About

My name is Megan-Claire Chase aka Warrior Megsie, and welcome to my blog.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer (stage II A invasive lobular) on 9/14/15 at 39 years old. You can bet I never expected to get this type of cancer. I spent 22 months in active treatment all while single and working full-time. I’ve had 16 rounds of chemo (4 AC and 12 Taxol), eight surgeries and 33 radiation treatments. By the end of my active treatment, I was using a cane, not able to drive, could barely walk and beautifully bald. I was officially declared NED (no evidence of disease) on 10/25/16. I refuse to say “cancer free” or “remission” because that just sounds so temporary.

I am now in my mid-40’s, still NED, chronically single and have my adorable and precious baby (a ginger cat) Nathan Edgar aka Baby Natey by my side as I struggle to navigate this “new life.” Thanks to my many cancer treatments and surgeries, I am unable to have children due to surgically induced menopause in February 2017. I was diagnosed with chemo induced neuropathy and fibromyalgia in October 2018. Chronic pain is difficult to tolerate and manage with no real relief. As of December 2019, two lesions have been found on my spine which is fortunately benign but need to be monitored. In January 2021, I had a bad fall and ended up with a grade 3 sprained ankle. As of October 2022, I FINALLY received a nerve ablation after fighting and advocating to address my debilitating back pain over the past five years be taken seriously. Yep, I’m doing just great.

My body feels 700 years old. I’d like a refund on this body and replaced with a new pain free body STAT!

On the bright side, I am continuing to hone my acting skills as a Voice Over Actor. Listen to VO Demo Here. Please email if interested in hearing more samples and would like to work with me.

Accomplishments as Patient Advocate, Speaker & Writer

Speaking Engagements/Panels/TV Interviews:

Daiichi Sankyo – Guest speaker at US Medical Affairs meeting in New Jersey in May 2022. See LinkedIn for pictures.

WEGO Health – LIVE virtual panel Health Equity for All: Why it Matters & How to Take Action June 2021. Click here

Women in Tech Regatta – LIVE virtual panel The Role of Diversity in Building Inclusive Healthcare Technology and Clinical Trials in April 2021. Click here

Ancora.ai – FB LIVE panel about What Cancer Patients Need to Know About Clinical Trials in April 2021. Click here

Patient Power – LIVE virtual panel COVID-19 Positive with Breast Cancer August 2020. Click here

Cancer Health at Home – FB LIVE panel about Cancer and COVID-19 with some other fellow warriors and bloggers in July 2020. Click here

MM&M Expo sponsored by W2O – LIVE virtual panel discussing Diversity Needed in Clinical Trials in July 2020. Click here to register so you can watch.

Patient Power – LIVE virtual panel Accessing Breast Cancer Treatment During Coronavirus in June 2020. Click here

GRYT Health – Speaker for their virtual Mental Health Summit ‘Writing to Heal’ in April 2020 Click here.

WATC TV Channel 57 – Interviewed for Young Adult Cancer Survivors Breast Cancer Awareness Segment in October 2019. click here

Hadassah Greater Atlanta – Story Mistress for Paint Day and Speaker of Survivor Stories for Best Strokes: Hadassah Bares All for ART in March 2019.

Featured Nationally:

AJMC – Achieving Equitable Breast Cancer Care: Clinical Trials, Mental Health, and Digital Therapeutics in November 2021. Click here

Cancer Network – Megan-Claire Chase on Initiative from GRYT Health to Combat Clinical Trial Disparities in November 2021. Click here

Healthcare Tech Outlook – GRYT Health Collaborate with Bristol Myers Squibb for Diverse Oncology Solutions in October 2021. Click here

FiercePharma – BMS, GRYT Health Push for Diversity in Oncology with New Initiative in October 2021. Click here

People Magazine – ‘Cancer Doesn’t Care There’s a Pandemic’: What It’s Like to Be In Treatment During COVID-19 in June 2020. Click here

KHN (Kaiser Health News) – Fearing The Deadly Combo of COVID-19 and Cancer in June 2020. Click here

Cele|Bitchy – Woman with breast cancer opens up about getting treatment during the pandemic in June 2020. Click here

The New York Times – Decade of Job Growth Comes to an End, Undone by a Pandemic in April 2020. Click here

Featured Internationally:

AMAKA – Understanding Cancer in African and Black Women in September 2021. https://amaka.studio/…/cancer-the-black-african-woman

Pharmaphorum – My cancer story in TWO featured articles in UK in September 2020.

Article #1_Read ME. AND in October 2020 Article #2_Read ME.

Dating roo – Interviewed for article in the UK Have you ever met a cancer survivor on dating apps? in January 2020 Click here

Videos and Podcast Interviews:

Breast Cancer Conversations – My Black Experience with Stage II A Lobular Breast Cancer in August 2022. PLAY

i3Health – Sharing the Breast Cancer Journey from Diagnosis to Survivorship LIVE at ASCO June 2022 in Chicago, IL. PLAY

Oncology Data Advisor – A Patient’s Perspective on Breast Cancer and Advocacy: Megan-Claire Chase LIVE at ASCO June 2022. PLAY

Voices of Hope with Lisa Malia in partnership with For the Love of Cups– Life On The Cancer Train With Warrior Megsie in March 2022. PLAY

The Burn – Patient and Caregiver: When Cancer Worlds Collide with Megan-Claire Chase in January 2022. PLAY

Out of Patients podcast with Matthew Zachary – The Many Lives of Warrior Megsie in December 2021 and voted as Matthew’s #1 Favorite Episode of 2021 and voted in the Top 5 of Favorite Episodes by Off Scrip Media in 2022. PLAY

Breast Cancer Conversations – Pink Culture and Breast Cancer Awareness Month | Bridging the gap between 0 – 4 in October 2021. PLAY

Phil Alderson’s YouTube – What It’s Like To Survive Cancer Facing Debt and Economic Implications in October 2021. PLAY

100 Inspiring Voices podcast with Chris Bordoni – Episode 28: Writing to Reclaim Your Voice in February 2021. PLAY

Ancora.ai Presents ‘The Megan-Claire Show’ – Special report on the 5 Things White Medical Community Can Do to Build Trust Within The Black Community to IGNITE Action in February 2021 – PLAY

Patient Rising Podcast – Featured for Black History Month in February 2021 – PLAY

Ancora.ai Presents ‘The Megan-Claire Show’ – See ALL current and previous episodes on YouTube or Facebook

Neo Narrators Podcast – Episode 1: Megan’s Story on REAL Breast Cancer Awareness in October 2020. Spotify

The Jordan Kinda Knows Something Show – Episode 9: Surviving Breast Cancer with Megan-Claire Chase in October 2020. Find it on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.

Teen Cancer America JTV –Three short videos discussing self-advocacy, racial disparities, and emotional health in July 2020. PLAY

Spilling Tea with the G’s – Episode #8 PLAY with Nick and Steve Giallourakis from Elephants and Tea, which is a young adult cancer survivor support site and magazine in June 2020.

Brain Cancer Diaries – Episode Lemonade, which gives insight into life in the cancer world and the emotional darkness and physical struggles many of us continue to face in February 2020. PLAY

Brain Cancer Diaries – Episode on Breast Cancer Awareness in October 2019 PLAY

Articles Featuring Me and/or Written by Me:

Patient Power – Top Breast Cancer Advocates to Follow on Instagram in December 2022. Read ME.

CURE Magazine – Will There Be a Resurgence of Ki-67 Scoring in Breast Cancer? in October 2022. Read ME.

CANVASRebel – Meet Megan-Claire Chase in October 2022. READ ME

WebMD – Tips and Tricks I Used During and After Chemo in September 2022. Read ME

Patient Power – What Does a Breast Cancer Rash Look Like? by Meagan Williford in August 2022. Click Here for Full Article

ShoutoutAtlanta – Featured article about my rise to patient advocacy and writing called Meet Megan-Claire Chase | Writer & Patient Advocate in May 2022. Click here

WebMD – A blog piece I wrote called From Breast Cancer Patient To Survivor: How My Journey Changed Me in April 2022. Read ME

Cancer Today Magazine – Article featuring my experience with chemo brain called Coping With Chemo Brain in March 2022. Read ME

WebMD – A blog piece I wrote called What I Wish People Knew About Breast Cancer in January 2022. Read ME

WebMD – A blog piece I wrote called How Breast Cancer Affected My Work in December 2021. Read ME.

WebMD – A blog piece I wrote called Tough Lessons Breast Cancer Has Taught Me in October 2021. Read ME

WebMD – A blog piece I wrote called Breast Cancer Treatment Changed My Relationship With Food in September 2021. Read ME

WebMD – A blog piece I wrote called Why I Decided To Keep My Breasts in August 2021. Read ME

WebMD – A blog piece I wrote called What It’s Like to Be Single With Breast Cancer in June 2021. Read ME

WebMD – A blog piece I wrote called When I Heard ‘Breast Cancer’, I Wasn’t Sure I’d Have a Future in May 2021. Read ME

Ancora.ai Clinical Trials – Scanxiety Emotions published in January 2021. Read ME

Ancora.ai Clinical Trials – The Chemo Brain Experience published in December 2020. Read ME

Elephants and Tea Magazine – Demystifying Clinical Trials in December 2020 issue. You must register on their site to read the digital issue. Register HERE

Office of Community Outreach & Engagement Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium – Mentioned in part of the article in September 2020. Click here

Patient Power – Facing Your Mortality in September 2020. Click here

Ancora.ai Clinical Trials – Cancer and COVID-19 Collide in September 2020.Click here

Ancora.ai Clinical Trials – The Headaches of Health Insurance in August 2020. Click here

The College of Saint Rose Alumni Magazine – Featured article Megan-Claire Chase ’99: Drawing on Her Experiences and Challenges to Fight for Cancer Patients in July 2020 Click here

Patient Power – An article about dating and cancer in July 2020. Click here.

Cancer Health Magazine – Infertility Grief in June 2020. Click here

Cancer Health Magazine – My blog has been syndicated on their website June 2019 – Present Click here

SHARE Cancer Support – What I Learned About Breast Cancer in December 2019. Click here

VoyageATL – Featured article Meet Megan-Claire Chase on the Life of The Cancer Train in November 2019. Click here

Abstracts/Presentations/Research:

Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program – Patient Reviewer 2020 – Present

Presented with Francesca Music from Elon University our abstract titled, “You don’t really have a say in anything…like you don’t have any options”: AYA Cancer Survivors’ Perspectives on Fertility Preservation Conversations with Healthcare Providers at the 16th Annual American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS) in Atlanta, GA in February 2019.

Francesca and I were also accepted for a Poster Symposia II: Sexual and Reproductive Health oral presentation at the annual meeting of the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine in Washington, DC March 2019.

Our abstract is published in the medical journal Psycho-Oncology. Here’s the citation:
Music, F., Chase, M. & Fair, C. (2019). “You don’t really have a say in anything….like you don’t have any options”: AYA perspectives on fertility
preservation conversations with healthcare providers. Psycho-Oncology, 28 S1, 17. doi: 10.1002/pon.4986

Story Mistress for Paint Day and Speaker of Survivor Stories for Best Strokes: Hadassah Bares All for ART with Hadassah Greater Atlanta March 2019.

Awards and Nominations:

10th Annual WEGO Health Awards 2021

9th Annual WEGO Health Award 2020

Nominated for Best in Show: Blog | Best in Show: Patient Leader | Best in Show: Twitter | Best in Show: Instagram

Nominated for a Mystery Blogger Award 2019.

Voted as runner-up in IHadCancer.com’s 2017 Best Blog contest in the Survivor category.

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