How Palliative Care Helped Amy Get Back to Her Hobbies
getpalliativecare's podcast
Amy is in her mid-40s and loves the outdoors—especially biking, hiking, and walking her dog. In the fall of 2018, she felt a lump on her neck, and when it did not go away, she visited her primary care doctor. After many tests, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes and femur (thigh bone). She was devastated and scared. A few weeks later, Amy started treatment with radiation and a medicine that helps the body’s immune system fight cancer. This combination can get cancer under control but can cause side effects. After a month, Amy’s cancer...
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Rae Anne Reflects: Achieving Your Goals
getpalliativecare's podcast
Rae Anne, a cancer survivor and former palliative care patient, sits down with Dr. Anthony Back, a palliative care and cancer doctor. During their conversation, they discuss how the palliative care team sees the patient as a person, focusing on their individual goals. They also talk about how palliative care helped Rae Anne and her family focus on the symptoms and understand the path forward. Visit for more information.
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A Quality Life: How Palliative Care Helps You Live Well with Serious Lung Disease
getpalliativecare's podcast
After struggling with shortness of breath for many years, Betsy was referred to a special lung care clinic. Worsening symptoms limited her ability to remain active, which in turn led to anxiety and depression. She struggled to care for her home and visit with friends; and felt like a burden to her husband. Betsy’s world was getting smaller. At the lung care clinic, she met Dr. Patty Fogelman, doctor of nursing practice – who is trained to treat lung disease and as a palliative care provider. At the time, Betsy, a retired nurse, didn’t have an in-depth understanding of palliative care. In...
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A Quality Life: How Palliative Care Helps the Patient and Family
getpalliativecare's podcast
Rae Anne, a cancer survivor and former palliative care patient, interviews Dr. Diane E. Meier, a palliative care doctor and director emerita of the Center to Advance Palliative Care. During their conversation, Rae Anne shares how palliative care helped her and her family. Together they discuss the benefits of palliative care, how the team takes care of the patient and caregivers, and more.
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A Quality Life: Palliative Care Helps Families Living with Dementia Focus on Quality of Life
getpalliativecare's podcast
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are known for memory loss that worsens over time. It comes with a range of complex needs for the person diagnosed and the family, which increase as the disease progresses.
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One Woman’s Story of Surviving COVID-19 at Age 78
getpalliativecare's podcast
The COVID-19 virus is still circulating in the U.S. and millions of people are still testing positive. Thankfully, most who come down with COVID-19 don’t have to be hospitalized. Even so, for many the symptoms can be extensive and recovery can take weeks or months.
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A Quality Life: Joni's COPD and Palliative Care Story
getpalliativecare's podcast
Sixty-six year old Joni knows all too well that living with the lung condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – or COPD – can be stressful.
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A Quality Life: A Young Mother’s Cancer Story
getpalliativecare's podcast
April grew up with hairdressers in her family. As a kid she put curlers in her cat’s fur to practice. She eventually realized her dream and even took ownership of her own salon. In June 2018, a diagnosis of stage 3 breast cancer followed by 16 rounds of chemotherapy, a mastectomy, and 30 rounds of radiation, forced April to have to stop working.
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A Quality Life: Ilene’s Cancer and Palliative Care Story
getpalliativecare's podcast
As a speech language pathologist for young children, Ilene’s skills as an educator, careful listener and problem solver were keys to her career success. These factors also have played an important role for her through the many years she’s been treated for advanced ovarian cancer. It was a surprise diagnosis for the 68-year-old New Yorker that came in the fall of 2015 and changed her life dramatically. She had a growing number of symptoms and side effects from treatments and surgery. When her cancer doctor referred Ilene to the palliative care team, Ilene didn’t know about the medical...
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A Quality Life: Rae Anne's Palliative Care Story
getpalliativecare's podcast
While enjoying a concert, Rae Anne discovered a lump on the side of her neck. Not knowing what it could be, she left quickly to schedule various doctor appointments. Within a few weeks, the lump grew and she was diagnosed with stage 4 head and neck cancer. Rae Anne received several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and was then contacted by the palliative care team, which changed her life for the better.
info_outlineWhen Sarah was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer at age 34, she was immediately determined to find the best care possible. She fought for an oncologist who would support her at every turn, and sought out specialists from many different disciplines to provide her better care. She found her own pharmacist to organize her medications, pain specialists and physical therapists to help her with painful symptoms and side effects of treatment, and other doctors to round out her care team. She was willing to do anything to remain active and play a pivotal role in the growth of her two young sons.
“I think any serious illness is going to make a patient assess their life, their values, and their purpose,” says Sarah. “Patients deserve the highest level of care available and I wasn’t going to settle.”
One day while chatting with a friend, Sarah was talking about the makeshift care team she assembled to give her an extra layer of support as she treated her cancer when her friend interrupted her.
“That sounds a lot like palliative care,” the friend said.
This is Sarah’s story.