Episodes

The topic of cancer is sensitive, and because of this, people often face difficulty addressing it with cancer patients or people experiencing cancer symptoms. This episode provides listeners with a variety of responses to the question, "What are five things to say to a cancer patient?" Life on Pause is a podcast created by and for young adults living with cancer. Within this episode, listeners can hear answers to the question "What are five things to say to a cancer patient?" as submitted by ind...

When a young person has cancer, in reality, the whole family ‘has’ cancer. We invited siblings to share their experience when their sister or brother was diagnosed and underwent treatment. The siblings explore: Who does the extra work at home? Is it okay to be jealous of the time your parents are spending with your sibling (and the extra gifts they may be getting)? How do you advocate for your sibling? Listen in as the sibling pairs discuss cancer’s impact on the whole family.

Avascular necrosis (AVN) causes pain in the joints (mainly the weigh-bearing joints of the legs) and is associated with chemotherapy and steroid use during cancer treatment. The chronic pain connected with AVN can greatly impact a young adult’s life. Listen to the stories of these four young women who live with AVN to get a glimpse into what it’s like to live with this chronic condition.

For each young adult diagnosed with cancer, a doctor speaks a few words and a new chapter in life begins. This collection of stories captures the similarities and differences in young adults’ experiences leading up to diagnosis and afterwards.

When faced with a cancer diagnosis as a young adult, the last thing you expect is to make a quick decision about sperm-banking or egg preservation. After treatment ends and the dust begins to settle, you’re faced with questions that your peers are likely not considering, ‘Am I still able to have kids naturally?’, ‘Will I pass on genes to my children that put them at risk for cancer’ or ‘How do I tell someone I’m dating that I’m infertile?’ In this episode, the young adults talk about fertility ...

What is hair loss due to cancer treatment like for guys? Three guys weigh in about hair in response to the Women Talking Hair podcast episode. For two of these young men, their hair didn’t come back the same as before treatment. Listen in as they describe the impact on their identities and lives.

The Life on Pause crew chats with Dr. Blackall and Sara about the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis. How does a young adult navigate the emotional territory of mortality, fear, anxiety and survivor’s guilt? How do I do the ‘normal’ tasks of young adulthood with a cancer diagnosis?

Whether small or large, physical scars often mark the bodies of cancer survivors. In this episode, the Life on Pause crew shares stories of moving through the world with a body and spirit transformed by the experience of cancer.

A group of young women discuss how hair loss as part of their cancer treatment affected their life and identity. The group ranges in age and experience from the early teenage years to the late twenties, middle and high school students through college graduates, and including a newlywed. These young women share their decision making about wig or no wig, self-esteem, how others were supportive (or not so much) and their journey to the knowledge that who they are on the inside is not changed when t...

What happens to the usual milestones like graduation when you throw cancer into the mix? Seven 2021 graduates reflect on cancer’s impact on this milestone—some of the graduates were treated as young children and others more recently. No matter when their diagnosis, cancer played a role in shaping who they are today.

What is Ewings Sarcoma? In this episode, three young adults describe it from the inside out while Dr. Joe Drabick provides the medical description. Special thanks to University of Florida for partnering with Penn State Health to make this episode possible.

Four young adults with amputations due to their cancer treatment reflect on their experience. They share what it was like to come to terms with the limb loss, adapting to the new reality, interacting with the public and much more. You won’t want to miss this episode of Life on Pause.

You finish cancer treatment and then what? Suleika Jaouad's memoir, Between Two Kingdoms, beautifully captures the young adult cancer experience. Traveling through diagnosis to discovering and creating a life after treatment, her words provide the springboard for a rich discussion amongst the Life on Pause crew.

What is life like twenty years after a cancer diagnosis? Does life ever return to ‘normal’? The Life on Pause crew talks with three different cancer survivors, who are twenty years post-diagnosis. Does scanxiety ever go away? How did treatment impact fertility? These questions and more are covered.

A bone marrow transplant can be life-saving and changing for some oncological and non-oncological conditions. Terry Shapiro, CRNP, with 30 plus years of experience, talks with four young adults about their experience with the ‘boot camp’ of bone marrow transplant. From a review of what the procedure is to its impact on daily life, this episode covers it all.

What to post? What to share? Social media can be tricky enough without a cancer diagnosis. Listen in as Sarah Daniels, AYA Child Life specialist and social media researcher from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, facilitates a lively discussion with a group of young adults about the choices they made regarding social media and their cancer experience.

How do you continue to connect to friends, keep your mind engaged and yet distracted from dark thoughts and pass the time in the infusion room? Through video gaming, of course. Three teens share their cancer experience and how their video-gaming provided needed support through treatment.

Cancer treatment impacts greatly impacts the physical treatment. This podcast begins with young adults sharing their experiences of physical deconditioning, regaining strength and exercises role in helping cope with cancer. (13:30) Natalie Burse, cancer exercise researcher and breast cancer survivor. (18:40) Dr. Pooja Rao and Jared Heitzenrater discuss the AYA UNITE exercise and oncology study. (25:58) Drs. Katie Schmitz and Maxime Caru outline exercise’s benefits for cancer patients and the up...

Joined by Julie Larson, clinical social worker with a focus on cancer patients, the Life on Pause crew discusses cancer’s impact on body image. From the moon face from steroids, hair and limb loss to changes in body capabilities, the young adults review how they navigated their relationship to body image in the midst of the physical changes that cancer treatment brings. To learn more about Julie, visit: https://www.julielarsonlcsw.com/

Furry friends offer a lot in the way of medicine and therapy during cancer treatment. In this episode, young adults talk with Karen Casto of Canine Assistants about the role of animals as supports during cancer. From pure entertainment to incentive to exercise to quiet, non-judgmental companionship, the young adults speak of their own pets and the Penn State Health therapy dog trained at Canine Assistants. To learn more about Canine Assistants, visit https://www.canineassistants.org/

Listen in to Emily’s story as she walks us through her cancer diagnosis which isn’t a straightforward one and done diagnosis. She also describes her experience with anti-mnda receptor encephalitis, life in a rehab hospital as a young adult and shares what it’s like to re-enter life afterwards.

This episode, the young adults talk about some of the ‘unmentionable’ parts of the cancer experience. Join them as they discuss using a humor (including a dark sense of humor), pulling the cancer card, ‘cancer perks’, body functions, fears, ugly thoughts, survivor’s guilt and more.

In this episode, Life on Pause talks with Marcus about his experience with cancer and college. How do you attend college with a compromised immune system? What is studying like with the effects of chemo? Should I use accommodations from the college for support? Marcus weighs in on these questions and more.

This week the group discusses what parts of their lives were put on pause when they received their cancer diagnoses. From friendships, to college and careers, to the stepping stones of life, the group reflects on how they faced these rising obstacles and found a positive spin to life on pause. The group breaks down how they navigated having cancer as a part of their identities and how they dealt with the “hero” label and other inspirational identities that were pushed on them by the outside worl...