Immunotherapy is becoming more prevalent for the treatment of cancer as researchers, through clinical trials, discover more types of cancer that respond to immunotherapy.

We, as patients, are still a little bit baffled by how medication can turn on our immune system to kill our cancer. We’ve heard, through the grapevine, that immunotherapy treatment is “much easier” than chemo. For most patients, immunotherapy treatments are easier to tolerate, but immunotherapy does have side effects.

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We’ve all learned firsthand that some of our symptoms and side effects are embarrassing. Sometimes, we don’t tell our doctors because we’re just too embarrassed.

There’s an old saying, “Always tell the truth to your doctors and your lawyer.” The reason is simple — they can’t help us if we hedge on the truth. Hiding our symptoms won’t make what’s wrong with us go away. As we have already learned, cancer doesn’t pick convenient locations.

Trust me when I tell you, “Our doctors have heard it...

Many people assume that they will lose their hair if they have chemotherapy. But not everyone does. Why? Because some chemotherapy drugs don’t cause hair loss. Your oncologist will usually tell you if hair loss is an expected side effect of your chemotherapy. 

One of the unexpected aspects of hair loss is that you may not only lose the hair on your head, but you may lose your eyebrows, eyelashes, armpit hair, pubic hair and hair on your legs. Everyone is different — you may lose your...

Recent studies show that about 2/3 of Americans are either overweight or obese — too much fat in relation to their lean muscle tissue. Many of us are just a few pounds “overweight” while a small percentage of Americans are “morbidly obese.” The causes for weight gain are complex — ranging from genetics, hormonal, and emotional to lifestyle and cultural influences — lower income families may lack the income to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables.

Once we’re diagnosed with cancer, we want to...

Winter is here and presents unique challenges for cancer patients. Let’s look at some of the potential problems that we, as cancer patients, might face this winter.

Falls. Chemotherapy affect some patients’ balance, making them more prone to falling. Now add in icy sidewalks, snowy parking lots, and steps, and we have a formula that might lead to a cancer patient being more likely to fall in winter. So how do we avoid falls in winter?
• More lighting for outside areas of your house. With...

Choosing An Exercise That Works For You During Cancer Treatment

There are over 80 studies regarding the effects of exercise in cancer patients which have found that not only is exercise safe but it can significantly improve symptoms, day-to-day functioning, fitness, and overall quality of life. All too often people with cancer are encouraged to rest as much as possible, but staying active or even just doing a small amount of exercise a couple of times a week can have a big impact o your...

We don’t always think about the physical disfigurements that cancer may bring to us. Surgery is often the best option to achieve a cure or long remission or extended period of NED. As we have learned from each of our diagnoses, cancer does not pick convenient locations.

Cancer can occur almost anywhere in our bodies. Cancer occurs in virtually inaccessible locations. Cancer occurs in organs essential to bodily functions. Cancer is an aggressive disease — getting rid of it can be...

One of the big complaints among many cancer patients on chemotherapy or having radiation therapy is that food doesn’t taste the same. Some say that food tastes “funny.” Others complain that their favorite “comfort foods” don’t taste the same. 

Our sense of taste recognizes sweet, sour, bitter and sweet, but cancer treatment can affect our sense of taste. Common taste changes include:

• Your favorite foods taste bland.
• Sweet, salty or bitter foods taste different.
• Everything tastes...

Chemo brain is an expression used by cancer patients and survivors. This phrase describes the cognitive symptoms and effects that cancer treatment may cause. Although most often associated with the mental changes caused by chemotherapy, these mental lapses can also occur with radiation or hormone therapy.

We, as cancer survivors, have to have a sense of humor about the entire topic. There is confusion over how we spell this side effect — is it “chemobrain” or “chemo brain” — or is it what...

Weird Side Effects

When we begin cancer treatment, we are sailing into “uncharted waters” — we’re about to being something that we’ve never done before. We’re nervous, even scared, about the side effects.

Most of us already know about the common side effects of cancer treatment:

Fatigue
Nausea or vomiting
Weight loss
Hair loss
Diarrhea
Compromised immune system

Many patients have a chemo orientation or their oncologist gives them a list of their medications and possible side effects (also...