The 3x Survivor: CEO of Her Own Body: Amanda Rice on Patient Self-Advocacy and the Fight for Fertility Preservation Coverage
A cancer diagnosis in your early 30s. A doctor who says chemotherapy could leave you infertile. An insurer who says you don't qualify for fertility benefits because you "aren't infertile yet." Amanda Rice lived that call and built The Chick Mission in response: a nonprofit that has funded egg-freezing cycles for nearly 900 women and helped pass fertility preservation coverage into law in 22 states and the District of Columbia. Amanda joins Stephanie Sirota to unpack both sides of what she calls being the "CEO of your own body": the self-advocacy required inside a doctor's office, and the coalition-building required inside a state legislature. They also get into the part of survivorship nobody warns you about, the depression that can follow being declared cancer-free, and what Amanda wishes every oncologist would ask a newly diagnosed patient. Podcast Team • Producer and Director: Devon Leaver, recorded at RTW headquarters in New York • Editor: Dominique Guerra • Production Coordinator: YingYu Lin • Production Support: Annabelle Chan • Sound Engineer: Stephanie Polonio • Executive Editorial Advisor: Stephanie Sirota • Special Thanks: John Wasilewski • Theme Music: "Ganymede" by Yehezkel Raz. Additional music by APM Music. Follow Us Love our podcast? Follow us on LinkedIn at RTW Investments, LP and check out our website for the latest updates and insights. To make sure you never miss an episode, you can subscribe to the RTW podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and most other podcast platforms. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 01:00 – "You Aren’t Infertile Yet": The Insurance Call 02:30 – From Fundraising Career to The Chick Mission 05:45 – The 48-Hour Hope Grant 07:45 – CEO of Your Own Body 09:30 – Putting Ourselves Out of Business: The State-by-State Playbook 11:45 – Texas, Arizona, and the Medicaid Gap 14:10 – Resilience After "Cancer-Free" 16:40 – Following the Science 19:15 – Rewriting the First Oncologist Conversation 21:30 – Worthy of More Than Survival 22:25 – Outro Disclaimer This interview features Amanda Rice, Founder and CEO of The Chick Mission, in conversation with Stephanie Sirota, Partner and Chief Business Officer at RTW Investments. Statements by RTW personnel reflect their own views and opinions as of the date of recording and are subject to change without notice. Nothing in this episode is intended as investment advice, a recommendation to buy or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation to provide investment advisory services. The views expressed are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of RTW Investments, its affiliates, or its clients. This content is for informational purposes only.
