Solo Ep 5: Telling Your Family You Have Cancer: Lessons From Both Sides of the Table

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Telling your family you have cancer might be the hardest conversation of your life.
Joelle Kaufman has lived it — as both the child of a survivor and a parent with cancer.

When Joelle found out she had cancer, she had to tell her three kids — ages 21, 19, and 15 — and then her parents, including her mom, a 43-year survivor. In this raw, heartfelt episode, Joelle shares the real conversation, what she learned, and how love and strength show up in unexpected ways.

You’ll discover:

What to say (and what not to say) when sharing your diagnosis
Why you can’t protect your family from their emotions — and shouldn’t try
How to stay present, honest, and connected, even through fear
The truth that every reaction — even tears — is love in motion

Whether you’re newly diagnosed or supporting someone who is, this episode will remind you that cancer may be in the room, but it does not get to take your power.

🔗 Join the Kicking Cancer’s Ass community: kcapodcast.com
💬 Share this episode with someone who needs to know they’re not alone.

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Joelle K

I'm a 54 year old former CMO/CRO and generational breast cancer survivor. My early cancer experiences shaped my personal and professional philosophy to continuously cultivate an approach that adjusts to whatever curveball shows up. And we know, curveballs are constant, especially in midlife with aging parents, maturing kids (if you have kids), and opportunities to focus on new goals for our next 50 years. I have a book being released in January - Crushing the Cancer Curveball, A Veteran's Guide for the Newly Diagnosed. While no one wants cancer, 1 in 2 Americans and 1 in 4 people worldwide will face cancer in their lifetimes. There's an alternative narrative to the terror, anger and fear that accompanies a diagnosis - a narrative that spawns compassion, confidence, and even joy. I'd love to talk about it with you and your audience.

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