Signs Back Pain After Tumor Removal What Cancer Feels Like No Warning And Final Takeaway Closing And Invitation More from Gwen:  Get in touch with our team for sponsorship inquiries or guest host submissions: gkelly@assethr.com Follow and join the community:  Website: https://www.combatingcancer.org YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CombatingCancer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/combating-cancer/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BwfwuJT81/?mibextid=wwXIfr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/combatingcancer_?igsh=azNjM3RlcmJwcWxn

  6. Sep 2

    The Future I Never Planned For

    Episode 69- Show Notes: Gwen Kelly, host of "Combating Cancer," reflects on how surviving stage three astrocytoma brain cancer diagnosed at nineteen changed her relationship with time and planning. After treatment, she lived independently, paid bills, and made only minimum loan payments while largely avoiding long-term planning because she didn't know if cancer would return, even as those years brought deep community and meeting her fiancé, Jake. She contrasts living in the moment from freedom versus fear and describes the post-treatment shift when the medical "map" disappears and survivors must build a life without a template while also grieving and rebuilding identity. Now at twenty-four, facing ordinary stresses like mortgages, down payments, and wedding costs, she has moved back in with her parents to pay off loans, wrestles with shame, and reframes future planning as an act of compassion and a form of healing. Discussed in this episode: Welcome to Combating Cancer Mortgage Math Wakeup Life After Treatment Time Feels Different Full Life Fear No Roadmap After Normal Problems Whiplash Moving Back Home Learning Financial Survival Sacrifices For Later Planning As Healing Comfort Imagining Life Closing And Invitation More from Gwen:  Get in touch with our team for sponsorship inquiries or guest host submissions: gkelly@assethr.com Follow and join the community:  Website: https://www.combatingcancer.org YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CombatingCancer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/combating-cancer/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BwfwuJT81/?mibextid=wwXIfr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/combatingcancer_?igsh=azNjM3RlcmJwcWxn

  7. Aug 26

    Have I Lost My Right to Talk About Cancer?

    Episode 68- Show Notes: Host Gwen Kelly, diagnosed with stage three astrocytoma at 19, reflects five years later on telling her fiancé Jake she feels she has "lost" her merit to talk about cancer, and his pushback helps her reframe survivorship. She describes feeling like a poser as cancer is no longer her everyday life, and wrestles with becoming the "on the other side" person she once couldn't relate to while seeking peers during diagnosis. Gwen explores grieving the earlier version of herself who needed the podcast, recognizing the show helped her heal, and realizing distance can add perspective without erasing fear, scans, or therapy. She emphasizes "moving forward" with cancer, not staying stuck to prove it mattered, encourages listeners to say these thoughts out loud to trusted people, and affirms that life getting bigger doesn't invalidate survival or the right to share the story. Discussed in this episode: Welcome to Combating Cancer Losing My Merit Five Years Later Feeling Like A Poser Why I Started This Becoming The Future Grieving Old Me What Survivorship Means Can I Still Do This Moving Forward Not On You Don't Owe Suffering Say It Out Loud My Life Got Bigger Wrap Up and Share More from Gwen:  Get in touch with our team for sponsorship inquiries or guest host submissions: gkelly@assethr.com Follow and join the community:  Website: https://www.combatingcancer.org YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CombatingCancer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/combating-cancer/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BwfwuJT81/?mibextid=wwXIfr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/combatingcancer_?igsh=azNjM3RlcmJwcWxn

  8. Aug 19

    Your Results Are In

    Episode 67- Show Notes: Gwen Kelly, host of Combating Cancer, recounts receiving MRI results via a patient portal 40 minutes before her appointment at Allina Health and reading alarming language about a lesion and urgent follow-up, leading her to cry alone in a bathroom stall while trying to hide it from her dad. She connects this to first learning she had stage three astrocytoma brain cancer at 19 after a report circulated through family and a doctor friend before reaching her, which fueled her habit of checking results early during recurring scan cycles. After transitioning from Minnesota Children's Hospital—where clinicians tried to get ahead of portal alerts—to adult care, she continued checking until the lesion episode, which ultimately shrank and disappeared over the next year. She explains why Google and raw reports can intensify fear without context, and why she and her dad now enforce a rule that she won't open portal results before her doctor explains them. Discussed in this episode: Welcome to Combating Cancer The 40 Minute Wait Portal Results Shock Why It Hit Hard First Diagnosis Origin Scan Cycle Habit Doctor Visit Fallout Lesion Shrinks Away Banned From The Portal Google Is Not Context Information Vs Control Let Someone Carry It Wrap Up and Share More from Gwen:  Get in touch with our team for sponsorship inquiries or guest host submissions: gkelly@assethr.com Follow and join the community:  Website: https://www.combatingcancer.org YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CombatingCancer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/combating-cancer/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BwfwuJT81/?mibextid=wwXIfr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/combatingcancer_?igsh=azNjM3RlcmJwcWxn

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Join Gwen Kelly, Host and Founder of Combating Cancer, a podcast focused on strength, resilience, and hope. Creating a space where people can share their personal cancer journeys—whether that involves navigating treatment, celebrating remission, or honoring the memory of a loved one.

Information

  • Creator
    Gwen Kelly
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    74
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    Combating Cancer

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