Prevention vs. Risk Reduction in Lung CancerI wrote an article recently about how I was guilty of falling into the trap of blaming an acquaintance's smoking habit for her possible lung cancer (it had not yet...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
To Biopsy or Not to Biopsy, That is the Question!I have had four biopsies since I was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2013. Why so many biopsies? Well, each one was done at a particular time in my treatment...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
It Takes One Candle to Light a Dark RoomIt only takes one candle to light a dark room. My mom would say that to me any time I would say that my contribution to something wouldn’t make a...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Handwork and Art Therapy in Cancer TreatmentThere has been a lot in the news in recent years about the importance of handwork for early childhood development, and how working with the hands enhances brain function, increases...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
What the Heck is a Lung Cancer PRO?Once I got involved with patient advocacy, it quickly became apparent that my initial lack of information about lung cancer was definitely the norm, not the exception. The good thing...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
What Will They Say?Several days ago, I got a text message telling me that a former colleague and friend had passed away unexpectedly. I had seen her recently and she was her usual...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Let's Talk About Mental HealthMental health and physical health are often linked, with one impacting the other. Mental health, in particular, can be difficult to talk about with others, leaving people isolated and without...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Showing Gratitude to Oncology NursesNurses are such an important part of the cancer care team, and I hope we all show our gratitude to these professionals. For full disclosure, I am married to a...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Looking at the Positives of Having Lung Cancer - Am I Crazy?Okay, this post is probably going to have a lot of people looking at me and thinking I have gone stark-raving crazy. But, here goes anyway! I participate in a...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
Eyes, Vision Changes, and Cancer TherapyCancer treatment has so many side effects. Some pleasant, some unpleasant. An unexpected side effect is changes in your vision. I have been in cancer therapy of some kind for over four...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Panic Attack...or Something More Nefarious?I have had more CT scans than I can count since I was diagnosed with lung cancer. I was always given iodinated contrast dye to make the scans easier to...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Shock of Looking in the Mirror -- Cancer and Body ChangesThe body can change rapidly when undergoing cancer treatment. Some of the ways this happens are practically part of our popular culture: the hair loss, the sallow complexion, the frail...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Advocating for Lung Cancer to Get "Equal Time"I am on a forum with people who have all kinds of cancer. A lot of the members have had breast cancer so many posts there relate to issues concerning...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Uncomfortableness of GriefI grew up in a stoic family. My parents did not express their sadness very often to us kids. We either saw happy or angry. Sadness was often hidden or done privately. In...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Protecting Those We Love From WorryI've always tried to be a protector. I've been that guy who goes into the fray to break up fights. I've been the sponge that has absorbed the stresses and...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Participating in the Scientist-Survivor ProgramI recently I had the honor of participating in the American Association for Cancer Research’s Scientist-Survivor Program (SSP). It was the 20-year anniversary since its inception and there were 31...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Advocating to Defeat Lung CancerDespite advances in early detection and treatments options, lung cancer remains the leading cancer killer of women and men in the U.S. Only 18 percent of those with lung cancer...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Going Off-LabelThere is a push among some cancer researchers to treat cancers based on genetic mutations rather than their area of origin. Because some breast cancers, for example, share mutations that...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Drug-Free Pain ReliefSometimes we all get tired of taking pills or having injections. Sometimes, perhaps, we simply want to try other options. For patients with mild to moderate or persistent pain, it...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Why Are We So Afraid of Death?Lung cancer patients often enter treatment with a comparatively poor prognosis and statistically low chances of surviving more than a few years. Looking at the information aggregated over the past...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments