Never Knew I Wanted to be a Breast Cancer Survivor

society, culture, personal, journals, health, fitness, medicine · EN

“Never Knew I Wanted to Be a Breast Cancer Survivor”, is a candid, story‑driven podcast where I share my experience of navigating a life‑changing diagnosis while searching for who I was, who I was becoming, and who am I today. Three weeks after moving to California in 2014—with no family history or warning signs—I found myself thrown into the American healthcare system as a Canadian, a PhD student with a project going no where, while wrestling with my identity. This show is where I unpack those moments: the fear, the absurdity, and the learning curves.In 2023, I was diagnosed with regional recurrence of breast cancer—this time while living in a small town in Nova Scotia Canada. My experiences could not be more different from my initial diagnosis, and yet, I felt like I was in the right place at the right time. As I tell my story, I share how I actively developed my own health literacy. Each episode explores not just what happened, but what I learned about the medical system, patien