When Vinita Mathew was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she had to figure out what to tell her sons. They were 5 and 18 months old at the time. In this guest post, she discusses ways to help a child understand cancer based on what she learned from her own experiences, as well as from other survivors and health care professionals.
Managing both caregiving and work responsibilities can be difficult. Caregivers can also face potential workplace discrimination or financial issues from taking time off work. Joanna Fawzy Morales, Esq., a cancer rights attorney, talks about the legal protections and practical resources available to help caregivers better navigate work and caregiving.
In March 2013, John’s wife Lori found a lump in her breast. Lori, a radiation oncologist, soon went from giving cancer care to receiving it. In this guest post, John talks about how to navigate a cancer diagnosis, a journey for which we are all ill-prepared.
Intuition generally fails us when we think about the risk of getting cancer. The math often goes against the way we think things ought to be. Breast cancer survivor Kat Caverly talks statistics and why she has chosen not to live her life by the numbers.
People often say it's the simple things that make life worth living. Brain tumor survivor Andrew Langerman shares how the combination of books, games, and Dr. Who helped him cope with his diagnosis and treatment.
Although many women who have a mastectomy choose to have reconstructive surgery, wearing a breast prosthesis or breast form is another option. Breast cancer survivor Andrea Zinn talks about the process of choosing and being fitted for a breast prosthesis.
Hearing the word cancer is one of people’s biggest fears. In this guest post, Dr. Rick Boulay challenges everything you thought you knew about cancer and shares how he found hope after his wife was diagnosed with leukemia.
Since the 1970s, we have been involved in a war against cancer. But how do military metaphors and battle imagery affect people who are trying to cope with the challenges of a cancer diagnosis? Longtime patient advocate Diane Blum, MSW, FASCO, explores common language used to describe cancer and its treatment.
After treatment for breast cancer and a recurrence, Desirée Walker realized life would never be the same. In this guest post, she shares what her “new normal” has become.
Interacting with animals can lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety, and decrease depression. But pets also provide something more to help the healing process—unconditional love and comfort.
