S12: Episode 125: Donna Thomson

S12: Episode 125: Donna Thomson

From The Waiting Room Revolution by Hsien Seow and Samantha Winemaker

April 7, 2026 · 54 min · Season 12 · Episode 125

About this episode

Donna Thomson shares her journey from caregiver to patient after her diagnosis of high-grade bladder cancer.

Donna Thomson, longtime caregiver, advocate, and author, returns to share a very different story: her own diagnosis of high‑grade bladder cancer. In this episode, she talks about the shock of shifting from caregiver to patient, how she advocated for herself to get answers, and the anxiety of living with a high risk of recurrence. Donna describes how the 7 Keys workbook became her “cognitive lifeboat,” helping her and her husband clarify their priorities, plan for aging, and navigate conversations about fear, privacy, and support. She also shares how her yoga community, her caregiving work, and projects like the Caregiving Essentials course and The Courage to Care book continue to sustain her through treatment and beyond. Visit Donnas website here: https://www.donnathomson.com/ Visit our website to learn more about our work, check out the book and workbook, view our resources and to join our newsletter: https://www.waitingroomrevolution.com/ Our theme song is Maypole by Ketsa and is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

People in this episode

Hosts: Hsien Seow, Samantha Winemaker

Guest: Donna Thomson

Topics covered

  • cancer advocacy
  • caregiving
  • patient experience
  • self-advocacy
  • mental health
  • yoga community

Keywords

  • bladder cancer
  • caregiver
  • advocacy
  • self-advocacy
  • mental health
  • yoga
  • treatment

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Caregiving Essentials, The Courage to Care, Waiting Room Revolution, Ketsa

Places: Canada

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