The Things People Say...Since you have been diagnosed with cancer have you been amazed at some of the things people say to you? I sure have! I think one of the most common...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Experiencing Milestones That Might Be Taken for GrantedLast week, my husband and I celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary. A 22nd anniversary may not seem like a big deal since it’s in between the 20th and 25th, but...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Five More Free Stress RelieversEveryone, but especially those of us who are faced with a challenging diagnosis, needs stress relievers. Not only is stress not healthy for us, it makes our lives miserable. With...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Opioid Stigma and the Cancer PatientI walked into my pharmacy and handed my prescriptions across the counter. The young man at the computer began typing them in dutifully, then raised an eyebrow and stepped away...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Legal Documents All Cancer Patients Should HaveHere is a quick and dirty rundown of the basic legal documents that everyone should have prepared in case of death or physical incapacitation. As cancer patients, we have been...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
The Age-Old Question: Does Sugar Cause Cancer?I hear this question all of the time, "Does sugar cause cancer? If I eat sugar, am I going to get cancer or is my cancer going to grow?" Well...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Pharmaceutical Companies Are Not Our EnemiesSince even before I was diagnosed with lung cancer, I’ve read comments on social media about pharmaceutical companies. There’s a perception out there that pharma may hold “the cure” to...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Palliative Radiation Therapy, a Mid-Treatment SnapshotRadiation is often thought of as a curative treatment for various types of cancer. However, for Stage IV lung cancer, radiation may not be considered an option for many patients...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
It Does Indeed Take a Village...and What a Village We Have!I am elated today. And, I know many more of my fellow lung cancer survivors are feeling exactly the same way as I am. "Why? What's there to be elated...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Guilty as Charged: the Stigma that RemainsAs someone who spends quite a bit of time evangelizing about the need to re-imagine the lung cancer narrative and remove the stigma associated with that range of diseases, I...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Job Searching as a Cancer Survivor or CaregiverLooking for a new job or continuing to work isn’t frequently associated with Stage IV Lung Cancer. Today there are younger people being diagnosed with lung cancer who are still...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Taking Time to CryIt isn't always easy to find the time to cry, to vent emotions, to feel the sadness, and Let It Go. Not everyone is hardwired to release their feelings easily...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
I’m Alive Because of Recent Breakthroughs in Lung Cancer ResearchWhen I found out that I had EGFR positive lung cancer, I cried tears of joy. This discovery took place less than two weeks after my initial diagnosis with stage...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Show Me the Money!I find myself so frustrated when I try to organize a team or raise money in support of lung cancer research. My own brother doesn't support my efforts, why should...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Comparing Chemotherapy, Targeted Therapy, and ImmunotherapyWhen a lung cancer patient will not be cured through surgery or radiotherapy, drug intervention becomes necessary. People often think this automatically means the patient will go on chemotherapy, but...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Do You Struggle with Your Weight? I Sure Do.Until I was around 55 or so, I could eat anything I wanted and I remained as thin as a rail. But, then everything changed. Suddenly, every single bite I...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
What Was I Saying?For those of you that had chemo, you get it. 'Chemo brain' is an umbrella term used to describe the effects chemotherapy and other medications have on the brain. It affects...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Compassion Fatigue: A Caregiver's FightBefore my husband’s fight with cancer, I never heard of Compassion Fatigue. Then again, I was never faced with being the caregiver of a spouse with a life-threatening disease. Compassion...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
Are We Only Speaking to the Choir?Another writer posted this thought recently in reference to lung cancer and its public awareness. "We are being recognized!" She proceeded to give some examples of various conferences focusing on...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Painkillers vs Pain Relievers, Treating the Cause or the SymptomI had an interesting chat with one of my doctors recently about pain relief. After dealing with quite a bit of nerve pain and ultimately getting an MRI to help...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments