Hope in the Face of Cancer: Empowering Stories and Support

What can a cancer researcher teach us when he suddenly finds himself sitting in the patient chair? Larry Coffer spent more than 20 years at MD Anderson Cancer Center supporting ovarian and breast cancer research, helping teams develop treatments and improve outcomes for patients. Long before his own diagnosis, cancer shaped his life through his stepfather’s battle with colon cancer. That experience inspired a career dedicated to helping others. Then, while training for a marathon, a routine physical revealed a rare cancer called extramedullary plasmacytoma. What began as a standard checkup quickly became a life-changing journey. Larry shares what it was like to move from researcher to patient, receive treatment at the institution where he built his career, and navigate the uncertainty that comes with a rare diagnosis. He opens up about the emotional toll of cancer, the importance of leaning on friends, family, faith, and community, and how running helped him process the experience. He also discusses his work as a stem cell donor and advocate, helping others understand the life-saving impact of bone marrow and stem cell donation. Larry’s story is a reminder that a diagnosis does not define who you are. With support, purpose, and hope, it is possible to keep moving forward one step at a time. Highlights: • How a routine health screening uncovered a rare cancer with no warning signs • What changes when a cancer researcher becomes a cancer patient • Why support systems matter even for the people who seem strongest • How running, faith, and community can help during treatment and recovery • What stem cell donation really involves and why more donors are urgently needed Mentioned Resources: CanCare- www.cancare.org Larry’s Marathon Fundraiser for CanCare - https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/larry-coffer About the Guest: Larry Coffer is a plasma cell cancer survivor, cancer researcher, stem cell donor, and marathon runner. For more than 20 years, he has led groundbreaking research at MD Anderson Cancer Center focused on ovarian and breast cancer. Then a routine physical before a marathon changed everything. Larry completed 20 rounds of radiation and rang the bell in January 2026. His running community has a special connection to CanCare, a full circle moment. Larry shares what happens when the science becomes personal, and what he found on the other side.

What happens when one cancer diagnosis is followed by a second life-changing diagnosis before you’ve had time to process the first? Sarah McDonald is a two-time cancer survivor, author, TEDx speaker, executive coach, and advocate for rare cancer research. While building a successful career at eBay and planning for motherhood, Sarah was diagnosed with a rare salivary gland cancer. Just weeks later, she learned she also had Stage 3 breast cancer after pushing for additional testing and trusting her instincts. Sarah shares the emotional toll of facing two cancers at once, the uncertainty of rare cancer treatment, and the heartbreak of learning cancer treatment would change her plans for having a family. She reflects on the doctors who changed her life, the importance of self-advocacy, and how integrative practices such as meditation, guided imagery, yoga, and acupuncture helped her find calm during the most difficult moments. She also discusses the inspiration behind her books, The Cancer Channel and The Cancer Companion, and how her experience led her to become a speaker, mentor, and advocate for others facing cancer. Sarah’s story is a reminder that even in the darkest seasons, hope can grow through connection, self-advocacy, and the decision to use your experience to help someone else find their way forward. Highlights:  Why trusting your instincts and asking more questions can change the course of your care.  How to navigate the fear, uncertainty, and emotional weight that often follows a cancer diagnosis.  The role integrative therapies can play alongside medical treatment during recovery.  What it looks like to find purpose and meaning after a life-changing health crisis.  How friends, family, and caregivers can show up in ways that truly help someone facing cancer. Mentioned Resources: CanCare- www.cancare.org Sarah McDonald – www.sarahemcdonald.com About the Guest: Sarah McDonald is a two-time cancer survivor, executive coach, and fierce advocate for those navigating life's hardest seasons. Diagnosed simultaneously with a rare salivary gland cancer and Stage III Breast Cancer, Sarah faced the unimaginable and came out the other side with a mission. She is the author of "The Cancer Channel" and "The Cancer Companion," a TED Talk speaker, a champion for Cycle for Survival with Memorial Sloan Kettering, and a coach who brings decades of executive leadership experience to her work. Sarah continues to use her voice to help others move forward.