Entries by Marie Ennis-O'Connor

Music as Medicine: The Healing Power of Music

June 29, 2020 in , /by

The late neurologist, Oliver Sacks in his book “Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain,” argued that music is essential to being human in ways that we’ve only begun to understand. Music stimulates the brain centers that register reward and pleasure, which is why listening to a favorite song can make you happy.  There is […]

How to Create a Month’s Worth of Posts for Your Advocacy Blog

May 28, 2020 in , /by

Are you looking for a way to boost your advocacy activities online? One of the best ways to do this is to create a blog.  Blogging shows your commitment and passion for your cause and because a blog is interactive, it’s also an extremely effective way to build a community and engage more people in […]

Patient Advocacy: 10 Ways To Create Share Worthy Content For Social Media

April 28, 2020 in , /by

 When you want to raise awareness of your cause, amplify your advocacy activities and create change where it is needed most, social media is an important channel to share your message with the world. But it’s not enough just to create content and push it out online. How you create, publish, and promote your content […]

Practicing Self Care In The Time of Coronavirus – How To Mind Your Mental Health And Well-Being During Covid-19

March 24, 2020 in , /by

As the coronavirus outbreak continues its relentless spread,  the impact of the pandemic is being felt across the globe.   We are facing a critical time of fear and uncertainty individually and in our communities. COVID-19 will affect us all to varying degrees –  physically, emotionally, socially and psychologically.   You may notice an increase in some […]

How Can You Best Support A Friend With Cancer?

February 26, 2020 in , , , , , , , , , , , , , /by

What happens when someone close to you has been diagnosed with cancer? How do you find the right words to say? What is the best way to support them? And how do you cope with your own emotions and feelings at the same time? In this month’s article, I am sharing advice that comes directly […]

Cancer Trauma: How To Know If You’re At Risk and Key Strategies for Recovery

January 24, 2020 in , /by

The impact of cancer extends beyond the merely physical. While treatment targets cancer specifically in the body, the experience doesn’t leave the mind, spirit or emotions untouched.  The toll it takes has been likened to a natural disaster or trauma. In fact, recent studies have put forward the theory that surviving cancer fits the framework […]

Understanding Clinical Trials: A Jargon Buster Guide

December 2, 2019 in , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , /by

When it comes to cancer treatment you or a loved one may be considering participating in a clinical trial as a treatment option.  Clinical trials are designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a treatment. They may involve researchers administering drugs, taking blood or tissue samples, or checking the progress of patients as they […]

Ten Things I Wish I Had Known When I was Diagnosed with Breast Cancer

October 21, 2019 in , , , /by

As soon as the first golden leaves of autumn appear on the trees a feeling of sadness starts to descend over me. I’m catapulted back over the years to a late September day. A day that’s etched forever on my mind. The day I was diagnosed with breast cancer. In the weeks that followed my […]

Is Chemobrain Real? Coping With Cancer-Related Cognitive Changes

September 27, 2019 in , /by

A familiar name on the tip of your tongue, keys misplaced, a train of thought derailed in the middle of a sentence. If what I’ve just described sounds familiar, you may be experiencing symptoms of “chemobrain” – a name for the cognitive (how you process and recall information) difficulties associated with cancer treatment. Although one […]

Beating Burnout: Self-Care Strategies for Patient Advocates

August 23, 2019 in , /by

As patient advocates we are highly motivated to make things better for others. Our commitment and passion for the work we do can lead us to take on more activities with ever-increasing demands on our time and energy. All of this we do willingly, but this work doesn’t happen without a degree of personal cost. […]

How Do You Deal With Cancer Guilt?

July 26, 2019 in , /by

It may come as a surprise to those who have not experienced cancer to learn that many cancer survivors suffer a form of “survivor guilt.”  Survivor guilt is most often associated with a reaction to surviving a traumatic event that others have died in, for example, survivors of combat, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, or air […]

After Cancer, Ambushed By Depression

June 28, 2019 in , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , /by

At some stage in all our lives there comes a time when feelings of sadness, grief or loneliness gets us down. It is part of being human. And after all, what’s more human than feeling down after such a life-changing and stressful event like cancer? Most of the time, we bounce back; but what happens […]

Patient Advocacy: How to Create a Visually Compelling Message

May 28, 2019 in , /by

Patient advocacy involves sharing your unique knowledge and experience of a disease or condition with the ultimate aim of raising awareness and influencing people to create a desired change. An effective advocacy message is credible, clear and convincing.  When it comes to creating content to support your message, the type of content you create matters. […]

Words Matter: Why Cancer Isn’t a Game of Winners or Losers

April 24, 2019 in , , , , , , , , , /by

Are you “battling” cancer? Do you know someone who has “lost their fight” with the disease and died? It seems whenever we hear a story about someone with cancer, war metaphors are never far behind.  Cancer battles must invariably be bravely fought, won, or lost.  Using this metaphor implies that if a patient fights hard […]

Patient Participation in Research: Towards Meaningful Engagement

March 26, 2019 in , /by

“If patient engagement were a drug, it would be the blockbuster drug of the century and malpractice not to use it.” Leonard Kish Have you detected a recent upsurge in activities concerning patient engagement in health research? If you are involved in patient advocacy, you may be increasingly aware of discussions around the importance of […]