Words Matter: Why Cancer Isn’t a Game of Winners or Losers
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…
Tips on Finding a New Job or Changing Career after Cancer Treatment
In this three-part series, I’ve been exploring different aspects of returning (or continuing) to work after a cancer diagnosis. So far I’ve tackled issues from preparing to return to work…
Returning To Work During or After Cancer Treatment: Part 2
This is the second part of a three-part series which deals with common concerns on returning to work after a cancer diagnosis. In Part 1 of this series, I shared…
Returning To Work After Cancer Treatment. Part 1: Preparing the Ground
This month’s article is the first in a three-part series which deals with common concerns on returning to work after a cancer diagnosis and offers practical solutions for helping with…
Nancy’s Lung Cancer Journey
No one is ever prepared to hear the words “You have cancer”. Even though (from asking for an x-ray that morphed into a CT scan) I knew there was a…
Coping With Scanxiety: Practical Tips from Cancer Patients
“Every three to four months I get a wake-up call that my life has taken an unexpected turn. Believe me, there are daily reminders of how different I am now;…
What Does It Mean To Be An Empowered Patient?
The term “patient empowerment” is among the top buzzwords in health care circles, but as with many buzzwords, they can mean different things to different people. The term is most…
Grief, Loss, and the Cancer Experience
“In a society which is much more inclined to help you hide your pain rather than to grow through it, is necessary to make a very conscious effort to mourn.”…
Patient Advocacy: Understanding Your Illness
The news that you, or a loved one, has a serious illness can be a terrible blow. You may be faced with an array of emotions ranging from shock to…
How To Cope With Cancer-Related Fatigue
We all know what it’s like to feel tired – physically, mentally and emotionally, but usually after some relaxation and a good night’s sleep, we are ready to take on…
How to Read and Understand a Scientific Paper
In a previous article, How to Read Beyond the Headline: 9 Essential Questions to Evaluate Medical News, I recommended you should always try to read an original study (if cited)…
15 Tips To Get the Most From Your Doctor’s Visit
Have you ever had the experience of leaving the doctor’s office wishing you had remembered to ask a certain question? Or have you left it until the very end to…