Amy is in her mid-40s and loves the outdoors—especially biking, hiking, and walking her dog. In the fall of 2018, she felt a lump on her neck, and when it did not go away, she visited her primary care doctor. After many tests, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes and femur (thigh bone). She was devastated an…

Rae Anne, a cancer survivor and former palliative care patient, sits down with Dr. Anthony Back, a palliative care and cancer doctor. During their conversation, they discuss how the palliative care team sees the patient as a person, focusing on their individual goals. They also talk about how palliative care helped Rae Anne and her family manage he…

After struggling with shortness of breath for many years, Betsy was referred to a special lung care clinic. Worsening symptoms limited her ability to remain active, which in turn led to anxiety and depression. She struggled to care for her home and visit with friends; and felt like a burden to her husband. Betsy’s world was getting smaller. At the …

Rae Anne, a cancer survivor and former palliative care patient, interviews Dr. Diane E. Meier, a palliative care doctor and director emerita of the Center to Advance Palliative Care. During their conversation, Rae Anne shares how palliative care helped her and her family. Together they discuss the benefits of palliative care, how the team takes car…

Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are mostly known for memory loss that worsens over time, but it comes with a range of complex needs – for the person diagnosed and the family. And the health needs and safety concerns for all involved typically increase as the disease progresses. Ann, a 92-year-old mother, grandmother, and former nurse, has been liv…

The COVID-19 virus is still circulating in the U.S. and millions of people are still testing positive. Thankfully, most who come down with COVID-19 don’t have to be hospitalized. Even so, for many the symptoms can be extensive and recovery can take weeks or months. Listen to one woman’s COVID-19 experience, including the palliative care she receive…

Sixty-six year old Joni knows all too well that living with the lung condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – or COPD – can be stressful. The main symptom is shortness of breath, which worsens over time. The disease and treatments also cause coughing, wheezing, tremors, and emotional effects, such as anxiety and panic attacks, depre…

As a speech language pathologist for young children, Ilene’s skills as an educator, careful listener and problem solver were keys to her career success. These factors also have played an important role for her through the many years she’s been treated for advanced ovarian cancer. It was a surprise diagnosis for the 68-year-old New Yorker that came …

April grew up with hairdressers in her family. As a kid she put curlers in her cat’s fur to practice. She eventually realized her dream and even took ownership of her own salon. In June 2018, a diagnosis of stage 3 breast cancer followed by 16 rounds of chemotherapy, a mastectomy, and 30 rounds of radiation, forced April to have to stop working.Thi…

While living her everyday life and enjoying a concert, Rae Anne discovered a lump on the side of her neck. Not knowing what it could be, as she felt okay, she left quickly to schedule appointments with various doctors. Within a few weeks, the lump grew and she was diagnosed with stage 4 head and neck cancer. Rae Anne received several rounds of chem…

When Dan and Meghan’s 5-year old son Ryan was born with a rare genetic disorder that causes severe developmental delays—they didn’t know where to turn. Seizures, surgeries, and sleepless nights due to respiratory issues required constant hospital stays in the first six months of Ryan’s life, which took a toll on the young parents. “I spent so much …

When Sarah was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer at age 34, she was immediately determined to find the best care possible. She fought for an oncologist who would support her at every turn, and sought out specialists from many different disciplines to provide her better care. She found her own pharmacist to organize her medications, pain specia…

A Quality Life: Rock Man Willie’s Rectal Cancer StoryAt an infusion clinic in Dayton, Ohio—which provides chemotherapy treatment to cancer patients—there’s a man known by all as “Rock Man Willie.” When he’s there, Willie stops at each infusion station to chat with people who could use a good distraction. With him are an array of small hand-painted …

In this episode, we tell the story of JoAnn, a woman in her early 60s who turned to palliative care for help in making informed treatment decisions and managing the symptoms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Today, JoAnn is enjoying time with her toddler grandchildren. She still sees the palliative care team and credits them with restoring her quality lif…

There is overwhelming research showing that listening to music can provide emotional and behavioral benefits for people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of Dementia. Our podcast guest on this special episode say that the key to helping patients through these methods is in the personalized approach. In this podcast, Host Dan Altano sits down…

On good days, you can find Paul of the Washington, DC area in his house, intently focused on one of his woodworking projects. It’s hard work, but it’s a labor of love.“I’m not the type to sit still. I’m at my happiest when I’m working with my hands and creating something new,” says Paul. The fact that Paul is able to get up and work on his hobby is…

Since she was 12 years old, Kelly has dealt with an array of medical issues including Mitochondrial Disease, a clot in her lung and main vein to the heart, and Autonomic Neuropathy. These issues caused additional heart and bladder problems, as well as Gastroparesis which affects the normal movement of muscles in the stomach. Kelly had done her best…

In this special-edition podcast, Diane E. Meier, MD, of the Center to Advance Palliative Care, and Mary Mittleman, DrPH, of NYU Langone Health, discuss why making a dementia diagnosis is important for successfully managing other health conditions, and the many care elements that can make a difference for patients and caregivers.Meier and Mittleman …

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can cause damage to skin, joints and organs. After seeing their eldest daughter Danielle deal with prolonged chronic pain, Darryl and Andrea Gladden were determined to ensure that their other two daughters were able to enjoy quality of life. That’s when they found palliative care.This episode of the qualit…

For many years, Beth, 55, of Baltimore couldn’t shake the nickname her sister and friends gave her.“They called me Balloon Hand Beth because whenever someone needed something, my hand would float up to volunteer,” says Beth.Beth has always been very active and willing to pitch in. In her professional life, she has worked tirelessly to improve her c…

Cathy, 62, has always loved jogging and doing step aerobics, but her true passion is tending to the flowers in her garden.“I just love being outside and getting my hands in the dirt,” says Cathy, born and raised in Dayton, Ohio.Cathy will be the first to tell you that gardening takes both patience and the willingness to start anew when a flower doe…

Matt is about to start another abstract painting. With classic rock music blasting in the background, he holds the brush between his lips, steadies his neck and presses the brush against the canvas.A few months ago, Matt, 38, wouldn’t have believed you if you told him he’d be painting again. 14 years ago, a severe car accident left him paralyzed fr…

Shortness of breath coupled with the painful side effects of a surgery to remove fluid in his lungs were consuming Gregory’s life after being diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. He needed support to relieve his symptoms and he needed help understanding how to best prepare for an uncertain future. Most of all, he wanted to get back to being the act…

This is a story about finding a sense of control amidst an uncertain future. This is a story about doing everything you can for the ones you love. This is Barbara and Laren’s palliative care story.Hosted by Dan AltanoGet Palliative Care által

Karena is a hardworking professional and mother of two. When her busy lifestyle was halted due to a colon cancer diagnosis, she needed help to manage her symptoms and give her the tools to start feeling better. In this podcast, Karena and her palliative care specialist discuss taking steps forward to living a quality life with serious illness.Hoste…

When we go into the hospital, we want to be treated for whatever is ailing us. We also expect to be heard and validated. When Toby Palma, a Las Vegas, Nevada woman in her early 40s, went into the emergency room several times complaining of severe pain all over her body, the doctors kept telling her it was a minor kidney infection.“I knew it was som…

As a former softball player and as a hard working professional who often balanced multiple jobs, Kat Harrison of Dayton, OH has always been on the move. And luckily for her, she’s a frequent babysitter to four rambunctious grandchildren. As a result, she can often be found running around trying to keep things under control. She doesn’t mind.But six…

Marion Blankenship of Charlotte, North Carolina lights up when she talks about her family, especially her eight grandchildren. She beams with pride when you ask her about her job working with kids at a childcare development center. And, she smiles ear to ear when she talks about her hobbies, like singing in church, cooking, or exercising at her loc…

Since 74-year-old Joyce Montgomery of Atlanta, Georgia was diagnosed with Liposarcoma—a rare form of cancer—she’s faced major decisions about her treatment. As her illness has progressed, she’s struggled anxiety and physical symptoms. With the help of her palliative care team, which provided her relief from her psychosocial and physical symptoms, J…

In his new book, Life After the Diagnosis, Dr. Steven Z. Pantilat puts the spotlight on the essential needs of patients during this often difficult time, and details the ways in which palliative care can help immediately. Inspired by Dr. Pantilat’s book, we talked to palliative care specialists and seriously ill patients who are receiving palliativ…

Amy Berman is a nurse, a nationally recognized expert in care of the aged and a senior program officer at the John A. Hartford Foundation. When she was diagnosed with Stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer in 2010, she had some very difficult decisions to make about her treatment options. Faced with discouraging odds of surviving more than five years, …

Navigating the uncertain waters of high school and college can be challenging for anyone. Imagine spending those pivotal years with a serious illness. Twenty-three year old Aly lives with the symptoms of multiple diagnoses including Churg Strauss syndrome and Mast Cell disorder. In the face of chronic pain and discomfort, constant doctor’s visits a…