Back to Normal and Other Cancer Conundrums with Edward Miskie
Cancer-free doesn’t mean back to normal. Filmmaker, author, and 14-year non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivor Edward Miskie talks about what no one tells you once treatment ends: grieving the person you were before diagnosis, missing the hospital, the panic over every ache, and why he says being cancer-free can be harder than going through treatment.
Edward is the founder of the Remission Film Festival, author of Cancer, Musical Theater, and Other Chronic Illnesses, and creator of the short film Back to Normal: A Cancer Survivor Documentary. We cover cancer survivorship, young adult (AYA) cancer, grief after cancer, and the gaps in follow-up care that leave many survivors figuring it out alone.
In this episode:
• Why Edward says "I'm cancer-free, but I'm not free of cancer"
• Sex, alcohol, and coping during chemo, and the questions young adult patients rarely get asked
• Grieving the person you were before diagnosis, and how long that can take
• Why he named his film Back to Normal, and why survivors say there is no going back
• Saying goodbye to your oncologist at the five-year mark
• Missing the hospital after the all-clear
• Cancer screening access, symptoms being dismissed in young patients, and advocating for yourself in the exam room
• Cancer panic: the fear of recurrence that lingers after treatment
Leave a message with your thoughts about the episode!
Become a member of The Cancer Pod Community! Support the podcast and gain access to exclusive content and more! Join today on Patreon.
Buy Me a Coffee and support the podcast!
Check out thecancerpod.com! Looking for more information? The website has blogs, merch, and all of the episodes listed by season and category.
Shop the Bookshop! The shelves at Bookshop feature books by authors who have been on the show and other fav books.
Buy The Cancer Pod merch! Whether it’s a cozy hoody or a handy water bottle, we have something for everybody.
Have a comment or suggestion? Email info (at) thecancerpod (dot) com
Follow @TheCancerPod on social media:
Become a premium member.
Join the #cancerinsiders. Membership includes:
-
A monthly (or so) newsletter packed with links to new episodes, compelling research, seasonal recipes, and practical health tips you’ll actually use
-
Behind-the-scenes updates
-
Bonus content from the podcast
-
Yoga videos to support your body and mind
-
Downloadable cheat sheets for quick reference
Join today!
