Episode 12 Caring for Your Child
Caregiver Companion-A Guide for the Family Caregiver of Cancer Patients
Release Date: 06/12/2024
Concentric Circles of Caregiving- Part 2
Caregiver Companion-A Guide for the Family Caregiver of Cancer Patients
In part 2, we continue the conversation with Patty and Lori. Two women whose partners are the primary caregivers to their parents. If you are a caregiver, we know the feeling of isolation can be overwhelming. You feel like its all on you to take care of your loved one. Its 24/7 and can be grueling, physically and emotionally exhausting. But there is help out there. Just as you surround your patient with total care, there are others, in those outer rings of the concentric circles, that are there to support you. To provide a hand with tasks, or perhaps just a shoulder to lean on, an ear to...
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Concentric Circles of Caregiving
Caregiver Companion-A Guide for the Family Caregiver of Cancer Patients
Caregiving can be described as a set of concentric circles, sort of like a bullseye, where the center of the circle is the patient- the focus of everyone's attention. The next circle, or ring, is the primary caregiver, closest to the patient and the most intensely involved. As you move out from the center, other rings emerge, such as the spouse or partner of the caregiver. Then family members , children or siblings could be in the next ring. The next may be friends or neighbors, then support groups or church community. The circles can go on indefinitely,...
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Episode 14 Year End Recap
Caregiver Companion-A Guide for the Family Caregiver of Cancer Patients
This year we covered topics such as friendship and caregiving, with two friends that were both cancer survivors and helped each other through their cancer journeys. We spoke with a pharmacist who provided information on handling medications. A doctor spoke to us about navigating clinical trials. We spoke to an educator whose students performed a play about a child dealing with a parent with a terminal illness. Fran also talked to us about her book "Losing Mom", dealing with the loss of a parent as seen through the eyes of a child. We also wanted to provide some resources and ideas for...
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Episode 13 Caregiving During The Holidays
Caregiver Companion-A Guide for the Family Caregiver of Cancer Patients
In today's episode, John and Fran discuss ways to approach caregiving during the holiday season. Caregiving is difficult, challenging and stressful. The holidays can and will add to the pressures and anxiety of caregiving. But with the ideas discussed, you may find some ways to simplify the holidays, recruit support engage your loved one, and navigate through the holidays finding some joy , peace and laughter. We wish all of you a very happy holiday season. May you find some joy and peace and laughter with your loved ones duringthese coming weeks.
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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.
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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_outlineAs a parent, we are instinctively in the role of caregiver for our children. When our child is faced with a life threatening illness, our caregiving goes into hyperdrive. In this episode, John and Fran talk with Kristen Escalante, whose 12 year old was diagnosed with an rare form of cancer. Kristen shared with us how she used social media and her network of friends and colleagues to help navigate through this journey. Kristen talked about the search for the right doctor, moving across the country to get treatments, and facing the emotional and psychological strains that are associated with it. How she and her husband balanced caring for their daughter and trying to keep the house going, life moving and self care. There are so many facets to the life of a caregiver, and these can be multiplied when the one you are caring for is your child.