S11 E9: Keep Saying Yes: Living, Advocating, and Finding Purpose with Cancer
Published Date:
With podcast host, Ginger Blackmon, and featuring Jacob “JJ” Singleton.
Jacob “JJ” Singleton was diagnosed with colorectal cancer as a young adult and has spent more than a decade navigating ongoing treatment, recurrence, and the realities of living with cancer long term.
In this episode of The PQI Podcast, JJ shares his journey, from the symptoms he initially ignored to the clinical trial that changed his treatment course, and the nearly 200 treatments that followed. JJ also discusses the physical and emotional impact of years of treatment, the importance of mental health support and community, and why he chooses to share an honest picture of life with cancer. He reflects on how advocacy gave him a renewed sense of purpose and how his work has expanded to include young adult cancer, rural oncology, clinical trials, and incorporating the patient perspective into research and care.
The conversation explores how patients can find their own path into advocacy and how oncology care teams can support them. JJ reminds healthcare professionals that every patient experiences cancer and treatment differently and encourages care teams to meet patients where they are, listen as relationships evolve, and recognize the value of lived experience.
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