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What is possible when we pursue our dreams, call upon our human spirit to rise above man’s most threatening diseases, and most importantly, are there for other human beings who are also faced with the demands of disease.

Precautions you can take this flu season.

If you’re living with cancer and are trying to live healthier in the New Year, check out our suggestions and, remember, if you’re considering making major changes to your exercise or eating habits, consult with your health care team first.

The Cancer Support Community family wishes you and your loved ones a very joyous holiday! Please note that our Cancer Support Helpline will be closed on Christmas Eve (12/24), Christmas Day (12/25), New Year’s Eve (12/31) and New Year’s Day (1/1). If you are experiencing an emergency at that time, please call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Happy Holidays!

The holiday season is in full swing with parties, family get-togethers, traveling and so much holiday shopping. This is one of the busiest times of the year for most of us, but for those caring for a loved one with cancer it can be exhausting, both physically and emotionally. While caring for your loved one during the holiday season, don’t forget to take care of yourself. Here are some tips for having a wonderful and peaceful holiday season.

There are currently 14 million cancer survivors living in the United States, and by 2022 there will be an estimated 18 million survivors. The Wall Street Journal cites an increased focus on “the whole patient” as the next front in cancer care, with emphasis on the emotional and mental well-being of survivors.

The WSJ article highlights the work that the Cancer Support Community has been doing to address the needs of those impacted by cancer, including CSC’s partnership with Greenville Health System’s Center for Integrative Oncology and Survivorship in Greenville, SC.

From the Affordable Care Act, to finding the silver linings in cancer, to playing video games, it has been an exciting time to tune in Frankly Speaking About Cancer. Hosted by Kim Thiboldeaux, CSC’s President and CEO, and airing every Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, Frankly Speaking About Cancer empowers listeners to live well with cancer. The internet radio show covers a wide variety of topics, and this past month has been no exception. Take a look below at our most recent topics and guests.

This year as we pour endless energy and effort into planning Black Fridayshopping strategies and hunting for the best online deals on Cyber Monday, we should also remember another day—a day focused on giving rather than receiving. Giving Tuesday is a campaign to create a national day of giving to kick off the holiday season.

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.