Relationships and Social Life During Treatment

Episode 8: Relationships and Social Life During Treatment

A healthy social life and relationships are important when going through cancer or another serious illness. In this episode, Clay Culp and Elyse Heidelberg talk with caregiver Polly Fulford and her college-aged son Taze about friendships and dating while you have cancer.

Polly and Taze share how he balanced spending time with friends and his girlfriend while listening to his care team’s advice. Elyse explores ways to choose which social events to attend, how to ask the medical team questions, and what to share on social media. Clay guides the conversation with questions about friendships, hardships, and the importance of support.

A special thank you to our host, Clay Culp, senior social worker at St. Jude; our expert, Elyse Heidelberg, clinical psychologist at St. Jude; and to our guests, Polly Fulford and Taze Fulford.

This episode was recorded on January 8, 2026.

Learn more about Taze’s diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma on St. Jude Care & Treatment and Together by St. Jude™.

For information on nurturing your relationship with your partner as a child goes through treatment, listen to “How to Keep Your Relationship Strong.”

St. Jude does not endorse any branded product or organization mentioned in this podcast.