Episode 8 Nutrition...Food for Thought
Caregiver Companion-A Guide for the Family Caregiver of Cancer Patients
Release Date: 04/17/2024
Episode 12 Mid Year Update and Request
Caregiver Companion-A Guide for the Family Caregiver of Cancer Patients
Sorry for the delay in getting this episode out to you all. It's been quite a summer! My new wife and I spent the month of July on the other sode of the country, caring for my sister to recover from knee replacement surgery. Then it was my turn. I developed a large abscess, and with fever approaching 104, went to the ER at the local hospital. I spent 9 days in the hospital with a drain and IV antibiotics. We are now back home, but still working through whatever the medical conditions are. Needless to say, it was difficult getting our podcast out, and I am sorry. I know we have a...
info_outline
Episode 11 "Losing Mom" A discussion with Dr Fran about Her Book
Caregiver Companion-A Guide for the Family Caregiver of Cancer Patients
When a serious illness affects a parent, oftentimes the young children are overlooked or excluded from the situation. Externally, they may seem fine, but internally they are observing, processing and trying to make sense of what is happening. In her insightful book, Dr Fran put us in the mind of young Stella, who witnesses the decline and ultimately, the death of her mother. We see how each of the siblings responds to the family crisis, and where the youngest sibling is left. Written in the style of a memoir, written over time as Stella matures, it allows the reader to see into her...
info_outline
Resources
Caregiver Companion-A Guide for the Family Caregiver of Cancer Patients
There are many resources available for family carergivers. Sometimes it's hard to know just where to look. We want to provide access to as many resources as we can, and will keep this page upadted as we learn of nedw ones. If you know of some you want to share please write to us via our website "Loving Support and Caring for the Cancer Patient" by Stan Goldberg Fran's Place for Cancer Counseling Rosalyn Carter Caregiver Institute Family Caregiver Alliance National Cancer Institute 1-800-4-CANCER American Cancer Society 1-800-ACS-2345 Cancer Care ...
info_outline
Episode 10 A Monster Calls....
Caregiver Companion-A Guide for the Family Caregiver of Cancer Patients
When a cancer diagnosis is given, it is given not only to the patient, but to every family member. Like a rock trown into a calm lake, those waves emanate out impacting family and friends surrounding the patient. Over the course of our podcast, John and Fran have spoken to friends caring for a friend, spouses caring for a partner, a parent caring for their sick child. In today's episode, we examine and explore dealing with a chroinic illness through the eyes of a young person experiencing the illness of a parent. Through her own personal experiences, and as an educator in the...
info_outline
Episode 9 Caregiving on PBS
Caregiver Companion-A Guide for the Family Caregiver of Cancer Patients
In this episode, John and Fran talk about the upcoming documentary "Caregiving" to be aired, Tuesday June 24 at 9PM on Public Broadcasting System (PBS) stations across the USA. It will also be available to watch via streaming on . The documentary is produced by Wellbeings , a family caregiver advocacy group , resource, and center for support. Produced by the actor Bradley Cooper (who cared for his Dad when he was diagnosed with cancer), and narrated by actress Uzo Aduba, Caregiving tells the personal stories of family caregivers, their triumphs, their challenges, fears and...
info_outline
Season 2 Mid Season Update
Caregiver Companion-A Guide for the Family Caregiver of Cancer Patients
It's been a while since we published a new episode. There has been a lot going on... with Fran's practice, with John's medical situatiuon, as well as personal things. We wanted to let you know what we have been up to, and also to let you know that we have not let you go! We have been talking, about next episode ideas, and plans for the balance of the year. As always, if there's a topic you want to hear about, let us know. We will do our best to research it and create an episode. In the meantime, hang tight-we will be back with new topics and new guests. And remeber-you are not alone.
info_outline
Season 2 Episode 7 Navigating Clinical Trials
Caregiver Companion-A Guide for the Family Caregiver of Cancer Patients
In this episode, John and Fran talk with an Oncology Pharmacist with a deep knowledge of the clinical trial world. We heard about the diferent phases of clinical trials, and what each means; when and where to look for clinical trials. We also heard about the rights and responsibilities of both the trial investigator as well as the patient. If you are considering joining a clinical trial, there is a lot of information to process. Hopefully this discussion will give you enough background to be able to ask the right questions. We have posted websites on our blog page that Dr Wong...
info_outline
Season 2 Episode 6 Caregiving Stress Part 2
Caregiver Companion-A Guide for the Family Caregiver of Cancer Patients
Caregiving is a marathon, not a sprint. The caregiving continuum takes a caregiver through all kind of responsibilties, tasks and pressures. In this episode, John and Fran talk about the pressure of caregiving at the end stages of treatment, whether that is remission and surveillance, or hospice and end of life decision making. As a caregiver, it is important to recognize, that even if your loved one is in remission, they are living in a body changed by the illness, and possibly the treatments. Alternatively, if you are facing end of treatment options, having those difficult conversations with...
info_outline
Season 2 Episode 5 Dealing with Stress in Caregiving Part 1
Caregiver Companion-A Guide for the Family Caregiver of Cancer Patients
There are many pressures people are dealing with in today's world. Watching the news, one sees wars, famines, natural disasters all around us. In our own personal world, prices, jobs, family, kids all contribute to a heightened anxiety. It seems a symptom of modern society. Add to this ambient stress levels, the added pressure of receiving a cancer diagnosis for a loved one, and the pressure is intensified. In this episode, John and Fran talk about the physiological and psychological responses to stressful situations, in particular the initial phases of caregiving. There are resources that can...
info_outline
Season 2 Episode 4 Caregiving with Rare Cancers
Caregiver Companion-A Guide for the Family Caregiver of Cancer Patients
Winston Churchill, in describing the old Soviet Union, once said "it is a riddle wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigmna". When a loved one is diagnosed with a rare cancer, it can certainly feel that way. With limited information, and uncertainty about where to turn, a caregiver can feel incredibly lost and overwhelmed. Today John and Fran spoke with a woman, who cared for her husband Jeffrey, when he was diagnosed with rare appendiceal cancer. She talked openly and candidly about her journey and what she learned along the way. February is rare disease awareness month,...
info_outlineFood can be a powerful force. Not only does it fuel our bodies, and provide essential elements for our well being- how we approach it, how we consume it, how we think about it can have emotional and psychological dimensions. As a caregiver, it is particularly important to think about what you're eating, how you're eating in the context of self-care. But also for your loved one. The good news is that this doesn't have to be stressful. You can use nutrition and food to help reduce stress and keep yourself going strong. In this episode, John and Fran talk with Toni Marinucci, a certified dietitian, author and speaker about how to approach food and nutrition in the sometimes chaotic world of caregiving.