Articles & Stories

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so we are sharing April’s story. April was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer when she was 37 years old. She had 16 rounds of chemotherapy, 30 rounds of radiation, and a mastectomy.

When she was diagnosed, her life was centered around her two young daughters and her hair salon, which she owned and managed. The cancer and its treatment were devastating enough, but matters became worse when she had to stop working at the salon because of symptoms and side effects.  … Read More

Rae Anne, who was diagnosed with stage 4 head and neck cancer after finding a lump on her neck, is back to share more of her story. This time, she joins our podcast to speak with Dr. Diane E. Meier about how palliative care helped change her life—and her family’s—for the better. 

If unfamiliar with her story, Rae Anne started chemotherapy and radiation treatments soon after her diagnosis. Later, she received a call from the palliative care team at her cancer center, who met with her and her family to help figure out how they can help. Together, they thought of ways to help Rae Anne feel more like herself, which included communicating with and coordinating care between all of her different doctors, managing her medications, and much more. 

Rae Anne shares, “I absolutely attribute palliative care to being able to take next steps, to becoming healthier again. They tied the knot that made everything better.” … Read More

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on due to the Delta variant, vaccination has become an issue, unnecessarily. Vaccines are widely available, and are proven to be effective, however many Americans worry about their safety and whether or not they are needed. Studies have demonstrated that any of the COVID-19 vaccines will protect those who receive them from getting very sick from the virus – and should also help to stop it from spreading. 

Although more than 50% of Americans have already received their vaccine, others are still waiting. It is important for people living with a serious illness and their loved ones to receive the vaccine as soon as possible, to avoid getting sick from COVID-19 – and wear masks when in high-transmission areas of the country, even after vaccination.  

To learn more, we spoke with palliative care doctor, Dr. Anthony Back, who shared what all patients and families need to know.  … Read More

Are you or a loved one living with an illness like COPD, cancer, Parkinson’s, heart, or kidney disease? If you are, you might greatly benefit from palliative care – and you should demand it. … Read More

Rae Anne is on a mission to share how palliative care changed her and her family’s life for the better. She is living well, after treatment from stage 4 head and neck cancer, and wants to help other people living with a serious illness understand how palliative care can help them, too. Her video series, Rae Anne Reflects, includes conversations with different members of the palliative care team. Her goal is to share how palliative care adds an extra layer of support for patients and families – from the time of diagnosis, through, and after treatment.  … Read More

Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are mostly known for memory loss that worsens over time, but it comes with a range of complex needs – for the person diagnosed and the family. And the health needs and safety concerns for all involved typically increase as the disease progresses. 

Ann, a 92-year-old mother, grandmother, and former nurse, has been living with dementia for about 7 years. She also has COPD and heart problems. Ann has been able to stay in her own home with the help of her daughter Holly, care from home aides, and a palliative care team. 

Holly and her family know firsthand that the palliative care team improves the quality of life for people with dementia and their caregivers by adding a layer of support. 

This is Ann and Holly’s palliative care story. … Read More

Having Huntington’s disease (HD) doesn’t necessarily increase the risk of contracting coronavirus (COVID-19). But unfortunately, some of the symptoms with advanced HD may increase the risk for complications from this respiratory virus, such as difficulty swallowing or clearing secretions from the lungs. Other factors that may increase the risk of complications are older age and having other serious medical conditions such as heart disease, respiratory illnesses, diabetes, and kidney failure.  … Read More

By Holly Koncicki, MD

If you are living with kidney disease, you may know that it comes with many challenges, as symptoms can take a toll on day-to-day life. Along the way, decisions will have to be made about potential treatments, each of which can impact you in different ways. With this in mind, it’s important to know about a medical specialty that can address your symptoms and stress, called palliative care – and how to ask for it. Palliative care is growing in kidney care programs, given the many symptoms that come with kidney disease and the potential impact of various treatments on quality of life. … Read More

By Anthony Back, MD 

One year in since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are eager to get back to “normal,” non-quarantined life. With the roll-out of vaccines, there’s light at the end of the tunnel.  … Read More

Rae Anne is on a mission to share how palliative care changed her life—and her family’s—for the better. She’s in remission from stage 4 head and neck cancer, and wants others living with a serious illness, whether cancer or otherwise, to know that palliative care can help them. In her video series, Rae Anne Reflects, she speaks with different members of the palliative care team. The goal is to share the many ways that palliative care adds an extra layer of support for patients and families – from the time of diagnosis, through, and after treatment.  … Read More