Screening tests sometimes scare me. No, not the discomforts. I’m used to needlesticks (ouch) and contrast (gag). Occasionally, I worry that the risks might not be worth the benefits. What’s a Healthy Survivor to do?
Read moreNew Year's Resolutions for Healthy Survivors
When dealing with medical challenges, New Year’s resolutions can help you become a Healthy Survivor. Firm decisions to do—or not do—something from now on helps motivate you to stick to a plan that challenges you in some way. (You don’t resolve to do things that come naturally, right?) Here’s the problem:
Read moreAfter Completing Treatment, Are You Better?
“I’m better.” What does that mean after completing treatment for cancer or other serious illness? It may mean something different than you think.
Read moreBest Children's Grief Books
In the spirit of the winter holidays, I’m highlighting two marvelous children’s grief books. Loss during the season of light and joy is especially painful. You give a great gift when you help families with children who are trying to make sense of such loss.
Read moreSupporting the Healthy Survivors in Your Life
Let’s explore how to support your loved ones with cancer or other medical challenge.
Read moreWhat Should I Give Thanks For This Year?
At our Thanksgiving table this year, each person will share three things for which they are grateful. Oh, no. What am I going to do? How do I choose only three things?
Read moreCountermeasures that Promote Healthy Survivorship
One sentence shouted out to me in an article about how an exercise regimen designed for astraunauts may help mitigate aftereffects in cancer survivors: "Cancer is the only major chronic disease condition in which a comparable countermeasures program is not an aspect of standard management."
Read moreWhat's the Right Way to Celebrate My Cancerversary?
What’s the right way for me to celebrate my cancerversary, the anniversary of the day life changed wattage from BC to AC (After Cancer)?
Read moreDreams and Healthy Survivorship
The epigraph of a children’s book caught my eye: Even during adversity, keep dreaming. My survivorship work focuses on healthy ways to deal with illness, one of which is to find reality-based hopes. Is there a place for dreaming in the pursuit of Healthy Survivorship?
Read moreHow Do You Tell Children You Have Cancer or Other Illness?
Raising children while dealing with your (or your partner’s) illness presents great challenges. One of the first difficult tasks is telling your children.
Read moreTips on Breaking News to Loved Ones
If you have upsetting health news, how do you tell others? We’re not taught how to do this dreaded task. A few things to consider:
Read moreIf Your Doctor Drops the Ball on Hope--Part III
Feeling hopeless is not a good place to be--and never a good place to stay. So, what do you do if you feel hopeless?
Read moreIf Your Doctor Drops the Ball on Hope--Part II
How can knowledge of Healthy Survivorship help you find healing hope when a doctor’s visit leaves you feeling hopeless?
Read moreWhat to Do If Your Doctor Drops the Ball on Hope
Healthy Survivors know how to find healing hope. Let’s look at what you can do if you hear things at a doctor visit that make it difficult to find hope. First, Amy’s story.
Read moreStaying Real with Virtual Reality
Healthy Survivors deal with their reality in healthy ways. At times, the best way to manage a challenge may be to escape reality. Huh?
Read moreThe Healing Power of Instruction Sheets
What do you do with the instruction sheet from the doctor’s office? Lately I’ve been obsessed with preserving the power of instruction sheets.
Read moreA Normal Life with Post-cancer Fatigue
Post-cancer fatigue was one of the most challenging symptoms for me. “WAS.” Past tense! Everything improved after I began thinking about my fatigue in the context of creating a “new normal for now.” You see, that idea motivated me to…
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