Get Palliative Care

Amy Berman is a nurse, a nationally recognized expert in care of the aged and a senior program officer at the John A. Hartford Foundation. When she was diagnosed with Stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer in 2010, she had some very difficult decisions to make about her treatment options. Faced with discouraging odds of surviving more than five years, Amy discussed her care options with her oncologist who was trained in palliative care skills.

“The team advised me but only advised me after they asked me what I wanted,” says Amy.

Together with her family, Amy decided to forego aggressive treatment and instead have her pain and the psychosocial symptoms of her disease handled by a palliative care team. Five and a half years after her diagnosis, Amy is active and fulfilled as ever, working full-time and traveling every chance she gets.

“What palliative care gives to me is the ability to feel well and fully live my life in the face of serious illness,” says Amy.

This is a story about making informed decisions. It’s also a story about putting the patient first. This is Amy's palliative care story.

Hosted by Dan Altano

Navigating the uncertain waters of high school and college can be challenging for anyone. Imagine spending those pivotal years with a serious illness. Twenty-three year old Aly lives with the symptoms of multiple diagnoses including Churg Strauss syndrome and Mast Cell disorder. In the face of chronic pain and discomfort, constant doctor’s visits and hospitalizations, and the stress that comes with giving up so much at such a young age, her goal is simple: to live the best life possible. Palliative care is helping Aly with her pain management and her stress and depression stemming from her illnesses. The palliative care team helps her set goals and serves as a mediator between her other medical specialists. This is her palliative care story.

Hosted by Dan Altano