One of the things that we learn about cancer very soon into our treatment is that everyone is different — we respond differently to chemotherapy and radiation. Some of us recover rapidly from a surgical procedure while for others, it takes an extended time. Every person’s cancer experience is different, yet we share many of the same experiences.

We think, “Boy, I wish I had known about this.” Another patient says, “I had no idea this could happen.”

What are some of the things that we...

It’s the moment that we’ve waited for and dreamed of, our treatment is done. No more chemo or radiation — we’ve recovered from surgery. Our oncologist says to us, “We’ll see you in three months.” We go to check-out, expecting to feel elated, but it suddenly hits us that no one is going to checking on us for the next three months.

You may experience an entirely different set of emotions than you expected. Instead of turning cartwheels of joy, you might feel “let-down” or “unsettled.” After...

Did you know that Sunday, June 2, 2019 is OUR DAY? It’s National Cancer Survivors Day. For the last 32 years, thousands of cancer survivors across the world recognize their cancer history and connect with other survivors.

National Cancer Survivors Day is not only a time for each of to reflect on our personal history with cancer — it’s also a day when we draw attention to one of the world’s most serious diseases. This is a day when we educate others about the challenges every cancer...

What is Bright Light Therapy for Cancer Survivors?

Cancer – a word that evokes emotions of fear, anxiety, and tension not just in the mind of the patient but of all the others around him as well. What is even more disturbing is that the life-threatening disease engulfs anyone beyond the barriers of age, gender, or even state of health. The causes remain vitally unknown despite years of research on the subject by top universities the world over and the outcomes can be severe, sometimes fatal....

Most cancer patients expect that when they complete their cancer treatment, they’ll pick up where they left off with their lives. They think that it will be kind of like the SERVPRO slogan — Like it never even happened.

We believe (or want to believe) that the time spent in cancer treatment was just a bad dream, and that once treatment has ended, we are done — finished — cured — never going back to those days again.

Are our expectations realistic?

Many cancer survivors are surprised when...

Can life after cancer include dating?

Of course it can — life after cancer should include living life to its fullest, including the development of deep and enduring relationships. Dating after cancer can be more complicated because you may have physical scars, long term medical issues and physical/sexual issues. But no one is perfect. Other people have health problems too.

What kinds of cancer survivors might be interested in dating again?

Well, almost any cancer survivor could potentially...

Getting our bodies back into condition after cancer treatment is an important part of survivorship. Rehabilitation after cancer treatment can help us regain what we thought we might have lost and enjoy an enhanced quality of life.

Evidence shows that physical therapy after cancer treatment is underprescribed. We might only think of physical therapy as being for people who were injured in an accident or who had hip-or-knee replacement surgery.

You may not realize that physical therapy can...

People on the outside of the World of Cancer believe that those of us who have completed our treatment will be joyous and happy and just jump back into life with both feet and never look back. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

Most of us realize that we’ve changed during treatment. We are more aware of the value of time and the wonder and beauty of life. And we’ve gotten to know other people with cancer; we’ve made in person friends and online friends. And then we will learn...

Most of us expect to feel jubilant and overjoyed when our treatment ends. But many of us find that it’s not that easy to transition back into “normal” life. People who haven’t experienced cancer firsthand, either as a patient or caregiver, don’t realize that just because we’re not taking medications does not mean that our cancer care is over.

Cancer survivors have a “new normal.” We are cautiously optimistic while acknowledging our fear of recurrence. Our values may change – we may isolate...

When you ask cancer survivors what their worst fear is, they will tell you, “Fear of recurrence.”

There is no way to guarantee that cancer won’t come back. Every person’s cancer is different. Genetic mutations, the stage when diagnosed, other health problems and current lifestyle all play a role in one’s risk for recurrence.

However, there are a few concrete lifestyle changes that have been proven to help reduce the risk of recurrence. Many times, we feel like we have no control over what...