She Survived Breast Cancer, Then Leukemia. Here’s How She Kept Laughing.

In this week’s episode, I sat down with a new friend, Nancy Steinberg, who has a story that will stop you in your tracks. Nancy is a healthcare communications professional and a passionate cancer patient advocate. But before she was an advocate, she was a patient navigating a terrifying reality not once, but twice.

Nancy is a 26-year breast cancer survivor and has been living with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) for the past 14 years. Her story isn’t just about medical survival; it is about the emotional resilience required to keep living fully while managing chronic illness.

Here are the biggest takeaways from our conversation.

1. Grief and Diagnosis Often Collide

Nancy’s first diagnosis came at the hardest possible moment. Twenty-six years ago, just two months after her mother passed away from metastatic breast cancer, Nancy was diagnosed with the same disease.

She was a young mother to a two-year-old son and was still reeling from the loss of her best friend and confidant. Instead of taking time to grieve, she had to go into survival mode. She underwent a mastectomy and reconstruction while working through chemotherapy, driven by the need to be there for her son.

“For me, the hardest thing was losing my mom... knowing that I had to look after [my son], and be strong, I just sort of persevered.”

2. The Fear of Discrimination is Real

Fourteen years ago, a routine blood test revealed Nancy had elevated white blood cells, leading to a diagnosis of CML, a type of blood cancer. Unlike her breast cancer, which she was open about, Nancy hid her leukemia diagnosis from her employers for years.

She admitted she was “petrified” of discrimination. She feared that if she checked “Yes” on the disability forms or disclosed her illness, she would be passed over for promotions or seen as unable to handle responsibilities. It is a stark reminder that even in modern workplaces, the fear of professional stigma forces many to suffer in silence.

3. Step Away from “Dr. Google”

If there is one piece of advice Nancy wants every patient to hear, it is this: Do not consult Dr. Google.

The internet is filled with worst-case scenarios that can send you down a negative path. Instead, Nancy emphasizes finding a community, real people who have walked the path before you. Whether it is a support group or just a friend who listens, connecting with others who understand your experience is far more healing than researching symptoms online.

4. Find Your “Fetal Position” Comfort

How do you cope with the anxiety of scans and chronic management? Nancy’s approach is refreshing: embrace what brings you joy, no matter how small or “immature” it might seem.

For Nancy, that means enjoying New York City theater, engaging in a little “retail therapy,” or sleeping in the fetal position with a comforting teddy bear from London. Her philosophy is simple: Do the things that make you happy. Cancer is something she lives with, It’s not who she is.

“I have my husband and I have my work and I have cancer... you have to maintain it.”

Final Thoughts

Nancy’s transition from a patient hiding her diagnosis to an outspoken advocate was sparked by an epiphany at a conference. She realized her unique position, straddling the worlds of healthcare PR and patient experience, allowed her to help others feel less alone.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by a health challenge today, take a page out of Nancy’s book: Step away from the search bar, call a friend, and don’t be afraid to find comfort in the little things.

Connect with Nancy: If Nancy’s story resonated with you, you can connect with her on LinkedIn: 🔗 Nancy Steinberg on LinkedIn