Survivorship - The Bloodline with Blood Cancer United Podcast

When you think about a pediatric patient, they are not a child living in a vacuum. They are part of a very complex system that is suddenly impacted by a cancer diagnosis. Psychosocial care helps to address every piece of that complicated system to successfully get patients the treatment that they need. Join Alicia and Lizette from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), as they speak with pediatric oncology social worker, Chelsea Keeler, from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Chelsea provides services to patients and families to help optimize functioning, such as psychosocial assessments, supportive counseling around disease diagnosis, coping, decision-making, and connection to community resources as needed. On this episode, they’ll discuss the growing field of psychosocial care for pediatric patients, how psychosocial care differs between children and young adult populations, advancements in technology that have improved how support is provided around the world and the role of a psychosocial team and their relationship with patients and families.

Mentioned

• Childhood Blood Cancer
• Young Adults
• Long-Term And Late Effects Of Treatment For Childhood Cancer Survivors
• Follow-Up Care For Childhood Cancer Survivors
• Childhood Blood Cancer Facts and Statistics

Additional

• Understanding the Emotional Effects of Cancer
• Psycho-Oncology: Caring for Body & Mind
• Information Specialists
• Free telephone/web patient programs
• Free booklets
• Financial support
• Online chats
• Caregiver support
• LLS Community
• Support groups

Become a First Connection volunteer! Learn more by calling an LLS Information Specialist at (800) 955-4572, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET or visiting www.LLS.org/InformationSpecialists.

The post How Will My Child’s Cancer Diagnosis Impact Their Emotions? first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Did you know that if somebody is eligible for Medicaid and also eligible for COBRA coverage, some states may actually pay their private COBRA premium? Learn about this and more as Alicia and Lizette chat with Monica Bryant and ask her questions that many of you have asked! Monica is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer for Triage Cancer, a national non-profit organization that provides education on the practical and legal issues that may impact individuals diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers, through events, materials and resources. Topics on this episode include: the difference between Medicare and Medicaid, Medigap plans, laws surrounding debt collectors, understanding deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums, COBRA, employment rights, appealing a denial notice from a health insurance company and more.

Please let us know what you thought about this episode by commenting below! Thanks for listening!

Mentioned on this episode:

• Cancer resources, guides and more (offered by Triage Cancer)
• Medicare
• Medicaid
• Triage Cancer
• COBRA
• Triagecancer.org/statelaws
• Healthcare.gov  
• HIPP program

Additional LLS Support Resources:

• LLS Community
• Information Specialists
• Free telephone/web patient programs
• Free booklets
• Financial support
• Online chats
• Caregiver support
• Support groups
• Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program

The post Monica Answers YOUR Questions About Cancer and the Law first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Eating a well-balanced diet is important, especially with a diagnosis of multiple myeloma. A proper diet during and after cancer treatment can help you feel better, maintain your strength, and positively impact recovery time. Listen in as Alicia and Lizette speak with Gina DeLuca. Gina is an Outpatient Oncology Dietitian for the Center for Cancer Care at NYU Winthrop Hospital. There, she provides individual nutrition counseling and group nutrition education presentations to patients during all phases of oncology care including prevention, treatment and survivorship. On this episode, Gina shares the types of foods that may benefit a myeloma patient and the types of food that they should avoid. Gina also explains why vitamin supplementation should be discussed thoroughly with a patient’s healthcare team, the link between myeloma and obesity, the truth about sugar and its relation to cancer, what foods can potentially interfere with treatment and useful resources for patients and their families.

Please comment below as we’d love to hear your feedback on this episode. Also, be sure to subscribe today to be notified of our next episode.

Mentioned in this episode:

• One-on-one nutrition consultation
• Food and Nutrition Fact Sheet
• LLS Blood Cancer Conferences
• Environmental Working Group
• Clean 15
• Dirty Dozen
• Foodsafety.gov
• American Cancer Society
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Oncologynutrition.org
• American Institute for Cancer Research
• National Cancer Institute
• Eating Hints: Before, during and after Cancer Treatment

Additional LLS Support Resources:

• Information Specialists
• Free telephone/web patient programs
• Free booklets
• Financial support
• Online chats
• Caregiver support
• LLS Community
• Support groups
• Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program

Support for this episode provided by Amgen and Takeda.

The post Diagnosed with Myeloma: What Should I Eat? first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Listen in as Alicia speaks with Jason Khalipa. Jason is a devoted father, world champion, and global businessman.  Jason is a force of nature in the fitness world whose life was turned upside down when his daughter, Ava, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2016 at the age of 4.  Jason and his wife, Ashley, dedicated themselves to the fight armed with a positive mindset and an emphasis on physical and mental strength. Join Jason and Alicia as he shares more about how Ava was diagnosed, what their cancer journey taught him not only as a person, but as a father, and how his passion for fitness helped him remain strong and disciplined throughout this new journey. 

Mentioned on this episode:

• Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
• Leukemia
• The Emperor of All Maladies
• LLS Community
• Ava’s Kitchen
• JasonKhalipa.com
• Jason Khalipa Instagram
• Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program

Additional LLS support resources:

• Information Specialists
• Free telephone/web patient programs
• LLS Community
• Free booklets
• Financial support
• Online chats
• Caregiver support
• Support groups

Support for this episode provided by Amgen and Takeda Oncology.

The post Training for the Unknown: Jason’s Story first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Survivor’s guilt is not an unusual reaction among those who have experienced a traumatic event, especially those impacted by cancer. Join in as Shona sits down with Micheline Toussaint onsite at CancerCon 2019. CancerCon is an annual conference held every year by Stupid Cancer, an organization that provides support to young adult cancer survivors. Micheline is an Oncology Therapist at Inova Dwight and Martha Schar Cancer Institute in Fairfax, VA. On this episode, Micheline defines survivor guilt, how it differs from person to person and the impact it has on an individual and their loved ones. She also shares coping mechanisms that she uses to treat patients as well as helpful resources available to those who may be experiencing survivor guilt.

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Mentioned on this episode:

• CancerCon
• Survivor Guilt

Additional LLS Support Resources:

• Young adult videos
• Information Specialists
• Free telephone/web patient programs
• Free booklets
• Financial support
• Online chats
• Caregiver support
• LLS Community
• Support groups

The post Survivor Guilt: Common Yet Under-Discussed first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Join in as Shona sits down with Ellen Polamero onsite at CancerCon 2019. Ellen is a clinical social worker at City of Hope in Duarte, California. CancerCon is an annual conference held year by Stupid Cancer, an organization that provides support to young adult cancer survivors. This is the fourth year that Ellen has hosted a ‘Couples Coping with Cancer’ session at CancerCon and shares why it is important to her to provide this offering. On this episode, Ellen speaks about the impact of cancer, not only on the specific person that is diagnosed, but on the family unit as a whole and on intimate partners specifically. She describes the challenges a couple may experience, expectations that couples may place on themselves, the importance of communication and various resources available to couples. Ellen shares key takeaways to help couples navigate their cancer journey.

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Mentioned on this episode:

• CancerCon
• ‘Couples Coping with Cancer Together Program’ at City of Hope
• The Dear Jack Foundation
• The American Cancer Society 
• Young adult information
• Relationships

Additional LLS support resources:

• Young adult videos
• Information Specialists
• Free telephone/web patient programs
• Free booklets
• Financial support
• Online chats
• Caregiver support
• LLS Community
• Support groups

Become a First Connection volunteer! Learn more by calling an LLS Information Specialist at (800) 955-4572, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET or visiting www.LLS.org/InformationSpecialists.

The post Coping with Cancer as a Couple first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

As a junior in college and an intramural volleyball player who attributed the increasing pain in her right arm to the sport, Dawn Scott was forced to take notice when she woke up one day and realized that her arm was so swollen that she could not bend it. Although blood clots run in her family, there was a small voice that told her that it was something else. During her three-week admission time, she received her diagnosis of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE). Join in as Shona sits down with Dawn to discuss Dawn’s story and why Dawn believes fertility should be discussed between every patient and physician, even if the odds are slim. Although having a child naturally seemed unlikely, Dawn explored her other options and chose to pursue adoption. She shares her experience, advice she received from those around her, questions to ask, the differences she experienced between local and national adoption agencies, and how this experience has shaped her outlook on life. Hear Dawn’s story about how her and her husband, Brent, created the family they envisioned.

Mentioned on this episode:

• CancerCon
• Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma
• Adoption
• The Oncofertility Consortium
• Young adult information
• Fertility
• Relationships

Additional LLS support resources:

• Young adult videos
• Information Specialists
• Free telephone/web patient programs
• Free booklets
• Financial support
• Online chats
• Caregiver support
• LLS Community
• Support groups

The post Adopting After Cancer: Dawn’s Story first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Join Alicia as she speaks with young adult leukemia survivor, Stephen and his wife, Rebecca. This episode was recorded onsite at the filming of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s young adult reunion video, which you can access here. As Stephen prepared when he would introduce Rebecca to his parents, he realized that he was experiencing shortness of breath which prompted an emergency room visit. While in the ER, he received the shocking diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Having dated for only four months, it was in the ER where Rebecca met Stephen’s parents and where both Stephen and Rebecca knew that they had found the one. Listen in as they share their story about dating, fertility and the importance of advocating for the needs of a patient.

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Mentioned on this episode:

• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
• Young adult information
• Fertility
• Relationships
• Communicating with your partner
• Suggestions for coping with cancer and intimacy

Additional LLS support resources:

• Young adult videos
• Information specialists
• Free telephone/web patient programs
• Free booklets
• Financial support
• Online chats
• Caregiver support
• LLS Community
• Support groups

Support for this episode provided by Amgen.

Become a First Connection volunteer! Learn more by calling an LLS Information Specialist at (800) 955-4572, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET or visiting www.LLS.org/InformationSpecialists.

The post Dating with a Diagnosis: Stephen & Rebecca’s Story first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Join Alicia and Lizette as they speak with a young adult and Stage II Hodgkin lymphoma survivor, Merissa Pemberton. Having just finished her master’s degree, started her first full-time job, and moved into her first apartment on her own, Merissa believed life was finally settling down. After receiving an alarming call while on vacation, Merissa shares how her boyfriend (now husband), Jake, served as a tremendous pillar of strength during one of the most challenging times of her life. She explains how Jake, who was also in medical school, helped to remind her of her beauty, the fighter she truly is and ensured her that cancer would not ruin their relationship. They decided to navigate this cancer journey together, celebrating ‘the little things’. Listen in as Merissa shares how having a relationship where both people know when and how to be each other’s support system is crucial, as well as noticing when the other person may feel bombarded. Merissa now volunteers for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and is an active member in Pittsburgh’s Young Adult Cancer Support Group, known as YACS.

Mentioned on this episode:

Additional LLS support resources:

Become a First Connection volunteer! Learn more by calling an LLS Information Specialist at (800) 955-4572, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET or visiting www.LLS.org/InformationSpecialists.

The post Dating with a Diagnosis: Merissa’s Story first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.

Emotions are complex. We all can agree on that. On this episode, Alicia and Lizette speak with Julie Larson, a licensed clinical social worker who has spent her career working in oncology supportive care. Julie speaks about topics that arise within her own private practice with patients and caregivers. She addresses the fear of missing out (FOMO) and ways in which our emotions serve a very important purpose as one journeys through life with a diagnosis. She thoughtfully discusses the importance of appreciating now, the shock of a diagnosis, and redefining ‘control’ within each person’s life.

Mentioned on this episode:

Additional LLS Support Resources:

The post All Emotions Serve a Purpose first appeared on The Bloodline with LLS.