Episode 131: An Interview with Vanessa Steil

<span style="font-weight: 400;">I’m so happy to be able to share this podcast with you. My guest, Vanessa Steil, is someone whose work I admire and who has so much wisdom to share. Vanessa is a graduate of The American University in Washington, D.C. and holds a B.A. in political science, but an unexpected cancer diagnosis changed her life’s trajectory. </span>   <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At the age of 26, Vanessa was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. This life-altering diagnosis led Vanessa down a new career path as a Board Certified Patient Advocate, health coach, and wellness blogger. Following this passion, Vanessa started her site</span> <a href= "http://livinginsteil.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Living in Steil</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">in 2014 as a way to share her story and offer resources to other patients and survivors.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vanessa actively promotes thyroid cancer awareness and has been interviewed and featured on numerous media outlets. Her story was included in the cancer survivor book, TOUGH: Women Who Survived Cancer, which was published in September 2019. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Vanessa shares so many valuable insights into life as a cancer survivor and caretaker, but here are some of the ones which resonated the most:</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">A diagnosis of cancer – your own or that of someone you love – will force you into an advocate role where you have to learn to be comfortable asking questions of your medical team and having open conversations with them;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Being the caregiver for a loved one will test your ability to care for your own well-being, so it’s important to allow yourself the time and space to feel your feelings and recharge;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Healthy living is about feeling l