Welcome to the sixth episode of Care Partner's Compass: Navigating CRC where I talk about the importance of a team of... teams?

It's so difficult to go through CancerLand by yourself - as a stage 4 patient, or even as a care partner. In this episode I talk about the importance of a good medical team (local and when you get multiple opinions), the importance of oncology nurses and all of the techs and phlebotomists and staff that work at the cancer centers, supportive teams, and a team for the care partners. We need people to talk to, to do fun stuff with, and to listen to us. Those people might change over time. It's never too late to start or join a team.

Full transcription can be found on the website (http://carepartnerscompass.transistor.fm)

Host, producer/editor, and composer: Elsa Lankford

Kristine - by the time this goes live, we'll know what the next step of the plan is. You're incredible 💙

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Helpful links related to this episode:

• colontown.org - If you or your loved one has colorectal cancer, you'll be able to meet some great people here.
• MSK Integrative Medicine at Home - This has some great exercise and meditation programs for patients and carepartners online. It's just $20/month and Kristine uses this for probably 5 classes per week.
• Wellness House (Chicago) - Free in-person (if you're in/near Chicago) and online art and exercise programs for people with cancer.
• Hirsch Wellness Network - Free online and amazing in person (if you're in North Carolina) art and exercise classes.
• NCI Cancer Centers - for stage 4 cancer, if you are in the US you will want to at least get a second or third opinion, if not have your care go through a NCI center.

• (01:36) - Medical support team
• (02:52) - The importance of multiple opinions
• (04:06) - The patient is the captain
• (04:53) - Kristine's medical team
• (06:03) - The medical team isn't just the docs (spoiler alert: oncology nurses are incredible)
• (07:16) - Supportive team
• (07:36) - #TeamKristine
• (08:48) - Team members are going to fluctuate over time
• (09:01) - People don't understand stage 4 cancer, especially stage 4 CRC
• (10:41) - Supportive team members can come from all over
• (11:28) - Some helpful things that supportive teams can do
• (12:40) - Don't assume people affected by cancer want space
• (13:56) - Support team isn't just people you know
• (15:03) - Getting support from others who have had cancer or are still going through it
• (16:07) - Carepartner team
• (17:23) - How important it is to talk, with your voice, not just your fingers
• (18:01) - It's never too late to start or join a team