Stages Community
Changing the conversation and stigma around cancer and cancer fighters.
Episodes
Trigger warning: death and loss.
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Shara shares an emotional clip with Pete where his health was very bad. They were in the hospital for hospice patients whose symptoms couldn't be managed at home. Shara also shares encouragement to others by answering the question, "How are you making it through this hard time?"
Shara discusses the emotions around Pete and Shara's eldest's wedding without Pete there.
Today's episode is the first podcast with just Shara, a year after Pete passed away on February 15th. She talks about things that you can do as a friend or family member of someone who is experiencing a difficult season.
In this episode, Pete explains all that he's learned with his different rounds and different types of chemotherapy. He gives us all three takeaways that we can keep in mind when we think about, talk about, or take on chemo.
In this episode, Pete tells about a turn in his treatment for the worse and how it affected him differently than previous treatments. This led to a serious need for rest and recovery and forced him to take a break from posting.
If you're a cancer fighter or caregiver for a cancer fighter, this episode will help you see the big picture of the journey that you're on.
Should we be so sensitive? Just because something triggers a memory of my traumatic journey, is that bad? Or, as a fighter, can I face that fear? And, if I let it, can that actually be healthy for me?
Some folks have claimed that Thor: Love and Thunder should have come with warnings because of graphic cancer treatment scenes. As a cancer fighter in the thick of it, I disagree.
Listen to Part 2 where Pete gives h...
Should we be so sensitive? Just because something triggers a memory of my traumatic journey, is that bad? Or, as a fighter, can I face that fear? And, if I let it, can that actually be healthy for me?
Some folks have claimed that Thor: Love and Thunder should have come with warnings because of graphic cancer treatment scenes. As a cancer fighter in the thick of it, I disagree.
In Part 1, I am going to get honest...
Can I take a trip for vacation when I have cancer? How can you go camping while fighting cancer? Should you go on an excursion when you're in the midst of a cancer fight?
Pete discusses these questions from his usual "journey" perspective. He tells you mistakes he's made and successes while on his cancer fighting journey.
Stages always want to push you, the cancer fighter, to not allow cancer t...
In this Episode of Stages Podcast, Pete shares how he was inspired by a True Crime Drama that he and his wife have been watching on Hulu called Under the Banner of Heaven. He was inspired to dig deeper and ask some hard hitting questions of himself.
Am I still truly FIGHTING cancer or am I coping? Have I allowed myself to give up ground to cancer by growing complacent and settling into a routine? Can I hold myself account...
What happens when you were convinced that cancer was in your rearview mirror and it comes back aggressively? What would be your response? Anger? Desperation? Hope?
Listen to Shara and Pete as they tell their personal response to that very thing. As always, Shara will tell her beautiful perspective as a Caregiver and Pete his perspective as a Cancer Fighter. Both of them know it is a fight that they're in: A Fight fo...
Did you know that cardio and weight resistance training are a great way to stay in the fight against cancer? But, what about after cancer surgery? Listen to Pete as he tells his experience coming out of two surgeries on his colon and liver and returning to the gym.
What can you do when cancer lingers? What can you do when you just can't shake "that feeling." ever? There's a part of cancer that is a cloud that can hang over you. You never feel quite done with it. Cancer lingers. Listen to Pete as he tells his experience with this and the daily practice he takes to deal with it.
Pete and Shara began 2022 knowing that they were headed into surgery. This surgery was to remove all cancer seen with the scans. This would involve surgical removal of some sections of Pete's liver as well as a resection of his colon.
Listen to both the perspective of the fighter and the caregiver as Pete and Shara recount their experience with this surgery.
As I get deeper into chemo rounds, what side effects will I encounter? What kind of pain will I experience? Will I throw up every time? My friend had it bad, but then the cancer went away, is that what I can expect?
It is tempting to compare and contrast your journey with others' journeys. Pete speaks to this near the end of this episode. You'll want to hear this! This will help you as a cancer fighter or as a caregiver.
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In this episode of Stages Podcast, Pete encourages us through focusing on the healthcare team that will surround us. Pete: "Your nurses, pharmacists, doctors, oncologists, all your healthcare workers are heroes and they will become like family."
But, it is a two sided deal. We as cancer fighters need to talk and share our lives with them. They face cancer every day and work ungodly hours to help each of us exper...
Just prior to his first day of treatment, Pete had so many questions still: Will I be having chemo on a hospital bed in my own private room? Will I experience any side effects while I'm receiving chemo? If so, how quickly? What is infusion? How is chemotherapy administered? Can I bring someone with me into chemo for support? How long is the procedure?
Pete had these questions and many more before Round #1 of Chemotherapy. Lis...
Pete had just been diagnosed with cancer and he's starting chemo for the first time. His head was swirling with questions: What is chemotherapy like? What should I know going into my first round? Is chemo the same for everyone or are there different types? Does everyone lose their hair during chemo? Result: I'm scared.
These were only the beginning of questions Pete had before going through his first round of chemotherapy....
How will I feel after radiation? What side effects does radiation have?
Much of the fear that we have around radiation treatment is based on what we believe the answers to those questions are.
In this post, Pete honestly describes his journey through recovery and how he felt. It was a battle and it wasn't easy. Each person's journey can vary, but this is Pete's journey.
What is the actual radiation procedure like? Do you feel any pain during the actual treatment session? What should I or my loved one be prepared for?
Again, if this is our first experience with radiation, we can go to dark places in our thoughts as to how bad this is going to be. Assuredly, radiation is not a picnic. Simply put, when we're fighting a life threatening disease, often our battle options are deadly as wel...
Timing Matters. When you discuss radiation with your oncology team for the first time, you will learn that timing is everything. So, there are a few variables to consider with your team before you can decide to pull the trigger on radiation.
Listen as Pete discusses his experience deciding with his cancer team when to move forward with radiation and all that they had to take into account to land on a date. This was a very...
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