Articles

When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they are already feeling insecure and overwhelmed with heightened emotions. It’s important to consciously try to understand your intent and think about the words...

A cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship are fraught with numerous stressors and challenges. Research has been done to look at stress in cancer survivors and it's often been found that...

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Americans, but new research shows that cancer is likely to surpass heart disease as the number one killer in 2020, especially...

A routine blood test revealed a slightly elevated white blood cell count. "No problem," said the physician's assistant, “it's probably just a cold or flu bug.” A few months later...

I’ve written before about how I’m mental about my weight. I know I am. It’s a work in progress. I’m so much better than I used to be. It doesn’t...

Several months ago, I received a sad email notifying me that a fellow nursing colleague had passed away. Rosemary was the one of several colleagues who had been diagnosed with...

Ah, the bucket list. Almost all of us talk about it, but usually in the “if I won the lottery” kind of way. They include all those things that most...

I know we talk about fatigue a ton here, and rightfully so. It’s one of the worst side effects of any disease, and cancer gets it in spades. The disease...

I had been divorced for many years when I got leukemia in 2003, but I didn’t go into it alone. My baby sister, Diane, stepped up, becoming my primary caregiver...

The word “will” can seem loaded when mentioned in casual conversation, and it might seem morbid to talk about or even unnecessary for the average person to think about. However...

Journey. Battle. Fight. Warrior. War. Purpose. Survivor. Test. Beast, which is my personal favorite. The list of words used to describe our cancer experience is endless. I’m ok with all...

After completing my chemotherapy, I was uncertain as to who I should see for routine health care. Routine healthcare includes annual checkups, medical tests, immunizations, and occasional sick visits. My...

I had a friend call me about 3 months into the start of my chemotherapy treatment to catch up and see how treatment was going. During this conversation, he started...

When I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, I didn’t think I knew anyone that had this cancer let alone someone in my own family. Shortly after I shared the news...

This month has been full of firsts for me!  Feeling good on a chemotherapy, worrying about blood test results, and, making a friend in my clinic! I have been going...

Once a diagnosis is shared aloud, life is never the same. So much changes in that moment. To move forward can be challenging; it can be a struggle to learn...

It’s time to talk about pain. Ugh, yeah, I said it. That four-letter word that we all despise that can make everything so much more, well, everything. Even though it...

As cancer survivors, many of us have experienced fatigue. I have also experienced insomnia, or difficulty falling asleep. A good night’s sleep is important to promote rest and help allow...

Navigating how to feel with the possibility of hair loss caused by blood cancer treatment can be quite traumatizing at your initial diagnosis. Our hair is such a big part...

I recently attended a fascinating discussion in precision medicine in cancer care. Precision medicine is the tailoring of treatment for the specific needs and unique characteristics of a patient and...