315: Why Breast Cancer Support Resources Go Way Beyond Treatment

Why Breast Cancer Support Resources Go Way Beyond Treatment

I’ve spent the past 12 years going to cancer treatment every three weeks, and I can tell you that the hardest part was never the infusion chair.

It is everything that comes after — the identity shift, the body you don’t recognize in the mirror, and the silence once everyone assumes you’re fine because you rang the bell.

If you’re rebuilding your life after a breast cancer diagnosis, the breast cancer support resources available to you go so much further than most people realize, and that is exactly what this episode is about.

🎙️ This episode is part of Podcasthon, an international movement where podcasters around the globe spotlight their charity of choice during the same week. This year, Gratitude Geek is proud to feature Susan G. Komen. To explore other charity-focused episodes from creators around the world, visit Podcasthon.

Key Takeaways

In this episode, you’ll learn:​​

• Breast cancer support resources from Susan G. Komen cover four pillars — advocacy, research, community boots-on-the-ground assistance, and education — and most newly diagnosed patients don’t know all four exist.
• If you are choosing between paying rent and getting a mammogram, call Komen. Financial barriers to care are exactly what they exist to remove.
• Ringing the bell does not mean you’re done needing support. Organizations like Lift After Breast Cancer exist specifically for the long road after active treatment ends.
• Gratitude is not a consolation prize. It’s an active choice that shifts your perspective from what cancer took to what you’re still fighting for.

What This Episode Is About

Breast cancer support resources exist at every stage of the journey — before diagnosis, during treatment, and long after the bell gets rung — but most women never find out what’s actually available to them until they’re already in crisis mode.

This conversation brings together Gretchen Awad, Executive Director of Susan G. Komen Northwest Ohio and Detroit, and Dr. Michelle D. Clark, CEO of L.I.F.T. After Breast Cancer, to walk us through what real support looks like on the ground.

Whether you’re freshly diagnosed, years into survivorship, or supporting someone you love through treatment, this episode maps out the breast cancer support resources that could change your outcome.

And because this is Gratitude Geek, we also dig into something the research doesn’t talk about enough — how gratitude functions as a survival tool, not just a feel-good concept, when your world has been turned upside down.

Episode Breakdown (Timestamps)

0:00 — Kandas shares her 12-year metastatic breast cancer story and why Susan G. Komen matters
2:04 — Dr. Michelle Clark’s diagnosis story and what happens after you ring the bell
9:00 — The four pillars of Susan G. Komen and how to access their breast cancer support resources
14:12 — Race for the Cure — what it is, why it matters, and how to get involved
28:58 — How gratitude functions as a survival tool during and after breast cancer treatment
41:58 — First steps if you or someone you love was just diagnosed

Meet Our Guests

Gretchen Awad is the Executive Director of Susan G. Komen Northwest Ohio and Detroit, bringing ten years of passionate advocacy to the fight against breast cancer across Michigan and Ohio. She works tirelessly to connect people to the breast cancer support resources, research, and community they need — regardless of their financial situation, zip code, or circumstance.

Dr. Michelle D. Clark is the CEO and founder of L.I.F.T. After Breast Cancer, an organization that answers the question nobody asks after active treatment ends — what’s next? A breast cancer survivor herself, licensed mental health therapist, and board member for Susan G. Komen Detroit, she helps women rebuild their identity, confidence, and lives long after the bell has been rung.

“Recovery isn’t about going back. It’s about healing forward.” – Dr. Michelle D. Clark

Resources

Disclaimer: Some links may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase. No added cost to you.

• Susan G. Komen
• L.I.F.T. After Breast Cancer
• Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program (BCCTP)
• American Cancer Society
• Radical Remission: The Nine Key Factors that Can Make a Real Difference by Kelly A. Turner, Ph.D.
• Podcasthon

Your Turn

What resonated with you in this conversation? Share your biggest takeaway on Instagram or LinkedIn. Prefer to keep it on the blog? Drop a comment below.

Final Thoughts

Breast cancer support resources can change the trajectory of your diagnosis, your recovery, and your life — but only if you know they exist.

That’s why conversations like this one matter, and why I’m proud to be part of Podcasthon every year, using this platform to shine a light on the organizations doing the quiet, unglamorous work of keeping women alive and helping them rebuild.

If you’re rebuilding after cancer, divorce, or loss, I want you to know that getting the right support isn’t a sign of weakness — it’s the smartest business decision you’ll ever make for yourself.

If you’re ready to stop rebuilding alone and start growing your business with a community of women who actually get it, the Gratitude Geek Lab was built for you. Join us at kandasrodarte.com/lab.

Stay Groovy!

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