Blog

The holiday season is a time of joy as many reunite with family members and experience the comfort of old traditions. However, it can also be stressful! From hosting events to shopping for presents, this season can be overwhelming. For those dealing with a cancer diagnosis or with post-treatment recovery, the stress may be even greater. Here are some tips on how to enjoy the holiday season while taking care of yourself:

You’re used to making decisions. You multi-task while leading others in your job. Suddenly, you’re being told the decisions; you’re excruciatingly tired and weak; you can barely decide what to have for dinner. That was how I felt after my Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) diagnosis in May 2009. And through countless rounds of blood work, doctors’ office waits, cardiograms, scans and the dreaded bone marrow biopsy, the system-focused health care system soon taught me that sometimes, in order for MY voice to be heard, it had to sound loud and confident.

The first year, I was sick with the side effects of my first cancer treatment and from the leukemia itself because the medication didn’t work for me. That year, I didn’t have the energy to make myself heard so just blindly did what I was told. Take this every day, do that, be here at 2 pm, don’t eat grapefruit, wait here, turn on your side, come back in three months. This series of short commands ruled my life. Then somehow, in that fog, I started questioning the commands. That was the first inkling of my voice coming back. Soon after that, we switched to another medicine for my CML treatment.

The Cancer Support Community has locations all over the world where people can find support during their cancer journey. Each year, leaders from each of these brick-and-mortar centers come together at our Affiliate Leadership Conference to discuss ways to increase the delivery of our mission—to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action and sustained by community.

Fittingly, the theme of this year’s conference is “Nuturing our Network, Increasing our Impact.”

Drug Shortages continue to affect the health care industry, particularly the cancer community, with the problem expected to worsen this year. These shortages include antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs used by those currently living with cancer and longer term cancer survivors.

According to a Penn State survey of 245 oncologists and hematologists in 2012, 94 percent said their patients’ treatment had been affected by drug shortages.

A USA Today article (link to http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/22/coping-breast-cancer-emotions/3157019/) published last week explains the emotional toll living with breast cancer can take on the spirit. It also explains that many people feel that those who have never faced a breast cancer diagnosis can’t even begin to understand the effect it has on a person’s social, psychosocial, emotional and spiritual realms, which can make many people living with cancer feel isolated.

Have you ever wanted to help a friend living with cancer but weren’t sure how? MealTrain.com ^SM is a free, easy to use online calendar that allows caregivers and friends to schedule and organize the delivery of home-cooked meals to those affected by cancer, providing needed support without being asked.

The Cancer Support Community, along with program collaborators CancerCare and the Eisai Women’s Oncology Program – Magnolia, are working to raise awareness of this unique tool during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For each new Magnolia sponsored Meal Train started during the month of October, Eisai will make a donation of $25 to the cancer support group of your choosing, up to a total donation of $25,000.

Last weekend was a great weekend to be outside and enjoy autumn weather—especially in Lewiston, Maine, where the Cancer Support Community and three other nonprofits represented Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer initiative.

To raise vital funds for a local organization called the Patrick Dempsey Center for Hope and Healing (yes, we’re talking about McDreamy!) Amgen and Breakaway from Cancer sponsored the Dempsey Challenge, a weekend full of events for the whole family. On Saturday, there was a 5K and 10K run/walk, where local groups showed off their creative team t-shirts in support or in honor of their loved ones who have had cancer. The next day was a cycling race where riders challenged themselves with routes ranging from 10 to 100 miles.

Each year, 1 in 8 U.S. women are diagnosed with breast cancer, and about 1 in 1000 U.S. men are diagnosed. During National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we want to ensure that everyone touched by cancer knows about all of the programs and services we offer, all free of charge. Additionally, in recognition of this awareness month, the Cancer Support Community is offering both new and ongoing programs and services for those affected specifically by breast cancer.

On Tuesday, October 1, the federal government began a partial shutdown after Congress became gridlocked over funding for the government and its activities for the new budget year (which started that day).

As we noted then, the shutdown does not affect Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security. These programs will continue during the shutdown. In addition, the state health insurance marketplaces/exchanges are open for business to help people enroll for health insurance, as required by the health care reform law.

However, in addition to the closure of all national parks, and halting of several important government functions including the seasonal flu program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to name just one, the shutdown does affect some key programs that are important to people with cancer. And that impact will increase if the shutdown continues.

I remember every little detail of that cool and crisp October morning—what I was eating, what I was wearing when my mom broke the news. She had gone in for a routine check-up and the doctor noticed something on her face. She had gone to a specialist a week after her doctor’s appointment without telling anyone—even my father—and my mom was told she had skin cancer.