Summary

Pancreatic cancer caregiver and advocate Marnie Reed joinshosts Jay Williams and Adrienne Finch to describe how her family navigated diagnosis, treatment decisions, clinical-trial barriers, and access to a promising drug. She also shares how an improvised TikTok campaign mobilized a global community, and practical ways caregivers can prepare for appointments, trust their instincts, and keep living while facing cancer.

Links

Marnie Reed's TikTok for all the updates going on with Marnie and her husband.

Follow us on INSTAGRAM for daily updates, laughs, and raw behind-the-scenes moments!

Donate to Help Jay Fight Pancreatic Cancer

Watch the show on YOUTUBE

Follow the CANCER SUCKS Playlist!

Find ALL our links in one place, here!

Follow Adrienne

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Chapters

00:00 Cancer can be part of life without defining it

02:50 A family history turns into urgent advocacy

07:44 Why pancreatic cancer care requires specialistexpertise

08:14 The maze of clinical-trial eligibility

10:06 A promising drug, a TikTok campaign, and 63 days

16:42 How online strangers became a support community

20:16 Turning caregiver experience into practical help

22:15 Notebooks, symptom logs, and the go-bag

25:07 Question assumptions and seek another perspective

27:18 When a caregiver knows it isn't safe to go home

29:36 Taking the vacation while treatment is working

30:56 Cancer changes how the clock sounds

A breast cancer diagnosis can hide in plain sight, especially when a mammogram says "fine" but dense breast tissue tells a different story. Today we welcome Casey Oliver, who shares with us the year that changed everything. From a routine referral and an ultrasound that uncovered two suspicious masses to a stage 1 diagnosis, surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, and the hard reality of becoming your own advocate. Casey opens up about how the diagnosis intersected with freelance entertainment work, gaps in insurance, and the chaos of trying to navigate Medi-Cal, referrals, and a medical system that is not built for people who move from contract to contract. What finally got her answers, and what helped her move forward, is a combination of persistence, research, and refusing to ignore what her body was telling her.You'll discover:

• Why dense breast tissue can make mammograms miss what an ultrasound or MRI may catch

• How Casey used Every Woman Counts and Planned Parenthood to keep her screening moving

• What it is like to face a lumpectomy, lymph node removal, radiation, Zoladex, and anastrozole without chemo

• Why she fought for treatment choices before surgery instead of waiting until after

• The unexpected side effects, including hot flashes, night sweats, lymphedema, and frozen shoulder concerns

Jay and Adrienne bring their own perspective on the emotional and practical burden of treatment, the importance of support systems, and why early detection matters even more when you feel "too busy" to get checked. Casey also talks about the online communities, niche survivor groups, and real-world advice that can make the difference between feeling isolated and feeling equipped. This conversation is a reminder that cancer does not care how busy you are, how young you feel, or how "normal" your first test looks. If you've ever been told you have dense breasts, put off a screening, or wondered whether you should ask for more than a mammogram, this episode gives you a clear reason to act.

For more CANCER SUCKS PODCAST ⬇

Follow us on INSTAGRAM for daily updates, laughs, and raw behind-the-scenes moments!

Donate to Help Jay Fight Pancreatic Cancer

Watch the show on YOUTUBE

Follow the CANCER SUCKS Playlist!

Find ALL our links in one place, here!

Follow Adrienne

Follow Parker

For booking, to be a guest on the show, and other business inquiries: cancersuckspodcast@gmail.com

00:27 Introduction and episode overview

02:19 Jay Williams shares his latest cancer treatment update

04:58 Understanding tumor markers and their significance

06:59 The implications of rising CA199 levels

08:51 Exploring treatment options and clinical trials

09:54 Introduction and guest background

11:34 Casey's career and personal background

14:06 Breast cancer diagnosis and initial steps

16:57 Importance of ultrasound and dense breast tissue

19:50 Staging, treatment options, and clinical trials

22:47 Medication, side effects, and managing menopause

25:31 Radiation treatment and recovery

26:35 Lymph node involvement and physical effects

28:52 Support systems and emotional resilience

30:47 Healthcare system navigation and advice

34:04 Advocacy, research, and early detection

40:44 Community, shared experiences, and support groups

42:24 Collecting coffee mugs and personal interests

54:22 Closing remarks and gratitude

55:44 Introduction to Cancer Advocacy

58:25 Engaging with the Audience

Cancer changes everything, but it can also reveal the kind of strength you did not know you had. Sheila Butler shares the brutally honest story behind surviving breast cancer in her 30s, navigating 18 surgeries, chemo, radiation, and the mental toll that kept hitting long after the physical treatment ended.

This conversation goes beyond survival and into the real work of living after diagnosis. Jay opens up about his own cancer journey, while Sheila talks candidly about what it means to keep going when cancer becomes part of your life story, not just a chapter in it.

This episode is a reminder that a diagnosis does not get the final word. If you need perspective, hope, or an honest look at how people actually get through impossible seasons, this one is essential listening.

Be sure to check out Shelia’s socials and podcast! ⬇

https://open.spotify.com/show/1JfBEhCu3L6AVwS8puO1qg

https://www.instagram.com/marketingoverbourbon/

https://www.butlermg.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheilabutler/

For more CANCER SUCKS PODCAST ⬇

Follow us on INSTAGRAM for daily updates, laughs, and raw behind-the-scenes moments!

Donate to Help Jay Fight Pancreatic Cancer

Watch the show on YOUTUBE

Follow the CANCER SUCKS Playlist!

Find ALL our links in one place, here!

Follow Adrienne

Follow Parker

For booking, to be a guest on the show, and other business inquiries: cancersuckspodcast@gmail.com

• 00:30 — Welcome to Cancer Sucks

• 01:32 — Jay’s latest health update

• 04:47 — New breakthroughs bringing hope to cancer care

• 11:50 — Meet Sheila Butler

• 13:03 — Disney days and the unforgettable cruise-ship wedding

• 17:16 — From corporate marketing to entrepreneurship

• 19:23 — Creating Marketing Over Bourbon

• 24:32 — Sheila’s breast cancer diagnosis in her 30s

• 26:16 — Living with cancer after treatment ends

• 34:00 — Working, studying, and moving forward through chemo

• 36:50 — The resilience cancer can reveal

• 41:00 — Sheila’s advice for anyone newly diagnosed

• 43:22 — Cancer, identity, work, and choosing what to share

• 47:41 — Community, connection, and giving back

• 48:52 — Closing reflections with Jay and Adrienne

• 50:18 — Stay connected with the Cancer Sucks community