The end of the year is a time of reflection for both cancer patients and cancer survivors. We reflect on what we’ve experienced and begin to think of the New Year and how we might make the coming year better. 

Many of us believe that life is sweeter after cancer. We’ve learned that we are stronger than we believed. We’ve also realized how fragile our hold on life can be. And so, under these circumstances, we begin to contemplate our New Year’s resolutions.

• Don’t sweat the small...

Most of us want to get more exercise, but there’s always a reason or excuse as to why we never succeed. For patients in active treatment, exercise helps reduce fatigue. For us cancer survivors, 150 minutes of moderate exercise every week cuts the risk of recurrence by 40 to 50 percent.

Sadly, many survivors don’t exercise. But exercise improves our quality of life . We’re stronger and have more energy. We become more flexible and can do more of our favorite things again. So what can we do...

For many of us, we’ll have a new health insurance plan in 2019. Even if we stay with the same company, more than likely, there will be changes in our plan that will impact our finances and coverage. Whether we have health insurance through our employer, through the Affordable Healthcare Act, Medicare/Medicare Advantage or Medicaid, the plans are complex and impact our cash expenditures.

Between now and January 1st, it’s a good idea to look at the details of our 2019 health insurance plan...

We’ve all heard about the benefits of pets. Do you know the reasons why pet ownership is so good for us? There are at least 10 reasons that our pets benefit us as cancer patients and cancer survivors.

1. Stress Reliever. Studies show that petting a dog or cat relieves stress. First of all, they are very good listeners. Having cancer is stressful – we are scared, we are anxious and we are frustrated over the lack of control in our lives. As crazy as it sounds, talking to your pet about your...

Originally posted at CB Insights.com

Why Neoantigen Vaccines Could Be The Next Big Immunotherapy Breakthrough

Neoantigen vaccines are being touted by some as the next big cancer treatment breakthrough. Here, we explore how these vaccines work and  the companies looking to bring them to market. Immunotherapy has taken center stage in the fight against cancer. Broadly, this type of treatment directs a patient’s immune system to attack cancer cells. Some...

You’ve just finished your last chemotherapy session, or you’ve just had your last radiation treatment. Or your pathology report from your surgery showed clean margins, no residual tumor and no positive lymph nodes – so you won’t be needing adjuvant (mop-up) chemotherapy.
They tell you, “We’ll see you in three months.”

“WOW,” you think. You’re happy and relieved. You look forward to getting back to normal.
And then that little devil named “DOUBT and FEAR” whispers in your ear, “Yes, but what...

How Will We Be Affected?

The mid-term elections are finally behind us. Regardless of which political party we supported, those of here on WhatNext.com share a common thread – either we have cancer or a loved one has cancer. That is the tie that binds the WhatNext family together.
Exit polls showed that 4 out of every 10 voters felt that healthcare was the #1 issue facing the United States. Seven out of 10 believed that our healthcare system needs to be reformed.

The Democrats now...

Are you overwhelmed with the amount of paperwork that the diagnosis of cancer brings? Here are just a few of the examples of paperwork you might have:

• Bills for chemotherapy and radiation
• Hospital bills
• Imaging bills for CT scans, PET scans and MRIs
• Pharmacy receipts
• Receipts for physician copays
• Monthly explanation of benefits from your insurance company
• Lab results
• Scan and other imaging reports
• Pathology reports from surgeries and/or biopsies
• Genetic testing results
•...

When you're diagnosed with cancer you may experience what some people describe as a "blacked out" type of sensation. You are looking at the doctor, he's explaining what you have, and maybe even going through the steps that are to come next, but you are not hearing it, or cannot remember what the doctor said. 

This is why it's a good idea to have someone with you when you go to all office visits. Your partner can help remember, take notes, and ask questions that you have thought about...

Every cancer patient says that the diagnosis was a shock. After the news settles in and we begin to process our new reality, we may begin to feel many different emotions. Feeling distressed, down, anger or weepy is totally normal when we are first diagnosed, but how long should these deep, dark feelings last? Is it normal to feel this way? Or could our feelings be signs of depression?

What are the symptoms of depression?

It’s normal to experience strong reactions to our diagnosis, but if...