In Sickness

Living with male breast cancer presents unique physical, emotional, and social challenges, many of which stem from the rarity of the condition and the societal stigma surrounding it. There are many misconceptions about this rare form of cancer, but in this episode of In Sickness. Men and the Culture of Caregiving, our two cancer patients – Arvind Natarajan and Steve Del Gardo - share their graphic stories and dispel much of the erroneous information about this condition. One patient even served double duty as his caregiver as well. We also were fortunate to have a clinician and male breast cancer specialist, Dr. Jose Pablo Leone, from Dana Farber Cancer Institute join the discussion and relate that although it might be rare, this disease is not uncommon. 

This episode also represents a departure from our norm as we invited fellow podcaster and cancer caregiver, Charlotte Bayala, to join us. She was wonderful and after you listen to her on our podcast you can check her out on, The Cancer Caregiver. 

Compassion fatigue is quite literally, the emotional cost of caring. The physical and emotional exhaustion experienced by caregivers is a common thread in the caregiving experience. It’s a serious condition that affects anyone finding themselves in a helping or caregiving role. This episode of In Sickness had the privilege of speaking with three of the authors – Peter Dudley, Antoinette LeCouteur, Tammy Hurst - of the extraordinary book, Relit. It’s a collection of essays by individuals engaged in a “heart-based role” who succumbed to the eventual care inertia. Think the heart writ large. To learn more, go to insickness.org.

In this episode of In Sickness, we were the fortunate guests of Takeda Pharmaceuticals as they asked us to take part in their annual celebration of Rare Disease Day by recording our podcast in front of an audience of over 50 energized employees. What a thrill for Bob and I to speak with three of their employees who are also caregivers. Equally delighted to field questions from the audience. Takeda is a company that clearly understands that by supporting caregivers, they can improve patient outcomes. After hearing from our hosts at Takeda, which included one of their executive leaders I believe they also do this because it is the right thing to do. To learn more, go to insickness.org.

Collaboration between caregivers and biopharma companies can lead to innovations that benefit both the patient and their support systems, leading to better health outcomes, more effective therapies, and a higher quality of life for all involved. In this special Rare Disease Day 2025 podcast you will hear the story of Ron and Marla Chapleau and how they have cared for their Aiden who has an ultrarare neurodegenerative disease for over two decades. You will also hear how one company, Vigil Neuroscience, is developing a therapy to help treat Aiden’s condition and the strong bond that has developed between Vigil and the Chapleau family. to learn more, go to insickness.org.

At first glance Sawyer looks like most Golden Retrievers. Floppy ears, kind eyes and a never-stop-wagging tail. But then you step inside the home of Ron and Linda Baxter and see him in action helping Linda who has MS and is in a wheelchair. On any given day Sawyer can aid Linda in retrieving and carrying items, opening and closing doors, providing mobility assistance, and assisting with navigation. Plus, he provides emotional support to Linda as well as Ron who finds him invaluable in reducing the pressures and commitment of being a caregiver. This episode looks at caregiving through the eyes of Sawyer, the couple who embraces him and the organization who trains him. To learn more, go to insickness.org.

All caregivers reach a point where the responsibilities of caregiving bumps heads with the demands of life. It’s usually a combination of physical, emotional and/or mental exhaustion brought on by caring for a loved one over a prolonged period. That’s what happened to podcast guest Kate Washington, who cared for her husband as he endured a series of serious health setbacks. She tried to keep up with the increasing demands of his many illnesses, without adequate support or self-care. Until she couldn’t. It’s an experience she chronicled in her excellent book, Already Toast: Caregiving and Burnout in America. Joining Kate on the podcast to offer a clinical perspective is Michelle Feng, a licensed psychologist and healthcare executive with a specialization in geriatrics, behavioral medicine, and caregiving. To learn more, visit insickness.org.

For this episode of In Sickness. Men and the Culture of Caregiving we took the podcast on the road. At the invitation of Pfizer, Inc. we recorded our podcast at the company’s New York City headquarters as part of their annual “Patients in Focus” week. Host, Paul Kidwell, had the pleasure of speaking with Pfizer’s VP, Global Patient Advocacy, Emma Andrews and Jason Resendez who is the CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving. Among the topics discussed were the evolving role of caregivers, the need for more interaction between caregivers and the biopharmaceutical industry, and some of the needs that both groups are filling. 

Stories of individuals living with and enduring the challenges of any disease never fail to move and inspire others. This is especially true when the illness becomes fatal, and life is shortened. Maria Middleton was an exceptional young girl when she was diagnosed with a rare brain cancer and only 15 when she passed away. I use the word exceptional because during her final months when she was experiencing the brunt of her illness, Maria took the time to touch and move others. She wanted to strengthen their own personal resolve and encourage them to never lose hope. She cared that much. Maria’s message continues to ripple around the world even after her death. Maria’s parents Susan and Brian share the profound story of their daughter on this episode of In Sickness. Men and the Culture of Caregiving. To learn more, go to insickness.org.

It takes courage and compassion to be a police officer. The same is true for a caregiver. Just ask Clifton Huffmaster whose day job finds him working as a detective in the Special Victims Unit with the Concord Police Department in Concord, California. This takes courage. He’s also a graduate from the Theological Union at Berkeley College from which he holds a PhD. Maybe that’s where compassion comes from. When Clifton’s wife Lauren was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer his world turned upside down as he assumed the unfamiliar territory as her caregiver. This is where he found the need to be both courageous and compassionate. 

On this episode of In Sickness. Men and the Culture of Caregiving, Clifton and Lauren dive deep into the emotions of living with breast cancer in the shadows of uncertainty. They have gone from the depths of fear to the top of Joy’s Mountain. To learn more go to insickness.org.

For all caregivers, their lives are divided into two parts. Before diagnosis and After Diagnosis. This is particularly true for those who must manage one of the more insidious illnesses, Alzheimer’s Disease, where the changes taking place before the diagnosis and once the disease has become fully onset, are significant for the patient and care partner alike. Marty Schreiber is the former Governor of Wisconsin, author of, My Two Elaines. Learning, Coping and Surviving as an Alzheimer’s Caregiver. The book chronicles Marty’s experience as primary support and caregiver for his wife of 60 years who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The book and this podcast provides a transparent look into the heart of the disease and its personal, physical and emotional impact on the patient and those courageous souls, like Marty, who provide unrelenting support for their loved ones. To learn more and find resources related to this episode, go to insickness.org.