TheOncoPT Podcast

Last week, I interviewed Lauren Miller, PT, DPT about what PTs should know about patients receiving CAR-T cell therapy. Today, I interviewed Corissa Decker, BSN, RN, BMTCN about the deeper details of CAR-T cell therapy, & boy, did I learn a lot! Since our last interview with Corissa, she's earned her BMTCN (Blood & Marrow Transplant Certified Nurse), which means that she knows a ton about BMT, HCST, & CAR-T cell therapy, which is exactly why she's back today!

CAR-T cell therapy is a buzz phrase I've heard thrown around my house (by my sister & mom, both oncology nurses) for quite some time but didn't really know a whole lot about. I definitely didn't understand why I should care about it as an outpatient oncoPT until Lauren Miller's presentation at CSM 2019. Now I know it's big deal - Lauren Miller, PT, DPT is here to tell you why you should care too.

Continuing our celebration & honoring of survivors in today's episode, we covered 5 cancer care team members that we might forgetting. It can be easy to get wrapped up in our #OncoPT world to the point we forget about other professionals who can serve our patients physically, emotionally, & mentally.

Let me know how your practice is helping to connect patients with other cancer care team members by emailing me at [email protected]!

We continue celebrating our survivors with today's episode on coping, grieving, storytelling, & music. As part of caring for survivors, we encounter grief & grieving, even outside of the death & dying experience. To most effectively for our survivors, we must process grief in a healthy way. Carolyn Phillips, PhD, MSN, BSN is revolutionizing how oncology nurses cope with professional grief & is producing amazing results.

Sunday, June 2 was National Cancer Survivors Day, but I think one day isn't enough. So here at TheOncoPT, we're continuing the celebration throughout the entire month of June. Today's episode asks the question, "What's Your Why?" Why are you a part of the oncology physical therapy community? I want to hear your answers - email me at [email protected] with your why!

Short answer: yes. Long answer: this podcast episode. Palliative care can be beneficial for all patients who have a cancer diagnosis, & Dr. Marian Grant explains exactly why in today's episode. Listen in for our interview, & to check out her presentation from the Cowtown Oncology Nursing Symposium & to see more of her blogs/vlogs, visit today's episode webpage for the links.

I was first introduced to Seth Eisenberg, RN, OCN, BMTCN at the Cowtown Oncology Nursing Symposium earlier this spring, when he delivered his presentation on Hazardous Drugs. Seth explains what these hazardous drugs are, how they affect people, & how we should proceed when working with patients who may be receiving these treatments - good news! PTs are much lower on the risk spectrum! Still, Seth discusses some great ways to practice mindfully & safely in regards to these hazardous drugs.

Being on the radio was soooo cool. And kind of nerve-wracking. But mostly cool. And I know you can do it too. Let's face it: not enough people know about oncology rehab - & you can change that with my 5 suggestions on how to start effectively promoting oncology rehab in your community today! Plus I take you behind the scenes of my interview with The Breaking Down Barriers Radio show (see Ep. 24 & 25 for my full interview)!

Part 2 is here! In the second half of my interview, we discussed different impairments that cancer rehab addresses, how patients can find cancer rehabilitation services, and SEX! That's right, the big taboo, Elise talked about it on the live radio. All in all, it was a great experience to educate a different audience on what cancer rehabilitation is all about & what it means to live well beyond cancer. Thanks so much for listening!

The tables turned for today's episode - I was interviewed! I was invited onto the Breaking Down Barriers Radio Show, based in Arlington, Texas to discuss "Living Well Beyond Cancer" - all about cancer rehabilitation! It was so much fun, & I am so excited to share my interview with Ed & TJ with you today. Enjoy!