Caregivers carry cancer care far beyond the hospital walls. We sit down with Dr. Christian Capitini, acting director of the UW Carbone Cancer Center, to explore the unseen work families do—learning medical language on the fly, managing beeping pumps at 2 a.m., navigating insurance snags, and keeping life moving for kids and adults facing treatment. Our conversation pulls back the curtain on what a comprehensive cancer center actually does across prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and survivorship—and why earning an “outstanding” federal rating changes what’s possible for patients.

We dig into a vivid example from pediatric leukemia: transforming a month-long, 24/7 infusion into a safe, portable pump program so kids can go to school and sleep in their own beds. That pivot required meticulous protocols, caregiver training, reliable equipment, and clear after-hours pathways. We also talk frankly about the barriers families face—long rural drives that turn an hour visit into a day lost, limited rideshare access, and the mental load that doesn’t fit into a standard appointment. The fix isn’t heroic individualism; it’s teams. Social workers, nurse navigators, and case managers become the scaffolding that keeps home care stable, and a simple question—“Are you okay?”—can change the course of a caregiver’s week.

On the science side, Dr. Capitini traces how immunotherapy moved from pipe dream to standard care, including a landmark neuroblastoma trial that boosted survival by 20% and helped draw him to Wisconsin. We highlight the translational engine at Carbone, where engineering, nursing, pharmacy, and the veterinary school collaborate on next-generation treatments like natural killer cell therapies tested in canine cancers to accelerate learning and inform human trials. Along the way, we touch on the healing power of well-timed humor and the importance of inviting the public to see research up close.

Subscribe, share this episode with someone who supports a loved one through cancer, and leave a review to help more caregivers find practical tools and hope.