In this episode of the Sick & Good Podcast, we sit down with Mary Mathew, MA, LMFT licensed psychotherapist and founder of Beyond Cancer LA, a private practice dedicated to supporting cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers. Mary shares insights from her recent presentation at the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation Conference, highlighting the emotional challenges that often accompany a cancer diagnosis. Together, we explore common themes such as grief, adjustment, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress, as well as the role of internal versus external coping skills. Mary also explains what it means to look through a “cancer lens,” sharing narratives from her practice, and discusses the co-morbid mental health conditions she frequently encounters. This thoughtful conversation sheds light on the vital connection between mental health and the cancer journey, offering hope and strategies for resilience.

Mental Health Beyond Cancer with Mary Mathew, LMFT

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Jess shares her work as a social worker specializing in rural care at NaviCare. She he highlights rural health and the pivots to telehealth and how the pandemic has resulted in a resurgence of patients come back for cancer treatment. We explore ethical and moral dilemmas in treating patients in rural areas and the contribution to fragmented care. Jess relates her experience in oncology social work to line dancing and protecting her cubs. You know, like a line dancing Mama Bear. 

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Rural Cancer Care with Jess Piper, LICSW

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Our special guest Dr. Caroline Dorfman, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in the Duke University School of Medicine. Caroline has conducted extensive AYA cancer research and offers her findings on topics of pain, fatigue, distress and sexual reproductive health. We examine barriers for onco-fertility and reproductive preservation as financial and value-based decisions and the conversation closes on health behavior issues and difficulties in overall well-being for the AYA cancer population. 

Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Research with Caroline Dorfman, PhD

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Thyroid Cancer Management and Awareness CEU

Mary Baron Nelson, PhD, RN, CPRP,  is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Keck Medical School at USC. She imparts her previous clinical and research experience as a Nurse Practitioner at the Children Hospital Los Angeles in studying brain injury from childhood cancer treatment and names neurocognitive and psychosocial late effects of brain cancer treatment. She shares her approach on wellness through her various roles and highlights age-related differences between children and adults in the recovery process. 

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Pediatric Brain Cancer with Mary Baron Nelson, PhD, RN, CPNP

Dustin Mesick, RDN and Colin Goodwin, PsyD are cancer survivors inspired by their personal experiences and incorporated this into their individual career paths in nutritional services and clinical psychology, respectively. The original concept to offer a support group that focused on body and mind was shifted with the emergence of the pandemic and evolved into the virtual platform of a podcast. In choosing the name of the podcast, Sick & Good Podcast was chosen as a double entendre, incorporating the last names of the co-hosts and promoting the possibility of a dialectical nature in physical illness (sick) and overall wellness (good). The mission statement for the Sick & Good Podcast states the purpose is to have conversations with medical and other healthcare professionals related to the cancer field on broad topics ranging from diagnosis to treatment and the recovery process with the hope to provide education and levity to cancer patients, survivors and other interested listeners.

Dr Colin Goodwin

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