I Admit It. I'm Jealous of Pinktober.Are you ready for it? October is here and you know what that means. Everything will be covered in pink. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), breast cancer... By Donna Fernandez2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments6 comments
The Surreality of Chronic IllnessIf the name had not been co-opted so many years ago by the MTV Networks as they ushered in a new age of dumbed-down reality television, I would propose a... By Jeffrey Poehlmann3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
Don't Eat the Sugar...and Other Cancer MythsOnce you are diagnosed with cancer, you'll start hearing all kinds of things. Many of them are simply not true. Let's take a look at a few of the myths... By Donna Fernandez3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Blood Tests and Tumor Markers in NSCLCInformation on the importance of biomarker testing and actionable genetic mutations can be found in this more recent article. When I was diagnosed with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung, my... By Jeffrey Poehlmann3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Breathing Easy Is a Special GiftLast night, between bouts of coughing fits, I had a sudden realization about the extraordinary privilege that has graced most of my life. I'm not talking about political or social... By Jeffrey Poehlmann3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
From Flakey to WheezyAs I neared the end of my last round of the trial drug I have been taking, I posted a snapshot of my face on Facebook with the text, "they... By Jeffrey Poehlmann4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Am I Lucky?When I was first diagnosed with lung cancer nine years ago, people would always tell me how lucky I was. I was lucky that my cancer was caught early. I... By Jill Feldman3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
How Do You Go To Treatments?As a moderator of numerous Facebook groups pertaining to lung cancer, I see the same question quite often - "can I drive myself/go by myself to chemotherapy." The short answer... By Jennifer M. Toth2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Green Cleaning to Save Money and Help Weakened Immune SystemsIt was just a couple of months ago that I attended a seminar at our local Cancer Support Communities clubhouse on essential oils. Now, I have heard about essential oils... By Donna Fernandez2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
How Much Is Too Much?I had posted some images of myself online, detailing the rash I was experiencing with my current treatment. The comments were fast and furious, mostly deeply sympathetic, though with a... By Jeffrey Poehlmann3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Why There Is Still a Tumor in My LungThere seems to be a popular misconception that, having been treated for lung cancer, the tumor in my lung should have been removed. Indeed, when I was initially diagnosed, I... By Jeffrey Poehlmann3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Taking a Break from the “Rules”Since I’ve been diagnosed, I’ve been a very good rule follower. I’ve scheduled all my appointments including labs, CT scans, brain MRIs, and bone strengthener infusions exactly when recommended by... By Ivy Elkins2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments5 comments
What a Difference Some Air MakesOur bodies can be funny things. They appear to have simple needs, yet they can react in amazingly complex ways when they do not receive those needs, or get them... By Jeffrey Poehlmann4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Just How Important is it to Have a Connection with Your Doctor?I recently saw someone ask how important it is to have a connection with their surgeon. It got me to thinking about it. My thoughts were a little different than those... By Donna Fernandez3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Learning to Come to Terms With My Lung CancerThe cancer is going to do what the cancer is going to do. I can not control how it will respond to treatment. I can control my reaction to it... By Denise Cutlip3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Challenging Your Own Self-CareWhen I walked into my office this afternoon and noticed the pair of hand weights collecting dust next to my desk, something clicked. I have been dropping the ball on... By Jeffrey Poehlmann4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Screening Versus Cessation: An Either-Or FallacyI just came across an article in MedPage Today with the following headline: “Lung Cancer Screening or Smoking Cessation: Which is the Better Bet?” A subtitle stated, “Two lung cancer... By Dusty Donaldson2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
The Availability and Logistics of Participating in Clinical TrialsA year ago, my medical oncologist walked into the office and informed me that he was pulling me out of the trial that I had been in for four years... By Donna Fernandez3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
My Body Is An Impetuous ChildI always thought that if I treated my body right, it would, in turn, respectfully return the favor. For the most part, I have eaten well-balanced meals and put in... By Jeffrey Poehlmann3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Being Sympathetic to the Lung Cancer PatientGoing through lung cancer treatment is no picnic. The patient may feel ill, suffer from mood swings, and be generally disagreeable. It is not uncommon for patients to be angry... By Jeffrey Poehlmann4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments