Life on Pause

Lessons Learned

April 18, 2023 04:15 - 39 minutes - 72.4 MB

People experience many impactful lessons throughout young adulthood. Although a cancer diagnosis can change a young adult's life trajectory, it also provides learning opportunities and influential experiences. These lessons learned throughout a young adult's cancer experience can contribute to shaping their life journey and forming the person they become. Life on Pause is a podcast created by and for young adults living with cancer. In this episode, our speakers discuss the lessons learned...

Forced Realities and Choices

March 21, 2023 04:15 - 55 minutes - 101 MB

Experiencing a serious health event, like a cancer diagnosis, can change a person's priorities, decisions, and overall life path. Young adults with cancer experience different obstacles as they undergo uncontrollable life changes due to their diagnosis and treatment. So how can young adults continue to move forward with cancer influencing their decisions and life trajectory? Life on Pause is a podcast created by and for young adults living with cancer. In this episode, our speakers discuss ...

The Many Sides of Fear

February 21, 2023 04:15 - 48 minutes - 89.2 MB

Everyone has fears that develop and change throughout their life. However, significant health events like a cancer diagnosis can simultaneously alter many aspects of life as they reveal a new set of potential outcomes - and concerns. So how do young people impacted by cancer cope with the fears brought on by their diagnosis? Life on Pause is a podcast created by and for young adults living with cancer. In this episode, our speakers explore the fears experienced by young adults with cancer. ...

Looking Back To Look Forward

January 24, 2023 04:15 - 41 minutes - 76.8 MB

Those impacted by cancer gain strength and resiliency from their experiences, which carry them from year to year and remain present throughout their lifetimes. As we enter a new year, reflecting on the past can help us recognize and appreciate the lessons that will stick with us and guide us in the future. Life on Pause is a podcast created by and for young adults living with cancer. In this end-of-the-year podcast episode, our speakers welcome 2023 by taking a look back on 2023. Part of kn...

Cancer in a Strange Land

January 10, 2023 04:15 - 33 minutes - 45.7 MB

As a part of life, people often face new situations that take them out of their comfort zones. A unique experience like traveling to a foreign country can be exciting, but unfamiliar circumstances can also cause significant unease, especially when they are due to health complications. And while a first-time cancer diagnosis may feel like uncharted territory, experiencing cancer treatments in an unfamiliar country can bring on even more challenges. Life on Pause is a podcast created by and ...

Toxic Positivity and Grief Tourism

November 08, 2022 04:15 - 48 minutes - 112 MB

Society generally expects people to maintain behaviors and attitudes considered "appropriate" for the situations they face. But when a person is experiencing cancer, acting according to other people's expectations can be incredibly detrimental to their mental health. Toxic positivity is the belief that people should maintain a positive mindset across all situations and that, regardless of a situation's difficulty, people are expected to dismiss their negative emotions brought on by their dis...

Challenges vs. Comfort

October 25, 2022 04:15 - 28 minutes - 38.5 MB

Life constantly presents people with new scenarios that can be challenging, causing them to seek the security of their comfort zones. Young adults who experience cancer often face significant challenges regarding their treatments and health. Yet, it is common for people to find solace in the things that bring them comfort through difficult times. So how should young adults impacted by cancer manage their desires to seek safety in their comfort zones and still remain open to the challenges of...

Dating After Cancer

October 04, 2022 04:15 - 33 minutes - 76.2 MB

As if dating as a young adult wasn’t complicated enough, cancer survivors must navigate additional circumstances surrounding their past and current health. Unfortunately, this can make several aspects of the dating process tricky, like disclosing your past diagnosis to potential partners, determining the qualities you look for in a partner, and overcoming anxieties involved with dating as a survivor. As a young person who has experienced cancer, what is the best way to navigate the dating wo...

Radiation Therapy

September 20, 2022 04:15 - 34 minutes - 79.8 MB

For those who have not gone through cancer treatments before, many aspects of experience may be unknown. This can mean that new cancer patients feel surprised and caught off guard by the processes and side effects of various cancer treatments, especially in the case of radiation therapy. So what should new radiation therapy patients be aware of to prepare them for their treatment? Life on Pause is a podcast created by and for young adults living with cancer. In this episode, guest speakers ...

Survivors In Healthcare

September 06, 2022 04:15 - 32 minutes - 73.4 MB

The cancer experience can be challenging, painful, and even traumatic. Still, there are healthcare professionals who have experienced cancer themselves and make it their mission to help other patients overcome their health battles. So what makes someone want to work in the healthcare field after surviving cancer, and in what ways does their own past health experience affect their professions? Today's episode of Life On Pause is about the experience of being both a cancer survivor and a heal...

Parenting During A Bone Marrow Transplant

August 23, 2022 04:15 - 32 minutes - 59.3 MB

Cancer can come in many forms and may involve different patient treatments. There is no typical cancer journey, and factors like interpersonal relationships, treatment methods, and individual coping strategies can influence a patient’s experience. Young adults with cancer may have to learn to address challenging situations like maintaining parental responsibilities through treatments and waiting for medical transplant opportunities. Life on Pause is a podcast created by and for young adults...

Survivorship Day Exploration Part 1

August 09, 2022 04:15 - 13 minutes - 17.8 MB

Cancer affects many lives in different ways, leaving survivors and their loved ones with unique experiences and stories. And while it is essential to support cancer patients currently battling cancer, recognizing the effort and strength of cancer survivors is deeply important. For this reason, Penn State Children's Hospital hosts Survivorship Day each year in June to commemorate National Cancer Survivor Month and honor recent graduates. Today's episode of Life On Pause is part one of our tw...

Changes and Fitting In

July 19, 2022 04:15 - 16 minutes - 22.7 MB

As if young adulthood wasn’t challenging enough, experiencing cancer at this stage of life can cause one to feel disconnected from their peers. It is common for cancer patients to lack a sense of belonging with others, especially in settings like school or work. So how can young adults with cancer cope with feeling out of place and like they don’t fit in due to their diagnosis? Life on Pause is a podcast created by and for young adults living with cancer. Within this episode, host Kayla is ...

Exercise with Treatment

July 05, 2022 04:15 - 37 minutes - 52.2 MB

Exercise plays a vital role in our quality of life. But for cancer patients focused on recovery, many are uninformed on healthy exercise practices for people in treatment. Unfortunately, exercise oncology is still an underserved area in medical science, and while recent progress has been made in the field, we still have a long way to go. So what should cancer patients know about exercise and treatment? Life on Pause is a podcast created by and for young adults living with cancer. Within thi...

Not Dead Yet

June 21, 2022 04:15 - 33 minutes - 62.2 MB

The cancer journey can introduce many changes into a patient's life, creating new obstacles and challenges for them to endure. But taking on a new life philosophy may be able to support patients in managing these difficulties and gaining a healthy perspective on the life that they have. Life on Pause is a podcast created by and for young adults living with cancer. Within this episode, host Brady Lucas is joined by guest Cayla Conover. Cayla is a trauma surgical ICU nurse who is experiencing...

A Fork In The Road

June 07, 2022 04:15 - 34 minutes - 62.8 MB

Experiencing an unforeseen circumstance like cancer can cause your life to deviate from the path you had initially set out upon. This episode of Life on Pause discusses cancer's impact as a "fork in the road" and how it can significantly alter the lives of those who experience it. Life on Pause is a podcast created by and for young adults living with cancer. Within this episode, Penn State Medical Center's young adults are joined by young adults from UT Southwestern Medical Center whose liv...

Palliative Care

May 31, 2022 04:15 - 27 minutes - 50.8 MB

The role of healthcare professionals is to support the health and comfort of patients through each phase of their treatment. This episode of Life on Pause discusses the sensitive topic of palliative care, and listeners are encouraged to use their best judgment and discretion. Life on Pause is a podcast created by and for young adults living with cancer. Within this episode, host Brady Lucas is joined by Gina Klein, a social worker in palliative care at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. To...

Chemotherapy: What to Expect

May 10, 2022 04:15 - 44 minutes - 82 MB

Chemotherapy involves so much more than just treating cancer. Chemotherapy treatments involve various side effects that can challenge patients mentally, physically, and emotionally. On this episode of Life on Pause, our host Kasara talks with guest speakers to discuss their experiences receiving chemotherapy treatments for their cancer diagnoses. Together they share their stories to provide insight to listeners and help other cancer patients know that they aren’t alone. Life on Pause is a p...

Hardship on Treatment

April 26, 2022 04:15 - 20 minutes - 27.8 MB

Life with cancer looks different for everyone, and for young people especially, it can be challenging to manage a diagnosis while still moving forward with life's other experiences. On this episode of Life on Pause, our host Brady Lucus chats with guest speaker Colton Cook, a college student who has been in treatment for his cancer diagnosis. Together they discuss what it's like to have cancer while trying to maintain normalcy in life as a young adult. Life on Pause is a podcast created by ...

First Descents: The Therapeutic Effects of Adventure

April 12, 2022 04:15 - 43 minutes - 59.4 MB

Even after recovery, cancer can still leave challenging effects on those who have experienced it. However, taking part in a new adventure can be beneficial and healing for cancer survivors. First Descents is a program for young adults impacted by cancer that provides them with outdoor adventures and helps them heal through psychosocial support and rewarding experiences. Life on Pause is a podcast created by and for young adults living with cancer. Within this episode, our hosts chat with g...

Hershey’s First Bone Marrow Transplant: A Caregiver’s Journey

March 22, 2022 04:15 - 36 minutes - 50.1 MB

The cancer journey can have a profound impact on the patient and those close by providing support. Finding oneself in the role of caregiver for a cancer patient can be an emotionally exhausting experience for a young adult, as they try to maintain support and composure in times of worry and hurt. Life on Pause is a podcast created by and for young adults living with cancer. Within this episode, our host Brady Lucus chats with guest speaker Krissy Hitz about the challenges and rewards of bei...

Brain Tumors

March 08, 2022 04:15 - 41 minutes - 76.6 MB

So many aspects of our lives rely on our brains’ health and proper functioning. For individuals who have been diagnosed with brain tumors at a young age, their cancer experiences have had lasting effects on them physically, as well as their views on life. On this episode of Life on Pause, our host and guest speakers speak on their experiences with this challenging diagnosis. Guests include young adults from the Penn State Hershey community, and this episode was recorded in collaboration with...

Survivor’s Guilt

February 22, 2022 09:05 - 27 minutes - 38 MB

There are many complex emotions involved with the experience of having cancer. While people often want to view cancer as a victorious journey with positivity and hope, the reality of the fact is it can involve many emotionally taxing and negative feelings. On this episode of Life on Pause, our host Casey speaks with guest Kayla about the cancer experience and all of the negative emotions it can invoke that people often choose not to discuss. Life on Pause is a podcast created by and fo...

Love Amidst Cancer

February 08, 2022 09:05 - 26 minutes - 48 MB

As young adults, handling relationships can be challenging, as we are often in transformative periods within our lives. But on top of managing schoolwork, careers, and life, experiencing a cancer diagnosis can lead to a whole new set of love life complications. On this episode of Life on Pause, our host Megan speaks with several guests who have experienced cancer diagnosis' about the challenges of navigating love and relationships throughout their cancer journey. Life on Pause is a podcast...

The holiday season: sharing joy with loved ones

January 04, 2022 09:05 - 17 minutes - 32.5 MB

The holiday season holds a very special place in the hearts of many and is often symbolized by unique themes and activities that make a home feel more like home. For individuals who have experienced cancer, these unique traditions and practices can help them embrace the season's positivity and enjoyment. However, gathering with loved ones and navigating sensitive conversations can present challenges during what should be a celebratory time. Life on Pause is a podcast created by and for y...

Five Things to Say

December 21, 2021 09:05 - 11 minutes - 16.4 MB

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 b...

Sisters and Brothers Chime In On Cancer

December 07, 2021 14:00 - 41 minutes - 57.2 MB

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.

First Cancer, Now Avascular Necrosis?!?

November 16, 2021 14:00 - 40 minutes - 56 MB

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.

Diagnosis Stories

November 02, 2021 13:00 - 52 minutes - 72.8 MB

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.

What’s Cancer Got To Do With Fertility and Fertility Preservation?

October 19, 2021 13:00 - 33 minutes - 46.7 MB

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 fertil...

Guys Respond: Hair

October 05, 2021 13:00 - 44 minutes - 61.5 MB

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 Psychology of Survival with psychologist, Dr. George Blackall and survivorship social worker, Sara Merrill

September 21, 2021 13:00 - 37 minutes - 52.3 MB

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?

Scar Stories: Markers of Cancer Survivors

September 07, 2021 13:00 - 32 minutes - 30.2 MB

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.

Young Women Talking Hair

August 24, 2021 13:00 - 58 minutes - 107 MB

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 wh...

Milestones: Graduation

August 10, 2021 13:00 - 42 minutes - 79 MB

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.

Ewings Sarcoma

July 20, 2021 13:00 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MB

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.

You’re Stronger Than You Believe: Reflections on Limb Loss

July 06, 2021 13:00 - 42 minutes - 39.5 MB

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.

Between Two Kingdoms Discussion

June 15, 2021 13:00 - 43 minutes - 40.1 MB

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.

Twenty Years Later

June 01, 2021 13:00 - 50 minutes - 93.1 MB

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.

The Boot Camp of Bone Marrow Transplant

May 18, 2021 13:00 - 42 minutes - 44.3 MB

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.

Social Media: The Public Side of Cancer

May 04, 2021 13:00 - 49 minutes - 51 MB

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.

Through Cancer with Video Games

April 20, 2021 14:00 - 45 minutes - 47.3 MB

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.

Overcoming the impact of cancer treatment with exercise

April 06, 2021 15:00 - 44 minutes - 46.5 MB

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 ...

Body image and how it is impacted during cancer treatment

March 16, 2021 15:00 - 33 minutes - 36.8 MB

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/

Pets as Medicine

March 02, 2021 16:00 - 33 minutes - 36.2 MB

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/

Emily's story from diagnosis to life afterwards

February 16, 2021 16:00 - 16 minutes - 20.6 MB

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.

The Unmentionables

February 02, 2021 16:00 - 43 minutes - 65.4 MB

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.

College and Cancer

January 19, 2021 16:00 - 14 minutes - 26 MB

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.

The Teen vs Young Adult Cancer Experience

January 05, 2021 16:00 - 34 minutes - 52.7 MB

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 ...

Tips & Tricks from Life on Pause

December 21, 2020 22:24 - 7 minutes - 15.9 MB

Life On Pause is a podcast for and by young adults living with cancer. Each month, young adult cancer patients from Penn State Health share honestly about their cancer diagnosis, treatment and life afterwards. As cancer causes the group to reflect on issues both large and small, surprisingly relatable stories and themes emerge. From relationships to body functions, nothing is off the table.

Episodes