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A Quality Life: Cathy's Breast Cancer Story

getpalliativecare's podcast

Release Date: 03/15/2018

How Palliative Care Helped Amy Get Back to Her Hobbies show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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.

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Cathy, 62, has always loved jogging and doing step aerobics, but her true passion is tending to the flowers in her garden. “I just love being outside and getting my hands in the dirt,” says Cathy, born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. Cathy will be the first to tell you that gardening takes both patience and the willingness to start anew when a flower doesn’t grow like she’d hoped. “It’s okay when something doesn’t go your way out there. It’s all about adapting and moving forward,” says Cathy. Cathy has had to apply those same principles to her own life as well. A diagnosis of stage IV breast cancer in 2012—the second time she had been diagnosed with this illness—halted her active and productive life. She faced an uphill climb of difficult chemotherapy regiments and an uncertain future. After dealing with painful symptoms from the chemotherapy and the stress of managing the ups and downs of her battle for over four years, she asked for better care from her medical professionals. She was referred to palliative care who now work every day to get her back to her active life. This is Cathy’s story.