How to cope with and communicate about a serious illness

By Evan Dawson,

Published June 11, 2025 at 4:27 PM EDT

Four people wearing headphones sit at a table in a radio talk studio: a woman front left has long blonde hair and is wearing a sleeveless black top and black pants; a man front right has short dark hair and is wearing glasses, a black button-down shirt, jeans and sneakers; a woman back left has long dark hair and is wearing a beige cardigan sweater over a black shirt; a man at back right has short grey hair and is wearing a light blue button-down shirt. — (foreground) Abby Squicciarini, (background) Supriya Mohile and Ronald Epstein with host Evan Dawson on "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Wednesday, June 11, 2025

A smiling man with short dark hair wearing a blue button-down shirt and a grey blazer. He is holding a pair of eyeglasses. The word "Connections" appears on the left side of the photo in vertical letters.

News of President Biden's prostate cancer diagnosis raised both awareness and questions about how and when to communicate about a serious illness.

How can patients access guidance and resources when it comes to understanding their emotions, while also sometimes needing to navigate those of friends and family? What is the role of supporters and caregivers?

Our guests specialize in helping patients with these questions. They join us to share their expertise.

In studio:

Ronald Epstein, M.D., professor of family medicine, oncology, and medicine (palliative care) at the University of Rochester Medical Center
Supriya Mohile, M.D., geriatric oncologist and professor in the Departments of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology; Surgery, Cancer Control; and the Cancer Center; and vice chair for academic affairs in the Department of Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center
Abby Squicciarini, LMSW, oncology social work supervisor at Lipson Cancer Institute