S1Ep5 Chemo Part 2 - EGFR Inhibitors: Rash and Resilience

03/29/24 • 17 min

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

Welcome to the fifth episode of Care Partner's Compass: Navigating CRC with the 2nd episode of chemo.

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

Previous Episode

S1Ep4 The Pivot (Part 1)

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

Next Episode

S1Ep6 Teamwork makes the cancer suck less

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 💙

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

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