Campfires of Hope
By Epic Experience
Categories: Health & Fitness, Medicine
Campfires Of Hope: Living Life Beyond Cancer aims to empower the adult cancer community through storytelling and education. Epic Experience is a Colorado-based nonprofit that is passionate about ensuring no one goes through a cancer journey alone. Our podcast is hosted by Epic Experience alum Gail Fay, a.k.a. Sunshine. Sunshine is a ghostwriter, editor, and ovarian cancer survivor.
82 episodes indexed on PodSearch.
Recent episodes
- Thriving Beyond Cancer: Creating New Family Normals
In this hopeful closing episode of Campfires of Hope’s “When Cancer Hits Home” series, Amanda Blackburn and Mical Roy reflect on how their families have navigated life after cancer and found ways to thrive. They share the changes in daily routines and family life that came with a cancer diagnosis…
- Navigating Grief As a Family After Cancer Loss
In this heartfelt episode of “When Cancer Hits Home”, we hear from Jeff and Francesca Hlavacek as they navigate life after the loss of their wife and mother, Erika, to lung cancer. Jeff, a colorectal cancer survivor himself, and Francesca share how their family coped with grief, supported each…
- When Cancer Hits Home – Partnership and Parenting Through Cancer
In this episode of Campfires of Hope: Stories of Cancer Survivorship, Kimber and Justin Harris share how Kimber’s cancer diagnosis reshaped their lives as partners and parents of three. They reflect on the shock of those first days, the challenges of navigating treatment while caring for a newborn…
- Thriving Together: Cancer Survivors in Love
We welcome back former Campfires of Hope guests Michael and Amanda Ferro, both cancer survivors who found love through the Epic Experience community and are now happily married, to “When Cancer Hits Home.” They share their journey from meeting at an Epic event to dating as survivors, navigating…
- My Parent Has Cancer
In this episode of Campfires of Hope’s “When Cancer Hits Home” series, we hear from Patrick Brennan, Eliza Smith, Beckett, and Molly Agnew, all young people whose parents have faced cancer. They share candid reflections on what it’s really like to grow up with a parent undergoing treatment…
- Navigating Cancer As Parent and Teen Child
We sit down with Hazel & Ali Senz and Julia & Madeleine McGuire to explore the unique challenges and lessons that come when a parent faces cancer in this episode of Campfires of Hope’s “When Cancer Hits Home” series. Together, each mother-daughter duo reflects on what it was like to hear the…
- Therapists Talk: Supporting Families Facing Cancer
In this episode of “When Cancer Hits Home”, our guests Kelsey Mora and Chris Balmaceda—mental health professionals who specialize in supporting both kids and adults in families impacted by cancer—share insights on the emotional and relational challenges families often face during a loved one’s…
- When Cancer Hits Home: Origin Stories
In the first episode of our “When Cancer Hits Home” series, Nancy Ferro and Mark Agnew share powerful stories of how cancer impacted their families and how those experiences ultimately led to the founding of two remarkable organizations: Epic Experience and Pickles Group. Nancy and Mark reflect on…
- Breaking Barriers and Creating Change in Clinical Research
Multiple myeloma survivor and patient advocate Valarie Traynham returns for part 2 to share her insights on what action can be taken to create change in clinical research inequities. Valarie dives into the critical need to raise awareness about disparities in access and representation. She offers…
- Understanding Challenges and Root Causes of Inequities in Clinical Trials
We’re joined by Valarie Traynham, a multiple myeloma survivor and passionate patient advocate, for the first of a two-part episode in a conversation on equity in healthcare and clinical research. Valarie explores the historical and systemic roots of medical mistrust and how they continue to impact…
- Considering a Clinical Trial: When to Join and What to Expect
In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Breelyn Wilky and Dr. Christopher Lieu from the University of Colorado Cancer Center, we dive deeper into the patient experience and the innovation behind clinical trials. They share guidance on when to consider a trial during your cancer journey, what a “day…
- Demystifying Clinical Trials: Insights from Leading Oncologists
In the first of a two-part episode, we sit down with Dr. Breelyn Wilky and Dr. Christopher Lieu from the University of Colorado Cancer Center to explore the vital role of clinical trials in advancing cancer treatment. They break down common misconceptions around trial safety and effectiveness, and…
- Tracking Cancer’s Return: Clinical Trials Beyond Treatment
Edie Harrison returns to Campfires of Hope to share her unique journey with clinical trials. Diagnosed as NED since 2022, Edie didn't need a trial for treatment purposes. Instead, she researched and sought out a “circulating tumor DNA” clinical trial—a cutting-edge approach to monitoring and…
- Clinical Trials and Cancer: A Survivor’s Path to Hope
Diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma in 2015, Sarah Fay's journey to being NED nearly a decade later highlights the life-saving potential of clinical trials. In this Campfires of Hope: Stories of Cancer episode, Sarah shares an honest and inspiring account of her experience—from navigating complex…
- Keepin’ It Real: Navigating Clinical Trials and Facing Recurrence
Multiple cancer survivor Lana Boes returns to Campfires of Hope to share a detailed account of her journey through clinical trials and inspire others to take charge of their health. Lana opens up about the mental and emotional challenges of facing a recurrence in May, after five years of being NED…
- Cancer and Compassion Fatigue: Giving Yourself Permission to Step Back
In this episode of Campfires of Hope, cancer survivors Janna Jones and Eileen VanCleave open up about the deeply human experience of compassion fatigue. We explore what it is, why acknowledging it matters, and how it affects survivors, caregivers, and those in helping roles. Janna and Eileen offer…
- Meet New Epic Experience Staff Member, Denny “Stretch” Williams
Denny hails from Louisville, KY, and was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in January 2022. Following treatment and surgery, he is now living life beyond cancer. Denny attended Epic Experience in March 2023, and it became a turning point — inspiring him to pay it forward by becoming a camp…
- Living Beyond Cancer: Finding Purpose in Survivorship
Mark Hanson is a multiple myeloma survivor whose journey is one of resilience, struggle, and ultimately, renewal. While he was deeply grateful for the unwavering support of his family and medical team during treatment, the true challenge came afterward—adjusting back to “real life.” Like many men…
- Cancer and the Path to Self-Love and Acceptance
Despite experiencing trauma as a teenager and young adult, and being diagnosed with ovarian and uterine cancer in 2016—followed by breast cancer seven years later—Christen Clifford found her path to self-love and acceptance. During a time when she felt she had lost so much, she later realized that…
- Finding Clarity After Decades of YA Cancer Survivorship
At just 11 years old, Eric Goss was diagnosed with stage 3A Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a battle that shaped his life for decades. Unable to cope effectively with the long-term psychological effects of survivorship, Eric proactively sought out answers until he discovered a unique study in 2021 that…
- Adventure Therapy for Cancer Survivors
Just 35 years old, Lauren Huffmaster was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, which subsequently progressed to stage 4. After what she describes as a period of despair, Lauren realized that she needed to do something to address the emotional and mental side effects that cancer had caused her. “I…
- Embracing Silver Linings Together Through Cancer
When Jordan Vanzandt was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroendocrine cancer, life changed for her and her husband, Mike. Despite the innumerable challenges and obstacles they faced, they focused on the silver linings that surviving cancer provided for their family. In addition to learning to slow down…
- Keepin’ It Real: Feeling Alone in My Cancer Journey
Bill Wardwell was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in 1998. Over the next decade, he endured chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, multiple recurrences, and several personal setbacks. In this piece, Bill shares the most difficult part of his journey: the feeling of facing cancer…
- Closer Than Ever: Our Cancer Journey
When Scott Riebel was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2021, he and his wife Vickie had no idea how much closer the cancer journey would bring them. As Scott states, “You get a full grasp for how much you love and are loved by someone when you experience something like cancer.” In this episode…
- Keepin’ It Real: Being Transparent With My Kids About My Cancer
Caroline Thomas is a bladder cancer survivor and a mother of two adult sons. She shares the importance of being honest and transparent with her children about her cancer and how she kept the lines of communication open. Caroline says telling her sons was very difficult because “my role as a parent…
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