Facing Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Notes from a Survivor
In the spring of 2016, I was looking forward to a final year of teaching sociology before a retirement promising new adventures. I felt great and had no reason to…
What Not to Say When You Don’t Know What to Say
We don’t always talk much about how to talk to each other when illness comes calling. People tend to feel awkward and uncomfortable, often blurting out words that are meant…
Deceived But Not Defeated
I never felt any symptoms. I mean, I was tired, but what young 20-something who had just started graduate school while maintaining a full time job wouldn’t be? It happened…
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…
The Restorative Power of Music
Music has always been a universal language with the power to heal, restore and challenge an individual. The history of music dates back to the beginning of civilization and music…
Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs)
Patient Assistance Programs: A Guide for Patients Cancer is costly. Each year, it costs $180 billion in health care expenses and loss of productivity, says the American Cancer Society. For…
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…
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…
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…