Meet Megan-Claire Chase

Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan-Claire Chase.

Hi Megan-Claire, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Megan-Claire Chase, also known as Warrior Megsie, is a unique voice in the cancer community. As a young adult cancer survivor and patient advocate from Atlanta, Georgia, she brings a fresh perspective to the table. Her blog, Life on the Cancer Train, is a testament to her authenticity, rawness, and informative nature, with a twist of humor. It’s no wonder her blog is syndicated on Cancer Health Magazine’s website. Megan-Claire’s advocacy work has made her a highly sought-after blogger and influencer in the cancer community, nationally and internationally.

In 2023, Megan-Claire was featured in the Stories from the Stage episode ‘Beyond Cancer,’ aired on PBS and the World Channel. Her leadership and dedication to cancer advocacy are further underscored by her roles on Bayer Oncology’s Digital Patient Council, the Oncology Data Advisory Editorial Board, and as a Board Member for the LYTE Foundation. Megan-Claire also hosts two podcasts, The Other Side of Cancer and Our BC Life, and has ongoing collaborations with Teen Cancer America to create inclusive content for social media and patient-facing collateral.

Megan-Claire’s contributions to cancer research and education are significant. She has co-authored abstracts and presented posters, including Genetic Testing in Metastatic Breast Cancer in the USA: A Podcast | Oncology and Therapy (springer.com) in partnership with Pfizer and The Impact of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in Black Women in collaboration with Gilead Oncology at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in 2023. Her work ‘You don’t have a say in anything like you don’t have any options’: AYA Cancer Survivors’ Perspectives on Fertility Preservation Conversations with Healthcare Providers was presented at the 16th Annual American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS) in 2019 and accepted for a Poster Symposia II: Sexual and Reproductive Health oral presentation at the annual meeting of the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine and published in the medical journal Psycho-Oncology.

Megan-Claire’s work is featured in several publications, including Cancer Health, Cancer Today, CURE Magazine, Count Me In, Everyday Health, Elephants and Tea, Dating Roo (UK), Voyage ATL, Humor Beats Cancer, IHadCancer.com, RETHINK Cancer, Pharmaphorum (UK), and WebMD.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’ve learned so much about breast cancer in the past eight years. Instead of writing a dissertation, I’ll share a few things I’ve learned on this challenging yet rewarding journey.

Being diagnosed with cancer under the age of 40, I didn’t realize how challenging it would be to find local and online support for people in my age group. I often found myself as the youngest person in the infusion room and had to balance work with treatments despite not being close to the typical retirement age. Thankfully, over the years, I’ve found outstanding online support for young adult cancer survivors through organizations like Elephants and Tea and Cactus Cancer Society. Yet, now that I am in my 40s, it is harder to find more local support because the bulk of the young adult cancer patients I know in my area are married with kids. There is never a place for single survivors who have now aged out of the young adult space. Instead, there is a massive gap in support and resources because those of us who have aged out are still younger than the typical age of breast cancer, which tends to skew 60+.

Additionally, there are many private support groups on Facebook, some of which are tailored to specific types of cancer. In contrast, others are general groups where individuals with various types of breast cancer come together. I continue to learn much from these groups, ask questions, and form genuine friendships. I was pleasantly surprised to discover a supportive cancer community on X (formally Twitter). Although X can seem overwhelming, I’ve connected with other cancer patients worldwide and built relationships through regular posting.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
More than just a patient advocate and breast cancer survivor from Atlanta, Georgia, I like to consider myself a beacon of hope in the cancer space. My blog, Life on the Cancer Train, has resonated with countless individuals and inspired a community of hope and resilience. As a writer with a media and marketing background, I began blogging to help process my breast cancer experiences, with the humble hope that it would resonate with 1-2 other people. Today, my blog, known for its authenticity, rawness, and informative nature, with a twist of humor, is syndicated on Cancer Health Magazine’s website. My advocacy work has made me a highly sought-after blogger and influencer in the cancer community, nationally and internationally. I work remotely for a New York City-based nonprofit, SHARE Cancer Support, as the Breast Cancer Program Director and host of Our BC Life podcast. In 2023, I was featured in the Stories from the Stage episode ‘Beyond Cancer,’ which aired on PBS and the World Channel. It was the first time I could utilize my theatre background in the cancer space. As a trained storyteller, I know how to write and verbalize a story. Over the past few years, I’ve had the honor of speaking to teens, young adults, medical school students, and those in the oncology and research space to share not only my breast cancer story but ways we can make a forceful impact to achieve health equity and, ideally, make cultural competency training at cancer centers ongoing.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Being Black has shaped my access to care, access to pain management, and access to community support. This country’s never-ending rhetoric forces us to see that we’ll never be good enough, respected, or valued. Black lives don’t matter, and we are reminded of that daily. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve received comments on social media or virtual cancer support groups that “not everything is about race” or “race doesn’t belong in the cancer space.” I have progressed in my work in cancer advocacy and patient research to the point where I aspire to host an oncology talk show and a podcast full-time. To address biases and prejudices in healthcare, I hope to create courses to educate medical school students, residents, and fellows on effectively engaging with and acknowledging the differences between Black patients and other patients of color. Bedside manner matters. Respectful behavior towards all patients, regardless of their race, gender identification, or appearance, is a crucial aspect of patient care. It is not just a matter of being culturally competent but is a fundamental part of providing quality healthcare. Building trust with patients and survivors is not just a matter of professional conduct but an essential responsibility in healthcare. It is the cornerstone of effective treatment and care.

Contact Info:

• Website: Life on the Cancer Train at www.warriormegsie.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/warriormegsie/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-claire-chase/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/warriormegsie
• Other: Our BC Life podcast on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/6PewGCuChotKpCTLDLTVIy?si=76d8065606d9466b