Meet Shenell Malloy | Co-Founder, Do Cancer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shenell Malloy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shenell, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

During my battle with glioblastoma, a lethal form of stage 4 brain cancer. I found that so much of my ability to heal and survive was up to me. It was a lonely journey and I felt like I was lost in the dark when it came to how to navigate the toughest time in my life. I made a promise to myself and the world that if I survived, I would share everything I learned and all the tools I used to turn the worst thing that ever happened to me into one of the best. I believed I could do it, I could Do Cancer and I could help others do it too.

I made the choice to not focus on the death sentence that the average survival time is 12-18 months but be the 5% of patients that live past five years.
Rather than live in fear of dying, I told myself continuously I was healthy, strong, and healed. It was the truth I so desperately needed to believe if I had any chance of watching my 2 young children grow up.

There were not many hopeful places to go online to research my “terminal” diagnosis, the internet was not my friend. All I wanted was to find long-term survivors of this deadly cancer and find out exactly what they were doing to stay alive. It wasn’t easy to do, especially with an overwhelming and debilitating treatment plan. But luckily I found some, and it made all the difference. They gave me hope.

I discovered that many of the survivors had something in common: they dealt with their whole person – mind, body, and spirit – to heal from their cancer and treatment. They hit cancer with a hammer; they did everything, including dramatically overhauling their lives.

This was great information, but the research process was time consuming, expensive, and took every last ounce of energy I had.

When you’re given a cancer diagnosis – whether grave or highly survivable – there is very little guidance, relatable information, or healing practices available. There is a detailed schedule for killing cancer cells in the body, but no support for mental-emotional wellbeing, physical recovery, nutrition, or survivor mentorship. We are often left feeling powerless and defeated. This is why I created Do Cancer. We simply don’t know what we don’t know and I wanted to change that.

In one, hopeful place those impacted by cancer can get inspiration and advice from survivors of all types of cancers, carefully-vetted clean products, the latest medical plans, and free concierge care for complementary healing practices. Today, we are helping people do cancer and make positive lifestyle changes to put the odds back in their favor.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I am alive because of a second opinion and it almost didn’t happen. Along with my Co-Founder Aidan and dozens of our Do Cancer survivors who were initially misdiagnosed or not given the latest treatment options.

When someone is diagnosed with cancer, it’s a huge shock. There is immense pressure to act fast – and often you follow what you’re first told because you are afraid and want the cancer out of your body quickly. But the chance that the hospital or doctor’s office closest to your home specializes in cancer, especially your specific cancer type is very low.

We don’t marry the first person we meet, or buy the first house we see, but the vast majority of people go with the first medical opinion they get. It’s literally a life and death decision that too many newly diagnosed patients rush into.

Always get at least a second opinion, preferably at a cancer research hospital where all they see and treat is cancer. Surgery is often the most important and first line of defense to treat cancer so finding a surgeon who specializes in removing your specific type of cancer in my opinion is crucial for long term survival.

You have zero to lose and everything to gain by getting a second opinion. They may agree with the initial diagnosis and suggested plan, giving you peace of mind. They may disagree with the plan of attack and have an alternative that is more effective or has fewer side effects. Either way you now know more and knowledge is power.

Similarly, I also disagree that a traditional medical plan is all you need. Drugs and treatments save lives, but there is much more to the picture if you want the best chance of surviving and healing. Cancer doesn’t end when treatment ends, its is an arduous journey that impacts your relationships, your mental-emotional wellbeing, and the physical body. If the whole, human self is ignored – it will eventually, negatively impact the person’s life.

Cancer puts everything into perspective. Even if you survive and move on with your life, there are strained relationships, high divorce rates, continued unhealthy habits, and unaddressed trauma that remain until it is all dealt with.

It’s not one thing you do but everything you do to heal. Do it all – from the latest medical treatments to whole-person, mind body and spirit, healing. Use this opportunity to address and take a fresh look at everything in your life and make the choice to improve it. Once treatment ends and your next chapter begins, you’ll want to be on your best footing to thrive and live the gift of your second chance to the absolute fullest.

We know how to help because we’ve been there.

When you get a cancer diagnosis, even if you’ve got the best support system on the planet, no one except other survivors really understands where you are. Do Cancer hits a very specific, very critical need: feeling genuinely supported and guided by others who have succeeded on this difficult journey.

When patients are afraid to tell their loved ones how they really feel, they can read a blog on the Do Cancer site by a survivor who shares their tips for managing this exact thing. When you’re feeling like everyone is celebrating your treatment being over, but you actually feel scared and lost – you can take a Do Cancer wellness session from a survivor who gets it, and has a proven plan for getting you on solid ground.

When you’re in cancer, all you want is to be truly seen, without judgment. You are sick of feeling alone. Do Cancer normalizes emotions, provides actionable insight from survivors, and provides concierge treatment options for the gaps in whole person care.

You can do this, you can do hard things, you can Do Cancer!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My favorite restaurant is Rare Society in Solana Beach which is San Diego’s design district. There are tons of great shops and a fun oceanfront park so pop on a ebike and ride along the coast and enjoy an amazing meal.

Music Box in Little Italy has great music in one of my favorite parts of San Diego with amazing Italian restaurants and gelato.

Monarch in Del Mar s a beautiful spot to catch the sunset and listen to live music. Grab an app or drink for happy hour.

Rent a catamaran and cruise the harbor to check the downtown skyline and pull up to Bali Hai a fun polynesian restaurant with the best and strongest Mai Tais in the city.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a big shoutout to my family, friends, and community for their strength, support, love, and prayers. I could not have made it through this journey without all of them. A special shout out to my co-founders and dear friends who helped me turn a promise into Do Cancer. Together we are Stronger and together we can Do Cancer.

Website: www.docancer.org

Instagram: do.cancer

Linkedin: Do Cancer