Palliative care with Anne Front LMFT from California

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What’s the difference between palliative care and hospice? Why is palliative care still misunderstood—and how can it support people with cancer, rare diseases, and other serious conditions long before end-of-life?

In this powerful episode of Rare Connection, host Joanna Ball welcomes Ann, a licensed psychotherapist, breast cancer survivor, and caregiver to her husband who is living with metastatic prostate cancer. Anne is also the clinic manager and palliative care social worker for the Motion Picture Television Fund, where she supports members of the entertainment industry through emotional and practical challenges.

Together, they discuss:

What palliative care really means (and how it differs from hospice)

The emotional rollercoaster of becoming an “emerging caregiver”

Panic, anxiety, and anticipatory grief in the face of serious illness

How rare disease and cancer communities can benefit from early palliative support

Why storytelling and digital advocacy matter—on TikTok and beyond

📲 Follow Anne on TikTok: @annefrontlmft
🧠 Learn more about the Motion Picture Television Fund: https://mptf.com

💬 Comment below if this conversation resonates with you.
📩 Send me a text using the link in the show notes if you're listening to the audio version.

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe to Rare Connection and my YouTube channel, Rare Chef, for more real conversations with rare disease warriors, caregivers, and medical professionals.
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Chapter Markers

00:00 Welcome
00:18 Today's Topic
00:35 Introducing Anne Front LFT
01:22 What is covered in this episode
01:36 Emotional content disclaimer
01:58 Anne's Journey
04:18 Anne's Cancer Diagnosis
05:19 Life During COVID
06:59 How Telehealth helps
07:42 Palliative Care Vs Hospice
11:32 Palliative Care has a full team
13:23 Misunderstanding palliative care
15:30 Benefits of palliative care for a condition that isn't terminal
00:18:00 Back and fourth between Hospice and palliative care
19:35 dealing with grief
23:37 Emerging Caregiver
4:56 Advanced directives
00:25:00 Maintaining Safety
00:25:45 caregiver support
26:32dealing with caregiver burnout & self care
27:37 support groups & hobbies
29:18 Keeping up with medical appointments
30:17 Asking for Help
32:56 Anne's Role at the Motion Picture Television Fund 
34:38 Anne's TikTok Vlog
36:02 TikTok feedback
36:56 understanding Palliative care
38:38 Why it is important to talk about your feelings
39:02 Finding palliative care in your area
39:55 conclusion

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