Author Chat with Jill Squire

Explicit content warning

09/21/24 • 41 min

Discover the essential tools and wisdom to empower yourself or a loved one through a cancer journey in our latest episode. Featuring author Jill Squire, BSN, RN, OCN, and her groundbreaking book "Cancer Journey Guide and Journals: Empowerment in Diagnosis and Treatment and Beyond," we explore practical strategies to support cancer patients from diagnosis through long-term survivorship.
This conversation promises invaluable insights into self-advocacy, effective communication, and the significance of tracking symptoms and treatments in a user-friendly format.
Engage in a heartening discussion on the power of self-care activities like birding and mindfulness, which are essential tools for managing symptoms and maintaining mental wellness. Learn how to build a robust cancer care team, navigate tough conversations with loved ones, and utilize guided journals to keep track of your journey. By sharing personal stories, practical advice, and compassionate guidance, our panel aims to empower you with the knowledge and confidence to take charge of your healthcare experience.
We also delve into the critical aspect of building trust with healthcare providers and the role of daily symptom tracking in shared decision-making. Jill Squire provides expert tips on creating useful diaries to document experiences, which can significantly enhance communication with healthcare professionals. Concluding on a light-hearted note with a pun to bring some humor, we express gratitude to Jill and reflect on the book's unique value for anyone facing a challenging diagnosis. Join us for this heartfelt and informative episode designed to uplift and empower.
Relevant links for Jill Squire:

General Links:

Disclaimers: https://cancersurvivormd.org/disclaimers/
Brad Buchanan: https://linktr.ee/bradthechimera
G [Josie] van Londen: https://linktr.ee/cancersurvivormd
CancerBridges: https://cancerbridges.org/

General Links:

Disclaimers: https://cancersurvivormd.org/disclaimers/
Brad Buchanan: https://linktr.ee/bradthechimera
G [Josie] van Londen: https://linktr.ee/cancersurvivormd
CancerBridges: https://cancerbridges.org/

Previous Episode

Survivor Chat with Brad and Josie: Cancer Treatment Complications Part 2

Could you endure the excruciating pain of cancer therapy complications and still find gratitude in the experience? Join us as Brad shares his gripping story of survival following a stem cell transplant in early 2016. Brad takes us through the agonizing process of total body irradiation, chemotherapy, and the harrowing reality of developing severe acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). His gut-wrenching account of intense pain, temporary blindness, and gastrointestinal distress, coupled with the initial misdiagnosis by his medical team, gives us a raw glimpse into the grueling battle he faced.
Through Brad's narrative, we delve into the intricacies of managing a hostile immune system and the long-term effects of cancer treatment, such as bone health deterioration, sexual dysfunction, and difficulty swallowing. Brad's insights emphasize the importance of self-advocacy and informed decision-making within the medical landscape. Despite the overwhelming challenges, Brad's story is one of resilience and gratitude, highlighting his appreciation for the life-saving procedure and the crucial role of extracorporeal photophoresis (ECP) in his recovery.
We also explore the emotional and relational toll of chronic illness as Brad candidly discusses the strain on his mental health and family dynamics. From managing severe health conditions while shouldering family responsibilities to the bittersweet reality of early retirement due to disability, Brad's journey sheds light on the profound impact of chronic illness on personal and professional life.
The episode concludes with a heartfelt exchange between Brad and Josie, filled with mutual gratitude and reflections on resilience. It leaves listeners with a sense of hope and admiration for Brad’s extraordinary strength.

Relevant links: Brad's book about GvHD and Podcast episode with Brad's wife and Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's info about Graft vs Host Disease (GvHD).

General Links:

Disclaimers: https://cancersurvivormd.org/disclaimers/
Brad Buchanan: https://linktr.ee/bradthechimera
G [Josie] van Londen: https://linktr.ee/cancersurvivormd
CancerBridges: https://cancerbridges.org/

Next Episode

Author Chat with Chris Gabbard

“A Life Beyond Reason: Chris Gabbard on Loss, Caregiving, and Spiritual Growth”
In this deeply moving episode, Chris Gabbard, PhD, MA, professor and author of A Life Beyond Reason, shares his profound journey as a caregiver to his son August, who was born with severe disabilities due to a mismanaged birth. Chris reflects on the emotional and philosophical challenges he faced during and after August’s life, discussing the profound spiritual and personal growth that caregiving brought into his life. Alongside co-hosts Brad Buchanan and Dr. G van Londen, Chris explores themes of trust in the healthcare system, the therapeutic power of writing, and the ethics of caregiving. This conversation will resonate with anyone navigating grief, caregiving, or searching for meaning in life’s most challenging moments.
Relevant links for this episode:

General Links:

Disclaimers: https://cancersurvivormd.org/disclaimers/
Brad Buchanan: https://linktr.ee/bradthechimera
G [Josie] van Londen: https://linktr.ee/cancersurvivormd
CancerBridges: https://cancerbridges.org/

CancerSurvivorMD® - Author Chat with Jill Squire

Transcript

Wendy Myers00:01:11.417

Welcome again to our general weekly group . I am Wendy Myers , one of the senior clinical managers , social worker at Cancer Bridges . Tonight we're doing one of our book talks and I want to introduce two people instrumental in developing these book talks and actually was one of the authors . He's also a cancer survivor . He's joining us from the West Coast . We're excited to have