Latest news with #CarryTheFire
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Sangita Patel reflects on having an 'ugly cry' after being diagnosed with cancer: 'I've never had a breakdown'
Sangita Patel is reflecting on her journey with a rare form of thyroid cancer. In a interview released in March for "Carry The Fire," a podcast from the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation hosted by Canadian journalist Lisa LaFlamme, Patel opened up about receiving her diagnosis at the peak of her professional life. The Toronto-born TV host was told she had encapsulated angioinvasive oncoytic carcinoma in 2023. Although she's now cancer-free, she said she's only now begun healing emotionally from the life-changing diagnosis, surgeries and treatment. This April is Cancer Awareness Month, otherwise known as Daffodil Month. In honour of the special month, here's everything we learned about Patel's recent conversation with LaFlamme. Patel is a strong person, both physically and mentally. The former ET Canada host has cultivated an online presence filled with fitness, healthy recipes and positivity. This article was first published in March 2025. However, when LaFlamme asked the 46-year-old mother of two about her biggest takeaway from cancer, Patel had a surprising answer. "That I'm allowed to be weak," Patel said, adding that for her, weakness looks like "vulnerability." Despite the lesson, Patel added she's still learning how to put it into practice. Patel was understandably nervous when the lump on her throat was biopsied and when she underwent surgery to have one side of her thyroid removed. However, following the surgery, Patel's pathology report revealed she had encapsulated angioinvasive oncoytic carcinoma, also known as Hürthle cell carcinoma. It's a form of thyroid cancer that can be more aggressive and potentially spread to the lungs or bones. Patel said she understood the pathology report was serious because her husband, a radiologist named Samir, was quiet when reading the results. "It's bullshit. I was just like, 'I can't believe this is happening,'" Patel said. "I thought I've done my part. I'm healing. Life is good. I've done what I had to do ... and I'm like, 'What's wrong with me? What is happening right now?'" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sangita Patel (@ Patel and her family decided to retreat to Barbados following the official diagnosis. Although the trip was supposed to be restorative, she said she experienced a new emotional low point. "I've never had a breakdown in my 45 years. I don't even know what happened. Something my daughter said. And we were at dinner, and I went back to our hotel room and I had the ugly cry," she said. "I don't remember the last time I ever had an ugly cry like that. And my husband was there, and I'm thinking about death, and I'm thinking about everything, just things I would never think about. I finally said, 'Holy shit, I could die.'" Patel said her husband admitted he had a similar breakdown after learning of her cancer and said she was going to do more to see how Samir's feeling even now that she's cancer-free. Patel's surgeon, Dr. Jesse Pasternak of University Health Network in Toronto, removed the rest of her thyroid. For both surgeries, Pasternak used a cutting edge method called TOETVA (transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy-vestibular approach). TOETVA involves making incisions inside the mouth to access the thyroid, instead of accessing the gland through the neck, meaning there's no visible scarring. Pasternak is the only surgeon in Canada using the method, and although the surgery was successful, he ordered more treatment to help prevent future cancer recurrences. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sangita Patel (@ "Radioactive iodine is an iodine pill that you take that has, instead of the regular iodine that we eat in our iodine salt, it's got a radioactive particle attached to it," he explained to LaFlamme. "Interestingly, only thyroid cells in the body use iodine, and so the iodine only goes to the thyroid cells, and then it basically explodes once it gets to those thyroid cells and kills the thyroid cell with it." While Patel is on the mend emotionally, she now focusing on new projects. That includes establishing a wellness brand, which she compared to Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop. "Building my brand is what my goal is for the next few years, and I take it step by step. If there's one thing I do is I definitely stay on my own journey," she said. "I don't look to the left. I don't look to the right. I stay on my journey. "I don't even know how I got here, but it's partly because I stayed on my journey. And that's my next step, is to actually explode internationally, to be in that space, knowing there's a whole world out there."
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation Launches Carry The Fire - A Groundbreaking Podcast Hosted by Legendary Broadcaster Lisa LaFlamme
The podcast explores the powerful intersection of patient stories and innovative cancer research and treatments, featuring experts and patients from The Princess Margaret. TORONTO, Feb. 4, 2025 /CNW/ - In recognition of World Cancer Day, The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation (PMCF) is proud to launch Carry The Fire, its debut podcast hosted by legendary Canadian broadcaster, Lisa LaFlamme. This powerful, eight-episode series brings to light the personal stories of cancer patients who have faced extraordinary challenges alongside the doctors, researchers and nurses spearheading world-changing advancements in treatment at The Princess Margaret. "With 2 in 5 Canadians expected to receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, cancer affects us all," said Lisa LaFlamme, host of Carry The Fire. "At The Princess Margaret, groundbreaking progress is being made every day, and our podcast will offer a candid, human perspective on the real-life journeys of patients, families and loved ones. Through these intimate conversations, we hope to ease the fear surrounding cancer and bring comfort and hope to those who need it most." The series kicks off with a special World Cancer Day episode featuring Tennille Rose Will, an artist and mother who was diagnosed with colon cancer during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tennille shares her emotional journey, including the pivotal role her childhood best friend, Hollywood star Rachel McAdams, played as her main support during that time. Together, they shine a light on the critical contributions of caregivers, with expert insights from Dr. Sarah Hales, a leading researcher in the psychosocial aspects of caregiving. "Caregivers often don't get the recognition they deserve. My friends, Rachel and Anne, were my lifelines," said Tennille Rose Will. "I was so overwhelmed with gratitude for all my friends and family in their unwavering support. Without their love and commitment, I don't know if I would've had the same triumphant outcome." Upcoming episodes will feature remarkable personal stories and descriptions of groundbreaking treatments, including: Jeanne Beker – The celebrated TV host and fashion editor who faced a breast cancer diagnosis with courage while discovering cutting-edge treatments at The Princess Margaret. David Lahey – A patient who benefited from the trailblazing Tumour Immunotherapy Program at The Princess Margaret, receiving treatment that trained his own immune system to fight his terminal cancer. Luana Locke – A patient with a rare genetic mutation who overcame cancer six times thanks to advancements in early detection at The Princess Margaret. Sangita Patel – The TV personality who shares how a rare cancer diagnosis reshaped her outlook on life and the one surgeon in Canada who could help her. Alicia Mathlin – A cancer patient and therapist who shares her own journey of choosing to stop physical treatment and instead rely on a world-leading psychosocial team. Atoosa Rashid – A young adult navigating her colon cancer diagnosis with support from The Princess Margaret's unique Adolescent and Young Adult program. Paul Carleton – A participant who shows us the importance of clinical trials to help improve patient outcomes. Each episode of Carry The Fire is a window into the human side of cancer treatment, showcasing the resilience and strength of those fighting the disease, and the medical professionals who are driving progress to create a world free from the fear of cancer. To learn more or subscribe, visit or listen on your preferred podcast platform. ABOUT THE PRINCESS MARGARET CANCER FOUNDATIONThe Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation is Canada's largest cancer charity. We're dedicated to raising funds for Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, one of the world's leading cancer research and treatment centres, known for its breakthrough discoveries that transform patient outcomes. Together, we Carry The Fire for cancer patients everywhere in our mission to create a world free from the fear of cancer. Through philanthropy, fundraising events, and our world-leading lottery program, we're changing how the world understands, prevents, diagnoses, and treats cancer, benefitting patients at The Princess Margaret, throughout Canada, and around the world. SOURCE Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation View original content to download multimedia: Sign in to access your portfolio
