Aims
An increasing number of Australians are living longer with a diagnosis of advanced cancer. Printed and online resources can effectively provide clinical and practical information, but may be less successful in addressing complex emotional and existential issues. In addition, fatigue, cancer-related cognitive impairment, a lack of time, and feeling unwell can make reading challenging.
Building on learnings from its first successful podcast series, The Thing About Cancer, Cancer Council NSW sought to leverage the medium’s intimacy and capacity to provide reassurance, to deliver evidence-based information and support to patients and carers living with metastatic disease. The new series, The Thing About Advanced Cancer, focuses on the particular issues faced by these people.
Method
Four audience groups were identified: people living long term with advanced cancer; people nearing end of life; and carers/families of both groups. Research and consultation pinpointed issues relevant to each group and informed a short list of episode topics.
To aid understanding of complex and confronting issues, a conversational interview format was chosen. Guests with relevant expertise in oncology, palliative care and psychology were identified. A key finding from evaluation of the previous series was that hearing the voices of people affected by cancer helped listeners feel less alone and normalised their experience. Hence, for this new series, we again interviewed people living with advanced cancer and included their experiences and insights in each episode.
Results
Ten episodes were produced and released progressively from July 2019. Topics include treatment options, living with dying, hope and purpose, managing symptoms like breathlessness, and the particular impacts on carers.
Early download numbers and feedback are positive, with over 1000 plays in the first four weeks. An evaluation process including a self-report online survey is underway.
Conclusion
Podcasts are a supportive way to provide information about complex cancer-related issues.