Cancer changes more than your body. It can shake your sense of control, rewrite your identity, and make everyday life feel like it’s happening in a different language than everyone else is speaking.

We sit down with the Virginia Oncology Associates oncology social work team to talk plainly about mental health during the cancer journey for both patients and caregivers. We walk through the emotional reality of diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and end-of-life care, including fear, shock, sadness, anger, anxiety, and the fear of recurrence that can linger long after treatment ends. We also name something we hear all the time: the pressure to “stay strong.” When people feel like they can’t share what they’re really feeling, they may withdraw, miss appointments, or struggle in silence while juggling financial stress, transportation, work, and family roles.

Caregivers are a huge part of cancer care, and their mental health often gets overlooked. We talk about guilt, isolation, and the heavy burden of trying to hold everything together, plus the subtle signs of caregiver burnout like brain fog, mood changes, emotional numbness, and getting sick more often.

We share practical ways to ask for help in small steps, use community resources, and reframe support as strength, not weakness, especially when stigma and access barriers are shaped by culture, age, race, and socioeconomic stress.

Make sure to visit our show notes for mental health resources mentioned in this podcast.

Resources:

988: https://988lifeline.org/
NAMI: https://www.nami.org/
VOA: https://www.virginiacancer.com/cancer-resources/#support-groups-at-voa

Thank you for listening! If you're interested in hearing more from Virginia Oncology Associates, make sure to subscribe to Cancer Care Connections on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere podcasts are available, or listen online at cancercareconnections.buzzsprout.com.

Cancer Care Connections is the official podcast of Virginia Oncology Associates. For more information, visit us at VirginiaCancer.com. or find us on Facebook or Instagram at Virginia Oncology Associates.

We sit down with Dr. Gary Simmons and Fred Varewyck to explain CAR T cell therapy for multiple myeloma and what it can mean for deeper remission and real time away from treatment. Dr. Gary Simmons unpacks how CAR T works, why it’s a major advancement in blood cancer care, and what “treatment-free time” can look like when it succeeds.

We also get specific about the lived experience. Fred walks through diagnosis, stem cell transplant, relapse, and the mindset that helped him say yes when CAR T finally became possible. Dr. Simmons explains the practical timeline, including the four-to-six-week manufacturing window, and why some patients need urgent “bridge” treatment first. Then we dive into what makes Virginia Oncology Associates’ outpatient CAR T model so meaningful: infusion at the clinic, daily check-ins, and recovery at home rather than hospitalization.

The other thread running through everything is support and trustworthy information. We talk about why “Google medicine” can push patients away from the right care, why you should speak with clinicians who specialize in cellular therapy, and how caregivers make appointments easier for patients by taking notes or recording guidance. Fred shares community resources that help patients feel less alone (check out the show notes).

If you found this helpful, subscribe, share the episode with someone navigating multiple myeloma, and leave a review so more patients and caregivers can find these conversations.

Dr. Gary L. Simmons is a recognized national leader in the advancement of community-based oncology. Within the US Oncology Network, he has been instrumental in bridging the gap between academic research and community access, with a specific clinical focus on CAR T-Cell Therapy and its evolving role in patient care, the treatment of complex Hematologic malignancies, and expanding the reach of advanced cellular therapies beyond the traditional university hospital setting.

Resources:

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2026.1712533/full

https://www.polygonhealth.co/map

https://www.facebook.com/groups/239866928407935

Southeastern Virginia (SEVA) Multiple Myeloma Support Group. Email Brenda Riggs or Stephanie Kailos at seva@imfsupport.org

Thank you for listening! If you're interested in hearing more from Virginia Oncology Associates, make sure to subscribe to Cancer Care Connections on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere podcasts are available, or listen online at cancercareconnections.buzzsprout.com.

Cancer Care Connections is the official podcast of Virginia Oncology Associates. For more information, visit us at VirginiaCancer.com. or find us on Facebook or Instagram at Virginia Oncology Associates.

Cancer doesn’t just change lab results; it reshapes daily life. Our Virginia Oncology Associates Social Work team opens the door to whole-person care, starting at diagnosis. They show how early outreach, clear planning, and steady advocacy can turn fear into manageable steps. They share how they coordinate transportation, housing, grants, insurance, and disability applications while offering the kind of emotional support that helps patients and caregivers breathe, decide, and move forward.

Throughout this episode, you’ll hear powerful, practical moments from the field: a rapid housing save that kept a parent connected to her kids, a coordinated relocation that preserved treatment access and family support, and a path from sudden job loss to financial stability through grants, Medicaid, and disability appeals. We also look straight at the quiet worries many carry: being a burden, losing control, or not being heard, and walk through tools that bring relief: caregiver naming and respite, values-based care planning, and family meetings that honor the patient’s voice.

We explain why timing matters. Many resources run on clocks: public housing waitlists, SNAP approvals, Medicaid enrollment, FMLA paperwork, and Social Security reviews. Reaching out early helps you line up the right resources before a crisis hits, protecting treatment schedules and reducing financial strain.

If today’s stories resonate, ask your clinical team to connect you with your social worker, or check whether oncology social work is available where you receive care. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help others find support sooner.

Thank you for listening! If you're interested in hearing more from Virginia Oncology Associates, make sure to subscribe to Cancer Care Connections on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere podcasts are available, or listen online at cancercareconnections.buzzsprout.com.

Cancer Care Connections is the official podcast of Virginia Oncology Associates. For more information, visit us at VirginiaCancer.com. or find us on Facebook or Instagram at Virginia Oncology Associates.