Episode 50: Facing Your Mortality and Living with an Uncertain Future with Katie Coleman from Patient from Hell

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Episode 50: Facing Your Mortality and Living with an Uncertain Future with Katie Coleman

1 hour 9 minutes Posted Feb 7, 2024 at 9:41 am.

: " Through my diagnosis, I've had different prognosis' at different points of time. I'm very thankful for where I'm at currently, and I'm doing really well. But through that process and having to accept and think about my own mortality, some of my mindset around that shifted, which I'm sure we'll get into. My relationship with the thought of being given five years now is very different than it was when I was first diagnosed. But I had to do a lot of that learning on my own. And it's something that I wish more people talked about because it's a very, very hard topic to try to go through on your own and you can get very lost in despair and get yourself stuck in the process."

: “If I could take back my cancer diagnosis, I wouldn't. Even if that means I only have two years of life left, I would not take it back still, because I have lived more in the last two and a half years than I lived in the entire 29 prior to that. And cancer really sucks. And I would probably regret saying that if I wasn't feeling well, I don't really know, but I do know that like where I'm at currently. It's just, it is life changing, but sometimes in all the best ways.”

: “I noticed that I had a harder time listening to people gossip or hearing the everyday little nuances to life that happen… it's so hard to explain because I don't pass judgment on anybody in those situations. That is what life is. I think that's just how people live their life and I don't blame anyone for that. I just think that once you've gone through something like cancer that shifts your perspective, it's hard to sometimes sit in those situations because it feels negative or draining for me."

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In this episode, we welcome back a previous guest and friend, Katie Coleman. This time, we dive into facing one’s mortality and how to grapple with the uncertainty of living with a cancer diagnosis. We get into pre-diagnosis thoughts on mortality and how perspectives shifted after diagnosis. Katie also sheds light on some of the silver linings of being forced to confront your own mortality: helping you accept the inevitable, prioritizing what’s important, and guiding you to the road of self-discovery.You can listen to (or watch) the previous episode with Katie here.

Key Highlights:

Initially a cancer diagnosis triggers fears and uncertainties about mortality, but acceptance of mortality leads to a rewarding change of perspective and even a fulfilling life.

Encountering death transforms life by influencing priorities and perspectives.

As a result of the shift in perspective, facing your own mortality may negatively impact bonds outside the cancer community. Feelings of isolation and not fitting in are common, particularly in situations dominated by small talk.

About our guest:

Katie Coleman is a patient advocate who was diagnosed with a rare stage IV kidney cancer in Dec 2020, at the age of 29. She has shared her diagnosis publicly on social media to spread awareness and to advocate for others with kidney cancer and rare diseases. Since being diagnosed, she has also founded a non-profit, started a podcast and is publishing an upcoming memoir. You can read more about Katie and sign up to be notified when her book launches on her website at www.katiekickscancer.com.

Key Moments:

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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.

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