Changed By Cancer Podcast

Documenting the Real Deal of Survival

In the world of cancer stories, we hear a lot about "miracles" and "warriors." Changed By Cancer is for the rest of us.

This podcast documents the reality of conventional medical treatment in the United States, focusing on the stories of those who say "yes" to the chemo and the surgery, but who are fighting a second war against a system that wasn't built for them.

The Common Thread

We view every story as a unique square in a larger "Survivor’s Quilt." We use a health equity lens to examine:

The Partner Variable: The reality of navigating a life-threatening illness when your primary support system is also facing their own health challenges.
The Geography of Care: The hurdles of navigating treatment across a heterogeneous medical landscape.
The Cultural Landscape: The resilience and unique barriers faced by individuals within marginalized and diverse communities.
The Burden of Access: The labor of navigating insurance and high-cost drugs with limited means.

Our Mission Hosted by Dr. Randi Paynter, each episode allows the interviewee to tell their own story in their own words. We provide a rigorous, honest look at the financial toxicity, the relationship strains, and the systemic gaps in our healthcare system.

About the Host

Dr. Randi Paynter

Host / Creator

The Scientist. The Sister. The Advocate.
I believe in a radical, simple concept: “Nothing about us without us.”

For over 15 years, I have lived at the intersection of data and human dignity. As a Harvard-trained Epidemiologist (ScD), I have spent my career analyzing the systems that govern our health — from molecular research to leading health equity initiatives. I know how the medical machine works from the inside. But in March 2024, the data became personal.

The Shared Journey
My sister Brenda’s experience with Stage III Breast Cancer was inseparable from her life with her husband, Kevin. Navigating the medical system as recent transplants to the Intermountain West, they didn't just face one health crisis — they faced a shared reality of chronic illness and systemic hurdles. I watched Brenda "jump every hurdle" of her treatment while she and Kevin navigated the complexities of their lives together. When Kevin passed, Brenda had to find the strength to finish her "race" in a new kind of silence.

A Legacy of Showing Up
I don’t just analyze systems; I show up to challenge them. I even ran for public office in 2022 after spending thousands of volunteer hours advocating for families the system ignores. I am a scientist who understands the data, a quilter who understands the patterns, and a sister who understands the stakes. I am here to ensure that when we talk about cancer, we are telling the whole truth about the human experience behind the clinical reports.