Beyond The Clinic: Living Well With Melanoma

In today’s episode, we're talking about a profoundly touching topic—caring for someone with melanoma. Today, we're discussing the roles, challenges, and triumphs of those who stand by their loved ones in the fight against melanoma—caregivers. They are the unsung heroes who provide the support and strength needed to face each day anew.

Our guests:

Sue Capozzi: Sue has devotedly served as a caregiver for her husband, John, who, despite his current stability, was diagnosed with Stage III melanoma in 2019, which progressed to Stage IV the following year. Throughout his challenging treatment journey, John has faced numerous hurdles but is currently doing well.

Now retired, Sue and John reside in Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey, a stone's throw away from the beach. They cherish their time sailing, kayaking, and enjoying moments with their dog, always mindful to apply copious amounts of sunscreen. The couple enjoys the company of their married son, a granddaughter, and eagerly await the arrival of another grandchild in the spring of 2024.

Driven by the importance of melanoma education, Sue became a Peer Connect mentor in 2022. In this short span, she has provided guidance to several caregivers, finding deep fulfillment in offering support. Sue hopes to extend the same level of support and understanding she has received, contributing positively to the lives of others on their melanoma journeys.

Nancy Earle: Nancy devoted herself as a caregiver to her son, Will, following his Stage III melanoma diagnosis in 2016, which escalated to Stage IV within the same year. She took a two-year hiatus from her career to support him daily through his illness and treatment. Together, they navigated the complex landscape of medical opinions, trials, and treatment centers. On March 4, 2018, Nancy and her family bid a heartfelt farewell to Will.

Before retiring, Nancy had a dynamic career as a lawyer and event producer. Now, she relishes her retirement in Bellport Village, New York, alongside her husband. They take joy in their three surviving sons, their partners, and their grandchildren. Driven by a desire to honor Will's altruistic spirit, Nancy engages with several organizations. She serves on the advisory board of INTERSOS, a Rome-based international NGO, working to raise awareness of its humanitarian programs. Locally, she contributes to the environmental committee and has begun writing a book chronicling Will's courageous battle over his final two years.

In 2021, Nancy became a Peer Connect mentor, driven by the critical need for melanoma awareness. She supports caregivers, some fortunate to have loved ones in remission and others mourning their loss. Offering a beacon of information and comfort is crucial for caregivers, who often grapple with fear and emotional turmoil. Nancy provides a compassionate ear and guidance to help them take the next step forward.

Contact & Follow Us:

• Website: AIMatMelanoma.org
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• Facebook: @AIMatMelanoma
• Email: Engageus@AIMatMelanoma.org

Writing has been medicine for Nancy Slonim Aronie. At nine months old, her son Dan was diagnosed with diabetes. Then, at twenty-two, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. During the years she and her husband took care of Dan, and when he died at age thirty-eight, Aronie could not find the book she needed. So she wrote her memoir.

In teaching memoir writing, Aronie has found that everyone has a story to tell and that telling it is important. Sharing “this is who I am, these are the things that shaped me, this is where I am now” allows a kind of magic and healing to happen. In this podcast she shares how to write through where YOU have been and experience deep understanding, profound healing, and even unexpected joy.

About Our Guest:

Nancy Slonim Aronie has been a commentator for National Public Radio’s All Things Considered. She was a Visiting Writer at Trinity College in Hartford, CT, wrote a monthly column in McCall’s magazine and was the recipient of the Eye of The Beholder Artist in Residence award at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Nancy won teacher of the year award for all three years she taught at Harvard University for Robert Coles.

In 2010, Mary Elizabeth Williams was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma. The following year, she was offered the opportunity to participate in a Phase 1 immunotherapy clinical trial. She wrote about that experience in A Series of Catastrophes and Miracles: A True Story of Love, Science, and Cancer. In this episode, Mary Elizabeth shares her story and insights into her journey as a clinical trial participant. Williams says she was in a place of desperate and deep panic, but she remembers having a conversation with someone who said, "This doesn't have to be your last resort. This can be our first resort for you." That perspective-changing conversation began her belief in the special relationship between hope and science.

About our guest, Mary Elizabeth Williams

Mary Elizabeth Williams is a metastatic melanoma survivor, clinical trial veteran, and the author of "A Series of Catastrophes and Miracles: A True Story of Love, Science, and Cancer." She has written for the LA Times, the Guardian, Health, and other publications. In 2021, her New York Times essay was adapted for the second season of Amazon Prime's "Modern Love." She has spoken for ASCO, PRIM&R, Bristol Meyers Squibb, DIA, and is the 2020 AMWA Walter Alvarez Award winner. She is currently a doctoral student of Medical Humanities at Drew University, where she recently completed her conflict resolution certification.

While being diagnosed with cancer alone can put a person under tremendous amounts of mental and emotional stress, the additional burden of outrageously expensive medical care only adds to the strain. Cancer treatment requires more than medicine — families need a roof over their heads and food on their tables to survive. The dramatic rise in the cost of cancer treatments has now given rise to what is being called financial toxicity.

On this episode, Liz Geisel, Director of Program Delivery for Family Reach, discusses the psychological stress related to financial toxicity and the role of Financial Navigators who help families discuss their concerns and guide them to community resources.

About our Guest, Elizabeth Geisel, MSW

Elizabeth Geisel, MSW, is the Director of Program Delivery for Family Reach, where she leads trauma-informed trainings and oversees the team responsible for providing financial support to families facing cancer. Elizabeth has dedicated the last twenty years to the field of social work, specializing in healthcare, mental health, and substance abuse. Her clinical approach focuses on trauma-informed practices, harm reduction, and building collaborative partnerships with patients. Before Family Reach, she worked at several leading Boston-based healthcare organizations, including the Sidney Borum Health Center (now part of Fenway Health), the Institute for Health and Recovery, and Boston Medical Center.

Last year, over 197,000 Americans were diagnosed with melanoma—and we know they won’t go through that experience alone because there will be a caregiver, usually a family member or close friend, at their side. Becoming a caregiver is often unexpected and life-changing. To talk about the benefits of caregiving, the types of support that are most effective, and essential communication skills for caregivers, Melissa Wilson, PA-C, MPAS, and AIM's Ask a Medical Expert, sits down with Allison J. Applebaum, Ph.D., Director of the Caregivers Clinic at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Discussion topics include what should a melanoma caregiver expect, how to maximize the potential benefits of caregiving, what types of support are most effective, and communication skills for caregivers.

Receiving a melanoma diagnosis can be an overwhelming and life-altering experience. The emotional rollercoaster that follows can be intense, as individuals navigate through fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. Coping with these emotions is crucial for maintaining mental well-being during the treatment process.

Fear and anxiety is often the first emotion that arises after a melanoma diagnosis. Fear of the unknown, fear of pain, and fear of death can consume one's thoughts. It is important to acknowledge these fears and seek support from loved ones or professional counselors who can provide reassurance and guidance.

Uncertainty about the future is another common emotion experienced after a melanoma diagnosis. Thoughts about how it will impact relationships, career prospects, and overall quality of life may arise. 

In this episode, guest Emily A. Meier, PH.D. talks to Melissa Wilson, PA-C, MPAS about how to deal with the emotional rollercoaster following a melanoma diagnosis—acknowledging fears, managing anxiety through stress-reducing techniques, seeking support from loved ones or professionals when needed, and addressing uncertainties. By actively addressing these emotions head-on, individuals can better cope with their diagnosis while maintaining their mental well-being throughout their treatment journey.

GUEST:
Emily A. Meier, Ph.D. Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry
Licensed Psychologist PSY25266
Co-Director for Psycho-Oncology Training and Education
Psychiatry & Psychosocial Services
UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center

The test results are back. You’ve talked to the doctor and learned you have melanoma.

Whether it’s your first or fifth melanoma diagnosis, your reaction to a new melanoma diagnosis often comes down to a single question: What do I do now? To help you navigate your next steps after a new melanoma diagnosis, Melissa Wilson, PA-C, MPAS, and AIM's Ask a Medical Expert sits down with Yana Najjar, MD, a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of melanoma at UPMC.

About our Guest: Yana Najjar, MD, is an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of melanoma. Board-certified in internal medicine and medical oncology and board eligible in both hematology and oncology, she received her medical degree from the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. Dr. Najjar completed her internal medicine residency at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and her hematology/oncology fellowship at UPMC.

Dr. Najjar's research interests include immunotherapy, translational research, tumor immunology, and remodeling the tumor microenvironment. Specifically, she is interested in immunotherapy in advanced melanoma and its impact on the tumor microenvironment and the peripheral immune system.

People living with melanoma often benefit from practical help and advice from others who have lived through similar situations. Support groups bring people together and provide a safe forum for exchanging perspectives, sharing concerns, and gaining confidence to face the future. Of course, each of us has to find a way of dealing with a melanoma cancer diagnosis. None will take us back to where we were before, but the key is finding the one that lets you live the best, most positive life today and tomorrow. In this episode, two melanoma survivors who serve as volunteer mentors in AIM's Peer Connect program talk about finding meaning and empowerment while helping others. About our Guests:

Carrie Brophy

Carrie was diagnosed with Stage IA melanoma in 2020 and again in 2021. Over the past couple of years, she has had four early-stage tumors removed and says she has more skin biopsy scars than she can count. Carrie has joined a mole mapping study at Stanford University and is treated at CPMC in San Francisco.

Carrie lives with her husband, Tim, and six children in Sonoma, California, where she works part-time as a pediatric nurse. Carrie and Tim’s children are aged 8 – 20. She tries to be transparent with them about her treatment and uses this journey as an opportunity to teach sun safety.

Carrie’s Peer Connect experience began in early March 2022 when she requested a mentor. She indicated that she felt a lot of guilt from her many years in the sun and was looking for ways to cope and feel comfortable in her skin. Carrie was looking for someone who could genuinely be empathetic and would understand how she felt.

Carrie is a strong believer that by helping others, you will always help yourself!

Bob Polkinghorn 

Bob was diagnosed with Stage III melanoma in 2016 and has been treated by Dr. Adil Daud at the University of California, San Francisco.  He had all his lymph nodes removed from under one arm and was in a clinical trial testing Keytruda vs. placebo for five years, including one year of infusions.   

Bob lives with his wife, Kathy and dog, Lady, in Winters, CA.  They are both retired from the University of California and the public school system.  Bob and Kathy have five adult children and 17 grandchildren, including two great-grandchildren.  Their large family keeps them happy and on the move!  

Bob is actively involved in AIM at Melanoma and other support systems for melanoma patients and caregivers.  He co-coordinated the 2022 Northern CA Bay Area "Walk Against Melanoma" and plans to do so again in 2023.  He is also one of AIM's peer support "mentors" for newly diagnosed melanoma patients. For the past couple years, Bob has served as a "Consumer Reviewer" for the US Department of Defense's "Melanoma Research Program" reviewing cutting-edge grants from scientists nationwide.

Bob is a road cyclist, swimmer, hiker, and meditator. He has been a hospice volunteer for six years at the state prison.  He considers it one of his life's most engaging, healing experiences.  Bob is also an IRS-certified tax preparer who volunteers as part of a county team to provide free income tax preparation and e-filing to low-income families. Bob also serves as a member of his church's social justice and outreach team that provides a range of support to local families in need.  

Bob says melanoma had a profound life-changing experience in the most positive sense.  He would never wish melanoma on anyone - ever!  But everything he has experienced and everyone he’s met has made his life so much better and more meaningful. He feels blessed.

“There is nothing wrong with you for dying,” hospice physician B.J. Miller and journalist and caregiver Shoshana Berger write in A Beginner’s Guide to the End. “Our ultimate purpose here isn’t so much to help you die as it is to free up as much life as possible until you do.” An honest, surprising, and detail-oriented guide to the most universal of all experiences, A Beginner’s Guide to the End is “a book that every family should have, the equivalent of Dr. Spock but for this other phase of life” (New York Times bestselling author Dr. Abraham Verghese).

About Our Guest:

Dr. BJ Miller is a longtime hospice and palliative medicine physician and educator. He currently sees patients and families via telehealth through Mettle Health, a company he co-founded with the aim to provide personalized, holistic consultations for any patient or caregiver who needs help navigating the practical, emotional and existential issues that come with serious illness and disability.

BJ has given over 100 talks nationally, and internationally, on the topics of death, dying, palliative care and the intersection of healthcare with design. His 2015 TED Talk: “Not Whether But How” (aka “What Matters Most at the End of Life”), has been viewed over 11 million times and his work has also been the subject of multiple interviews and podcasts, including Oprah Winfrey, PBS, The New York Times, The California Sunday Magazine, GOOP, Krista Tippett, Tim Ferriss and the TED Radio Hour. His book, A Beginner’s Guide to the End, was co-authored with Shoshana Berger and published in 2019.

Our lives are filled with ups and downs, triumphs and tragedies, and success and stress. The question is not whether we will experience difficulty, challenge, or trauma; it is what we will do in response to such events and experiences.  In this episode, Dr. Richard Tedeschi joins us to discuss how people can grow in the aftermath of trauma and live great lives — filled with Posttraumatic Growth.

About Richard Glenn Tedeschi, Ph.D.
Dr. Tedeschi received his B.A. in Psychology from Syracuse University, his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Ohio University, and completed his Clinical Psychology Internship at The University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Dr. Tedeschi is a Licensed Psychologist specializing in bereavement and trauma, is Professor Emeritus of Psychological Science at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and core faculty for the Health Psychology Ph.D. program. He is currently Distinguished Chair of the Boulder Crest Institute for Posttraumatic Growth, part of the Boulder Crest Foundation in Bluemont VA. He has published several books on posttraumatic growth, an area of research that he developed that examines personal transformations in the aftermath of traumatic life events. His latest books are the Posttraumatic Growth Workbook, and Transformed by Trauma co-authored with Bret Moore, of the US Army’s Warrior Resilience Program. Dr. Tedeschi serves as a consultant to the American Psychological Association on trauma and resilience. He is a recipient of the Mary G. Clarke Award for Distinguished Service to Psychology given by the North Carolina Psychological Association, and is Past President of NCPA.

Melissa Wilson, PA-C, MPAS from UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, and Vernon Sondak, MD, Chair, Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida, join host Raymond Liu, MD, for a discussion about the future of melanoma in 2023 and beyond. 

Treatments combining immunotherapies with targeted therapies, which disable the carcinogenic products of mutated cancer cells, have further increased treatment efficacy and durability. Toxicity and resistance, however, remain critical challenges to the field. During this podcast, our guests review past treatments and novel therapeutic interventions and discuss the term "de-escalation of care" and future directions as well as how to communicate with your healthcare team.

About Our Guests

Dr. Sondak is Chair of the Department of Cutaneous Oncology at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida. He holds the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Distinguished Endowed Chair in Cutaneous Oncology, and is also a Professor in the Departments of Oncologic Sciences and Surgery at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. Since 2004, when he came to Tampa, the Cutaneous Oncology Clinic at Moffitt has grown into one of the largest multidisciplinary treatment centers for pediatric melanoma and related conditions in the world. Dr. Sondak has been a leader in studies of surgical treatment of melanoma and other cutaneous malignancies, particularly in the application of sentinel lymph node biopsy and lymph node dissection to the staging and treatment of melanoma, and has been instrumental in training many surgical oncologists in these techniques over the years. Dr. Sondak also has a strong research background: he served as Principal Investigator of the Moffitt Skin SPORE, a major NCI-funded “team science” grant conducting translational research in melanoma and other cutaneous malignancies. His research interests include surgical treatment of melanoma in adults and children; adjuvant (postoperative) and neoadjuvant (preoperative) therapy of melanoma; and evaluation of new therapies for patients with localized or disseminated melanoma.  

Melissa Wilson, PA-C, MPAS, has a wealth of knowledge and experience helping melanoma patients and their families. Melissa is up-to-date about the latest melanoma treatments and research.

A natural trailblazer, Melissa is proud of her collaborative work as an NCCPA-certified physician assistant senior since 2005 with the distinguished melanoma specialist Dr. John Kirkwood at the University of Pittsburgh in the Cancer Institute Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine. Their treatment and research initiatives were so successful that they have been used as a template for other cancer programs throughout the country. Wilson works as a lead physician assistant for the Melanoma Program at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.

A natural teacher, Melissa has also worked with a multidisciplinary team on patient education and collaboration. She holds appointments at Chatham University Clinical Preceptor, where she is adjunct faculty and is a cancer care module lecturer on melanoma since 2013.

In this episode, Melissa Wilson, PA-C, MPAS, AIM's "Ask a Medical Expert" and host of the webinar series, "From the Clinic to the Living Room," joins our podcast as our guest host and welcomes Stage IV Melanoma Survivor, Stephanie Bowen to the program. Stephanie shared her personal journey with melanoma from receiving the diagnosis and going through treatment to her feelings on the other side as a survivor with no evidence of disease. 

While it may be an uncomfortable topic to bring up, sharing your sexual orientation and gender identity with your cancer team can help improve your overall care. As we’ve discussed many times on this program, communication is key to improving your experience and ensuring you’re receiving the best and most tailored, care for you. Chastity Burrows Walters will discuss the challenges individuals face in disclosing their sexual orientation and gender identity with their care team and will provide tips on how to have these conversations. She will discuss the importance of finding a cancer care provider who is both knowledgeable and respectful. Through establishing this relationship of trust, your care team can make better recommendations for screenings, support groups, or follow-up care.

Speaker: Chasity Burrows Walters, PhD, RN

Bio: Chasity Burrows Walters is the Senior Director of Patient and Community Education at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). In that role, she is responsible for the vision, leadership, and strategic planning of educational initiatives, focusing on health equity. A longstanding advocate for LGBTQ patients, she is the founder and Leadership Sponsor of MSK’s LGBTQ Clinical Advisory Committee and a leader in MSK’s LGBTQ+ Pride, MSK’s Employee Resource Network. Dr. Walters is a member of multiple professional organizations, including the Oncology Nursing Society, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Sigma, GLMA, and is a past Chair of the Cancer Patient Education Network. In addition to awards for her leadership during her academic career, Dr. Walters has been the recipient of the Oncology Nursing Society Excellence in Patient and Public Education Award as well as the Cancer Patient Education Network’s Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Walters has presented and published on a range of topics related to the care of LGBTQ patients and teaches LGBTQ Public Health.

When going through difficulty, many people turn to friends and family for support. But what happens when those people dismiss your feelings and tell you to “look on the bright side?” While it may be said with the best of intentions, this is an example of toxic positivity. In this episode, Whitney Goodman, author of the book Toxic Positivity: Keeping It Real in a World Obsessed with Being Happy, will define toxic positivity and speak on the importance of allowing ourselves, and those we support, to feel hard feelings. It’s okay to not be okay sometimes. Goodman uses research and client examples to help listeners learn how to work through difficult emotions.

Guest: Whitney Goodman, LMFT

Whitney Goodman is the radically honest psychotherapist behind the hugely popular Instagram account @sitwithwhit, the author of Toxic Positivity, and the owner of The Collaborative Counseling Center, a private therapy practice in Miami, FL. She helps people who want to improve their relationships and emotional awareness.

Whitney earned her undergraduate degree at Tulane University and a graduate degree in Counseling Psychology from The University of Miami. She has additional training and certifications in working with couples, trauma, and clients who have been diagnosed with chronic illness. Whitney has her own column in Psychology Today and has been featured in dozens of domestic and international publications, including The New York Times, Teen Vogue, NY Magazine, Instyle, and Good Morning America.

Whitney is a millennial on a quest to make mental health information accessible and easy to understand. She rejects the idea that a therapist should be a blank slate and believes that authenticity and emotional expression are the keys to living a full life. Whitney fully embraces her successes, humanity, and struggles and strives for authenticity in everything she does.

Whitney lives in Miami, FL with her husband, their son, and two dogs, Luna and Charlie.

Many skin cancer survivors develop high anxiety regarding sun exposure and being outside, especially during summer. How can active coping strategies and behavioral changes help patients address these concerns? In this conversation, we’ll discuss the psychological impacts of UV exposure on patients and how you can continue to live life to the fullest while protecting yourself and those you love from harmful exposure.

Guest: Kathleen M. Madden, MSN, FNP-BC, AOCNP®, APHN & Melissa Wilson, PA-C, MPAS

Kathleen Madden, MSN, FNP-BC, AOCNP®, APHN is a Family Nurse Practitioner in the melanoma & cutaneous medical oncology group of the Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Clinical Cancer Center at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. Kathy’s experience during the past two decades at NYU has included working primarily in adult medicine and oncology with a focus on skin cancers with melanoma; she also serves as a sub-investigator for all melanoma & cutaneous research protocols and select phase 1 protocol at the Clinical Cancer Center. Kathy lectures nationally in her area of expertise and has multiple publications in her specialty. She has also served as clinical adjunct faculty for students working toward their bachelor's and master of science in nursing. Kathy is also passionate about integrative healing arts and holds board certifications in Advanced Practice in Oncology and Holistic Nursing and additional certifications in Clinical Homeopathy, Clinical Aromatherapy, IGM® Practitioner and Instructor, Clinical Meditation, and Imagery. She is a member of the Oncology Nursing Society, ASCO, APSHO, ANA, American Holistic Nurses Association as well as other professional organizations. Kathy continues to pursue learning experiences that synthesize eastern and western modalities, ultimately enhancing and benefiting both personal and professional endeavors.

Cancer Survivorship begins the moment you learn of your diagnosis and continues long after treatment. And thanks to medical advances, more people are surviving cancer than ever before. Survivorship care is changing quickly to address the complex needs of patients and their families for the duration of their cancer experience. What does it mean to live life to the fullest after a diagnosis? During this episode, we will discuss how survivorship programs meet patients where they are and work to address the patient’s medical and emotional needs.

Speaker: Ann H. Partridge, MD, MPH

Bio: Ann Partridge, MD, MPH is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Vice Chair of Medical Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where she also serves as Director of the Adult Survivorship Program and leads the Program for Young Women with Breast Cancer. As a medical oncologist and clinical researcher, she has sought to improve the care and outcomes of patients with cancer by conducting research, and by developing innovative clinical programming. Dr. Partridge serves in leadership roles nationally and internationally including as co-chair of the Breast Committee of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology and co-chair of the biennial ESMO-ESO sponsored Breast Cancer in Young Women Conference. She also served as Chair of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer in Young Women from 2010-17. She has received prior awards and grants including a Champions of Change award from the White House, an ASCO Improving Cancer Care Grant, the CDC Carol Friedman Award, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Outstanding Investigator Award for Breast Cancer, and the Ellen L. Stovall Award in Cancer Survivorship from ASCO, and the A. Clifford Barger Excellence in Mentoring Award from Harvard Medical School.

After graduating from Georgetown University, Dr. Partridge received her medical degree from Cornell University Medical College, pursued an internal medicine residency at the Hospital for the University of Pennsylvania, and completed Medical Oncology and Hematology fellowship at Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare. She earned a Master of Public Health degree at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Music can play a powerful role in helping patients find strength and comfort both during and after treatment. During this engaging episode, Dr. Kauffman will demonstrate several methods for using music to train concentration, reduce reactivity, and induce a relaxation response.

Mary Adelyn Kauffman, conductor, vocal coach, and pianist, studied at the University of Miami, earning master’s and doctoral degrees in Collaborative Piano. Upon completion of her studies, Dr. Kauffman was a young artist at the Greater Miami Opera and performed with the Miami City Ballet before moving to Europe. She spent nearly twenty years in Germany, conducting musical theater and opera in both private and public theaters. While in Germany, she worked extensively with both adult and youth choirs and instrumental ensembles, instructing and leading both amateur and professional singers and musicians.

An intense desire to find out just what it is about music that makes everyone feel so good led Dr.Kauffman back to Miami to pursue a master’s degree and board certification in Music Therapy, as well as completing Neurologic Music Therapy certification. She now provides Music Therapy for patients, staff, and caregivers as a part of the Cancer Support Services team at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and is collaborating with colleagues in multiple disciplines on projects exploring the effects of music performance and music listening on mental and physical wellness. Dr. Kauffman is active as a pianist, conductor, and vocal coach in the South Florida area.

Guest: Melissa Wilson

In this episode, Dr. Raymond Liu, Director of Cancer Survivorship at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco, and host of AIM's podcast, "Beyond the Clinic: Living Well with Melanoma, and Melissa Wilson, PA-C, MPAS, Melanoma Lead at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, and AIM's Ask a Medical Expert, come together to address the many questions and concerns caregivers have as they support a loved one on immunotherapy.

Practical care issues:

• How to spot an immunotherapy complication? What are the top things to look out for?
• How do you know when there is a problem that needs to be reported? Who do you report it to?
• What can the patient do while on immunotherapy (exercise, etc.)?
• What are caregiver and patient-reported outcomes and what does the evidence show?

Issues not directly related to the disease:

• Financial worries – especially long-term treatment with immunotherapy.
• How to talk to loved ones and friends about it.

Emotional impacts:

• Anxiety about the future
• Caregiver burn-out