Diane Kennedy, an RRMM caregiver advocate, shares how having conversations ahead of treatment can reduce stress, support comfort, and help patients feel more prepared and supported.
Transcript
I think the more that you can discuss things when it’s not in the heat of the moment. We try and plan for some of the bigger events with having conversations in advance.
No patient likes to be nagged, and truly no, no care partner likes to be nagging.
But if you can communicate in advance, medicine tends to cause less nausea if the patient has food in their stomach. So talking in advance about that, “I know you’re going in for this treatment, and we know that having food in your stomach, even if you don’t feel like eating, is probably a good idea. So, how can I support you? What would you like? Would you like a piece of toast? Would you like crackers?”
You know? Movement is important. And so talking about that in advance, you know, staying in your hospital bed the whole day is probably not going to have you feeling your best. So talking about that in advance is helpful.
