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By Abby Henry, Oncology Content Manager, PearlPoint Cancer Support | June 2016 Spending time in the great outdoors can improve your outlook and provide a welcome change from the monotony of indoor scenery many cancer survivors experience. Nature can provide tranquility and peace to help balance a busy schedule or ease a stressed mind. The wonder and simplicity that outdoor life exhibits can refresh your perspective and energy as well—even just a simple walk in the park is a great way t...
By Abby Henry, Oncology Content Manager, PearlPoint Cancer Support | August 2016 No matter your situation, dating can be hard. Throw a cancer diagnosis into the mix, and it can be even more intimidating. If you want to date, do not let a cancer diagnosis stop you! (If you want to take a break from dating, that is okay, too. You have to do what is best for you!) When thinking about dating, your first question may be when should you tell a potential partner about your diagnosis? There is n...
By Abby Henry, Oncology Content Manager, PearlPoint Cancer Support | June 2016 A lot of cancer patients and people in general have trouble getting a good night’s sleep. However, sleep is very important, especially during cancer treatment to promote healing. If you are having trouble sleeping, the first thing to do is figure out what is at the root of your difficulty sleeping—stress and anxiety, side effects, lack of peaceful sleeping environment? Once you know what is making sleep e...
A blood cancer diagnosis typically leads one to an oncologist or hematologist, a cancer center and a conversation about available treatment options. One option that is not always presented is that of being part of a research study. Clinical trials are carefully controlled studies of new or existing drugs, conducted by doctors. Researchers are trying to find ways to increase the effectiveness or decrease the side effects of treatment. A treatment that is proven safe and effective in a clini...
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While living with myeloma, you may have a number of different medications to take at home - medications you took prior to diagnosis, those you now take to treat myeloma, and others to reduce the side effects of treatment. The effectiveness of your medication is best when you follow your medication course as prescribed by your doctor or pharmacist. LLS is happy to share a new calendar to help you with your oral medication routine. The calendar includes helpful tips, a section for you to...
What is my actual diagnosis? Find out your exact diagnosis. Ask your doctor to write down the exact name of your sub-type and take the paper with you. For example, knowing you have “a B-cell lymphoma” isn’t good enough. Follicular and diffuse large B-cell are both B-cell lymphomas but with very different prognoses and treatment plans. Leukemia also has different sub-types. Knowing your specific sub-type helps you understand what disease you are dealing with, how aggressive it is, and wh...
What is AML? What research is underway? And what resources are available to patients? The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society recently joined up with Patient Power and the MDS Alliance to host an AML Awareness Day and answer those questions. The April 21 webcast was moderated by Carol Preston, host of Patient Power, an online portal offering cancer information for both patients and professionals. Preston is also a chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) survivor. The panelists were Ellen Ritc...
Cancer is disruptive at any point in one’s life, but especially so if the diagnosis comes in your 20s or 30s when you may be trying to create an independent life, work towards school or career goals, and find a partner. Many young people look forward to starting a family, while others spend time with friends and enjoy not having such heavy responsibilities. A diagnosis can be a serious disruption and leave you searching for ways to create the life you want.You hope that once treatment...
My daughter Mackenzie was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in January 2014. Despite being the most common form of childhood cancer that has a very prescribed protocol with better-than-most survival rates, the diagnosis petrified me. My nine-year-old had cancer. Nothing could have prepared me for all that would mean in the next two years, but there were a few things that helped my family navigate this new world. I share the following in hopes that it will help...
