The Caregiver Chronicles with Janet Fanaki

Is your loved one becoming anxious as their journey with a brain tumor continues? In this episode of The Caregiver Chronicles, Janet Fanaki, a former care partner to her husband Adam, who lived with glioblastoma, shares expert guidance on managing patient anxiety from home: how to plan before anxiety hits, check in on anxiety levels as the disease progresses, take things one step at a time, and focus on small positive wins.Featuring advice from:Donna Thomson, Caregiving Expert, Author and Educator (2:05)Isabelle Rydén, Neuropsychologist (3:26)Dr. Carlos Velasquez Rodriguez, Neurosurgeon (4:42)Dr. Katy Peters, Neurologist and Neuro-Oncologist, Duke, and Co-host of the Brain Health podcast (5:20)Chapters0:00 Intro2:03 Plan before anxiety hits3:24 Check in on anxiety levels4:41 One door at a time5:21 Focus on small positive wins6:03 Takeaways6:18 What worked for me and Adam6:49 The WeTrials assistant and wrap-upKey takeaways1. Create a plan for different scenarios, including an emergency plan, and share it with your support community and medical team.2. Put things in perspective by taking one thing after the next.3. Create healthy daily routines.4. Focus on small wins.Have a question at 2 a.m.? The WeTrials Assistant supports patients and caregivers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in multiple languages and in an easy-to-understand way. Ask about clinical trial matching, your diagnosis, or finding resources and peer support at https://wetrials.comWatch more episodes of The Caregiver Chronicles: https://wetrials.com/caregiverchronicles/

In this special episode of The Caregiver Chronicles, care partner advisor Janet Fanaki shares practical, thoughtful ways to support a friend, family member, neighbor, or caregiver facing a brain cancer diagnosis. Drawing from her own experience as a former care partner to her husband with glioblastoma, Janet explains how help can go beyond good intentions and become truly useful.

What you’ll learn:
• Simple ways to ease daily responsibilities for families affected by brain cancer
• How emotional support can help caregivers feel seen, heard, and less overwhelmed
• Why asking what is actually helpful matters more than jumping in uninvited
• How empathy, patience, and respecting boundaries can make support more meaningful
• Where to look for trusted education, support resources, and clinical trial information

Support does not always have to be big to matter. Sometimes the most meaningful help starts with asking, listening, and showing up in the right way.

🌐 Learn more and explore support resources with WeTrials: https://wetrials.com/

In Episode 6 of The Caregiver Chronicles, Janet Fanaki focuses on what caregivers should know before bringing a loved one home after brain surgery. Drawing from her personal experience, she shares practical guidance on preparing for the transition from hospital to home and navigating the critical first days of recovery.

Janet discusses the importance of speaking with the medical team before discharge, asking detailed questions about incision care, symptoms, medications, pain management, sleep, and follow-up care, and keeping clear notes throughout the process. She also shares tips for preparing the home environment, recognizing when to contact the hospital with concerns, and why caregiver self-care and outside support are essential during recovery.

This episode offers reassurance, preparation, and practical support for caregivers facing the challenges of post-surgical care.

Caring for someone with a brain tumor is an act of deep love—but it can also feel overwhelming, isolating, and emotionally exhausting. In this episode of Caregiver Chronicles, Janet Fanaki shares compassionate and realistic ways caregivers can care for themselves while supporting someone they love.

From breathwork and guided meditation to setting boundaries, asking for help, and finding small “micro-moments” of rest, Janet offers practical reminders that caregiver wellbeing matters too. This episode is an encouraging conversation about resilience, balance, and the importance of making space for your own care during uncertain times.

You can’t pour from an empty cup—and caregivers deserve support just as much as they give it.

Every medical breakthrough begins with a clinical trial—the bridge between discovery and real-world treatment. In this episode of Caregiver Chronicles, care partner advisor Janet Fanaki shares practical guidance on navigating clinical trials while supporting a loved one with a brain tumor.

Janet explains what clinical trials are, how they work, and the important role caregivers play in exploring options and supporting decision-making. She also offers step-by-step insights into evaluating and enrolling in trials, along with encouragement for caregivers to consider how trials may support their own well-being and sense of agency during a challenging journey.

What you’ll learn:
• What clinical trials are and how they work
• The vital role caregivers play in the process
• Practical steps to evaluate and consider trial participation
• Why caregivers should also explore available support and resources

Clinical trials can feel complex and overwhelming—but with the right tools and guidance, no one has to navigate them alone.

Explore trials easily with the WeTrials Study Finder: https://wetrials.com/

In this essential episode of Caregiver Chronicles, Janet Fanaki, care partner, advocate, and WeTrials Patient and Care Partner Advisor, shares practical guidance on how to make every medical appointment more effective when navigating a brain tumor diagnosis. She offers clear, real-world strategies to help patients and caregivers feel more prepared, organized, and confident during doctor visits.

From managing overwhelming information to improving communication with care teams, Janet explains how small changes in preparation can lead to more productive and empowering conversations.

📌 In this episode, Janet covers:
• Tools to organize and access medical information
• How to reduce distractions during appointments
• The benefits of recording visits for later reference
• Creating strong, focused lists of questions and concerns
• Identifying key resources and after-hours support contacts

WeTrials is here to help you feel informed, empowered, and supported.

🌐 Explore clinical trial options & resources: https://wetrials.com

In this powerful episode of The Caregiver Chronicles, Janet Fanaki, care partner, advocate, and WeTrials Patient and Care Partner Advisor, reflects on the moment her husband was diagnosed with glioblastoma and the overwhelming early days that followed. She shares practical and emotional guidance for navigating a new diagnosis, including how to process shock, build a medical team, what questions to ask your doctor, and where to find caregiver and community support. Janet also emphasizes the importance of staying connected during uncertain times. This episode offers comfort, clarity, and grounding for anyone facing a brain tumor journey.

Explore clinical trial options & resources: https://wetrials.com

In this premiere episode of The Caregiver Chronicles, Janet Fanaki shares her deeply personal journey as a caregiver to her late husband, Adam, following his glioblastoma diagnosis. She reflects on the emotional challenges, late-night research, and determination to find hope through clinical trials. Janet’s story sheds light on the realities of caregiving while highlighting the urgent need for more accessible tools and support for families navigating complex medical journeys.