Guest Haley Pollack knows the deep impact of cancer — first as a daughter, then as a mother. After her mom died of breast cancer during her 20s, Haley faced her own colon cancer diagnosis at 37, just months after giving birth to her second daughter. In this heartfelt conversation, she opens up about navigating motherhood and cancer, the pain of stopping breastfeeding due to treatment, and the loneliness of not finding resources for young parents like her. Haley also shares how a connection with another young mom with cancer led to co-founding Bright Spot Network, a nonprofit that creates a safe space for young parents navigating cancer while raising small children, including those diagnosed during pregnancy.
Haley reflects vulnerably on how her mother’s cancer experience shaped her own, the unexpected ways grief evolves, and the long journey to forgiving her younger self for how she coped during her mom’s illness. Together, we explore grief, legacy, and the importance of being gentle with our past selves.
Learn more about Bright Spot Network here.
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