At just 30 years old, Maria Montoya was diagnosed with breast cancer. Seven years later, she faced it again—this time while navigating Li Fraumeni Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that increases the risk of multiple cancers. She shares how her experiences navigating genetic testing, fertility counseling, and the isolation of COVID-era treatment exposed systemic cracks in cancer care, and why she’s now pursuing her Master’s in Social Work to help fix them.

In this episode of The Cancer Pod, Maria shares:
• The challenges of limited genetic testing and inadequate fertility counseling
• What it was like to undergo treatment during the isolating early days of COVID
• How these experiences inspired her to become a passionate advocate for systemic change
Now pursuing her Master’s in Social Work, Maria is committed to improving survivorship care and psychosocial support for others facing cancer.
🎧 Listen in for a powerful conversation about resilience, advocacy, and the urgent need for reform in cancer care.
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The Cancer Pod is a resource for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and everyone in between. This podcast is for education, entertainment, and informational purposes only. Do not apply any of this information without first speaking to your doctor. The views and opinions expressed on this podcast by the hosts and their guests are solely their own. The Cancer Pod is hosted by Drs. Tina Kaczor and Leah Sherman. Music is Funkorama, by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
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