When advanced disease becomes a long-term reality, the journey changes. It requires strength, not just to survive, but to grow deeply and find a Vibrant Life in the Face of Metastasis.
This week, we talk about the incredible resilience of the human spirit that finds depth, clarity, and life’s true priorities when cancer is treated as a chronic illness.
In This Episode:
- 02:51 – South Dakota – Hot Springs and Kuchen
- 03:31 – Advice Hotline – Get Life Tips from Senior Adults
- 06:06 – Why Cancer is Now Considered a Chronic Disease
- 09:00 – How Cancer Care is Adapting to the Complexity of Longer Lives with Cancer
- 15:39 – Discussion with Charlie – What Are Early Cancer Symptoms; What About Secondary Cancers?
- 20:52 – “My Hands” by- Joseph Hawkins
- 22:02 – Outro
Beyond the “Battle”: Chronic Cancer
Fifty years ago, a cancer diagnosis often meant a short, intense battle. Today, thanks to incredible advancements in detection and treatments like immunotherapy, cancer is transforming into a chronic disease. We are seeing people with Stage IV, metastatic cancer living for ten years or more.
But this new reality—this longer life—comes with a profound and often unspoken human cost: the uncertainty of cycling on and off treatment, the relentless drain of financial toxicity, and the sheer exhaustion of staying engaged. How do you plan a life when the prognosis is always shifting?
In this episode, we explore what it truly means to manage advanced cancer as a chronic condition. We discuss the evolving, deeply personal relationship between the patient and their care team, the moment a diagnosis becomes a strange kind of gift that brings incredible clarity, and how we can all learn to focus on living well in the time we have.
Join us as we dive into the resilience of the human spirit when faced with the long game of chronic cancer care.
Why Is Cancer Now a Chronic Condition?
Cancer survivability has increased considerably in the past 20 years due to advances in detection and treatment. Even in case of Stage 4, metastatic disease, the cancer course can last many years. It is not considered a curable disease, but the focus is on management of the cancer growth to increase survival as long as possible. So cancer is now considered to be a chronic disease.
How is Cancer Care Changing with the Complexity of Longer Survivorship?
Cancer care has changed, and so has what it means to live with cancer. For many people, especially those with advanced metastatic disease, cancer has become a chronic condition that can last for years. Treatments, relationships with the healthcare team, and even the meaning of survivorship have evolved. Listen to the full episode learn more about the facets of this evolution of survivorship care.
Related Episodes:
- S4E21: Don’t Call it a Battle: Why We Need to Change our Metaphors for Serious Illness
- S5E50: What is Meant by Cancer Staging? Learn the Language of a Cancer Diagnosis
- S1E31: Clinical Trials
- All Cancer Topics
References:
- Seniors offer wisdom and advice from free hotline – The Washington Post
- Gallicchio, L., Devasia, T. P., Tonorezos, E., Mollica, M. A., & Mariotto, A. (2022). Estimation of the Number of Individuals Living With Metastatic Cancer in the United States. JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 114(11), 1476-1483. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djac158
- Mollica, M. A., Smith, A. W., Tonorezos, E., Castro, K., Filipski, K. K., Guida, J., Perna, F., Green, P., Jacobsen, P. B., Mariotto, A., Tesauro, G., & Gallicchio, L. (2021). Survivorship for Individuals Living With Advanced and Metastatic Cancers: National Cancer Institute Meeting Report. JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 114(4), 489-495. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djab223
- Rocque, G. B., Rasool, A., Williams, B. R., Wallace, A. S., Niranjan, S. J., Halilova, K. I., Turkman, Y. E., Ingram, S. A., Williams, C. P., Forero‐Torres, A., Smith, T., Bhatia, S., & Knight, S. J. (2019). What Is Important When Making Treatment Decisions in Metastatic Breast Cancer? A Qualitative Analysis of Decision‐Making in Patients and Oncologists. The Oncologist, 24(10), 1313-1321. https://doi.org/10.1634/theoncologist.2018-0711
- Yan, R., Xia, J., Yang, R., Lv, B., Wu, P., Chen, W., Zhang, Y., Lu, X., Che, B., Wang, J., & Yu, J. (2019). Association between anxiety, depression, and comorbid chronic diseases among cancer survivors. Psycho-Oncology, 28(6), 1269-1277. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.5078
- Virtual Meeting on Survivorship Needs for Individuals Living with Advanced and Metastatic Cancers | Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS)
Resources:
- Dr Joseph Hawkins is Consultant in Palliative Medicine and Clinical Lead for End-of-Life Care at Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Foundation Trust. He has a degree in medical journalism in addition to medical qualifications and postgraduate degrees. He enjoys spending time with his family. ORCiD: 0000-0001-6715-9540 Twitter: @JoeHawk75825077.
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Survivorship Resources: Cancer Survivorship – NCI; Offers comprehensive information on life after cancer, managing long-term effects, and survivorship planning.
- Coping with Advanced Cancer: Advanced Cancer Long Term – NCI; Guidance for patients living with metastatic or chronic cancer, including emotional support and treatment planning.
- American Cancer Society (ACS)
- Living with Advanced Cancer: Living with Advanced and Metastatic Cancer | American Cancer Society Covers treatment options, symptom management, quality of life, and caregiver support.
- Cancer Survivorship: https://www.cancer.org/healthy/cancer-survivorship.html
Tools and resources to help navigate long-term health and chronic care needs.
- Cancer.Net (American Society of Clinical Oncology, ASCO)
- Living with Cancer: https://www.cancer.net/coping-with-cancer/living-cancer
Practical information on ongoing treatment, chronic care management, and patient-centered resources. - Advanced Cancer: https://www.cancer.net/coping-with-cancer/advanced-cancer
Tips for managing symptoms, understanding treatment options, and supporting caregivers.
- Living with Cancer: https://www.cancer.net/coping-with-cancer/living-cancer
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)
- Patient & Caregiver Resources: Guidelines for Patients
Evidence-based guidelines for cancer care, survivorship planning, and chronic management strategies.
- Patient & Caregiver Resources: Guidelines for Patients
- LIVESTRONG Foundation, Cancer Survivorship Resources: https://www.livestrong.org/we-can-help/survivorship
Offers navigation support, financial guidance, and programs for patients living with long-term cancer.
Cancer Support Community https://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/
Provides free support groups, online communities, educational webinars, and tools for coping with chronic cancer.
Misericordia Place Life Advice Line
We learn about the adorable project to pass along life experience of elders, captured in the form of a pre-recorded Life Advice Line. See the post below explaining the project and the advice you can receive.
Recipe of the Week: Authentic Kuchen
This week we travel to South Dakota. German Girl in America tells us the story of German immigrants that brought their recipe for kuchen – pronounced “koo-khen,” which is German for “cake.” In both countries families today still gather around a large cake for coffee and warm companionship.
Learn how to make kuchen, the background, and even some historical comments from her readers. Get the recipe here: South Dakota Kuchen Recipe- A Volga German Legacy in America
https://blog.feedspot.com/palliative_care_podcasts/
Everyone Dies: and yes, it is normal!
Everyone Dies (and yes, it is normal) is a story about a young boy named Jax who finds something special on the beach where he and his grandpa Pops are enjoying a wonderful day. Pops helps Jax understand that death is a normal part of life. This book provides an age appropriate, non-scary, comfortable way to introduce the important topic of mortality to a preschool child. Its simple explanation will last a lifetime. Autographed copies for sale at: www.everyonediesthebook.com. Also available at Amazon
Mourning Jewelry
We offer a way to memorialize your loved one or treasured pet with a piece of handmade jewelry. When people comment on it and the wearer can say for example “I received this when my mother died” which opens the conversation about this loss. All our jewelry is made with semi-precious stones and beads, vintage beads, and pearls. You can choose between earrings or bracelets and the color family. Learn More
