S1Ep4 The Pivot (Part 1)

03/22/24 • 17 min

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 listen and also do fun things)

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

Host, producer/editor, and composer: Elsa Lankford

And all the thanks and hugs in the world to Kristine. You are amazing.

Please remember to share, subscribe, like, and rate the podcast.

Helpful links related to this episode:

Colontown - they have great groups for liver mets and other metastasis locations, clinical trials, for CRC care partners and patients per geographical area, and some separate groups just for care partners, and just for patients. Very science-oriented.
Fight CRC's Community of Champions - stories, Q&A, community, and resources for CRC patients and care partners.
What's Next - Kristine's Spotify playlist for the first pivot. She creates a new playlist for each new part of this cancer journey.
(01:40) - Confusion when entering CancerLand
(02:47) - Thinking about backup plans, before you need them
(03:52) - Ways to try to monitor CRC
(05:32) - Reasons to pivot
(05:56) - Keeping different timeframes in mind
(07:13) - Hard to plan during a pivot, but hopefully friends and family can help and not create more stress
(08:42) - Having your own care circle, like #TeamKristine, which may change over time
(09:43) - Finding comfort in researching
(11:18) - Finding the place between optimism and reality
(12:06) - What do you need to do as a care partner during a pivot
(13:00) - Our first pivot

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 listen and also do fun things)

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

Host, producer/editor, and composer: Elsa Lankford

And all the thanks and hugs in the world to Kristine. You are amazing.

Please remember to share, subscribe, like, and rate the podcast.

Helpful links related to this episode:

Colontown - they have great groups for liver mets and other metastasis locations, clinical trials, for CRC care partners and patients per geographical area, and some separate groups just for care partners, and just for patients. Very science-oriented.
Fight CRC's Community of Champions - stories, Q&A, community, and resources for CRC patients and care partners.
What's Next - Kristine's Spotify playlist for the first pivot. She creates a new playlist for each new part of this cancer journey.
(01:40) - Confusion when entering CancerLand
(02:47) - Thinking about backup plans, before you need them
(03:52) - Ways to try to monitor CRC
(05:32) - Reasons to pivot
(05:56) - Keeping different timeframes in mind
(07:13) - Hard to plan during a pivot, but hopefully friends and family can help and not create more stress
(08:42) - Having your own care circle, like #TeamKristine, which may change over time
(09:43) - Finding comfort in researching
(11:18) - Finding the place between optimism and reality
(12:06) - What do you need to do as a care partner during a pivot
(13:00) - Our first pivot

Previous Episode

S1Ep3 Biomarkers and CRC

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/editor, and composer: Elsa Lankford
Guest: Annie Delores

And all the thanks and hugs in the world to Kristine. I can never tell you often enough how incredible you are.

Please remember to share, subscribe, like, and rate the podcast.

Helpful links related to this episode:

Biomarker page from Fight CRC
Colorectal Cancer Alliance's biomarker info site
Colontown University's "What are Biomarkers"
(01:30) - Very basics of biomarkers
(02:43) - HER2 (ERBB2) mutation
(03:12) - Background on CRC
(04:09) - Main CRC biomarkers
(05:36) - Where to find the biomarkers
(06:45) - MSI - Microsatellite Instability
(08:09) - BRAF mutation
(08:41) - First line clinical trials based on biomarkers
(10:09) - KRAS and Stage 4
(10:56) - Targeted treatments
(12:17) - It can take time to understand biomarkers
(14:05) - NGS (Next Generation Sequencing) reports
(14:41) - Inherited mutations
(15:12) - Biomarker testing as a standard

Next Episode

S1Ep5 Chemo Part 2 - EGFR Inhibitors: Rash and Resilience

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 effects, can be challenging.

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

Host, producer/editor, and composer: Elsa Lankford

Tina - thank you so much again for all your help. Getting your feedback is so helpful.

And to Kristine (now she knows that I put a little message for her in the podcast info), I love you so much. I'm not being very creative with this, I just love you more than anything.

Please remember to share, subscribe, like, and rate the podcast.

Helpful links related to this episode:

Earth Wind and Fire's September song - we played this a lot on September 21st 2022, and September 21st 2023 as well.
What's Next - Kristine's Spotify playlist for the first pivot. She creates a new playlist for each new part of this cancer journey. I had this last time, but these songs were the soundtrack of these 10 rounds of chemo, including dancing in the infusion room, and dance parties at home.
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.
(01:54) - Chemo ideally to shrink stage 4 tumors as part of a plan that needs more options and opinions
(02:53) - Kristine's first chemo line
(03:45) - EGFR inhibitor intro
(05:23) - Kristine's EGFR side effects were very visible
(09:01) - Going back to chemo after a pivot
(09:56) - EGFR side effects as a care partner
(11:19) - Looking into other liver procedures and options
(12:18) - The good effects of this chemo combo
(13:58) - Proton power
(15:21) - Having the information is so important