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I met with a patient who was tearful and overwhelmed. She was experiencing very usual emotions after a cancer diagnosis. It was difficult for her to understand why she was feeling this way. She was uncomfortable with the waves of emotion she could not control. We all tend to feel we have control of our […]

Each year, an average of 15,780 American children are diagnosed with cancer. Breaking this down, approximately 1 in 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed by their 20th birthday. That’s 15,780 families affected. Often, we focus on the child with cancer — how is this child impacted by cancer? What treatment does the child […]

What’s the skinny on ginger?

Many people don’t recognize the importance of dental health as it relates to head and neck cancer treatment. When a new cancer in the head or neck area is diagnosed, one of the critical team members for your cancer care is your dentist. The reason for this is to prevent dental related complications after treatment. […]

Lack of sleep can lead to complications, so try these tips to get quality sleep

A cancer diagnosis often changes a person’s sense of self. There’s a feeling of losing control as the life the patient knew changes, as do the lives of the people they love and care for. Head and neck cancer patients are especially susceptible to dramatic changes in perceptions of self. Mental health is a crucial […]

As I reflect back on a week full of interesting, unfolding scenarios, it strikes me that words are powerful. Consequences — for the good or for the bad — are associated with the words we choose. In a short period of time, I experienced words used in remarkable ways. Methods used to deliver the words […]

An innovative network is making access to all-important information about individual breast cancer risk more convenient. Women schedule screening mammograms and receive an electronic invitation to an Athena Breast Health Network questionnaire. Those who choose take a few minutes to answer the questions and find out if they may be at elevated risk for breast […]

Often times, we have friends with the greatest intentions, but when it comes to their style of encouragement and support after a diagnosis of breast cancer, they heighten your anxiety or deflate your confidence in your current cancer treatment plan. That’s why it is important for you to understand your cancer diagnosis report, also called […]

I’m of an age when my family and friends are growing into health issues — many of them potentially life-limiting. I have no fewer than six people I know waging war with cancer; different cancers, but all of them determined to be a victor. And when you are up close and talking one-on-one with them, […]