Stages Community

Trigger warning:  death and loss. --Shara shares an emotional clip with Pete where his health was very bad.  They were in the hospital for hospice patients whose symptoms couldn't be managed at home.  Shara also shares encouragement to others by answering the question, "How are you making it through this hard time?"

Shara discusses the emotions around Pete and Shara's eldest's wedding without Pete there.  

Today's episode is the first podcast with just Shara, a year after Pete passed away on February 15th.  She talks about things that you can do as a friend or family member of someone who is experiencing a difficult season.  

In this episode, Pete explains all that he's learned with his different rounds and different types of chemotherapy. He gives us all three takeaways that we can keep in mind when we think about, talk about, or take on chemo. 

In this episode, Pete tells about a turn in his treatment for the worse and how it affected him differently than previous treatments. This led to a serious need for rest and recovery and forced him to take a break from posting. If you're a cancer fighter or caregiver for a cancer fighter, this episode will help you see the big picture of the journey that you're on. 

Should we be so sensitive? Just because something triggers a memory of my traumatic journey, is that bad? Or, as a fighter, can I face that fear? And, if I let it, can that actually be healthy for me? Some folks have claimed that Thor: Love and Thunder should have come with warnings because of graphic cancer treatment scenes. As a cancer fighter in the thick of it, I disagree. Listen to Part 2 where Pete gives his perspective after watching the movie. He also shares how not only did he view these scenes as a cancer fighter, but as a son who lost his mother to metastatic melanoma of the liver. 

Should we be so sensitive? Just because something triggers a memory of my traumatic journey, is that bad? Or, as a fighter, can I face that fear? And, if I let it, can that actually be healthy for me? Some folks have claimed that Thor: Love and Thunder should have come with warnings because of graphic cancer treatment scenes. As a cancer fighter in the thick of it, I disagree. In Part 1, I am going to get honest with you about things like confirmation bias when you fight cancer. I'm going to remind us all about judgment, ascribing motives, and more. I am also going to share how I think the movie has the potential of doing a lot of good. Listen to Part 1, where I give you my perspective prior to seeing Thor: Love and Thunder. Then, tune in again for Part 2, where I will give you my fresh perspective after just having seen the movie to see if I've changed my mind and perspective.

Can I take a trip for vacation when I have cancer? How can you go camping while fighting cancer? Should you go on an excursion when you're in the midst of a cancer fight?Pete discusses these questions from his usual "journey" perspective. He tells you mistakes he's made and successes while on his cancer fighting journey.Stages always want to push you, the cancer fighter, to not allow cancer to take over your life. You can choose how much weight cancer has in your life and to a great extent limit its shadow. 

In this Episode of Stages Podcast, Pete shares how he was inspired by a True Crime Drama that he and his wife have been watching on Hulu called Under the Banner of Heaven. He was inspired to dig deeper and ask some hard hitting questions of himself. Am I still truly FIGHTING cancer or am I coping? Have I allowed myself to give up ground to cancer by growing complacent and settling into a routine? Can I hold myself accountable daily to several questions that determine if I am still in the fight? Am I fighting to truly LIVE? 

What happens when you were convinced that cancer was in your rearview mirror and it comes back aggressively?  What would be your response? Anger? Desperation? Hope? Listen to Shara and Pete as they tell their personal response to that very thing. As always, Shara will tell her beautiful perspective as a Caregiver and Pete his perspective as a Cancer Fighter. Both of them know it is a fight that they're in: A Fight for Hope!