Episode 131: An Interview with Vanessa Steil

Feb 22, 2022

I’m so happy to be able to share this podcast with you. My guest, Vanessa Steil, is someone whose work I admire and who has so much wisdom to share. Vanessa is a graduate of The American University in Washington, D.C. and holds a B.A. in political science, but an unexpected cancer diagnosis changed her life’s trajectory.   

At the age of 26, Vanessa was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. This life-altering diagnosis led Vanessa down a new career path as a Board Certified Patient Advocate, health coach, and wellness blogger. Following this passion, Vanessa started her site Living in Steil in 2014 as a way to share her story and offer resources to other patients and survivors.

Vanessa actively promotes thyroid cancer awareness and has been interviewed and featured on numerous media outlets. Her story was included in the cancer survivor book, TOUGH: Women Who Survived Cancer, which was published in September 2019. 

 

Vanessa shares so many valuable insights into life as a cancer survivor and caretaker, but here are some of the ones which resonated the most:

• A diagnosis of cancer – your own or that of someone you love – will force you into an advocate role where you have to learn to be comfortable asking questions of your medical team and having open conversations with them;
• Being the caregiver for a loved one will test your ability to care for your own well-being, so it’s important to allow yourself the time and space to feel your feelings and recharge;
• Healthy living is about feeling like the best version of yourself from a physical, mental, and emotional perspective; it’s about making choices that enhance your life and align with your lifestyle so that you wake up feeling energized, invigorated, and ready to tackle the day. 

 

Eager to learn about Vanessa’s journey as both a cancer survivor and caretaker? You can connect with her via her website (http://livinginsteil.com/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/livinginsteil/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/livinginsteil), and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-e-steil/). 

Sign up for my newsletter for more health and wellness content, special deals, and more. Enjoy a free guide to flexible meal planning as a thank-you for signing up.