Navigating Childhood Cancer Podcast

As you would expect, there is a lot of darkness that follows a child’s cancer diagnosis. In this episode, we acknowledge the feelings of darkness that one may encounter while on this journey... Not to bring anyone down; Simply to call attention to the reality of this experience, and to help others to see that they are not alone in their sadness or their fear.

Surprisingly, there are also moments of light. There is a realization that, without this experience, there are things that we would not have learned, or people we would not have met. So, the light deserves some attention, too, because it is helpful to remember that even in despair, life can be beautiful.

When a family receives news that is overwhelming, in this case, a child’s serious illness, it is usually followed by a period of need. It is understood that the journey ahead is going to be difficult, but they aren’t always in a frame of mind to ask for help, or to even know yet what they'll need.

This episode covers all the things that helped us during our period of need. Not all of them are what you’d expect! You’ll hear about many thoughtful, meaningful and very creative ideas for how to help support a loved one during a difficult time.

Welcome to the first episode of the NCC Podcast. In this episode, you’ll learn about the inspiration behind the podcast, and why it was created. This podcast is for parents, family, caregivers and friends. Our hope is that anyone who is sitting with a new diagnosis, or struggling through any stage of treatment, doesn’t feel quite so alone. Our goal is to educate, to support and to inspire anyone who is experiencing a paediatric cancer diagnosis.

Next week, the first episode of the Navigating Childhood Cancer Podcast will be released. In this trailer, you will hear what the podcast is all about, and what to expect in future episodes. We hope you'll join us!

In this episode, I am pleased to bring you my conversation with Susan Kuczynski – Lead Parent Liaison with Ontario Parents Advocating for Children with Cancer, also known as OPACC.

OPACC is a registered charity whose mission is to be the parent voice for families with children diagnosed with cancer across Ontario, Canada. OPACC helps families through free programs and support services including in-hospital and virtual peer support, financial support, and community support.

Susan is a parent who has been there. Her daughter has been a childhood cancer survivor for 28 years, and Susan’s experience as a parent to a childhood cancer patient led her to her leadership role with OPACC.

Susan is a kind soul with a reassuring voice, but she is also fierce advocate for parents everywhere. In this episode, Susan tells her story, and explains what OPACC is about, and what services are available to parents, and their families. You can learn more about OPACC, and their many resources at https://www.opacc.org.