36. Cancer and Identity: Lily Bakour’s Authentic Journey Through Survivorship

In this survivor spotlight, hosts Val and Dana sit down with Lily Bakour — a two-time childhood cancer survivor, advocate, and longtime CKc partner.

At 15, Lily faced surgery, traditional chemo, and radiation. After relapse, an immunotherapy clinical trial helped her reach remission. Today, she opens up about survivorship with honesty and hope: processing survivor’s guilt, reclaiming your story on the internet, healing long-term treatment effects, and choosing calm, strength, and community.

This conversation is a reminder that every survivor story is unique and deeply human. If you care about innovation in pediatric cancer and tangible hope for families, you are in the right place.

What you’ll hear:

• Lily’s diagnosis, relapse, and the immunotherapy trial that worked
• Surviving adolescence, high school, and adulthood milestones while fighting cancer
• Survivor’s guilt, identity, and setting boundaries around your story online
• Healing from long-term effects and rebuilding health and routine
• Why community action and research funding change outcomes for kids

Why it matters: Cannonball Kids’ c*ncer Foundation (CKc) funds bold pediatric cancer research to create innovative treatment options, reduce toxicity, and improve long-term quality of life for children who grow up to be adults like Lily.

If this conversation moves you, please like, comment, and share to help us educate for change. Leaving a review helps more families find tangible hope.

Tune in to hear this inspiring and informative conversation. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and join the fight to make Game Over: c*ncer a reality.

Connect with Dana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaknichols/
Connect with Val: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-solomon/

Upcoming Ckc Events: https://cannonballkidscancer.org/category/make-an-impact/events/

----------------------------------
Podcast Produced by Hi Hello Labs: Website: https://www.hihellolabs.com/