The Cancer Personality Profile

Hey there, friend.

Did you know there's something called The Cancer Personality Profile?

It's not a topic people talk about much, but I want to make one thing really clear before we go any further:

YOU DID NOT CAUSE YOUR CANCER DIAGNOSIS!

I can say that because I know these traits aren’t things you chose—they’re things you’ve learned over time, shaped by your family, friends, culture, and life experiences.

Take a minute and think about your most recurring thoughts... do they give you a clue about how you’ve been wired?

"Why did I get sick now?"

When I first got my diagnosis, like many of you, I found myself asking, Why did I get sick? But as time went on, and I learned that I had always carried the BRCA2 genetic mutation...I started to ask myself a different question: Why did I get sick now?

You see, I’ve always been health-focused—I was a personal trainer, a health coach, and all-around wellness geek. I’d always thought about preventing illness, so imagine my shock when I discovered I carried the BRCA2 gene mutation.

Suddenly, I was at a much higher risk for breast cancer as well as others, even though it wasn’t in my immediate family history.

So, I started to ask, What had happened in my life?

What was different? And that’s when the big realization hit me.

"The answer wasn’t just genetics, it was stress, grief, trauma and how I was handling it—or not handling it."

A year before my diagnosis, life threw one challenge after another at me—a series of family emergencies, including the loss of my mom and my brother's near-death experience and my husbands serious motorcycle accident and ALL of the moving pieces that go along with each of these (I have a feeling you might know exactly what I mean.)

It was the kind of year that left me in survival mode, trying to keep my head above water and I had no idea how much this emotional stress would impact my health.

That's when I stumbled upon the work of Dr. W. Douglas Brodie, M.D., who has studied cancer patients for over 30 years and found some truly fascinating common traits.

Here’s what he observed:

1. You’re responsible, conscientious, and hardworking—probably too much sometimes.

2. You take on other people’s burdens and worry about everyone around you.

3. You’ve got that deep need to make others happy—ever been called a people pleaser?

4. Expressing emotions, especially anger, isn’t your forte.

5. Stress hits you harder than most, and you struggle to cope.

6. You tend to carry emotional baggage from the past, even from childhood.

7. You have a hard time letting go of suppressed feelings, particularly anger or resentment.

💛 I know, that’s a lot to take in.

But before you start worrying, please hear me out—you didn’t cause your cancer.

What I’m inviting you to do is look at these traits with curiosity, not judgment.

Why? Because understanding these emotional triggers gives you power.

It’s like when you have a lightbulb moment—you suddenly understand why you’ve been stuck in certain patterns, and you can change them.

For me, this was a huge turning point in my recovery and all around healing journey.

This picture was the morning of my double mastectomy...and my kiddos surprised me with their T-shirts!  

I used to be the "good girl," always trying to please others, and never saying no.

I was "the "strong one" who was there for everyone else.

I pushed myself to the limit and kept everything bottled up inside. Sound familiar?

I wore my exhaustion like a badge of honor, but it was draining me.

Then, I had to ask myself, How can I fill up my own teapot? (Yes, I'm using a teapot analogy—don’t judge me, I’m a Brit!)

If you’re constantly pouring into everyone else’s cups... but never filling your teapot from which you are pouring, you’re going to run dry.

We all know that feeling, don’t we?

 

How can you expect to get your energy back if you keep giving every ounce of everything you have to everyone else?

That’s when I realized that taking care of myself (mind, body, soul) wasn’t selfish, it was a necessity.

I needed to get better at setting boundaries, feeling my feelings, instead of sucking them up and pushing through and doing things to replenish myself, like having a mindful cup of tea, getting outside, or simply saying no when I needed to.

These small, simple acts of self-care have been game-changers for me.

And here’s the best part: you can start this journey too.

I’m here to help you reclaim your energy, your joy, and your sense of self. And it starts with understanding the emotional patterns that might have been holding you back.

Because staying healthy, and not hearing those spine-chilling words again, means looking at more than what you eat or how you move your body...if we use the work of Dr. Brodie as a guide...we can truly make some life-long strides because THIS builds the foundation upon which you can build sustainable eating and movement habits...as well as anything else your heart desires!

So, how do you know if these traits apply to you?

Take my simple magazine style quiz to see if your personality might be draining your energy more than you realize. (I promise, it’s not scary. It’s actually really empowering and it might just give you the answers you've been looking for too!)

💡 ➡️ Is Your Personality Draining You? Take the Quiz Here 

I’ll be right here to support you every step of the way. You’ve got this, and I’ve got you.