S1Ep9 Surgery and CRC AKA "Chopped Liver"

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)

Host, producer/editor, and composer: Elsa Lankford

Kristine - You're so much more than chopped liver to me (ba dum bah!) ❤️

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Helpful links related to this episode:
  • Colontown.org - this is the group where I met new great friends who were CRC patients or care partners.
  • Preparing for Surgery - from the American Cancer Society is a helpful resource
  • Prehabilitation Resources from Cancer Research UK
  • Clinical research showing that prehabilitation for CRC surgery is beneficial - hopefully this is something that can become standard of care for any CRC surgery
  • (01:38) - Getting scans to see if she could get to surgery
  • (02:09) - It was a go!
  • (02:36) - Getting over the fear of surgery
  • (03:36) - Preparing for surgery
  • (04:52) - "I am ready!"
  • (05:27) - Getting the house ready
  • (05:42) - Helpful for carepartner to get involved in cancer groups
  • (06:26) - The day of surgery in January 2022
  • (07:36) - 2nd opinions - they are so so important
  • (08:15) - The day after the surgery
  • (09:10) - Getting to stay in the room - and why it's so helpful for a carepartner to be there
  • (10:03) - "Look over there!" how distractions can be helpful
  • (10:42) - A couple of helpful items for after surgery
  • (12:11) - The importance of walking
  • (13:51) - Getting back to normalcy
  • (14:30) - Meeting again with the liver surgeon
  • (15:21) - Surgery is so important

Creators and Guests

Elsa Lankford
Host
Elsa Lankford
I'm the host of Care Partner's Compass: Navigating CRC, a patient advocate for colorectal cancer, and a care partner to my incredible wife Kristine. I am an artist, composer, educator, and podcaster. I'm a professor in the Electronic Media and Film Department at Towson University.
S1Ep9 Surgery and CRC AKA "Chopped Liver"
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