LLS Community

New offering! Patients and caregivers may receive free one-on-one phone and email consultations with an oncology dietitian. Please contact our Information Specialists at 1-800-955-4572 or infocenter@LLS.org to receive a free consult. Nutrition consults are available for all cancer diagnoses.

By Abby Henry, Oncology Content Manager, PearlPoint Cancer Support While going through cancer treatment, I became very familiar with the treatment center. I knew the best places to park and that the vending machines are around the corner from the bathroom. At every appointment, the same friendly receptionist greeted me with a smile from behind her desk sign that read, “HOPE: Having only positive expectations.” A familiar nurse stuck me with an IV, reassuring me that she’s known a...

By Abby Henry, Oncology Content Manager, PearlPoint Cancer Support Summer is coming to a close, and school will be back in session soon. Did you put school on hold after receiving a cancer diagnosis? Have you decided to return to school to pursue a new career path? Are you currently in school while undergoing cancer treatment? No matter your situation, here are some things to consider about going to school as a cancer survivor: Studying with Chemo Brain Cognitive issues or “chemo...

By Abby Henry, Oncology Content Manager, PearlPoint Cancer Support Even with health insurance, cancer costs can be expensive. One of the best ways to prepare for these expenses is to plan ahead by creating a budget. To create your budget, you can use PearlPoint’s Budgeting Worksheets, create your own spreadsheet, or download a budgeting app on your smart phone. When creating your budget, you will need to include all sources of income such as: salary, Social Security, short-term disabi...

By Margaret Martin, RD, MS, LDN, Licensed Dietitian and Nutritionist; Certified Diabetes Educator, PearlPoint Cancer Support You shouldn’t eat sugar at all if you have cancer. False! You CAN have small amounts of sugar, even after a cancer diagnosis. Sugar does NOT cause cancer. The myth that sugar causes cancer gives sugar a bad name. There are many flavors and foods a person with cancer may not be able to swallow or digest. Weight loss and malnutrition is a concern for many c...

By Margaret Martin, RD, MS, LDN, Licensed Dietitian and Nutritionist; Certified Diabetes Educator, PearlPoint Cancer Support Juicing is a MUST for cancer survivors. False! Juicing is a way to make beverages by turning fruits and vegetables into their liquid form. The pulp and fiber are removed so just the juice remains. Juicing is a great way to get concentrated nutrients, fluids, and mega-calories in one glass. Juicing produces a refreshing beverage with no preservatives, artifici...

By Abby Henry, Oncology Content Manager, PearlPoint Cancer Support As a cancer survivor myself, I’ve frequently heard my fellow cancer survivor friends dismiss bouts of forgetfulness or simple mistakes as “chemo brain.” We always chuckle at this joke. Humor can be a powerful healing tool, but cognitive issues are a real side effect of cancer treatment that can be frustrating and scary for the cancer survivors who experience them. As many as 75% of cancer survivors experience cogn...

By Abby Henry, Oncology Content Manager, PearlPoint Cancer Support If you are a cancer survivor who received chemotherapy or immunotherapy at a hospital or treatment center accredited by the Commission on Cancer, the drugs you received were either FDA approved or part of an FDA monitored clinical trial. (If you were part of a clinical trial, you would know it! You have to agree to participate before receiving the drug.) If you’ve ever watched an add on TV for a medication that requir...

By Jeff Hutchins, PearlPoint Cancer Support I LOVE my "work." I get the opportunity to cross paths with anywhere from five to fifteen cancer patients a day. Speaking with them is one of my favorite things. Why? Because they teach me so much. Allow me to share… When I tell people about what my job entails, I often receive a number of questions—how do you do it? Don’t you get tired of it? Does it make you depressed? What do you say? (The last one is my favorite question.) Som...

By Abby Henry, Oncology Content Manager, PearlPoint Cancer Support | July 2016 As a parent receiving a cancer diagnosis, one of your first thoughts may be about how to tell your children. Children are very perceptive, no matter their age. While you may wish to protect your children by not telling them about your diagnosis, even young children may be able to tell that something is wrong. Not knowing what is wrong may cause them more stress and anxiety or lead them to believe that they hav...