#7 Diane Nathaniel - She Beat Stage 3!

Diane Nathaniel.
2014.
Washington DC.
I am a mom.
I am a survivor.
I an advocate.
BE Brave.

Badass Quotes:

🔺 “The perception in our society is that smaller people are not sick, inside.” 
🔺 “Why don’t we take this on the road for other survivors.”
🔺 “They were not educated, but they were always working.” 
🔺 “I decided I have to fight, I came this far.” 
🔺 “When they unplug you, that’s when you’re sick.” 
🔺 “I am not afraid to die, but I am afraid to suffer.” 
🔺 “There were many moments where I was like, if you took me right now, I’m happy with that.” 
🔺 “I refused to stay in a depressed state.” 
🔺 “For at least 3 years, I felt this bloating, I felt this weight gain and I didn’t do anything about it.” 
🔺 “I try really hard to not look like what I’ve been through.” 

Podcast Intro: 
Diane Nathaniel is a powerhouse in a pint-sized body. After battling Stage 3 Colon cancer, she was determined to become a champion for the screening of this disease in her community. She is a school counselor, mother to 3 kids and now co-founder of the non-profit Beat Stage 3. Through her battle, she has become an experienced-based expert on colon cancer. And though she’d say she didn’t have a choice, she became a ninja-level expert at confronting her physical, emotional and mental fears. Choosing life – for Diane – meant choosing hard. She is honest. She is smart. She is so, so kind. A light, magnificent and glowing, she is.

Official Bio: 
Carrie Diane Nathaniel (Diane preferred) is a native New Yorker, born, raised and resides in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.  Diane is a Stage 3 Colon Cancer Survivor.  She was diagnosed March 7, 2014.  Today she stands strong and has turned her experience with cancer into an opportunity to help spread awareness and the importance of cancer screenings [more...] 

Biggest Takeaways:
🔺 Why it is critical to seek out healthy specialists 
🔺 Where Diane puts her anger 
🔺 How TV shows represented adoption in a negative way 
🔺 Why Diane is grateful for chemotherapy 
🔺 What she ate on “Turn Up Thursdays” 
🔺 What is most scary about chemo
🔺 Sueton Bannister – a chemo friend becomes a reason to survive
🔺 How to best manage your stress – cancer or not 
🔺 Colon Cancer Prevention Tips 
🔺 Why Oprah is Diane’s Bravery Role Model 
🔺 Diane’s advice for facing fear

Major Conversation Highlights:
🔺 How she started a 501(c)3 non-profit organization - “Beat State 3” 
🔺 How her adoptive parents denied she was adopted 
🔺 What it means to run an “image conscious campaign” 
🔺 Dealing with chemo constipation 
🔺 Diane’s chemotherapy timeline 
🔺 Why Diane considers herself tough 
🔺 New rules are for a new body 
🔺 What it means to be a “change agent” 
🔺 Diane’s 7-line pitch
🔺 Why creating your own community-family is just good as natural-born family

Social Media:
Twitter - @diane_nathaniel
Instagram  - @diane_nathaniel
Instagram - @beatstage3
Facebook - @beatstagethree
Facebook - @Nathaniel.counselor

Science & More Info:
Colon Cancer Facts in the African American Community
Colon Cancer Signs & Symptoms
Over-thinkers Guide to Taking Action

Additional links:
Beat Stage 3
The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison