At 24, Cancer Sparked My Calling

What do you do when cancer treatment ends but the fear, uncertainty, and questions remain? Licensed therapist Dr. Bonnie Hubert from the Memorial Hermann Canopy Cancer Survivorship Center joins host Darcie Wells to explore why emotional support is essential for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers. She shares how counseling, peer mentors, and creative outlets can ease fear of recurrence, reduce isolation, and bring strength after treatment. Bonnie’s calling began when she cared for her mother during ovarian cancer treatment and noticed a gap between medical plans and emotional care. Later, as a BRCA2 previvor, she chose preventive surgeries to lower her own risk. These experiences give her a unique perspective that blends compassion with professional insight. In this episode, she explains how to manage uncertainty with her “don’t look past the headlights” approach, focusing on what can be handled today rather than being overwhelmed by the future. She also highlights the healing power of hopeful stories and the free programs at Canopy and CanCare that provide comfort and community. Bonnie’s message is clear: no one has to face cancer alone. With support, resilience grows, and hope remains. Highlights: [00:00] Welcome & Guest Intro – Meet Dr. Bonnie Hubert, therapist at Memorial Hermann Canopy Cancer Survivorship Center. [02:09] From Counselor to Caregiver – How her mother’s ovarian cancer shifted Bonnie’s career focus. [04:09] The Hidden Gap in Cancer Care – Why ringing the bell doesn’t mean the journey is over. [07:14] Becoming a BRCA2 Previvor – Bonnie’s personal decision for preventive surgeries and how it shaped her outlook. [11:56] What Canopy Provides – Free counseling, groups, and community for survivors and caregivers. [13:49] Emotional Support in Action – Common struggles and why counseling brings relief. [19:05] It’s Just a Conversation – Removing stigma around counseling and therapy. [20:22] Power of Peer Mentors – How CanCare volunteers and survivor mentors offer unique hope. [26:28] Don’t Look Past the Headlights – A practical tool for managing uncertainty day by day. [30:14] Post-Traumatic Growth – How reframing the past with compassion creates space for growth. [33:14] Closing Message of Hope – Bonnie’s reminder that resilience grows when you tap into the right support. Mentioned Resources: CanCare- www.cancare.org www.cancare.org/hopebook About the Guest: Dr. Bonnie Hubert is a licensed therapist with the Canopy Cancer Survivorship Center at Memorial Hermann, where she supports cancer patients and their loved ones. Inspired by her mother’s cancer journey and her own experience as a “previvor,” Bonnie brings both professional expertise and personal understanding to her work. At Canopy, she provides counseling and leads support groups, helping people navigate fear, isolation, and life after treatment with compassion and care.

What happens when a cancer diagnosis interrupts college life at just 19 years old? At just 19 years old, while a sophomore in college, Adam Vandeventer heard the words no teenager expects to face: Stage 3 non-Hodgkin’s large B-cell lymphoma. What followed was a season of uncertainty and courage, where the normal rhythms of college life gave way to treatments, questions, and the fight for a future. In this conversation, Adam opens up about how he processed cancer as a young adult. From the shock of his diagnosis to balancing the life of a college student with the reality of treatment. He shares the lessons that carried him through those long months and the importance of support from family and friends support helped along his journey. Now serving as Community Affairs Manager at Halliburton, Adam shares how the resilience and perspective born from his diagnosis continues to influence the way he leads, builds relationships, and impacts his community. This is a story of courage, growth, and the long-lasting imprint of hope. One that will encourage anyone walking through hardship to see that their journey can shape them in meaningful ways.