Breast Cancer Heroes Journey

The 13-Year-Old Who Became A Cancer Expert (Before She Ever Had It)

Episode Summary

Most people learn about breast cancer when they get diagnosed. Joelle Kaufman has been living with it since she was 13 years old. In today's episode, I sit down with Joelle, the woman who's been fighting breast cancer her entire life - first as a daughter, then as a sister, and finally as a patient herself. This isn't just another cancer story. This is the story of someone who spent decades watching the people she loved battle this disease, knowing her turn was probably coming. Joelle shares what it was like being thrust into the role of caregiver at 13 when her mother was diagnosed. How a teenager learns to navigate hospitals, treatments, and the fear that hangs over everything. The way cancer doesn't just affect the patient - it rewrites the entire family's story. You'll hear about the vigilance that became her way of life. Living with the constant awareness that she carried the genetic risk. The screenings started earlier than most. The way she prepared for a battle she hoped would never come but somehow knew was inevitable. Then came her sister's diagnosis. Another round of caregiving. Another reminder that cancer wasn't done with her family yet. The exhaustion of being strong for everyone else while carrying her fear. And finally, her curveball. The moment she went from observer to patient. How all those years of watching others fight suddenly became her fight. The strange advantage of knowing what was coming and the devastating reality that knowing doesn't make it easier. But here's what makes Joelle's story different - she's turning decades of experience into a roadmap for others. Her new book "Crushing the Cancer Curveball" isn't just a memoir, it's a survival guide written by someone who's seen this battle from every angle. The conversation about what it means to be born into a cancer family and how that shapes everything you think you know about survival.

Episode Notes

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CRUSHING THE CANCER CURVEBALL BOOK

 

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