Good News In Cancer
A woman recently stopped me to say that some of my columns were depressing and I should try hard to be more upbeat. I replied that a column written about cancer has to include some sadness and pain if it’s going to be honest. But I decided to challenge myself and write only positive thoughts […]
New Year’s Wishes
I like to give myself a magic wand at this time of the year to grant wishes to those affected by cancer. Here are my wishes for 2014: I wish that people with cancer were immune to other diseases and misfortunes. You should only have to deal with one bad thing at a time. I […]
Veterinary Oncology
I had the privilege of meeting recently with a group of veterinary oncologists and technicians at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Veterinary oncologists diagnose and treat cancers in dogs and cats. Just as in humans, cancer care in animals may involve surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. What struck me first was that these […]
Saying Goodbye To Two Women
I was planning to write this week’s column about Elizabeth Edwards, but I just came from Waltraud Kelly’s funeral and now I want to write about her, too. Both women died last week from breast cancer. So much that was said about Elizabeth Edwards could be said about Waltraud as well. Resilience and grace are […]
Ugly Stepsister of Cancer
There’s a warm and fuzzy side to breast cancer. Not the disease itself which is life-disruptive at its best and deadly at its worst. But there are celebratory races with survivors crossing the finish line with arms raised in triumph; magazine covers honoring celebrities who have survived the disease; and pink ribbons seemingly everywhere. Other […]
Many Thanks
When I visit individuals receiving cancer treatment, I routinely hear words of appreciation intended for those who been helpful, kind and supportive. It is sometimes difficult to find the right opportunity to give thanks to the people who most deserve those thanks. So let me say a collective thank you based on my personal experiences […]
The Good That Emerges
A friend with cancer wrote me to say how she now experiences moments of intense appreciation. Just walking her dog at Buttermilk State Park filled her with tears. Not tears of sadness, but tears of unabashed appreciation of that gorgeous moment. The dog, the forest, the beauty. They made her cry. She said that she […]
New Nurses and Cancer Patients
Most everyone is uncertain and tentative when first talking with people who are in treatment for cancer. What should you say? What should you not say? This is just as true for health professionals as it is for members of the general public. Even hospital employees sometimes feel tongue-tied when cancer is the diagnosis. I […]
Does Cancer Hurt?
When I talk with groups of students, someone usually asks, “Does cancer hurt?” It’s an interesting question that can be answered on many different levels. Most cancers don’t hurt at first. Cancers are often found by the detection of a painless lump, or some other symptom such as coughing or bleeding. There’s an odd disconnect […]
Personality And Cancer
Clients often tell me the weird things that people say in response to their cancer diagnoses. Most often, these comments are well-intentioned, but awkward. One comment recently shared with me, though, was exceptional in its absurdity. And it was made by a close relative of a person recently diagnosed with cancer. It was along the […]
