In this episode of Thrive Through the Fire, I share an honest and deeply personal conversation about food, nourishment, weight gain during chemo, and what it really looked like for me to support my body during treatment.

When I was first diagnosed, I assumed I would lose weight during chemotherapy. I think a lot of people believe that’s what happens. You picture constant nausea and no appetite. But my oncologist surprised me when he said most people actually gain weight during chemo. Between steroids, anti-nausea medications, water retention, inflammation, and reduced activity, weight gain is common. Research even shows many women gain between 5–15 pounds during treatment.

I experienced that firsthand. In the beginning, I looked swollen and inflamed. My face was round from steroids. My body held fluid. I didn’t recognize myself. And if you’re walking through that right now, I want you to know that it does not mean you are failing. It does not mean you are unhealthy. It means your body is under stress and fighting hard.

Early in my diagnosis, I chose to pursue integrative support alongside conventional treatment. I hired a naturopath to help guide me nutritionally. Not instead of chemo. Not instead of my oncologist. But in addition to it.

She gave me clear food and drink guidelines aimed at reducing inflammation and supporting detox pathways. Some of the foods I focused on included:

1. Dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, and arugula
2. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts
3. Berries, especially blueberries and raspberries
4. Organic lean proteins like wild-caught fish and pasture-raised chicken
5. Grass-fed beef
6. Garlic and onions
7. Turmeric with black pepper
8. Ginger
9. Flax seeds and chia seeds
10. Avocado and olive oil

For drinks, I prioritized:

1. Filtered water
2. Warm lemon water in the morning
3. Green tea
4. Herbal teas like ginger and dandelion root
5. Fresh vegetable juices that were mostly greens

I reduced or avoided refined sugar, processed foods, artificial dyes, excess dairy, seed oils, and alcohol.

There is no magic cancer-fighting food. Food was not my cure. But food was my support. Research consistently shows that diets high in vegetables and fiber help reduce inflammation, and chronic inflammation is linked to disease progression. Green tea contains antioxidant compounds that have been studied for cancer prevention. Cruciferous vegetables contain sulforaphane, which has been studied for detox support. While none of these replace medical treatment, nourishment matters.

I also share the biblical perspective that shaped my mindset around food and stewardship. In Genesis 1:29, God gives seed-bearing plants and fruit for food. In 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, we’re reminded that our...

In this episode of Thrive Through the Fire, I share why I continue to talk about colon cancer, even years after my diagnosis — and why this conversation is not meant to scare you, but to equip you.

As colorectal cancer rates rise, especially in younger adults, awareness matters more than ever. But this episode is about more than statistics. It’s about stewardship. It’s about obedience. It’s about using the story God allowed me to walk through to help someone else walk through theirs.

When I was diagnosed, I had no idea how public my journey would become. My cancer experience included overwhelming doctor appointments, scans, surgeries, recovery, and waking up with an ostomy bag. None of it was glamorous. None of it was Instagram-perfect. It was raw, uncomfortable, and very real.

Learning to live with an ostomy bag as a young woman and mom was humbling. There were questions no one talks about openly — what it feels like, how to dress, how to navigate confidence, intimacy, church, public spaces, and everyday life. Those conversations are rarely on a stage, but they matter deeply when you’re the one living them.

Early on, I made the decision not to hide. I chose to share my appointments, my surgeries, my fears, and even my ostomy experience publicly. Not for attention. Not for sympathy. But because I believe stories heal.

Sharing became cathartic. It helped me process what I was walking through. It helped remove shame. Silence creates isolation, but conversation creates connection.

I was blessed to have people I could talk to during my journey. One friend in particular became a lifeline for me because she also had an ostomy bag. From one young woman to another, we talked honestly about what life really looked like. I could text her questions that felt vulnerable. I could ask what was normal. I could admit when I felt overwhelmed. That kind of connection steadied me.

Even now, years later, people still reach out. They remember what I shared. They message me when they or someone they love is facing a diagnosis. They ask about surgery, recovery, ostomies, fear, and faith. And I answer — because I remember needing someone who had already been there.

This episode explains why I share boldly. I believe God created me that way. Not everyone is called to speak publicly about their hardest seasons, but I am. If He carried me through hospital rooms, through surgeries, through the physical and emotional weight of cancer, then I don’t want to waste the testimony.

Revelation reminds us that we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. Testimony is not always polished. Sometimes it includes scars. Sometimes it includes medical devices. Sometimes it includes moments that feel anything but attractive. But when we bring those things into the light, they lose their power to isolate us.

This conversation is not about fear. It is about awareness. It is about listening to your body. It is about getting screened. It is about advocating for your health. And it is about reminding anyone facing a diagnosis that they are not alone.

If my willingness to talk about doctor appointments, surgeries, and an ostomy bag helps one person seek care sooner, ask better questions, or feel less ashamed — then it is worth it.

God wastes nothing. Not even the hard parts.

If this episode speaks to you, share it with someone who may need encouragement or a push to schedule that appointment. Awareness saves lives, and testimony builds bridges.

You are not alone in your journey. And together, we can learn how to thrive through the fire.

In today’s episode, I’m talking about something I’ve had to learn the hard way: doing what’s best for you, even when everyone around you has advice, opinions, or fears they’re projecting onto your situation.

This conversation was shaped deeply by my cancer journey. I share how I was offered support groups and advice from many well-meaning people, but had to be intentional about what voices I allowed in. Not because support is bad, but because not all advice is wise for every season. I knew I couldn’t carry other people’s fear, worst-case stories, or experiences that weren’t meant for me.

I also talk about the weight of decision-making during cancer, from choosing doctors to treatment plans, and how a trusted reminder helped me realize that the hardest part was the uncertainty. Once a plan was in place, peace came through simply walking it out one day at a time.

We dive into how fear often disguises itself as wisdom, why approval-seeking can keep us stuck, and how Scripture calls us to live with discernment instead of anxiety. I share biblical examples of obedience over opinion, and why doing what’s best for you is not selfish, but stewardship.

This episode is an encouragement for anyone standing at a crossroads, feeling overwhelmed by outside voices, or struggling to trust their own discernment. We talk about how to filter advice, why peace is a powerful guide, and how God’s Word anchors us when everything feels uncertain.

If you’re navigating a big decision, a hard season, or a moment where everyone seems to have an opinion about your life, my prayer is that this episode helps you quiet the noise, lean into God’s voice, and walk forward in peace.

Thank you for being here, and for walking this journey with me on Thrive Through the Fire.