A dear friend and fellow survivor who died several years ago of heart failure caused by mantle radiation and doxorubicin had a blog entitled 'Surviving Survivorship.' She made me promise to use that term, phrase, idea, reality in a way that would benefit other adult survivors of childhood and AYA cancers. It's taken me this … Continue reading Surviving Survivorship: Cancer Treatment-Related Late Effects
Category: Essentials
Being Heard
This post is going to be about how important being heard has been to me across the years since my diagnosis in 1978 as late effects have surfaced, and in many instances, persist. but first For some reason, I decided to look for an image to pair with the post before I wrote a single … Continue reading Being Heard
Game Day Rituals
Game Days as defined by this survivor are days filled with routine follow up surveillance appointments [and] diagnostics (mammograms, MRIs, ECHO)tests. Game days can evoke a great deal of anxiety as you well know and I dare say that we all have 'game day rituals' we go through to minimize our anxiety and the impact … Continue reading Game Day Rituals
Cancer: 10 Things You Can Do to Help
Being diagnosed with cancer shakes even the strongest individuals to the core as uncertainty is immediately injected in one's world and life will never be the same. Your life becomes divided between B.C. and A.C. (Before Cancer and After Cancer). There are, however, things you, family, friends, and friends of friends can do to make … Continue reading Cancer: 10 Things You Can Do to Help
Survivorship and Adulting
Cancer survivorship and adulting is A LOT for anyone to manage, but especially if you're an emerging young adult preoccupied with employability, health insurance coverage, and independent living. However, part of 'adulting' is recognizing that the lifelong need for customized follow up medical care because of your cancer treatment rests squarely on your shoulders and … Continue reading Survivorship and Adulting
Find Your Tribe
Find your Tribe. It's a matter of great import and I’ve got some thoughts to share on this under-addressed, yet oh so critical aspect of the lived experience of cancer from diagnosis [and] treatment to the end of active treatment, the living out of the cure and the encountering of late effects of cancer treatment. … Continue reading Find Your Tribe
Participating in Your Care: the Benefits
A few days ago I posted a link to a review paper looking at the benefits of individuals participating in their healthcare [and] the healthcare decision-making process. CLICK HERE to read the review piece. Up until the last decade, the practice of medicine could be described as paternalistic with blind obedience on the part of … Continue reading Participating in Your Care: the Benefits
Working Smart: Minimizing Infectious Risk
Well, cold and flu season has arrived, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to share with you steps that I take to protect my health and wellness during the winter months. The first rule of heart transplant is to avoid large crowds, especially during winter months. I, like all organ recipients, am immune compromised … Continue reading Working Smart: Minimizing Infectious Risk
Begin: Stand Up for YOU
As I posted, my one little word that I'm hoping will have a BIG impact on my heart-soul this year is 'begin'. I wanted to share an encounter I had today with a radiology group that speaks to the importance that we all begin to stand up for ourselves and stop blindly paying for services … Continue reading Begin: Stand Up for YOU
Total Body Skin Check
Well, my medical year in review includes something that I believe gets looked at every day, but it all to often overlooked in the care of the adult survivor of childhood cancer who received radiation. I will link to the Children's Oncology Group/s risk factors and guidelines at the end of the post. This year … Continue reading Total Body Skin Check
