S1E1 Agalia Baker

The CARTI Hopecast

In this episode of The CARTI Hopecast, host Adam Head sits down with Agalia Baker, MSN, FNP-BC-Ret—retired nurse practitioner, cancer survivor, and author of If Cancer is a Gift, Can I Return It?. Agalia shares her deeply personal journey of facing a cancer diagnosis that upended her life and reshaped her identity.

From navigating the emotional chaos of treatment to challenging the language we use around cancer, Agalia’s insights are raw, honest, and inspiring. Together, Adam and Agalia explore how humor, community, and a shift in mindset can transform trauma into a catalyst for growth.

This powerful conversation dives into themes of resilience, loss, and freedom, offering hope to anyone navigating their own life-altering challenges.

Takeaways:

• Agalia Baker discusses her journey through breast cancer and the emotional chaos that accompanies a diagnosis.
• She emphasizes the importance of understanding grief as a natural response to loss and change.
• Baker stresses that humor can be a vital coping mechanism during difficult times.
• Through her experience, Agalia learned to redefine her identity beyond her profession and physical appearance.
• She advocates for mental health support to be included in standard cancer care protocols.
• Baker's journey illustrates that there is life and joy to be found after cancer.

Links referenced in this episode:

• bcveteran.com

Founded in 1976, CARTI delivers leading-edge cancer care in a compassionate, patient-centered environment. Our mission is to make trusted cancer care accessible for every patient we serve through compassion, innovation and purpose.

The CARTI Hopecast shares authentic, meaningful stories that focus on human experiences. Every day, we see patients face unimaginable hardships and suffering, sometimes feeling alone on their journey. Through The CARTI Hopecast, listeners hear stories of resilience and struggle that may mirror their own challenges, fostering a sense of connection and understanding.