The Meaning We Make: Laurel Braitman’s Path from Co-Survivor to Advocate
Advocate Spotlight: Laurel Braitman Laurel Braitman has spent her life at the intersection of story, healing, and human connection. As a writer, teacher, and the Director of Writing and Storytelling at the Stanford School of Medicine, she helps medical students, clinicians, and future health leaders learn how to speak to ...
Janice Cowden: From Survivor to System Challenger
At Cancer Nation, we are powered by the voices of those who live with, through, and beyond cancer. We don’t speak on behalf of survivors—we amplify those who are already speaking. This month, we’re honored to feature Janice Cowden, a metastatic breast cancer (MBC) advocate whose work in research, policy, ...
From Counselor to Cancer Advocate: Arlene Kutoroff’s Journey of Strength, Intuition, and Impact
Meet Arlene Kutoroff. She’s a fiercely independent survivor and longtime volunteer advocate who channels her background in counseling into helping others navigate life after cancer ...
Gena Gurman: Bridging the Gap in Survivorship Care with Compassion, Creativity, and Cognitive Support
Meet Gena Gurman, OTDS. An occupational therapy doctoral student, Gena created a powerful new resource to help cancer survivors understand and manage cognitive changes after treatment ...
Two Diagnoses, One Mission: Tracy and Tim Steffek on Advocating for Survivors
Meet Tracy and Tim Steffek. After Tracy was diagnosed with breast cancer at 36—just four months postpartum—and then again with tongue cancer one year later, the couple turned their experience into action. Now, they advocate for parents with cancer, push for whole-person care, and fight to make survivorship support a ...
Kirby Lewis – A Relentless Voice for Male Breast Cancer and Survivorship
Meet Kirby Lewis. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 and later facing metastatic recurrence, he became a passionate advocate, raising awareness that men can get breast cancer too and pushing for better survivorship care. Learn more about Kirby in our Advocate Spotlight ...
A Voice for Change: Rebecca Muñoz’s AYA Cancer Journey of Advocacy and Research
Meet Rebecca Muñoz. Diagnosed with breast cancer at 29, she turned her challenges into advocacy, founding Chemotherapy Cold Cappers and working tirelessly to improve care for AYA cancer patients. From testifying for biomarker legislation to mentoring future cancer researchers, Rebecca’s advocacy is creating lasting change. Learn more about Rebecca in ...
From Diagnosis to Determination: Lou Lanza’s Commitment to Survivorship Advocacy
Meet Lou Lanza. After surviving Stage IIa Large B Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Lou turned his journey into a mission to support survivors, caregivers, and the cancer community through tireless advocacy. Learn more about Lou in this month's Advocate Spotlight ...
Monique Wilson – Spreading Joy and Purpose Through Advocacy
Meet Monique Wilson. A breast cancer survivor and advocate, Monique shares joy and empowers others through her work in survivorship and advocacy. Learn more about Monique in this month's Advocate Spotlight ...
Breaking Down Barriers: Marielle McLeod’s Commitment to Elevating Voices in Cancer Care
Advocate Spotlight: Marielle McLeod Marielle McLeod’s experience with health care began long before she ever faced her own cancer diagnosis. Raised in the Dominican Republic, Marielle was deeply influenced by her grandmother, who worked in a local hospital pharmacy. "She would take me around and walk me through all the ...
