Blue Faery’s Blog
When the Caregiver Gets Cancer: A Social Worker’s Story From Both Sides
For 13 years, Kara Klink, MSW, helped people with cancer. She sat with them during chemotherapy. She helped them find food, housing, and rides to treatment. She listened when they felt scared. Then Kara became the patient.
Caregiver Lessons Learned and Shared
Elisa Herr lives in the New York and New Jersey area. She never expected to become an expert in liver cancer. She never wanted to learn the words that would enter her daily life. But in July 2019, her husband Ed received a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, also known as HCC.
A Caregiver's Story of Love, Loss, and Strength
Angela Davis never expected to become a caregiver overnight. She had built a steady life in Huntsville, Alabama. Then, on August 7, 2022, everything changed.
Love, Liver Cancer, and Learning the Hard Way
Discover Betsy Villioti’s powerful story as a liver cancer caregiver. Learn the truth about HCC, from navigating diagnosis to supporting a loved one, and find the resources you need for the journey.
Destigmatizing Palliative Care
Dr. Patel defines palliative care as a form of care that prioritizes quality of life and adds an additional layer of support for patients. When talking to patients about palliative care, he often describes the palliative care team, including doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and chaplains, who meet the patients' needs outside medical treatment services.
Improving Liver Cancer Education
Sarah is grateful for the palliative care team that took care of her father at the South Carolina trauma center. She also appreciated the honesty of the physician who diagnosed her father with hepatic renal syndrome because he made it clear that her father was near the end of his life and insisted that they switch to palliative care.
Improving Clinician Communication
Dr. Li feels that shared decision-making is a concept that healthcare agencies made up. About a century ago, healthcare was very paternalistic. The doctor made a recommendation, and patients had to follow it.
Delivering Cancer Care With Compassion
Ryne believes healthcare providers should have more formal training to learn how to deliver difficult news to patients and their families.
A Double Transplant and a New Beginning
Steve did not need a liver transplant because of liver cancer or liver disease caused by lifestyle. He was born with a genetic condition called polycystic kidney disease, also known as PKD.