This episode is about cancerversaries, as Kristine just surpassed her 4th cancerversary (it's on her birthday). It's from my perspective as a care partner - what I've learned and hopefully things that are helpful. I'm very fortunate that Kristine has reached this important milestone and hoping for many, many more. Colorectal cancer (CRC), particularly Stage 4 MSS (Microsatellite Stable) CRC needs more everything. And the executive branch of the United States federal government is trying to take ...
Aug 06, 2025•17 min•Season 2Ep. 6
This episode is the 2nd of a 2 parter! Listen to S2Ep4 for the 1st part of this 2 part podcast. Lora Silver, MS, RDN, CSO, CDN, CNSC an oncology dietitian from Yale Smilow Cancer Center joined me in a conversation about why it's important to have a dietitian on your care team. Food is complicated in all cancers, but particularly CRC. And there is a lot of misinformation out there about it. Join me in learning how dietitians (and care partners!) can help cancer patients eat better, and feed that ...
Jul 25, 2025•29 min•Season 2Ep. 5
This episode is a 2 parter! Lora Silver, MS, RDN, CSO, CDN, CNSC an oncology dietitian from Yale Smilow Cancer Center joined me in a conversation about why it's important to have a dietitian on your care team. Food is complicated in all cancers, but particularly CRC. And there is a lot of misinformation out there about it. Join me in learning how dietitians (and care partners!) can help cancer patients eat better, and feed that gut microbiome too. Then, join us for part 2 when we talk more speci...
Jul 10, 2025•29 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Here are links to some of the information talked about in the episode: Research: - MSK article (April 2025) on exercise as cancer therapy - MSK article (Jan 2017) on cancer patients being less active - ASCO25 press release about the international CHALLENGE trial where early stage colorectal patients who had an exercise "coach" and exercised regularly had a better disease free survival - American Cancer Society article on Weight Loss Exercise Programs : - MSK Integrative Medicine at Home - virtua...
Jun 07, 2025•17 min•Season 2Ep. 3
This episode is called Home is Where the Healthcare Is (Sometimes). In October 2024, my incredible Kristine (💙💙) had a major surgery - CRS/HIPEC. Over the last few months, she has had some temporary members added to her care team. In this episode, I talk about the importance of a nutritionist, home wound care nurse, and a home physical therapist. *** If you are in the United States, please join me in continuing to advocate for fully funded and staffed cancer and medical research, from the NIH,...
May 29, 2025•17 min•Season 2Ep. 2
This episode is truly from the heart, not just because I recorded it and am uploading it on Valentine's Day 2025, but because cancer research means the world to me. It offers hope in cancerland, which is necessary. Here are some ways that you can help save cancer research in the United States: https://5calls.org/issue/nih-nsf-funding-cuts/ - lets you easily contact your US representative and senators via phone and has an optional script if you get tongue tied. All you need to do is put a locatio...
Feb 14, 2025•9 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Welcome to the eleventh episode of Care Partner's Compass: Navigating CRC where I talk with my best friend for over 30 years, my wife Kristine about healthy distractions. Kristine was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer on her 49th birthday in July 2021. We have had to come up with a lot of coping mechanisms to deal with this cancer diagnosis, and we have a number of healthy distractions. From walking, puzzles, dancing, doing fun spontaneous things, exercise, meditation, and sometimes just being...
May 10, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Welcome to the tenth episode of Care Partner's Compass: Navigating CRC where I talk with friend and fellow stage 4 care partner Liz from Vancouver. Liz's daughter Haley was diagnosed with advanced stage 4 colon cancer in June 2022 at the age of 19. Liz talks about all the different ways she and her family were able to say yes to opportunities and to make memories with Haley. As Liz explains, cancer makes life and planning so uncertain, so you need to take every opportunity that you can. Kristine...
May 03, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Welcome to the ninth episode of Care Partner's Compass: Navigating CRC where I talk about my wife Kristine's liver surgery. Her liver surgery was in January 2022. There is a lot involved in a loved one getting to surgery, and care partners can help them prepare for this challenging time. I also talked about staying in the hospital room to help her (and help distract) as well as during recovery and healing. Full transcription can be found on the website (http://carepartnerscompass.transistor.fm) ...
Apr 26, 2024•17 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Welcome to the eighth episode of Care Partner's Compass: Navigating CRC where I talk to medical librarian Carrie Price about how to find reliable medical information online. I know I learned a lot from Carrie during this episode (including how awesome medical librarians are!), I hope that you do too. Full transcription can be found on the website (http://carepartnerscompass.transistor.fm) Host, producer/editor, and composer: Elsa Lankford Guest: Carrie Price, Research Impact & Health Profess...
Apr 19, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Welcome to the seventh episode of Care Partner's Compass: Navigating CRC where I talk about my wife Kristine's very recent immunotherapy trial and all that it entailed. This is the first episode where I talk about something that is so recent (spoiler alert, she exited the trial officially this weekend). So I don't have the benefit of time and other experiences for comparison. It's still very fresh, and upsetting. But, that's how stage 4 cancer works. As a care partner, you make sure that your lo...
Apr 12, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 7
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 ca...
Apr 05, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 6
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.f...
Mar 29, 2024•18 min•Season 1Ep. 5
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....
Mar 22, 2024•17 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Welcome to the third episode of Care Partner's Compass: Navigating CRC on biomarkers. I am joined again by CRC patient advocate and friend Annie Delores , whose information can be found here or through the podcast's website . In today's episode, we talk about the basics and importance of biomarkers and colorectal cancer. Full transcription can be found on the website. Host, producer/editor, and composer: Elsa Lankford Guest: Annie Delores And all the thanks and hugs in the world to Kristine. I c...
Mar 15, 2024•18 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Welcome to the second episode of Care Partner's Compass: Navigating CRC. In today's episode, we'll look at my wife Kristine's first line chemo (FOLFOXIRI) for colorectal cancer as I trace some of the earlier steps of her stage 4 colorectal cancer journey and what it is like for a stage 4 care partner. Chemo is important in stage 4, as it gives the best chance to get to a procedure with curative intent. Second (and third, fourth, etc.) opinions are also incredibly important. Full transcription ca...
Mar 08, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Welcome to the first episode of Care Partner's Compass: Navigating CRC. In today's episode, we'll look back at the beginning of the my wife Kristine's stage 4 colorectal cancer journey, the diagnosis. I am joined by CRC patient advocate and friend Annie Delores , whose information can be found here or through the podcast's website . Full transcription can be found on the website. Host, producer/editor, and composer: Elsa Lankford Guest: Annie Delores Special thanks to Tina for her feedback and f...
Mar 01, 2024•21 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Trailer and introduction to Care Partners Compass: Navigating CRC podcast. Short introduction to the podcast. New episodes will start to be released in March 2024, Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. Host: Elsa Lankford Production: Elsa Lankford Music by: Elsa Lankford Disclaimer : This podcast and its content is for entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by any hosts or guests on this podcast are their own personal opinions. Reference to any specific product or entity does...
Jan 28, 2024•4 min•Season 1Ep. 1
