35, Diagnosed, and Facing Death: How Scuba Dive Instructor Melannie Bachman Found Freedom In Breast Cancer (…and Became A Death Doula)
TLDR: You're 35, living the dream. Scuba diving, love, adventure... Then the diagnosis hits: breast cancer. Terminal. Weeks to live, not years. Suddenly, those carefree Saturdays and date nights become your "best times ever." A raw and powerful story for every person who's ever felt the shadow of "what if?" with actionable advice when you’re faced with a terrifying cancer diagnosis. Face your greatest fear with Melannie Bachman's story – and discover how you, too, can find freedom in the beautiful face of death.
Gaslit by 4 doctors: "you’re overreacting” to terminal breast cancer at 35
Imagine this: you're a 35-year-old sun-kissed scuba diving instructor goddess at the peak of your career. You swim with manta rays in Hawaii, lead dive research in Indonesia; Saturday mornings you ride bikes with the man of your dreams and Sukhi, your 6-month-old Husky, to Orange Coffee Shop. Wednesday nights are for date nights at Jack Rabbit Filly. You’re getting published in scuba diving and marine science magazines worldwide as one of the premiere freedivers and educators introducing your students to the below-sea-level universe humanity has accessed for less than 82 years.
It’s Wednesday. You put your lab coat on, and you find it. The ticking time bomb counting down the remaining 12-24 months you have left to live.
“A peaceful death isn’t coming for you at the ripe old age of 85 or 90; you’ve got 56-96 more weeks... if you’re lucky. ”
Whatever you’ve done to this point,
that wasn’t the on-ramp to good times;
those were the good times.
The best times you’ll ever have
are behind you.
…That was it. That was your one precious life.
“You’re getting treatment fast.” is doctor speak for, “You have the fastest spreading, most deadly breast cancer beelining to your lungs, bones, and brain… quickly.”
Jump To A Section
00:00 It’s The Most Alive I’ve Ever Felt In Death
03:06 Diving Deep: The Birth of a Book
06:09 Facing Cancer: A Personal Saga
09:01 Moments of Connection: Stories from the Oncology Room
12:01 The Weight of Words: A Profound Revelation
15:04 Advocating for Health: The Patient's Journey
18:14 Reconstructing Identity: The Choices We Make
21:08 Navigating Recovery: Life After Cancer
23:48 The Reality of Reintegration: Finding Oneself Again
27:10 Support Systems: How to Be There for Others
30:02 Death and Rebirth: A New Perspective
32:59 Finding Beauty in Life: The Gift of Awareness
38:41 Creating Sacred Spaces in Transition
50:46 Recognizing the Signs of Breast Cancer
01:01:48 Navigating the Healthcare System
01:02:17 “Don’t You Feel FIERCE, Bald?” The Journey of Losing Your Hair
01:09:58 Changing the Narrative of Cancer
Imagine your life changing in an instant. That's what happened to Melannie Bachman when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at 35. This episode is a deep dive into her experience with a double mastectomy, her near-death experience, and her radical transformation. Discover how she found the strength to face her mortality, let go of fear, and ultimately find liberation in embracing death. Melannie, now a published author and death doula, shares her profound insights on living authentically and finding peace in the face of life's greatest challenges.
“Melannie holds experience as an author, dive instructor, published marine scientist, & yoga teacher. She is passionate about inspiring connections with each other, within ourselves, and with our planet. As a triple negative breast cancer survivor diagnosed at age 35, she carries the BRCA1 gene mutation. ”
This episode is recorded, produced, and edited by our company, Ruby Riot Creatives. Visit https://www.rubyriotcreatives.com/podcast to see our latest projects, hear more episodes in The Ruby Hour Podcast, and visit our previous season's episode archives.
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