Preparing for Final Chapters with Glenn Sykes

Help us create a new program on an important topic to all of us!

Huge advances in treatments over the past 10 years means many of us are living longer and well with kidney cancer.   Still, for you & your loved ones, thoughts about a time when your disease or treatments signal it’s time to prepare for a final stretch may also be present.

For the first time, Judy Nicholson will organize an open forum to shine a light on topics that fall under the broad heading of “death and dying”.   We will use this first forum to see which topics are of interest to you. The current thinking is future sessions will dig deeper into these topics; potentially with guest presenters.  

These may be conversations you’re already having with your loved ones or your medical team….. or not.

Research shows that most doctors are not having these discussions with patients.  And we know because this topic can be difficult for many of us, they may be put off.  Experts believe it’s a good idea to have these discussions earlier rather than later and it’s possible to have them without taking away hope. 

During the forum we may touch on some or all of these topics or even find new ones of interest to you:

– Palliative and hospice care

– Documenting your wishes in legal documents

– Treatment goals & decisions

– Caring for the caregivers

– Financial concerns 

– Final days

– Communicating with your medical team & loved ones

– Cultural & spiritual perspectives on death

–  Fear & anxiety

–  Self-care

This discussion will be facilitated by Glenn Sykes, a person living with kidney cancer for 12 years and an active member of the Judy Nicholson community.

Please come prepared with your ideas and resources that can help each other (e.g., written materials, organizations, people etc.).  If you’re unable to join us, feel free to share your input with Glenn (gsykesphilly@hotmail.com)