Community Conversations: Beating the Holiday Blues at Home and in the Community

In this Community Conversations: The Black Health Wins episode, Miss Community Clovia Lawrence welcomes Dr. Robert Winn (VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center) and clinical social worker Freda Wilkins to talk about the holiday season’s emotional highs and lows when cancer is in the picture—whether someone is newly diagnosed, in treatment, surviving, or caregiving. They unpack why the holidays can amplify stress: disrupted routines, pressure to “show up,” fatigue from treatment, grief around empty seats at the table, and the painful spotlight of well-meaning comments (“you look different this year”). Freda offers practical language that helps—shifting from “Call me if you need anything” to specific, low-effort support like “I’m at the pharmacy—what can I pick up for you?” and asking “How are you feeling  ...