For more patient resources and advocacy, visit Manta Cares at mantacares.com.

In this episode, we hear a compelling story of a patient's journey through a severe cough and the subsequent rib pain. She discusses undergoing standard cancer treatment and participating in clinical trials, highlighting the direct impact of medical research on her health. Her current regimen includes a targeted pill for lung disease, which is not yet widely approved, showcasing the cutting-edge efforts in treating challenging conditions and managing side effects.

Episode Chapters

00:00 - The Reality of "Cracking Your Ribs" from Coughing

00:32 - Meet Natalie Brown: Lung Cancer Advocate

01:23 - Symptoms & Diagnosis: Stage 4 at Age 33

03:07 - No Biomarkers: Navigating Non-Targetable Lung Cancer

03:40 - Becoming "An Experiment": Clinical Trials & Transplant

04:21 - What is a Double Lung Transplant? Risks & Process

05:52 - The Surgeon’s Honest Assessment: "Your Lungs are Trash"

07:42 - Choosing Surgery Over Trials: The Decision-Making Process

08:40 - The Role of Support: Husband, Family, and Finances

09:18 - The One-Year Recovery in Chicago: Pain & Mobility

11:37 - Life After Transplant: Recurrence in the Spine

12:48 - Mental Health: Therapy and the "48-Hour Rule"

16:12 - Facing Mortality: Finding Freedom in the Conversation

18:02 - What Time Means Now: The Monthly Beach Dream20:10 - Managing Chronic Pain & The Art of the "Doom Scroll"

21:05 - Advocacy: Breaking the Stigma of "Smoker's Disease"

23:17 - The Dichotomy: Being Active vs. Asking for Help

26:30 - Rapid Fire Advice for the Newly Diagnosed

28:53 - If You Have Lungs, You Are at Risk

29:46 - Closing Thoughts & Medical

About Our Guest:

Natalie Brown is an advocate and speaker from Atlanta, Georgia. In 2020, she was diagnosed with stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer. She is also a bilateral lung transplant recipient. Since her diagnosis, Natalie has been dedicated to advocating for and educating others about lung cancer and the impact it has on patients and families.

Natalie has a strong background in building meaningful relationships and collaborating with nonprofit organizations and groups within the tech community. In her spare time, Natalie enjoys traveling, spending quality time with family and friends, and relaxing with her dog Hershey.

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#LungCancer #PatientStories #DoubleLungTransplant #CancerAdvocacy #PatientFromHell #Manticare

Disclaimer:

This podcast, show notes, and newsletter are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice; no doctor-patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or any materials linked from this blog is at the user's own risk. The opinions of the speakers are their own and do not represent the opinions of organizations they are affiliated with, nor do they reflect the opinions of Manta Cares Inc. or Manta Cares' sponsors.

"Don't rush the process." In this episode, we sit down with Kim Burket, Executive Director of Goodness Village, to discuss a side of the cancer journey that often goes overlooked: the need for a true home. Goodness Village provides affordable housing in Little Rock, Arkansas, for patients and families traveling for life-saving medical treatment.

Kim shares her 20 years of hospitality experience and how she’s applying it to healthcare to ensure families can stay together, cook their own meals, and find a safe haven during their hardest chapters. Whether you are a patient, a caregiver, or a healthcare leader, Kim’s "sage wisdom" on resilience and accepting help is a must-listen.

In this episode, we discuss:

🏡 The "Basic" needs that hospitals often miss.

📉 Why rushing your treatment timeline can cause more angst.

🤝 How to find your "champions" and actually accept their help.📊 The massive impact of community-based non-profit housing on patient outcomes.

📍 Timestamps:

00:00 – The #1 piece of advice for patients: Don’t rush the process.

01:13 – What is Goodness Village? A unique model for medical housing.

03:10 – The 30-year history of a grassroots mission.

04:14 – Why a hotel isn't enough when you're fighting cancer.

06:50 – The "Little Things": How 26 apartments provided 6,000+ nights of rest.

10:40 – Gaps in the healthcare system and the power of collaboration.

13:14 – A story of resilience: Keeping a family of five together.

15:25 – Advice for Healthcare CEOs and Hospital Leaders.

18:38 – A checklist for patients traveling for care.

About Our Guest:

Kim Burket has served as the Executive Director of Goodness Village for 15 years. Under her leadership, the organization transitioned from a church ministry to an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, growing to provide 26 affordable, fully furnished apartments for patients and families traveling to Little Rock for medical care. Kim lives in Little Rock with her husband Jim, where their younger son is a senior at Little Rock Christian Academy, and their oldest son is attending college in Fayetteville.

🔗 Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

👉 Subscribe and hit the bell to stay updated on future episodes of Patient from Hell.

Connect with Us:

Enjoyed this episode? Make sure to subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Linkedin @MantaCares and visit our website at MantaCares.com for more episodes and updates.

Disclaimer:

All content and information provided in connection with Manta Cares is solely intended for informational and educational purposes only. This content and information is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Rich — a leukemia survivor, nurse practitioner, and longtime oncology clinician — to talk about what it’s really like to survive cancer, rebuild your life after treatment, and live with long-term side effects.

Rich was diagnosed with leukemia at age 28, underwent an allogeneic stem cell transplant at Dana-Farber / Brigham and Women’s, and is now a 29-year survivor. His experience as both a patient and provider offers a rare, honest look at cancer survivorship, prostate cancer side effects, sexual health, mental health, and post-traumatic growth.

In this conversation, we cover:

• What it’s like to be told you have leukemia in your 20s

• Stem cell transplant and long-term survival

• Turning cancer into purpose and becoming an oncology NP

• Common prostate cancer side effects (urination, bowel changes, erectile dysfunction)

• How doctors actually manage these symptoms

• Sexual health after cancer treatment

• Mental health, grief, and post-traumatic growth

• How to rebuild your life after active treatment

  
  

This episode is for patients, survivors, caregivers, and anyone navigating life after a cancer diagnosis.

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🔔 Subscribe for evidence-based cancer care and survivor stories

00:00 Life gets hard — and it gets better

01:00 Meeting Rich

02:50 Diagnosed with leukemia at 2805:30 Stem cell transplant & early treatment reality

07:20 Complications and emotional toll

08:40 Discovering purpose in oncology care

10:45 From patient to nurse practitioner

13:00 Building virtual survivorship care

16:50 Prostate cancer side effects overview

17:45 Urinary problems after radiation

21:20 Blood in urine & stool — when to worry

23:50 Erectile dysfunction after treatment

26:30 Medications & men’s health options

28:50 Emotional impact of sexual side effects

31:00 Quality of life vs quantity of life

32:10 Post-traumatic growth

33:00 Marriage, fertility, and family after cancer

36:00 Advice for rebuilding life after treatment

38:30 Final thoughts & hope

🔗 Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

👉 Subscribe and hit the bell to stay updated on future episodes of Patient from Hell.

Connect with Us:

Enjoyed this episode? Make sure to subscribe, rate, and review! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Linkedin @MantaCares and visit our website at MantaCares.com for more episodes and updates.

Disclaimer:

All content and information provided in connection with Manta Cares is solely intended for informational and educational purposes only. This content and information is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.