Let’s talk about cancer with Alyssa Burkus

We have made huge progress in the last decade to open up workplace discourse about formerly taboo topics. When we bring sensitive issues out of the darkness, people no longer need to suffer in silence.

BUT, we seem still afraid to talk about cancer. Despite being a leading cause of death and illness worldwide, we are still loathe to discuss it, and this easily leads to misunderstanding. This episode seeks to address that.

11 Jun 2025

Cancer is a word that instils dread into all of us. Long regarded as a disease with no cure, today, one in two of us will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in our lifetime. This means we will all know someone who has to deal with the implications of this illness, whether for themselves or for a close family member or friend.

Yet despite the escalating prevalence of the disease and improved survival rates, we are still incredibly ill-equipped to speak about it. And when we don’t speak about it, we can’t support those navigating its ramifications. We can’t help colleagues who must adapt their work patterns to either fit around treatment plans or care for loved ones.

In this episode Cat, Jen and Dom chat with Alyssa Burkus – a three-time cancer survivor and volunteer cancer recovery coach. They talk about the incumbent systems that make cancer so hard to navigate and explore what organisations can do to demonstrate care, compassion and support at this most vulnerable of times.

 

 

S13 E3 Transcript - Let's talk about cancer with Alyssa Burkus

 

About Alyssa Burkus

Alyssa Burkus is the founder of Shift Wisdom, a thought leadership agency that helps founders and business leaders increase their influence and authority through writing. Her work includes thought leadership strategy, ghostwriting and writing coaching, focused on leadership, change and future of work themes.

Before starting Shift Wisdom, she was an enterprise change consultant for 20 years, working with companies ranging from tech startups to Fortune 500s, and spent much of her time ghostwriting for senior executives. Alyssa is also a three-time cancer survivor and volunteer cancer recovery coach, based near Toronto, Canada. 

 

Find Alyssa on LinkedIn:                               https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssaburkus/

Alyssa’s website:                                           https://www.shiftwisdom.com/

Alyssa’s newsletter:                                       https://newsletter.shiftwisdom.com/

Cancer Support Resources UK:                     https://cancersupportuk.org/

Cancer Support Resources Canada:              https://wellspring.ca/

Cancer Support Resources US:                     https://www.cancercare.org/

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