Turning Financial Fear Into Hope for Women in Treatment with Molly MacDonald

Beating Cancer’s Hidden Cost: How The Pink Fund Keeps Women in Treatment In this Breast Cancer Awareness Month episode, Katana talks with Molly MacDonald, co-founder & CEO of The Pink Fund and Editor-in-Chief of Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine. After her own diagnosis, Molly launched a national safety net that pays non-medical bills (housing, transportation, utilities, insurance) for patients in active treatment—helping women stay on therapy and protect their families. What we cover: The Pink Fund’s 90-day “financial bridge” and who qualifies Real stories of impact—and why sleep, food, and stability matter to healing Partnerships (Ford, Snap-on, CVS Health) that expand access and awareness The SurThrivor™️ mindset and why language shapes survivorship How Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine educates on treatment choices, body image, sexuality, and life after cancer Apply / Donate / Learn More The Pink Fund: https://pinkfund.org Subscribe free to Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine: https://pinkfund.org Timestamps 00:00 Intro & why we’re focusing on financial toxicity 04:18 Molly’s diagnosis & the lightbulb moment for The Pink Fund 12:45 What bills are covered & eligibility at a glance 20:30 Partnerships that scale impact (Ford, Snap-on, CVS Health) 28:10 Stories from the front lines: stability, sleep, and hope 34:05 “SirThriver,” body image, and thriving after treatment 41:20 Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine: education that empowers 49:00 How to apply, donate, and become an ambassador Molly MacDonald is a 19-year breast cancer survivor and the co-founder and CEO of The Pink Fund, which she established with her husband, Tom Pettit. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of Michigan and brings a strong background in event planning, marketing, and public relations. Following her 2005 breast cancer diagnosis, Molly experienced the devastating impact of financial toxicity—a term that would not be coined until years later. Her personal journey inspired her to identify and fill a critical gap in services for individuals in active treatment for breast cancer. Since its founding, The Pink Fund has provided more than $7.8 million in financial assistance to patients’ creditors for essential living expenses such as housing, transportation, utilities, and insurance—helping patients remain in treatment and focus on healing. Molly is a sought-after keynote speaker and moderator at national healthcare conferences. She serves as a Director on the board of the National Breast Cancer Coalition and as a board member of the University of Michigan’s Value-Based Insurance Design Center. She is also the proud mother of five adult children and grandmother to three. breast cancer awareness, Molly MacDonald, The Pink Fund, Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine, financial toxicity, cancer finances, breast cancer support, breast cancer survivors, women’s health, cancer advocacy, Katana Abbott, Smart Women Talk, cancer education, breast cancer treatment, women’s empowerment, cancer nonprofit, cancer community, thrivership, breast cancer stories, cancer resources, financial assistance, cancer care, hope and healing, survivorship, breast cancer research