The 30 Stories Podcast

THANC Foundation

This podcast is an extension of the THANC Foundation's 30 Stories in 30 Days™ campaign. At its core, 30 Stories is about real people sharing real experiences with thyroid, oral and head and neck cancers. These conversations are not meant to dole out medical advice. They are not polished success stories. They are honest reflections from people who have lived through diagnosis, treatment, recovery and everything in between. Each episode, we sit down with someone who has been there and is willing to share what they learned along the way. And for sharing that, we are so incredibly grateful. Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

  1. 3d ago

    Cat's Story: Courage in the Smallest Moments

    Fifteen years ago, when Cat was just about to go into her junior year of highschool, she was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer. She remembers the shock of hearing cancer discussed for the first time, the uncertainty that followed and how surgery and time away from school disrupted the future she had imagined. Her mother’s persistence helped move the evaluation forward, while her parents’ steadiness gave her somewhere to land when the diagnosis became real. One of the episode’s most affecting moments centers on a photo shoot Cat did while she was still swollen, numb and healing from surgery. Years later, she used that photograph in a college self-portrait, placing her younger self in the background. What had once made her feel exposed became a reflection on a different kind of beauty and the courage of feeling afraid but showing up anyway. Cat also recalls teachers who met her at the library, helped her keep up and welcomed her back without making her feel singled out. Their support influenced her decision to become a teacher, where she now tries to see the whole student and offer the same grace she received. She encourages young people facing cancer to make room for their emotions, lean on trusted people and accept meaningful offers of help. Cat says the summer will mark 15 years since her diagnosis. Cancer remains present through checkups, scars and occasional fears, but it is no longer the center of every day.

  2. Jul 28

    Allison’s Story: How a 2nd Opinion Changed Her Thyroid Cancer Journey

    Allison’s story begins with something many thyroid cancer survivors understand: years of vague symptoms, watchful waiting and uncertainty. What first appeared as fatigue, a lump and repeatedly inconclusive biopsies eventually led her to seek a second opinion after a provider pushed her to stop waiting. That decision changed the course of her care. She speaks candidly about the emotional weight of diagnosis, especially hearing thyroid cancer described as “the good cancer.” While she understands that her prognosis was better than many others, she also makes clear how dismissive that phrase can feel in the moment. Her reflections are especially strong when she describes isolation after radioactive iodine, the low-iodine diet, dry mouth, salivary gland issues and the difficulty of explaining “inside-out tired” to people who have not experienced it. The heart of Allison’s episode is about support, self-advocacy and not feeling alone. She wishes she had known earlier that patient groups, foundations, social workers, financial navigators and other resources existed. Now, 14 years cancer-free, her message is simple and powerful: get checked, seek another opinion when something does not feel right and find people who truly understand what you are going through.

  3. Jul 21

    Sarah's Story: A Singer Diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer is Speaking Up

    Singer-songwriter Sarah King was diagnosed with thyroid cancer just three days after releasing an album she had poured herself into. At a moment when her music career was gaining momentum, she suddenly had to cancel shows, pause touring and turn her attention toward surgery, radiation and recovery. In this conversation, Sarah reflects on what it meant to have cancer affect the very thing most closely tied to her identity: her voice. Sarah describes the long, frustrating path to diagnosis, including 18 months of throat pressure, painful singing, repeated vocal scopes and the feeling that something was wrong even when answers were hard to find. Her story highlights the importance of self-advocacy, especially for young, otherwise healthy people whose concerns may be dismissed. She also speaks honestly about access to care, the emotional toll of uncertainty and the mental shift that comes with living after thyroid cancer. What makes Sarah’s story especially moving is the way she connects voice, grief and purpose. She talks about losing the version of herself she expected to be, grieving her father during the same period and slowly learning to use her voice in new ways. Her message is clear and generous: trust your body, ask for help, let people in and know that even the hardest stories can help someone else feel less alone.

  4. Jul 14

    Rich’s Story: Thyroid Cancer, Recurrence and the Urgency to Live Fully

    Rich’s story begins with a moment that seemed ordinary at first: after a Broadway show in New York City, his wife noticed a lump in his neck. What followed was a young adult cancer diagnosis, multiple medical opinions and the shock of hearing that he had papillary thyroid cancer while he and his wife were just beginning to imagine their future family life. Throughout the conversation, Rich reflects on the complexity of treatment decisions, including surgery, recurrence and radioactive iodine. One of the strongest threads in his story is the challenge of sorting through conflicting medical input, then learning how important it is to find clinicians with deep experience in a specific diagnosis. He also speaks candidly about the emotional weight of deciding how much to share with his children and how support from his wife, parents, care team and other survivors helped him feel less alone. What makes Rich’s story especially meaningful is the way survivorship changed his outlook. Rather than simply moving past cancer, he describes how the experience gave him a lasting sense of urgency, gratitude and momentum. His story is not only about diagnosis and treatment, but about how a frightening chapter helped shape the way he lives, works, travels, loves his family and chooses to move through the world.

  5. Jul 7

    Erin’s Story: Finding Calm During Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis & Recovery

    Erin’s story begins with a small but unsettling observation: a lump in her neck that she initially tried to explain away. After seeing a video about checking the thyroid, she realized what she noticed might be worth taking seriously. What followed was a period of uncertainty, urgent care visits, imaging, a biopsy and eventually surgery, all while she tried to manage the anxiety of not knowing what would come next. One of the most compelling parts of Erin’s experience is how clearly she describes the emotional weight of waiting. She shares that each step brought more information, but not always immediate answers. Over time, having a plan and a reassuring care team helped her feel more grounded, even as she continued to navigate follow-up care and the possibility of future treatment. Erin also reflects on the small, practical ways she got through the hardest moments. She found comfort in talking with family and friends, staying busy, cooking, doing puzzles and stepping away from too much online research when it became overwhelming. Her story offers a warm, honest look at what it can feel like to be early in the cancer journey, still processing what happened while learning how to move forward.

  6. Jun 25

    Patricia's Story: How Creativity Helps People Heal Through Cancer

    Patricia shares how her own cancer diagnosis in her early 30s changed the way she understood healing, fear and the need for support. Diagnosed with uterine cancer at a young age, she remembers feeling overwhelmed by uncertainty, including questions about fertility, relationships and her future. In the absence of formal support groups, she turned to what felt natural to her: writing, doodling, breathwork, visualization and creative reflection. That personal practice eventually grew into Create to Heal, the core program of the Women’s Wings Foundation. Through her work with cancer patients, caregivers and health care providers, Patricia has seen how creative expression can help people process emotions, communicate their needs, connect with others and recognize their own strength. She describes creativity not as a “nice to have,” but as a meaningful tool that supports the emotional, spiritual and mental sides of healing. Throughout the conversation, Patricia reflects on gratitude, humor, silence, faith, community and the small moments that help people keep moving forward. She shares stories of patients who used creativity to find joy, make meaning and leave something behind for others. The episode closes with a simple breathing and writing exercise, offering listeners a practical way to quiet their minds, notice what rises to the surface and begin turning emotion into expression.

  7. Jun 23

    Steven’s Story: Finding Strength After Medullary Thyroid Cancer

    Steven’s story begins with a chance conversation that changed the course of his health. After reconnecting with a friend who survived a sudden cardiac arrest, Steven decided to schedule routine cardiology tests. His heart checked out well, but the exam revealed an incidental thyroid nodule. What seemed like a small, low-risk finding eventually led to a diagnosis of medullary thyroid cancer, setting off a period of uncertainty, scans, surgery and emotional shock. Throughout the conversation, Steven reflects honestly on what it means to live with cancer as part of his daily reality. He describes the weight of hearing the word “cancer,” the difficulty of waiting for answers and the challenge of explaining such a personal experience to the people closest to him. He also shares how yoga, breathwork, walking with his dog and focusing on the present moment helped him build physical and emotional resilience after surgery. One of the most meaningful threads in Steven’s story is his commitment to self-advocacy. He encourages others to stay focused on their own case, avoid spiraling through online comparisons and lean on trusted medical professionals. His message is grounded in gratitude, not because the experience was easy, but because it gave him a deeper appreciation for early detection, family support and the importance of taking an active role in one’s own health.

  8. Jun 19

    Mahadi’s Story: Patient Voices & the Future of Head and Neck Cancer Care

    In this episode, I spoke with Dr. Mahadi Baig, a medical oncologist and oncology leader whose work focuses on advancing research for people with recurrent and metastatic head and neck cancer. Mahadi reflected on how growing up in India shaped his understanding of cancer, access to care and the devastating impact of disease when patients do not have the support or treatment options they need. His early experiences gave him a clear sense of purpose that continues to guide his work today. Mahadi also describes how head and neck cancer can be especially challenging for patients and caregivers. Because these cancers can affect speaking, swallowing, breathing, eating and appearance, the physical and emotional toll can be significant. He discusses the promise of more personalized treatment, the importance of understanding tumor biology and the need to bring scientific advances to patients in ways that are practical, timely and centered on what matters most to them. Throughout the conversation, Mahadi returns to the power of patient voices. He shares why listening to patients and caregivers helps researchers, clinicians and advocacy organizations better understand the real-life impact of cancer, beyond the science. His message to patients is clear and reassuring: take things one step at a time, ask questions, lean on your care team and remember that you are the expert on your own experience.

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About

This podcast is an extension of the THANC Foundation's 30 Stories in 30 Days™ campaign. At its core, 30 Stories is about real people sharing real experiences with thyroid, oral and head and neck cancers. These conversations are not meant to dole out medical advice. They are not polished success stories. They are honest reflections from people who have lived through diagnosis, treatment, recovery and everything in between. Each episode, we sit down with someone who has been there and is willing to share what they learned along the way. And for sharing that, we are so incredibly grateful. Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

Information

  • Creator
    THANC Foundation
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The 30 Stories Podcast