Blogs

Everyone’s treatments and regimen are different, so what you will need may include things not discussed here. These are just “tips” offered by a host of survivors who have undergone chemotherapy. These lists are organized into 3 parts: BEFORE you begin treatment DAY...

Being diagnosed with cancer means being bombarded with the relentless daily impacts on both patients and their families and battling emotional and mental issues as the entire household turns their lives upside down.  All of us have myriad personal stressors that we...

All the things mentioned in the video, “Being Your Own Wellness Advocate” are important components of being at your peak mental and physical wellness while you fight your disease.  And the same is true for your primary support person and other loved ones as they...

Your doctor just confirmed tests show you have cancer. I’ll bet you (or if not you, a family member) will go home and start googling pretty much right away. Not a good idea!!! Here’s why:  There are over 4 million results when you google “cancer diagnosis.” No matter...

Tab F of My Notebook is a place for a log and receipts for tax deductions.  You can claim an itemized deduction for qualified medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. You can also take tax-free health savings account (HSA), health care flexible...

I have spent many years answering questions from friends and friends of friends who have just that week been told they have cancer.  The conversations almost always went like this: Day 1 – You:  Today, I was told by a doctor that I have cancer.  <<My...

Well, what do you know? I recently moderated a workshop for seven cancer patients diagnosed within the past six months, along with their primary support persons. And the subject of clinical trials came up. Now, I cover the difference between standard treatments and...

All the things mentioned in the video “Being Your Own Wellness Advocate” (found on the Home Page) are important components of being at your peak mental and physical wellness, while you fight your disease, or help your loved one in his or her struggle with cancer. I...

The topic for this blog is coping skills for cancer patients and their loved ones to not necessarily reduce the stressors you are currently under (wouldn’t that be nice?), but to help you better live with stress. Stress doesn’t cause cancer; but it does feed the...

There are “standard” treatments — meaning they are adopted and approved by medical oversight groups such as the National Cancer Institute and the Food and Drug Administration because they have shown success at cures or at stopping the spread of certain types of...

All clinical trials are conducted in a rigidly consistent way, so that each patient is treated exactly the same as all the other patients in the study. This way they can reduce, as much as possible, any variables that would confuse the anticipated outcomes. You will...

I know this is a really, really tough one! We love our kids and grandkids, and want to protect them from everything out there that will make them hurt. And if you have been diagnosed with cancer and have young children or grandchildren, the worry of when and how to...

A gentleman wheeled his wife into the area of the cancer center where I volunteer, to sign her in for a PET scan. After she was taken back, he came back to the front desk and ask me if the hospital had any support for caregivers. He looked almost furtive, even...

Nutritional Supplements Many cancer patients who have chosen to undergo conventional treatments want to explore what is being said about the efficacy of taking supplements to increase their chances of surviving their cancer. More and more, the safety and efficacy of...