Navigating Childhood Cancer Podcast
Welcome to the Navigating Childhood Cancer Podcast.
In this podcast, we’ll explore all aspects of living through a child’s cancer diagnosis. We’ll speak with parents, experts, caregivers, and maybe even the children themselves, to understand the issues, the risks, the struggles and triumphs. We’ll talk about how to cope, how to support your child, how to ask for (and accept) help from your family and friends, and how to handle all of the day-to-day challenges that you may face while on your child’s journey.
This is the information, and the community, I wish I had when my child was diagnosed with leukemia. My goal is to educate, to support and to inspire anyone who is living through a paediatric cancer diagnosis.
Episodes
23 episodes
Episode 22 - My Conversation with Alexx Friesen
In this episode, I’m sharing my conversation with Alexx Friesen. Alexx is a Child Life Specialist who works in Toronto. She has worked with families in hospital settings, as well as in hospice and palliative care. She also has experience in onc...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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58:28
Episode 21 - My Conversation with Michelle Da Costa
In this episode, I share my conversation with Michelle Da Costa. Michelle is the mother of three girls. Her youngest daughter is a childhood cancer survivor. Michelle is also a Parent Liaison with @OPACC
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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1:09:18
Episode 20 - My Conversation with Make-A-Wish Canada
In today's episode, I am speaking with two representatives from Make-A-Wish® Canada. You are very likely familiar with Make-A-Wish Canada. This is the charitable organization that grants wishes to children with critical illnesses. B...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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37:26
Episode 19 - My Conversation with Jessica Hill
In this episode, I have the honour of sharing my conversation with Jessica Hill. I first learned of Jessica, and her daughter Addy, in September of 2023, when Sick Kids Hospital posted a story about a new initiative called Precision Child Healt...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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54:39
Episode 18 - My Conversation with Daniel Stolfi
In this episode, we hear the story of actor and comedian Daniel Stolfi. Daniel was diagnosed with Lymphoma when he was 25 years old. Like every cancer warrior, Daniel’s story is remarkable. He kept a journal throughout his treatment, and...
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1:15:17
Episode 17 - Campfire Circle
In this episode, I am thrilled to share my conversation with Jenny Edmonds, Director of In-Hospital & Community Programs with Campfire Circle. Campfire Circle is a privately funded charity in Ontario that brings laughter and joy to kids and...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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55:17
Episode 16 - My Conversation with Nicole Raso
In this episode, we hear the story of Nicole Raso. Nicole is the mother of 5 year old Luca, who recently completed his treatment for a Wilms tumour, which was found on his kidney in August 2022. Nicole tells us about how she discovered that her...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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1:11:21
Episode 15 - What Matters
When we undergo a major crisis in our lives, we sometimes experience an epiphany about what actually matters. In some cases, we are changed for the better. Heather feels that she has had the opportunity to learn some very important lessons duri...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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29:10
Episode 14 - End of Treatment
In this episode, Heather shares her family’s experience arriving at the end of treatment, 2.5 years after her child received a diagnosis of Leukemia B-ALL. She details the various steps that brought her family to that final moment, how they cel...
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42:35
Episode 13 - My Conversation with Sarah DeMelo
In this episode, we hear the story of Sarah DeMelo. Sarah is the mother of a young family that includes 4 year old Benjamin, who has spent the last year and a half in treatment for Leukemia. Sarah shares the story of Benjamin’s illness, and his...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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1:54:20
Episode 12 - My Conversation with Susan Kuczynski, Lead Parent Liaison with OPACC
In this episode, I am pleased to bring you my conversation with Susan Kuczynski – Lead Parent Liaison with Ontario Parents Advocating for Children with Cancer, also known as OPACC. OPACC is a registered charity whose mission is to ...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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59:10
Episode 11 - Thoughts on Age and Activities for the Hospital Bed
In this episode, Heather ponders whether it is harder to have a young child, or an older child in treatment. Each scenario comes with its own unique set of challenges, and both are hard. She also shares a long list of fun things to do to pass t...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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38:00
Episode 10 - Back to School and Cancer Stats
At this time of year, many of us are getting back into the routine of being back at school. However, not everyone gets to return to the classroom, particularly those kids who are undergoing treatment for cancer. Heather talks about some of the ...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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21:41
Episode 9 - My Conversation with Zach Round
In this episode, we hear the story of Zach Round, a brain tumour survivor and childhood cancer advocate. Zach was diagnosed with a brain tumour when he was 17 years old. He shares the details about the different complications he encountered dur...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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1:12:24
Episode 8 - Some Updates and a Fun Story
In this episode, I share an update on some of the ‘lasts’ that we are experiencing as we approach the end of my child’s treatment. I have a sweet song recommendation from Susanne, my guest in episode 7, and a funny story about something that...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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14:08
Episode 7 - My Conversation with Susanne
In this episode, we hear the story of Susanne and her family. Susanne is the mother of a young boy named Frankie. Frankie was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2012 when he was just 2 years old. At that time, the treatment protocol for pediatric...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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1:17:33
Episode 6 - Fevers
Fevers are a very real part of life for a child with Leukemia. When a child who is undergoing treatment gets a fever, it is actually a medical emergency. That child may not be able to fight the infection that is causing the fever. If it is not ...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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21:30
Episode 5 - The Reality of Life in Treatment
In this episode, we discuss how we handled some of the hard parts of treatment - how to feed a child in treatment, and how to handle all of those medications. Every family will have a different experience, but we expect that these are two th...
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16:19
Episode 4 - The Music of our Journey
Music can be a very powerful tool to help us through a tough time. It can lift us up, inspire us, help us to express frustration or help to soothe a broken heart. There are some songs that we listened to over the course of our journey that w...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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38:04
Episode 3 - The Darkness and the Light
As you would expect, there is a lot of darkness that follows a child’s cancer diagnosis. In this episode, we acknowledge the feelings of darkness that one may encounter while on this journey... Not to bring anyone down; Simply to call attent...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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37:44
Episode 2 – What Helps
When a family receives news that is overwhelming, in this case, a child’s serious illness, it is usually followed by a period of need. It is understood that the journey ahead is going to be difficult, but they aren’t always in a frame of mind t...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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26:54
Episode 1 - Introducing the Navigating Childhood Cancer Podcast
Welcome to the first episode of the NCC Podcast. In this episode, you’ll learn about the inspiration behind the podcast, and why it was created. This podcast is for parents, family, caregivers and friends. Our hope is that anyone who is sitting...
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8:25