Kelsey Swenson, FNP – UW Health | Why Support Matters in Cancer Caregiving

Caregiving doesn’t pause for work shifts, school pickup, or broken cars—and it definitely doesn’t pause for a two-hour drive to chemo. We sit down with Kelsey Swenson, a pediatric nurse practitioner in hematology and oncology, to talk candidly about the human side of cancer care: the relief of remission, the weight of dual roles, and the countless micro-decisions that shape a family’s survival plan.

Kelsey traces how family cancers first drew her to oncology and how stepping from clinician to daughter changed the way she listens, explains, and grieves. From pediatric leukemia to the ripple effects of genetic risk, she breaks down when screenings matter, why starting colon checks earlier can save lives, and how low-dose CT scans are shifting the landscape for eligible long-term smokers. Her insights come with a rare blend of clinical precision and lived empathy.

We also dig into the logistics most shows skip. What happens when a single parent can’t get to clinic because the gas card is for a station 40 miles away? How do rural families plan for a safe discharge when home health is scarce and the nearest hospital can’t handle oncology complications? Kelsey spotlights the unsung backbone of social work—groceries, gas, diapers, emergency rides—and the reality that funds sometimes run out. The takeaway is practical and hopeful: build a support network before crisis hits, ask for social work early, and map your local resources like your care depends on it, because it often does.

If this conversation helps you or someone you love, share it with a caregiver, subscribe for more grounded cancer guidance, and leave a review so others can find the show. Your feedback fuels the next story—and might be the sign someone needs to ask for help today.