Cancer survivorship isn’t about “going back to normal.” It’s about rebuilding—on purpose.

In this episode of Patient From Hell, host Samira Daswani sits down with Harriet Cabelly, LCSW, a grief therapist and cancer thriver, for a grounded, surprisingly funny, deeply useful conversation on what happens during treatment and in the long tail of survivorship—including fear of recurrence (“scanxiety”), meaning-making, resilience, and the emotional support patients don’t get nearly enough of.

Harriet shares the moment she was told she had a mass on multiple organs—and her first response: “Put me in hospice.” From there, we unpack how hope returned, why Viktor Frankl’s work matters in cancer care, and practical mindset tools that help patients and caregivers survive the day-to-day without spiraling into the “20-year forecast.

If you’re newly diagnosed, supporting someone you love, or treating patients clinically, this episode delivers real coping skills—without toxic positivity.

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 — “If you have to go through hell, don’t come out empty-handed”

01:09 — Harriet’s diagnosis: Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (large B-cell) and the ER moment

02:45 — “Put me in hospice”: the shock + numbness after the scan

04:41 — How hope returned (faith, timing, and a “flipped verdict”)

07:44 — Why faith and religion can matter in the patient experience

09:03 — “Miracles” during treatment: staying ahead of nausea + the “Vomit Miracle”

11:25 — “Miracle of tolerance”: handling meds when you’ve always had a sensitive system

12:55 — Life before diagnosis: ballroom dancing, family, hiking, private practice

14:56 — Viktor Frankl + Man’s Search for Meaning: choosing attitude, choosing response

18:44 — Positive psychology: building strengths, not denying reality

19:50 — Resilience as a muscle (and how to train it)

20:33 — Gratitude, “WWW: What’s Working Well,” and the donut-hole metaphor

23:05 — The “Power of AND”: holding darkness + light at the same time

26:50 — Shrinking time: one hour, one day, one cycle at a time

29:59 — Fear of recurrence + “scanxiety”: what helps, what gets easier with time

33:51 — Rebuilding after cancer: nutrition, fasting windows, exercise, sugar reduction, circadian walks

35:35 — Mind-body connection + journaling (without pretending it’s all “in your head”)

37:13 — Rapid-fire advice: newly diagnosed, survivorship, long-term treatment, clinicians, pharma

43:10 — Favorite quotes + choosing to “make the best of what happens”

44:00 — Medical disclaimer

About the Guest

Harriet Cabelly, LCSW is a grief counselor, therapist, speaker, and author dedicated to helping people navigate loss, life transitions, and rebuilding meaning after trauma. A cancer thriver herself, Harriet blends clinical tools with lived experience to help patients and caregivers reclaim purpose, joy, and resilience.

Book: Light Through Darkness: Miracles Along My Cancer Journey

Referenced: Viktor Frankl — Man’s Search for Meaning

Manta Cares: mantacares.com

Subscribe to Patient From Hell for evidence-based cancer-care insight, survivorship tools, and the conversations patients wish they’d had sooner.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider.

Exercise isn’t just “nice to have” during cancer, it can function like treatment for the side effects: fatigue, muscle loss (sarcopenia), joint pain, neuropathy, weakness, and even lymphedema risk reduction.

In this episode of Patient from Hell, host + cancer survivor Samira Daswani sits down with Sami (exercise + cancer specialist focused on implementation) to break down what the research is finally confirming and what patients can do today, even with low energy, limited time, or zero equipment.We also unpack the headline-grabbing findings from the CHALLENGE Trial in colorectal cancer: a structured, coached exercise program was associated with a 28% lower risk of recurrence or new primary cancer and raises the bigger question: why isn’t exercise prescribed like medicine?

Key takeaways you’ll learn:

- Why strength training is the #1 lever for cancer-related fatigue + muscle loss

- How to reduce joint pain (including hormone-therapy related joint pain)Simple “wake the nerves up” tactics for neuropathy- Lymphedema: prevention vs management + why early assessment matters

- Chemo brain: why “automation” (classes + follow-alongs) can be the hack

- The starter protocol: 10–15 minutes, every other day

Chapter Codes

00:00 Exercise as “treatment” for cancer side effects (fatigue, sarcopenia, function)

00:30 Meet Sami: implementation theory (how she got into exercise + cancer)

02:37 “How I f***ed up into this” — origin story + early patient experiences

05:20 The headline research: what the CHALLENGE Trial showed

07:19 The big number: 28% lower recurrence/new primary (structured group)

08:40 Trial design: education vs coached/supervised exercise

11:03 Symptom playbook begins: what exercise helps most

11:35 Fatigue: why strength training rebuilds your “engine”

14:09 What counts as strength training (real-world examples)

15:46 Joint pain: lubrication, range of motion, yoga/Tai Chi basics

17:22 Hormone therapy joint pain: why feet + shoulders show up big

20:06 Plantar fasciitis: barefoot time + ball rolling + lifestyle traps

21:47 Neuropathy: “wake the nerves up” + balance + sensation tools

24:29 Lymphedema: prevention vs management + catch it early

28:04 Weakness: mitochondria, estradiol, and fast-twitch strength loss

30:34 Chemo brain: automate workouts so you don’t have to think

33:59 Safety fear: “If chemo didn’t kill you, a squat won’t” (starting smart)

38:33 Where to start: 10–15 minutes every other day

40:17 Two starter moves: sit-to-stands + countertop pushups

41:14 Just diagnosed? Keep routine—lower intensity + prioritize strength

42:25 Wrap + the bigger message: independence, quality of life, green light

About Patient From Hell

Patient From Hell is hosted by cancer survivor and founder Samira Daswani, who asks the questions most patients are too overwhelmed—or too afraid—to ask.

The show brings together doctors, researchers, advocates, and survivors to reveal evidence-based answers for patients navigating the chaos of cancer.

Subscribe for episodes that blend science, compassion, and clarity—without the medical jargon.

Connect & Follow Samira Daswani

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samiradaswani/

Manta Cares: https://www.mantacares.com

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard, or delay in obtaining, medical advice for any medical condition they may have, and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

Up to 90% of breast cancer survivors experience sexual health changes, yet almost no one is talking about it.

Today on Patient From Hell, host Samira Daswani sits down with Dr. Laila Agrawal, a leading clinician in oncology sexual health, to break the silence around libido loss, vaginal dryness, pain, body-image shifts, dating after cancer, orgasm changes, pelvic floor dysfunction, and how treatment impacts intimacy.

This episode answers the questions patients wish they could ask, but rarely get time for in an oncology appointment.

If you've ever wondered:

“Is sex safe during treatment?”

“Will my desire ever come back?”

“Should I use vaginal estrogen?”

“What’s normal to feel?”

— you’re in the right place.

Sexual health concerns in breast cancer are common, treatable, and deeply misunderstood. Dr. Agrawal explains:

- Why oncologists often avoid sexual health conversations

- The real reason libido drops during and after treatment

- The truth about vaginal estrogen and hormone-positive breast cancer

- How to talk to a partner when desire shifts

- How single women can navigate dating after cancer

🧠 Guest:

Dr. Laila Agrawal is a nationally recognized expert in sexual health for oncology patients. She specializes in survivorship care, menopausal symptoms, pelvic health, pain management, and evidence-based approaches to sexual wellness throughout cancer treatment. She is passionate about removing stigma and giving patients the tools, language, and confidence to advocate for their sexual well-being.

Chapter Codes

00:00 – Why sexual health is overlooked in oncology

01:45 – How many breast cancer patients struggle with sexual health

03:15 – Why oncologists avoid the sex conversation

05:02 – Biggest myths about sex during/after treatment

06:07 – Low libido: what’s actually happening

08:20 – Responsive desire vs spontaneous desire

09:50 – Vaginal dryness: causes, range, and treatment

12:34 – Moisturizers, hyaluronic acid & home remedies

13:45 – Vaginal estrogen: safety, controversy & guidelines

15:41 – Menopause, hormone shifts & severity of symptoms

17:30 – Pain during intercourse & pelvic floor dysfunction

19:27 – What to do if your cancer center lacks specialists

20:58 – Body image & sexuality after mastectomy

22:57 – Body image vs desire — how they interact

24:42 – When to see a sex therapist vs medical provider

26:29 – Partner communication and relationship impacts

28:10 – How to set boundaries without losing intimacy

29:55 – Dating during or after treatment

31:19 – How treatment affects ability to orgasm

33:28 – Is sexual recovery tied to treatment timing?

34:58 – Should you feel guilty for wanting sex after cancer?

35:40 – Myth busting: sugar, condoms, recurrence risk & more

36:37 – Is sex safe with a chemo port?

37:10 – Best sexual health resources for cancer survivors

About Patient From Hell

Patient From Hell is hosted by cancer survivor and founder Samira Daswani, who asks the questions most patients are too overwhelmed, or too afraid, to ask.

The show brings together doctors, researchers, advocates, and survivors to reveal evidence-based answers for patients navigating the chaos of cancer.

Subscribe for episodes that blend science, compassion, and clarity without the medical jargon.

🔔 Connect & Follow Samira Daswani

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samiradaswani/

Manta Cares: https://www.mantacares.com