Jake Seliger On Cancer, Acceptance, And The Gift Of Life

<p>Ryan speaks with Jake Seliger about how his cancer diagnosis and having his tongue removed have changed his perspective on life, why he is prioritizing people much more highly than work now, how he is making every single minute count, what he is trying to communicate with his recent outpouring of creativity, accepting death, and more.</p><p>Jake Seliger is a writer, editor, and researcher. He has written two novels: <a href="https://geni.us/IcYlZ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Hook</a> and <a href="https://geni.us/dBoppOS" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Asking Anna</a>, as well as many <a href="https://jakeseliger.com/essays/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">essays</a> covering a wide range of social and scientific subjects. Jake is also the Principal of <a href="https://seliger.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Seliger + Associates</a>, a grant writing and grant source service for nonprofits, public agencies and selected businesses throughout the United States. In October of 2022, Jake was diagnosed with tongue cancer, which called for the complete removal of his tongue. Despite that surgery, a later diagnosis found that the cancer had spread more quickly than expected, and tumors were found in his neck and lungs. He and his family are now raising funds to undergo the next round of treatments. Jake’s own account of the surgeries and reflections on his experiences can be read here: <a href="https://jakeseliger.com/2023/09/09/life-swallowing-tasting-and-speaking-after-a-total-glossectomy-meaning-i-have-no-tongue/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">jakeseliger.com/2023/09/09/life-swallowing-tasting-and-speaking-after-a-total-glossectomy-meaning-i-have-no-tongue</a>. You can find Jake’s work on <a href="https://jakeseliger.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">jakeseliger.com</a> and on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/seligerj?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@seliger