Caregiver 101: How to Support a Loved One with Brain Cancer, Real Advice & Hopeful Moments

Being a caregiver for someone with brain cancer is emotionally and physically exhausting, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. In this episode of Caregiver 101, we sit down with Sylvia’s husband as he opens up about what it’s really like to support a loved one through a brain cancer diagnosis. From planning future trips to leaning on faith and community, this conversation is filled with hope, resilience, and practical advice.  

What you'll learn:

• How to maintain normalcy after a brain cancer diagnosis

• The importance of community, faith, and medical teams

• Tips for emotional well-being, for both patients and caregivers

• Real stories from families walking this path

Host:

Johanna Gomez

Award-Winning Host & Journalist

Expert:

Yazmin Odia, M.D.

Chief of Neuro-Oncology

Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute

Caregiver: 

Martin Hiriart 

(Husband of Silvia Fajardo-Hiriart)

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:20 Transitioning to Being a Caregiver
• 2:38 Getting the Initial Diagnosis of Brain Cancer
• 4:48 Having the Right Care Team in Place
• 6:21 Going Through the Many Stages of Treating Brain Cancer
• 7:40 Guiding Patients Through the Unexpected
• 8:34 A Patient's Journey through Glioblastoma Treatment
• 9:50 What is a Glioblastoma?
• 11:07 What causes a Glioblastoma?
• 12:17 Finding the Strength to be a Caregiver
• 14:23 Advice to Caregivers
• 15:41 Advice from a Caregiver
• 16:47 Importance of Having a Support System
• 18:20 Things I Wished I Knew about Glioblastoma
• 19:28 Advice from a Physician About Going Through Glioblastoma Treatment
• 20:12 Caregiver's Take About His Wife and Her Treatment
• 22:46 Wrap Up