Cancer Out Loud: The CancerCare Podcast

In this episode, we delve into the often-unseen world of cancer caregiving. Join us as we interview CancerCare’s Caregiver Program Coordinator Dina Smith, LMSW, exploring the multifaceted challenges and emotional experiences faced by those caring for loved ones diagnosed with cancer. We discuss practical issues, emotional tolls, family dynamics and the evolving nature of the caregiving role. This episode offers valuable insights and resources for cancer caregivers, shedding light on their vital role in the cancer experience. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for these unsung heroes in cancer care.

In this episode, Mike and Nancy open up about the profound impact of losing their spouses and the unforeseen journey of healing that followed. Join us as they recount their experiences at CancerCare's Healing Hearts Family Bereavement Camp, a place they never imagined would place a pivotal role in their paths towards recovery. Joined by Kathy Nugent, CancerCare's Senior Director of Regional Programs, we hear about how Healing Hearts shaped Mike and Nancy's experience. They speak candidly about the challenges and nuances of blending their lives and supporting their young daughters through this complex process. This conversation offers an honest and raw look into navigating grief, finding strength in vulnerability and building a new family from a place of shared understanding and resilience. Listen in for a genuine and heartfelt exploration of life, loss and the unexpected forms that healing can take.

In the second part of this episode, oncology social worker Lucia continues her conversation around grief with two former members of her Bereavement Support Group, Jay and Lou. After being with their wives for upward of 30 years, they share their journeys of loss, moving forward and survival. Join us for an episode exploring the evolving nature of grief and the crucial role of a support system; a raw look at love, loss and healing.

Cancer Out Loud returns this summer to share new stories of hope and resilience. In the first part of this heartfelt episode, oncology social worker Lucia brings together two former members of her Bereavement Support Group, Susan and Mary, to share their experiences navigating grief and loss after the death of their husbands. They touch on the universality of loss and yet the profoundly personal journey of bereavement. With Lucia guiding their conversation, they delve into the complexities of healing, the importance of support systems and the strength they found in unexpected places. Tune in for this intimate exploration of grief that illuminates the tragedy of loss, the power of resilience and where to find glimmers of hope.

March is National Social Work Month and an opportunity to reflect on the positive impact that CancerCare’s services have had on the oncology community. For our Season 6 finale and the three year anniversary of the Cancer Out Loud Podcast launch, we take a closer look at what it means to be an oncology social worker at CancerCare. Listen in as earlier podcast guests share their sentiments of what it would be like without the support of CancerCare. Cancer Out Loud will return later this spring for Season 7.

Before her cancer diagnosis, Valarie worked in human resources. After being diagnosed with both multiple myeloma and breast cancer, Valarie’s life took a different path - one of advocacy and patient education. As her goals shifted, she focused on educating others about the disease, while shedding light on health inequities. In the penultimate episode of Season 6, Valarie shares how advocating for herself led to empowering others to find their voice.

When Judy was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer almost a decade ago, many emotions ran through her mind: shock, fear, disbelief and curiosity. Judy, a research scientist by trade, wanted to know more about her diagnosis and was disappointed by the lack of literature and research available. Join us for a story of hope, perseverance and gratitude, as Judy shares the highs and lows of navigating a rare cancer diagnosis.

Healing looks different for everyone. Often, the expressive arts can create an outlet to understand and process difficult emotional experiences - this includes creative writing, music, crafting, painting, etc. This episode takes a deeper dive into the different tools that can be used to cope with a cancer diagnosis. Listen in as Chris speaks with her oncology social worker, Sara, about the challenges she has faced throughout her cancer experience. Chris is no stranger to gratitude and her story is one that many can relate to- in Chris’ words, “Just know you can ride these waves, but you will find your feet on the shore again - it’s always possible.”

A cancer diagnosis is incredibly disruptive and unpredictable. At the time her 32-year-old husband was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer, Whitney was starting a doctoral program while building her private therapy practice. Whitney is no stranger to the world of chronic illness as she has managed her own for many years. With her husband’s diagnosis, she learned to take on a different role all together. Join us as Whitney shares her experience as a young adult caregiver and what it has been like to navigate the emotional rollercoaster of the past 16 months.

Meet Kris, a stage III chondrosarcoma survivor, avid golfer and skier, father, and husband. In this episode, Kris speaks with his social worker Nikki about how he navigated his diagnosis and hemipelvectomy. This surgery resulted in removing his left pelvis, hip, and leg. Kris has experienced many ups, downs, and in-betweens. Throughout it all, he remains determined, focusing on living life moment by moment and filling his days with joy and love. Listen in as Kris finds light shining through in the darkest of places.

Just before Lindsay’s 40th birthday, she was diagnosed with a rare, advanced cancer. Pre-diagnosis, Lindsay was a marathon runner, an avid traveler and a bit of a workaholic. Listen in as Lindsay shares with host Sarah Paul how she advocated for answers, underwent a life-changing surgery and is now learning to navigate survivorship.

In the opening episode of Season 6, we meet Kouichi. A passionate father, environmental activist, editor and a Hodgkin’s Lymphoma survivor. Listen in as Kouichi speaks with his oncology social worker, Cassie, about navigating his cancer experience. Kouichi shares a passionate story of hope, survivorship and the power of fatherhood.

In July 2003, Shannan was diagnosed with a grade 2 glioma at the age of 31. In recognition of Brain Cancer Awareness Month, listen in as Shannan shares how she navigated multiple surgeries and a number of treatments since diagnosis. Approaching her 19 year "cancerversary," Shannan speaks with Charlotte Ference, a CancerCare oncology social worker, about how she found support, coped with treatment side effects, raised her daughter and ultimately found hope.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. At CancerCare, we understand the importance of taking care of your mental health, especially if you have been affected by cancer. Listen in as Sarah Paul, the Director of Clinical Programs, and Marissa Fors, the Director of Specialized Programs, discuss mental health awareness, the stigma of seeking support, navigating barriers to care and finding the courage to reach out and ask for help. Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health - it's never too late to get support.

Our Cancer Out Loud podcast returns with season five. In recognition of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Joe Bullock speaks with Sarah Paul, LCSW, CancerCare’s Director of Clinical Programs, about his diagnosis of colorectal cancer, the community support network he has helped to grow and how he’s channeled his voice to encourage more men to get screened for cancer.

In the final (and bonus) episode of Cancer Out Loud, we asked current and future guests to share their most significant takeaways from the past year. This collaboration of voices paints a powerful picture of the lasting impact of a cancer diagnosis. Cancer Out Loud will return in early 2022 for Season 5.

In part II of Se’Nita and Samantha’s conversation, Se’Nita shares the importance of putting your health first, no matter what the barriers to care may be. She talks about the love involved in finding her voice, sharing her story and advocating for those who have yet to be heard. Se’Nita’s story is not just one of advocacy in the face of healthcare disparities, but one of hope and inspiration for those seeking the courage to find their voice.

This week we want to tell a different story: one from not only the perspective of a cancer survivor, but also a long-time oncology social worker at CancerCare. Rick Dickens began his oncology social work career over 25 years ago; his experience as a patient provided him with unique insight and the passion to positively impact those affected by cancer. Listen in as he discusses the trajectory of his career and how he has been able to navigate inherent challenges faced by providers and patients alike. We thank Rick for sharing his knowledge, curiosity and compassion with CancerCare staff and clients over the last 25 years!

Jason was diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma in 2019, a rare and aggressive type of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Listen in as Jason discusses the importance of self-advocacy and how it led to his diagnosis. He shares his path to treatment, his experience participating in a clinical trial and learning the best way to be your own advocate despite challenges in the healthcare system.

This week we are joined by Darlene, a woman who embodies the term “advocate” and encourages others to take the road less traveled (as long as it is right for you!). Listen in as Darlene openly discusses barriers that she faced after her colon cancer diagnosis. In this story of courage, Darlene shares the journey of finding her voice and a treatment plan that felt just right. This episode discusses complementary and alternative medicine; speak with your treating health care team to determine what treatment approach is most appropriate for you.

In this episode, Se’Nita speaks with CancerCare social worker Samantha Fortune, LMSW, about being diagnosed with breast cancer two weeks before her 38th birthday. She talks about feeling “like a number” and about being shocked by the bias and insensitivity of certain medical professionals. Se’Nita pursued a second opinion from a doctor who was a woman of color, like herself, who reaffirmed the importance of being seen and heard in a medical setting. In Se’Nita’s experience, older generations in the Black community rarely talk about cancer and other health concerns, sharing, “We won’t even know that they had gone through anything, because no one talks about it. I want to change that for this generation. The more we talk about it, the more we speak about it, people can get diagnosed at earlier stages and save lives.” Join us later in the season for the second part of Se’Nita and Samantha’s conversation.

Gracias a nuestros trabajadores sociales y miembros del personal bilingües, CáncerCare se enorgullece de ofrecer muchos servicios tanto en inglés como en español. El episodio de esta semana presenta una conversación entre Lucia Fanjul, LMSW, una de las trabajadoras sociales bilingües de CancerCare, y Rossana, una persona que vivió con cáncer del cerebro. Rossana describe los cambios internos que sucedieron cuando ella fue diagnosticada de cancer en el cerebro. Rossana comparte el trayecto de su experiencia emocional. Ella habla de como enfrento sus sentimientos de asolamiento y miedo durante su tratamiento de cancer. Rossana tambien comparte como adaptarse al cambio, y como el miedo que ella sintió, lo pudo usar para convertirlo en un empujo para pedir ayuda emocional. Thanks to our bilingual social workers and staff members, CancerCare is proud to offer many services in both English and Spanish. This week's episode features a conversation between Lucia Fanjul, LMSW, one of CancerCare's bilingual social workers and Rossana, a person diagnosed with brain cancer. Rossana describes the internal changes that happened when she was diagnosed with brain cancer. Rossana shares the journey of her emotional experience. She talks about how she coped with her feelings of devastation and fear during her cancer treatment. Rossana also shares how to adapt to change and how she used her fear as a push to ask for emotional help.

All cancer experiences are complex: they are nuanced, ever-evolving and even sometimes contradictory. In the final season 3 episode of Cancer Out Loud, we asked current and future guests to describe their cancer experience in one word, and we’re excited to share what they had to say. Cancer Out Loud will be back with new episodes in fall 2021!

The last year has changed all of our lives: in big ways, small ways, and ways we never could have expected. In the first of two special bonus episodes, current and future Cancer Out Loud guests share how the pandemic has impacted their cancer experiences.

When Allie was in middle school, her mother was diagnosed with cancer. Following an extended period of remission, her mother’s cancer returned when Allie was in graduate school. Allie joins the podcast to explore how she navigated caregiving and grief in different contexts and stages of her life, all while following her mom’s insistence that she not miss out on the opportunities of young adulthood. She talks about how she found a balance between living her life and supporting her mother, even as she experienced the anxiety of living “scan to scan.” Speaking of her grief, she shares, “It’s not sadness, because it’s deeper than that; you can be happy and still be feeling grief.” Through it all, Allie turned to her support network: “A lot of my friendships got stronger and deeper after going through a loss like that. My sister and my dad and I all stayed close… we all go through the same emotions at the same time every day.” This is the last full episode of Cancer Out Loud, Season 3. Stay tuned for bonus episodes through the end of June!

On this week’s episode, Kimberly details her experience with metastatic breast cancer. She poses essential questions about the cancer experience: What does this mean? How will my life change? How can I deal with that while understanding my need for self-care? As the CEO of Infinite Being, Kimberly leads outreach programs, works as a health coach and makes videos to help others "find their best life" amidst chronic illnesses. Kimberly acknowledges the importance of integrating mindful tools and practices like meditation and deep breathing into daily life, calling attention to the connection between healing the physical and emotional realities of cancer. She explains, "If you're in your present, then there is no 'what happened last time'… there's no past, there's no future, there's just present."

Gracias a nuestros trabajadores sociales y miembros del personal bilingües, CancerCare se enorgullece de ofrecer muchos servicios tanto en inglés como en español. El episodio de esta semana presenta una conversación entre Cecilia Acosta, LMSW, una de las trabajadoras sociales bilingües de CancerCare, y Gloria, una persona que vive con cáncer de ovario y carcinoma peritoneal. Gloria describe su experiencia al sortear las barreras del idioma mientras se enfrenta a la incertidumbre de su cáncer y sus variados impactos físicos y emocionales. Gloria comparte la importancia de encontrar esa "lucecita" que brinde alivio, tanto si surge de conversaciones de consejería, del apoyo incondicional de los miembros de la familia, o de la conexión con su fe. Thanks to our bilingual social workers and staff members, CancerCare proudly offers many services in both English and Spanish. This week’s episode features a conversation between Cecilia Acosta, LMSW, one of CancerCare’s bilingual social workers, and Gloria, a person living with ovarian cancer and peritoneal carcinoma. Gloria outlines her experience navigating language barriers while coping with the uncertainty of her cancer and its varied physical and emotional impacts. Gloria shares the importance of finding ‘the little light’ that brings relief, whether it emerges from counseling conversations, the unconditional support of family members, or her connection to her faith.

Kandis joins the podcast to talk about her experience as a caregiver for her mother, who had stage IV ovarian cancer. She explores caregiving as being simultaneously stressful and rewarding, enabling emotional memories and moments that would not have been otherwise possible. Kandis talks about caregiving in black and brown communities and explains how she became a national advocate for ovarian cancer. Highlighting the importance of social and professional support, Kandis reminds caregivers of the airplane safety guidance to "put on your mask before you help someone else," using it as a metaphor for truly investing in personal care and well-being while caring for a loved one.

John was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumors in March of 2010. An independent illustrator, writer and graphic novelist, they put creative expression in conversation with cancer, drawing and writing about cancer’s impact on all aspects of life. John talks about artistically rendering tumors as monstrous embodiments of self, negotiating and battling with them through various chemotherapy protocols, surgeries and clinical trials. John approaches illness with openness and honesty, crediting personal experience as a queer teenager growing up amidst the HIV/AIDS crisis, and explores pathways toward coping with cancer’s physical, emotional and artistic challenges.

In the opening episode of season three, Louisa talks with her former CancerCare social worker, A.J., about her relationship with her husband, Johnny. She details their life and love together, the experience of his unexpected third brain cancer diagnosis soon after their engagement, and his death eighteen days after their wedding. Louisa opens up about how Johnny always found joy, how she found support and how she remains an involved member of the cancer community. As Louisa shares, “I’ll always be carrying him with me as I’m moving forward… because he'll always be a part of me. I'm carrying him with me, and he's also carrying me.”

On this week’s episode, we welcome Jessica, a young adult living with metastatic cancer, and her social worker, Marlee. Jessica shares what it’s like to navigate metastatic cancer and all the unique challenges that come along with it, lending tremendous insight into the importance of living despite a terminal prognosis. Join us in a conversation about grief, having hard conversations, building a legacy and “putting in the work” to learn how to live life on one's own terms. This is the final episode of our second season. Cancer Out Loud will return in Spring 2021!

Deatrice didn't ask for cancer, and she never knew how strong she was until she had no other choice but to be strong. She joins the podcast to detail her experience with breast cancer and discuss the barriers she faced when pursuing quality care. The obstacles and systemic disparities she encountered forced her to find her voice and become her own strongest advocate. Her message to other women of color who have been diagnosed with cancer is a simple affirmation: “You matter, speak up. Don’t allow them to dismiss you.”

On this week's episode, Rahsaan describes his mother's experience with pancreatic cancer and how he’s woven her death, his grief and his love for her into his daily consciousness. As he works to understand his own life in the context of his mother’s, Rahsaan explores his drive to stand up for himself, advocate for others and challenge imbalanced power structures. He implores listeners to advocate alongside him to “make sure that everybody has a fair shake” in the context of existing health care disparities, unequal access to care and the Movement for Black Lives. Rahsaan cites his mother as a guiding force as he walks through 2020, and explains, “We can thank Juanita for that.”

This week we welcome Kurt Fitzpatrick—an actor, writer and performer—who is in remission from B-cell follicular lymphoma. As he walks us through his cancer treatment starting from the day of diagnosis, Kurt reflects on how he tries to make the most out of every day, despite having cancer. You can also check out Kurt’s podcast, A Lifetime of Hallmark, dedicated to taking deep and hilarious dives into Hallmark and Lifetime movies.

Seyna never expected she would be diagnosed with breast cancer, especially as a young adult. In this episode, she shares the importance of a strong support network—made up not just of family and friends, but of health care teams, support group peers and work colleagues too. We also navigate her experience of multiple treatment protocols, the possibilities for her future and why she says you should always have that extra piece of cake.

For our season 2 premiere, we welcome Kevin, a young adult navigating the loss of his mother, who shares his experience of transitioning from being a primary caregiver to someone who is newly bereaved. Kevin also touches on what it means to be a caregiver, the need for common ground when discussing grief and the importance of group support.

Jessica came to CancerCare after experiencing the loss of her father to stage IV liver cancer. Grief looks different for every individual; experiencing the death of a parent as a young adult can be especially isolating. Listen in as Jessica shares her grief experience while honoring her father’s memory and his desire to live to the fullest despite his cancer diagnosis. This is the final episode of our first season. Cancer Out Loud will be back this fall!

This week, we welcome Sheryl, a mother, grandmother, friend, advocate, retired teacher and mentor. Sheryl shares her experience with stage IV melanoma from diagnosis through various types of treatment while emphasizing the importance of advocating for oneself throughout the treatment process. Listen in as Sheryl reflects on her experience with tremendous insight; she reminds us all to accept the things we cannot change as a way to live a more meaningful and present life.

On today’s episode, we welcome Michelle, a young adult cancer survivor currently in remission for Stage II Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Listen in as Michelle opens up about her cancer experience, her relapse and her successful autologous stem cell transplant. She also covers navigating difficult decisions, returning to work, communicating with her medical team and seeking a second opinion.

Meet Bianca: actress, director and, most recently, superhero! Originally from Bulgaria, Bianca tells the story of her diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer. Bianca joins us to not only share her experience as a cancer patient, but to inspire and connect others who may feel isolated by their diagnosis.

On today’s show, Stephen talks about his personal philosophy throughout his cancer treatment, “They can treat it, you can beat it,” and how it fostered resilience on the path to survivorship. Stephen discusses the power of community, the role of advocacy and the importance of optimism in everyday life.