People I (Mostly) Admire

Suleika Jaouad’s Survival Mechanisms (Replay)

21 snips
Nov 15, 2025
Suleika Jaouad, an author and journalist, shares her profound insights from battling cancer and chronicling her journey in her memoir, Between Two Kingdoms. She discusses the importance of honest communication with friends during illness and critiques toxic positivity. Suleika emphasizes the power of community among young cancer patients and highlights her experience transforming isolation into creative expression. The conversation also touches on essential support for patients and innovative ideas to boost bone marrow donor participation.
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INSIGHT

Illness Strips Specialness

  • Illness is democratic and strips the illusion of specialness, Suleika Jaouad explains.
  • She resists being labeled "inspiring" simply for surviving a disease she never chose.
ANECDOTE

Dismissed Before Diagnosis

  • Suleika sought answers for months and was dismissed as anxious before doctors finally diagnosed leukemia.
  • She experienced repeated misdiagnoses and felt not taken seriously as a young woman.
INSIGHT

Relief In Diagnosis

  • Receiving a cancer diagnosis can bring relief because it validates a patient's concerns and enables action.
  • Suleika felt relief at being believed, followed quickly by terror for what lay ahead.
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