Understanding Clinical Trials: A Jargon Buster Guide
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…
Is Chemobrain Real? Coping With Cancer-Related Cognitive Changes
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…
Beating Burnout: Self-Care Strategies for Patient Advocates
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…
How Do You Deal With Cancer Guilt?
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…
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…
Patient Participation in Research: Towards Meaningful Engagement
“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…
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…
Beyond Pink: The Other Side of Breast Cancer Awareness and Lessons We’ve Learned From Each Other
It’s October and the pink frenzy is in full force. Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) is impossible to miss given the pink ribbon avalanche that arrives each Fall. While there…
A Patient Engagement Manifesto– 6 Principles of Partnership
Recently I presented at a conference on the topic of patient engagement. I spoke to the audience, mainly comprised of digital technology start-ups, about the need to find ways to…
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;…