Talk About Cancer

Gaz shared how he’s dealing with a terminal diagnosis as a young adult and why for a practical person like him, living from scan to scan takes on a different meaning.

You can connect with Gaz on Instagram @Gaz_Emmerson where you will see that he’s still biking to his chemo appointments and enjoy concerts with his friends. You will also find the link to his fundraiser for Sarcoma UK there, which now stands at a whopping $111K pounds!

Please follow the podcast if you are enjoying the show. Would also be awesome if you can leave an honest rating and review so I know if I am serving the interests and needs of you listeners out there.

Have topic suggestions or feedback about the show?  Email [email protected] or come say hi on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or Linkedin!

Thank you for listening!

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My reflections on the conversation:

I really appreciate having the opportunity to talk to Gaz about his cancer experience, because it’s a bit like an anti-thesis to this podcast, where I promote talking about and processing the challenging emotions we have as a way for us to move forward. Gaz showed me that that’s not necessarily the right answer for everyone and that for him, taking action - like being present and making memories with loved ones and finding ways to give back to others - has been a better way for him moved forward through each setback. I thank him for that gentle reminder. 

Also, it was upsetting to hear that the first-line treatment for Ewing Sarcoma has not progressed in 40 years and thus leaving people living with this cancer with very few treatment options. It brought back memories of the awful countdown I used to do in my head - each time a type of therapy failed for my dad, I would panic silently in my own head about having only x number of options left. At the time, I never thought about what a luxury it was that we even had that many options to try. But again, cancer and luxury aren’t two concepts that often go together. 

Gaz shared how he’s dealing with a terminal diagnosis as a young adult and why for a practical person like him, living from scan to scan takes on a different meaning.

You can connect with Gaz on Instagram @Gaz_Emmerson where you will see that he’s still biking to his chemo appointments and enjoy concerts with his friends. You will also find the link to his fundraiser for Sarcoma UK there, which now stands at a whopping $111K pounds!

Please follow the podcast if you are enjoying the show. Would also be awesome if you can leave an honest rating and review so I know if I am serving the interests and needs of you listeners out there.

Have topic suggestions or feedback about the show?  Contact me on Instagram or email me at [email protected]. 

Thank you for listening!

++++++++++++

My reflections on the conversation:

I really appreciate having the opportunity to talk to Gaz about his cancer experience, because it’s a bit like an anti-thesis to this podcast, where I promote talking about and processing the challenging emotions we have as a way for us to move forward. Gaz showed me that that’s not necessarily the right answer for everyone and that for him, taking action - like being present and making memories with loved ones and finding ways to give back to others - has been a better way for him moved forward through each setback. I thank him for that gentle reminder. 

Also, it was upsetting to hear that the first-line treatment for Ewing Sarcoma has not progressed in 40 years and thus leaving people living with this cancer with very few treatment options. It brought back memories of the awful countdown I used to do in my head - each time a type of therapy failed for my dad, I would panic silently in my own head about having only x number of options left. At the time, I never thought about what a luxury it was that we even had that many options to try. But again, cancer and luxury aren’t two concepts that often go together. 

Julieta talked openly about grappling with not being cancer-free after her chemo treatment and the complex layers of love, fear, and hope she’s balancing with her intergenerational family.

Please follow the podcast if you are enjoying the show. Would also be awesome if you can leave an honest rating and review so I know if I am serving the interests and needs of you listeners out there.

Have topic suggestions or feedback about the show?  Contact me on Instagram or email me at [email protected]. 

Thank you for listening!

++++++++++++

My reflections on the conversation:

I invited Julieta on the show because I wanted to help elevate her message as a cancer advocate in the Latino community, but this intergenerational story we ended up diving into was so much more complex than I expected, such as the way Julieta and her mom try to protect one another by shielding things that may be upsetting to the other person, and how Julieta doesn’t want her daughter to now feel pressured about having to do the same for Julieta. It’s so representative of the kind of delicate balancing act that nobody gives us a “plan” for while dealing with cancer. 

Julieta talked openly about grappling with not being cancer-free after her chemo treatment and the complex layers of love, fear, and hope she’s balancing with her intergenerational family.

Please follow the podcast if you are enjoying the show. Would also be awesome if you can leave an honest rating and review so I know if I am serving the interests and needs of you listeners out there.

Have topic suggestions or feedback about the show?  Email [email protected] or come say hi on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or Linkedin!

Thank you for listening!

++++++++++++

My reflections on the conversation:

I invited Julieta on the show because I wanted to help elevate her message as a cancer advocate in the Latino community, but this intergenerational story we ended up diving into was so much more complex than I expected, such as the way Julieta and her mom try to protect one another by shielding things that may be upsetting to the other person, and how Julieta doesn’t want her daughter to now feel pressured about having to do the same for Julieta. It’s so representative of the kind of delicate balancing act that nobody gives us a “plan” for while dealing with cancer. 

Rachel shared some of the most intimate moments from her and her late husband’s cancer experience, including how she knew when it was time to let go.

You can find Rachel’s book Wife, Widow, Now What? on Amazon and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Also, check out CaringBridge as a resource for anyone who wants to blog about your health experience but doesn't want to deal with the headaches of set up a blog site.

Please follow the podcast if you are enjoying the show. Would also be awesome if you can leave an honest rating and review so I know if I am serving the interests and needs of you listeners out there.

Have topic suggestions or feedback about the show?  Contact me on Instagram or email me at [email protected]. 

Thank you for listening!

++++++++++++

My reflections on the conversation:

We covered so much ground in this conversation with Rachel, from the initial diagnosis all the way to forging a new life years after her late husband’s passing. I know the topic of end-of-life can be so overwhelming for many and I totally understand why, but for those who have to face it, a resource like Rachel’s book can be incredibly helpful. 

Over the past four years, I’ve thought a lot about my dad’s end-of-life process and have come to the same conclusion as Rachel, that I was able to find peace when my dad died because I knew my mom and I did everything we could and respected his wishes all along the way. In my mind, that counts way more than how we say goodbye in the end. 

I was rooting for the Rachel from 8 years ago when she was dancing to Joy Division and telling Grayson that he had beat cancer. Unbeknownst to her at the time, she would also eventually beat cancer, although not without some twists and turns. 

Rachel shared some of the most intimate moments from her and her late husband’s cancer experience, including how she knew when it was time to let go. 

You can find Rachel’s book Wife, Widow, Now What? on Amazon and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Also, check out CaringBridge as a resource for anyone who wants to blog about your health experience but doesn't want to deal with the headaches of set up a blog site.

Please follow the podcast if you are enjoying the show. Would also be awesome if you can leave an honest rating and review so I know if I am serving the interests and needs of you listeners out there.

Have topic suggestions or feedback about the show?  Email [email protected] or come say hi on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or Linkedin!

Thank you for listening!

++++++++++++

My reflections on the conversation:

We covered so much ground in this conversation with Rachel, from the initial diagnosis all the way to forging a new life years after her late husband’s passing. I know the topic of end-of-life can be so overwhelming for many and I totally understand why, but for those who have to face it, a resource like Rachel’s book can be incredibly helpful. 

Over the past four years, I’ve thought a lot about my dad’s end-of-life process and have come to the same conclusion as Rachel, that I was able to find peace when my dad died because I knew my mom and I did everything we could and respected his wishes all along the way. In my mind, that counts way more than how we say goodbye in the end. 

I was rooting for the Rachel from 8 years ago when she was dancing to Joy Division and telling Grayson that he had beat cancer. Unbeknownst to her at the time, she would also eventually beat cancer, although not without some twists and turns. 

Babz walked us through how he reacted when he first got his diagnosis and how he quickly realized that dealing with cancer was mostly a mental game.

You can check out Babz's Community Interest Company Freshrb, which uses video production to highlight marginalized health issues. 

Please follow the podcast if you are enjoying the show. Would also be awesome if you can leave an honest rating and review so I know if I am serving the interests and needs of you listeners out there.

Have topic suggestions or feedback about the show?  Email [email protected] or come say hi on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or Linkedin!

Thank you for listening!

++++++++++++

My reflections on the conversation:

Babz mentioned the idea of “fast-forwarding your life” a few times during our discussion, and I thought it’s a pretty succinct way to describe a critical part of people’s experience with cancer because in an instant, a cancer diagnosis forces you to answer all the major life questions you haven’t yet answered with nearly no time to thoughtfully understand the issue and think through all the options and potential outcomes. Too many have had to deal with lasting consequences because they were either not fully informed, or not informed at all. 

I also thought it was very interesting for Babz to share that it wouldn’t have made a big difference if his medical team was more direct in their communication while Babz was waiting for his diagnosis. I know it would have driven me crazy to have to wait six months to get a confirmation and all the while experiencing strange symptoms. But that’s also what I love about making this podcast, is that it challenges my assumption about other’s experiences and perspectives!

I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t know anything about Nigerian culture even though I lived in NYC for 7 years and it has one of the largest Nigerian populations in the US. But it was so interesting to hear about the similarities between the Nigerian and the Chinese cultures, such as not talking about illnesses and being suspicious about non-traditional careers!

Babz walked us through how he reacted when he first got his diagnosis and how he quickly realized that dealing with cancer was mostly a mental game.

You can check out Babz's Community Interest Company Freshrb, which uses video production to highlight marginalized health issues.

Please follow the podcast if you are enjoying the show. Would also be awesome if you can leave an honest rating and review so I know if I am serving the interests and needs of you listeners out there.

Have topic suggestions or feedback about the show?  Contact me on Instagram or email me at [email protected]. 

Thank you for listening!

++++++++++++

My reflections on the conversation:

Babz mentioned the idea of “fast-forwarding your life” a few times during our discussion, and I thought it’s a pretty succinct way to describe a critical part of people’s experience with cancer because in an instant, a cancer diagnosis forces you to answer all the major life questions you haven’t yet answered with nearly no time to thoughtfully understand the issue and think through all the options and potential outcomes. Too many have had to deal with lasting consequences because they were either not fully informed, or not informed at all. 

I also thought it was very interesting for Babz to share that it wouldn’t have made a big difference if his medical team was more direct in their communication while Babz was waiting for his diagnosis. I know it would have driven me crazy to have to wait six months to get a confirmation and all the while experiencing strange symptoms. But that’s also what I love about making this podcast, is that it challenges my assumption about other’s experiences and perspectives!

I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t know anything about Nigerian culture even though I lived in NYC for 7 years and it has one of the largest Nigerian populations in the US. But it was so interesting to hear about the similarities between the Nigerian and the Chinese cultures, such as not talking about illnesses and being suspicious about non-traditional careers!

Sue gave us a glimpse into the struggles of caring for a loved one who is fully dependent on her and how in an extreme situation like this, self-care may just mean grabbing a few Oreos. 

Please follow the podcast if you are enjoying the show. Would also be awesome if you can leave an honest rating and review so I know if I am serving the interests and needs of you listeners out there.

Have topic suggestions or feedback about the show?  Email [email protected] or come say hi on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or Linkedin!

Thank you for listening!

++++++++++++

My reflections on the conversation:

A big “thank you” to Sue for giving me a precious hour from her day to share her caregiving experience with us. Her situation with her husband is pretty extreme but there were actually many elements I could connect with, such as having a very short horizon and only being able to focus on getting through each task at hand or having a sense of being in a “secret society” where your own life seems so far away from “normal” that you feel like an outsider. 

I know Sue reminded us to not try to be superwoman or superman, but I have to say, she comes pretty close to it in my book. Navigating the bureaucratic healthcare system with the ombudsman’s office is not a walk in the park, let alone for someone who is dealing with the emotional, financial, and logistical challenges of becoming a full-time caregiver. She also talked about the importance of making therapy work for her and not accepting services that weren’t effective. Rather than giving up, she managed to tackle each of these hurdles one at a time. It’s an incredible example of how resilient we can be when we need to care for the people we love. 

Sue gave us a glimpse into the struggles of caring for a loved one who is fully dependent on her and how in an extreme situation like this, self-care may just mean grabbing a few Oreos.

Please follow the podcast if you are enjoying the show. Would also be awesome if you can leave an honest rating and review so I know if I am serving the interests and needs of you listeners out there.

Have topic suggestions or feedback about the show?  Contact me on Instagram or email me at [email protected]. 

Thank you for listening!

++++++++++++

My reflections on the conversation:

A big “thank you” to Sue for giving me a precious hour from her day to share her caregiving experience with us. Her situation with her husband is pretty extreme but there were actually many elements I could connect with, such as having a very short horizon and only being able to focus on getting through each task at hand or having a sense of being in a “secret society” where your own life seems so far away from “normal” that you feel like an outsider. 

I know Sue reminded us to not try to be superwoman or superman, but I have to say, she comes pretty close to it in my book. Navigating the bureaucratic healthcare system with the ombudsman’s office is not a walk in the park, let alone for someone who is dealing with the emotional, financial, and logistical challenges of becoming a full-time caregiver. She also talked about the importance of making therapy work for her and not accepting services that weren’t effective. Rather than giving up, she managed to tackle each of these hurdles one at a time. It’s an incredible example of how resilient we can be when we need to care for the people we love.