Care Partners Compass: Navigating CRC

May 09 2024

Care Partners Compass: Navigating CRC Podcast artwork

A podcast for care partners, cancer patients, and anybody who knows or loves somebody with cancer, particularly colorectal cancer (CRC). Care Partners Compass is told through the lens of a Stage 4 CRC care partner with occasional guests. Season 1 will be primarily from my personal experience as a stage 4 CRC care partner. Topics will include diagnosis, biomarkers, clinical trials, second opinions, finding hope and joy, and more. The podcast trailer is out now. Please listen and share widely. Logo design: Kristine Dunkerton Episodes will be dropping in March 2024 - Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. If you are 45 and older, or are any age and are experiencing anemia, unexplained weight loss, or other symptoms, please schedule your colonoscopy. Disclaimer: This podcast and its content is for entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by any hosts or guests on this podcast are their own personal opinions. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. This podcast does not contain medical or legal advice. Please consult your medical professional about any medical questions or concerns.

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S1Ep11 Healthy Distractions

May 09 2024 18 mins

Welcome to the eleventh episode of Care Partner's Compass: Navigating CRC where I talk with my best friend for over 30 years, my wife Kristine about healthy distractions.Kristine was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer on her 49th birthday in July 2021. We have had to come up with a lot of coping mechanisms to deal with this cancer diagnosis, and we have a number of healthy distrac

S1Ep10 The Importance of Just Saying Yes (in Cancerland)

May 02 2024 28 mins

Welcome to the tenth episode of Care Partner's Compass: Navigating CRC where I talk with friend and fellow stage 4 care partner Liz from Vancouver. Liz's daughter Haley was diagnosed with advanced stage 4 colon cancer in June 2022 at the age of 19. Liz talks about all the different ways she and her family were able to say yes to opportunities and to make memories with Haley. As Liz

S1Ep9 Surgery and CRC AKA "Chopped Liver"

Apr 25 2024 17 mins

Welcome to the ninth episode of Care Partner's Compass: Navigating CRC where I talk about my wife Kristine's liver surgery.Her liver surgery was in January 2022. There is a lot involved in a loved one getting to surgery, and care partners can help them prepare for this challenging time. I also talked about staying in the hospital room to help her (and help distract) as well as duri

S1Ep8 Finding reliable medical information online

Apr 18 2024 19 mins

Welcome to the eighth episode of Care Partner's Compass: Navigating CRC where I talk to medical librarian Carrie Price about how to find reliable medical information online.I know I learned a lot from Carrie during this episode (including how awesome medical librarians are!), I hope that you do too.Full transcription can be found on the website (http://carepartnerscompass.transisto

S1Ep7 Immunotherapy Trial: No Regrets

Apr 11 2024 19 mins

Welcome to the seventh episode of Care Partner's Compass: Navigating CRC where I talk about my wife Kristine's very recent immunotherapy trial and all that it entailed.This is the first episode where I talk about something that is so recent (spoiler alert, she exited the trial officially this weekend). So I don't have the benefit of time and other experiences for comparison. It's s

S1Ep6 Teamwork makes the cancer suck less

Apr 04 2024 19 mins

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 al

S1Ep5 Chemo Part 2 - EGFR Inhibitors: Rash and Resilience

Mar 28 2024 17 mins

Welcome to the fifth episode of Care Partner's Compass: Navigating CRC with the 2nd episode of chemo.This episode is what happened after the 1st pivot (Episode 4) and 3 liver mets popped back up and had to be dealt with using FOLFIRI and EGFR inhibitors (specifically panitumimab or Vectibix). Supporting your loved one while they are on chemo, especially one with such visible side e

S1Ep4 The Pivot (Part 1)

Mar 22 2024 17 mins

Welcome to the fourth episode of Care Partner's Compass: Navigating CRC on The Pivot (part 1). Having backup plans, and being able to pivot quickly is essential, especially with a stage 4 colorectal cancer diagnosis. In this episode, I talk about the need to pivot, what that entails, and some tips not just for care partners, but for friends and family. (Spoiler alert: Be there to l

S1Ep3 Biomarkers and CRC

Mar 14 2024 18 mins

Welcome to the third episode of Care Partner's Compass: Navigating CRC on biomarkers.I am joined again by CRC patient advocate and friend Annie Delores, whose information can be found here or through the podcast's website. In today's episode, we talk about the basics and importance of biomarkers and colorectal cancer.Full transcription can be found on the website.Host, producer/edi

S1Ep2 Chemo and CRC

Mar 07 2024 18 mins

Welcome to the second episode of Care Partner's Compass: Navigating CRC.In today's episode, we'll look at my wife Kristine's first line chemo (FOLFOXIRI) for colorectal cancer as I trace some of the earlier steps of her stage 4 colorectal cancer journey and what it is like for a stage 4 care partner. Chemo is important in stage 4, as it gives the best chance to get to a procedure w