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The Petersons: Caring for Dad Through Prostate Cancer
When Tom Peterson was diagnosed with prostate cancer at 72, his daughter Sarah flew in from Seattle. This is how one Orange County family learned to share the load — and what they wish someone had told them in week one.
Video coming soon — story currently in production
This story is for you if…
- Adult children helping a parent through cancer
- Spouses navigating treatment decisions
- Families coordinating care from out of state
Moments that mattered
- The care coordinator called them — not the other way around
- Mom got her own appointment with the social worker
- Dad was offered a clinical trial without having to ask
The story, chapter by chapter
0:00
The week of the diagnosis
- Sarah's flight from Seattle and the kitchen-table conversation
- Dad's reaction vs. mom's reaction
- Deciding who would come to the first appointment
1:00
Becoming a team
- Building a shared notes doc the whole family could see
- Dividing roles: insurance, rides, meals, the dog
- Letting dad still be the dad
2:15
What we wish we'd known
- Asking for a care coordinator on day one
- How HMO referrals actually worked for them
- The questions that saved them weeks of back-and-forth
"We stopped trying to be perfect caregivers and started just being present. That's when dad relaxed."
Questions families ask after this story
How do families coordinate cancer care from out of state?
Most Orange County oncology teams will assign a single care coordinator who keeps the family aligned by phone, email, and the patient portal. Ask for this on day one — it's not automatic.
Should the whole family come to the first appointment?
Bring at least one second set of ears. Many families also bring a printed list of medications and the patient's full insurance card (front and back) to speed things up.
