Blog

Our blog covers a wide range of topics to help support, inspire, and inform members of our community, including those who have been personally impacted by cancer. Use the search filters below to find blog posts on topics that are important to you, from wellness tips, advocacy & policy news, and cancer research findings to stories and insights shared by patients, survivors, and caregivers.

Rick, Byron and Donna
Read November 23, 2016

The Season of Giving

This Tuesday, November 29, as we transition from Thanksgiving break into the holiday season, we are celebrating another holiday: Giving Tuesday. Created in 2012 by the United Nations Foundation, Giving Tuesday is a new tradition that focuses on the ways we can all give back. At the Cancer Support Community, we’d like to take the opportunity created by Giving Tuesday to highlight some of the ways you can help us provide the best services possible to people affected by cancer.
white man wearing a coat and tie in front of white house
Read November 9, 2016

Act Now: Making a Difference in Cancer Policy

This month, we’re continuing our Many Faces of Advocacy campaign by highlighting policy advocacy. Policy advocacy is probably what you first think of when you hear the word “advocacy.” A cancer policy advocate pushes for changes in government that will improve the lives of people affected by cancer. This can come in many forms, from writing a letter to your congressional representatives to spreading the word about important legislation using social media.
presidential candidates
Read November 2, 2016

Where the Candidates Stand on Cancer

With Election Day coming in less than a week, we’re taking the opportunity here at the Cancer Support Community to highlight where the presidential candidates stand on the cancer and health issues that matter to us. This is not meant to imply an endorsement or preference for any candidate but instead is an inexhaustive compilation of the candidates’ own words and actions on a topic which affects all Americans. We hope this stimulates discussion about the nonpartisan goal of improving cancer and health care policies nationally as well as at the local level.
Byron Goldstein
Read October 26, 2016

Community Advocacy for You

Getting involved in your community is one of the most rewarding ways to help people impacted by cancer. That’s why this past month, we’ve been talking about the different possibilities for becoming a community advocate. Let’s recap what we’ve discussed and what we can all do going forward to make sure that no one in our communities faces cancer alone.
older woman with short gray hair smiling into distance
Read October 19, 2016

Meeting the Unique Needs of People with Metastatic Breast Cancer

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it is important to give particular awareness to the unique experiences and needs of people with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). These are individuals diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer, meaning the cancer has spread to more distant parts of their bodies. Metastatic breast cancer has become a disease that often can be managed for a longer period of time through various treatments.
group of people sitting in a circle at a meeting
Read October 5, 2016

Becoming a Community Advocate

This month at the Cancer Support Community, we’re highlighting community advocacy as one of the best ways to build relationships, create dialogues and increase understanding for those affected by cancer. You can become a community advocate whether you have had cancer or have been a caregiver or loved one to someone living with cancer.
two older women embracing on window seat
Read September 21, 2016

Communicating About Your Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

Last week we talked about how to seek information about your cancer in order to start your journey of self-advocacy. Once you have prepared yourself with as much information as possible, it is key to communicate your needs and feelings with your family, friends, health care providers and others who could make a difference in your cancer journey. Just having knowledge isn’t enough. It’s important to communicate what you now know to those who can help you.
older white man looking at a tablet
Read September 14, 2016

The Power of Information: Self-Advocacy for Cancer Patients

We’re continuing our month-long spotlight on self-advocacy this week with a look at the most potent tool at a cancer patient’s disposal: information. No matter where you are in your cancer journey, self-advocating begins with seeking information and harnessing as much knowledge as you can.
older white woman smiling softly
Read September 7, 2016

Defining Self-Advocacy

What does it mean to be a self-advocate? When we think of an advocate, we generally think of someone who is publicly supporting some policy or cause. So, how can you be an advocate for yourself? This week’s blog post kicks off a series of posts about how to become a self-advocate. Learn more about what self-advocacy means and find out how you can begin to advocate for yourself.
black woman and two white men smiling in front of a house
Read August 31, 2016

The Many Faces of Advocacy

Each year, as summer turns into fall, the cancer community begins a period of awareness, as many cancer awareness months and observances occur in September, October and November. Here at the Cancer Support Community, we wanted to use this opportunity to bring awareness to the importance of advocacy for everyone touched by cancer. That’s why we’re launching our Many Faces of Advocacy campaign. Over the next three months, we will try to demystify advocacy and explain all the different ways anyone can be a cancer advocate.