Long Distance Caregiving of a Friend with Cancer

Long Distance Caregiving of a Friend with Cancer As if having a friend with cancer isn’t bad enough, right? Well, I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news when I say that it can feel worse. How? you ask.  When you live a bagillion miles away and can’t be with the person you love… Continue reading Long Distance Caregiving of a Friend with Cancer

Clothes Shopping Post-Mastectomy – It’s the Junior High Locker Room All Over Again!

Clothes Shopping Post-Mastectomy – It’s the Junior High Locker Room All Over Again! Here’s something that I didn’t expect (and that no one tells you about!!!) post-mastectomy: the fear and anxiety of clothes shopping and more specifically, dressing rooms. Uh huh. Please allow me to explain. Last week when I was in New York, I… Continue reading Clothes Shopping Post-Mastectomy – It’s the Junior High Locker Room All Over Again!

What to Say to Someone with Cancer (And What Not to Say)

What to Say to Someone with Cancer (and What Not to Say) Oh gosh. At least ten times a week, I get an email informing me of the (wretched!) news that yet another person has been diagnosed with f-bomb cancer. Not just breast cancer. Any kind of cancer. All kinds of cancer. The theme always… Continue reading What to Say to Someone with Cancer (And What Not to Say)

5 Ways To Take Care of Yourself

5 Ways to Take Care of Yourself Lately, I’ve been having crazy messy drippy hot flashes. Here’s how it goes: I wake up multiple times in the middle of the night to wet sheets and pillows (yes, I sleep with multiple pillows) and then I can’t go back to sleep. The insomnia lasts for about… Continue reading 5 Ways To Take Care of Yourself

Returning to Work after Cancer Treatment: Co-Worker Adjustment

Returning to Work After Cancer Treatment A dear reader wrote to me recently telling me that returning to work was a challenge not for reasons that you would think. It was challenging because colleagues treated her differently  based on her changed appearance. Further, assumptions were made about her ability to perform her job, so much… Continue reading Returning to Work after Cancer Treatment: Co-Worker Adjustment

Being Your Own Patient Advocate

Being Your Own Patient Advocate Today I had the great pleasure of giving a speech at Norton Healthcare in Louisville, Kentucky. It was a quick 36-hour trip from Santa Barbara to Louisville and home again. The Silver Lining is that I was only away from home for one night. It was quite a schlep to… Continue reading Being Your Own Patient Advocate

Navigating the Healthcare System from a Cancer Diagnosis and Beyond

Navigating the Healthcare System from Cancer Diagnosis and Beyond Discovering that you have cancer is a life-rocking event. Understatement of the decade, I know. However, sometimes the obvious just must be stated. (Ha!) Shortly after my diagnosis, I found myself feeling as if I were in a cobweb filled forest, with no idea which way… Continue reading Navigating the Healthcare System from a Cancer Diagnosis and Beyond