Patient Advocacy 101: Navigating Treatment, Building Your Team & Finding Your Voice w/Deb Krier

Описание: Navigating cancer treatment can feel overwhelming—like you've been dropped into a complex system where you're expected to make critical decisions without a roadmap.

Deb Krier has faced cancer—more than once, including breast cancer (that became stage four), as well as thyroid cancer. She went into septic shock during her first chemo, had a double mastectomy, and learned that the difference between surviving and thriving often comes down to one thing: knowing how to advocate for yourself.

This isn't your typical "stay positive!" cancer story. This is an honest conversation about what actually matters when you're facing a serious diagnosis and trying to navigate the healthcare system.

In this episode:
Why your care team matters more than you think (and how to recognize when a doctor isn't the right fit)
The actual role of integrative cancer coaching (and how it works alongside traditional treatment)
How humor becomes a genuine coping mechanism during difficult times
Real talk on balancing traditional treatments with holistic approaches (because both can coexist)
Why "doing your own research" needs guardrails and trusted guidance

Here's what we wish more people knew: Holistic health can include MDs. It can include chemotherapy. It can include rest and pie and joy. And it definitely includes advocating for yourself—because your voice matters in your own care.

Deb now runs tryingnottodie.LIVE, supporting professionals facing cancer with community, resources, and the kind of honest conversations that often get missed in clinical settings.

This episode is for you if:
You're navigating cancer (or supporting someone who is)
You're trying to make sense of conflicting health information
You want to learn how to effectively communicate with your medical team
You believe healing can include both evidence-based medicine and maintaining your humanity

CONNECT WITH DEB: https://tryingnottodie.live/about/

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Introduction: Meet Deb Crier
2:15 - The Energizer Bunny Reality
4:30 - The Cancer Journey Begins
8:45 - Birth of "Trying Not to Die Dot Live"
11:20 - The Role of Humor in Health
14:00 - Advocating for Yourself
17:30 - Building Your Care Team
22:15 - Traditional vs. Holistic: It's Not Either/Or
26:45 - The Google Problem
29:30 - Understanding Your Unique Operating System
32:00 - Interviewing Your Doctors
36:15 - Real Stories from the Treatment Room
40:20 - Being Honest with Your Care Team
43:45 - Mental Health Matters
46:00 - Final Thoughts: You Are in Charge
47:30 - Wrap-Up & Where to Find Deb

Sometimes the most important thing you can do is simply survive. And sometimes surviving means knowing which questions to ask, which professionals to trust, and how to find moments of lightness even in dark times.

About The Human Array: We know holistic health can feel chaotic and overwhelming. We're here to help you navigate it with honesty and clarity—no BS, no miracle cures, just real conversations about what actually works.

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