When Cancer Becomes Part Of Your Mash-Up

Suleika Jaouad, a first-generation Tunisian-Swiss-Muslim-American Mash-Up, battled cancer as a 22-year-old and kicked.its.ass. She also brought truth and joy to the world with her writings on cancer treatment and recovery with her column Life, Interrupted in The New York Times. She sat down with Rebecca and Amy to discuss sex —or lack thereof — as a cancer patient, why she’ll never eat rice pudding again, and what it’s like to be sick in a culture that doesn’t like to talk about death. Oh, and the life-changing importance of band camp.

Suleika Speaks

Suleika On Facing The Worst

Facing the absolute worst case scenario of death gave me courage and strength to be productive and do the things I wanted to do.

Band Camp Love Letters

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This podcast is produced by American Public Media and Southern California Public Radio, KPCC. It is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how the NEA grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.