While receiving and recovering from cancer treatment, a challenge to my Healthy Survivorship was dealing fluctuations in how I felt and functioned. At times, I suffered from an unexpected drop in my energy, thinking, or ability to handle stress that created problems for me and/or others.
Read moreFollowing National and Global News: Healthy or Unhealthy?
In your pursuit of Healthy Survivorship, should you follow national and global news?
Read moreThe Healing Power of Saying, "This is hard!"
While working through a challenge toward a goal, do you mention to friends about how hard it is? If you admire Rambo, probably not. Some thoughts on why, maybe, you should.
Read more“Doing Nothing" is Doing Something
When the tests are done and the therapies have been administered, people often worry that they need to do something to help the healing. Sometimes “doing nothing” is the safest and surest way to increase the chance of a good outcome.
Read moreTrue Confessions of an Ambivalent Caregiver
For anyone caring for a loved one, Cindy Eastman’s latest book offers effective bibliotherapy—literature used to help improve your life.
Read morePutting a Lid on Empathy
Throughout my survivorship, I’ve had times of pain or loss that caused unpleasant emotions. Especially early in my illness, my husband’s love for me caused him to experience unpleasant emotions, too, because he empathized. In a vicious cycle, my emotional pain caused his motional pain, which exacerbated mine. While grateful for his love and caring, I realized that I—we, really—needed him to put a check on the empathy.
Read moreYou are Invited
You are invited to a free conference on April 12, 2025. Open to all, in-person or virtually. Registration required.
Read moreHad to? The Power of One Word
A one-word substitution changed my mood and outlook so significantly that I had to post about it.
Read moreNobody is Too Young for Cancer
Fact: Nobody is too young for cancer. Alarmingly, America is experiencing a rise in rates of cancer diagnosed in young people. While researchers work to undertstand
Read moreWhen Patients Hide the Ugly Side - Part II
How do you support patients who don’t want to talk about their illness or accept support? To follow up on
Read moreWhen Patients Hide the Ugly Side
What should you do if an ill loved one won’t respond to emails or texts because they want to hide their pain, sadness, debility, weakness? Forcing yourself on them will exacerbate their sense of loss of control. Leaving them alone, well, leaves them alone in their pain, sadness, debility, and weakness—not a good thing.
I’ve been on both sides of this dilemma.
Read moreThe Gifts of Getting Knocked Down
Just days after learning I had cancer, my Rabbi said to me: People find out who they are when knocked down. He could see
Read moreThe Gift of a Side Effect
Out of the blue, I was enjoying a rush of mental clarity and creative juices. Reveling with a dear friend—”This feels so good!”—my next comment solved the mystery:
Read morePrincess Kate on Getting Back to Normal After Cancer
The Princess of Wales told the world via Instagram, “It is a relief to now be in remission, and I remain focused on recovery.” In her first major public statement since Kensington Palace released a video last fall, the Princess talked about completing cancer treatment.
Read moreNo "Thank you" From Your Doctor?
I picked out holiday gifts, wrapped them with care, and then delivered them to my doctors before the holidays. Did I receive any thank-you notes? Nope. And that’s A-okay with me. Here’s why.
Read moreYes or No: Give Your Doctor a Gift?
Some patients give holiday gifts to their doctors, nurses, physical therapists, or other professionals invoved in their health care. Gift-giving is not required or expected. So, should you? Or shouldn’t you?
Read moreA Problem With the Cure Just Around the Corner
Millions of Americans live with diseases with no cure. Diabetes. Parkinsons. MS. Dementia. I imagine many of them experience nice people offering encouraging comments. such as, “I believe they’ll find a cure” or “A cure is just around the corner!” What could be wrong with that?
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