Taking up a hobby during or after cancer treatment is a great way to stay calm and keep your mind off things. Some WhatNexters have discovered hobbies that enrich their lives, inspire them, or get them involved with caring people in the community. Whether it’s tending to a garden or satisfying the adventurist in you, starting a new hobby can be very therapeutic! Here are a few ideas shared by WhatNexters themselves.

Gardening

“The spring after my surgery, I planted my victory garden....

WhatNexter JaneyHeart posted a question on the site that asked how she could help others with her same diagnosis and we thought it would make a great blog post. Cancer survivors have hard fought experience and inspiring insights that could be invaluable to others who are going through cancer for the first time. Here are some ideas spurred on by JaneyHeart’s question.

1. Become a Mentor

Cancer survivors can help others with cancer by becoming a mentor. Organizations such as MDAnderson’s The...

Many WhatNexter’s say that the only way a loved one can truly know what they are going through is if they hear those three words themselves, “You have cancer.” It is likely that most people feel they are in the dark when a loved one is diagnosed with cancer.

Whether they are going through cancer treatment, chemotherapy, the emotional effects of cancer, or going into remission, many people with cancer just want to be treated like normal. Here are a few things WhatNexter’s would like others to...

Cancer can affect weight and how your body reacts to certain foods. Some cancer patients experience weight loss due to trouble swallowing, loss of appetite, or other complications before, during, or after cancer treatment. Weight gain is a common side effect of chemotherapy treatment, but some WhatNexter’s also report weight loss before, during, or after cancer treatment. 

Some WhatNexter’s have found that simply adjusting what they put in their body and what they keep out can help the...

If one of your loved ones has been diagnosed with cancer then you may not know how to talk to them, how to form a support system, or what things you can do to support them. It is hard for family and friends to know what will be the most effective form of support. Phone calls, cards, and hospital visits often support someone with cancer, but if you are looking for other ways to support a cancer patient here are 9 suggestions from WhatNexter’s themselves.

1. Do Household Chores

“The best type...

A cancer diagnosis may seem like it puts a damper on your exercise routine. Whether exercise was or was not an important part of your life before your diagnosis, a lot of WhatNexter’s find that it is important to get active and stay in shape after chemotherapy. The thing is, every little bit counts. Below is some information that cancer patients may want to know about what exercise can do for them after cancer treatment.

The most reliable and trustworthy source to go for information is your...

Let’s take this one step at a time. No gimmicks, no calorie counting, no purging your pantry of all carbs, instead here are 10 simple ways that will start the process of changing your eating habits today shared by other people with cancer.

1. Talk to Your Doctor
Find out from your doctor about your nutritional needs as it relates to your type of cancer, your current state of health, and your future treatment. It is likely that they will tell you to “eat healthy,” but discussing specifics...

My cancer journey began in October 2000 with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Surgery entailed the removal of 40% of the pancreas, the entire spleen, a slice of the left kidney, and five lymph nodes.

I was fortunate that the cancer only spread to the first lymph node, and the others were clear. It was not until years later, when I had the occasion to look over my surgical and pathology reports, I learned that I had adenosquamous carcinoma; a rare, aggressive type of pancreatic cancer with...

Finding out you have advanced cancer can be a tough thing. People with advanced cancer can be overcome with worry, fear, sadness, and defeat when they are diagnosed. Stage III or stage IV cancer is not a death sentence.

As long as you are willing and open, no matter what type of cancer you have, what stage of cancer you are in, or what your cancer prognosis may be, there are ways to stay positive. Some ways are practical and some emotional, but all 10 of these insights from WhatNexter’s...

It's summertime, and grilling out is a staple of many get-togethers. But does grilling increase our cancer risk? Colleen Doyle, MS, RD, director of nutrition and physical activity for the American Cancer Society, says, "It's possible, but there are steps you can take to reduce your exposure to the potential cancer-causing chemicals from grilling."

Read more about how to make grilling healthier and choosing the right foods to grill.

Do you think these summer grilling habits are worth...