Bob's Columns

Bob Riter is the retired Executive Director of the Cancer Resource Center. His articles about living with cancer appeared regularly in the Ithaca Journal and on OncoLink. He can be reached at bobriter@gmail.com.

A collection of Bob’s columns, When Your Life is Touched by Cancer: Practical Advice and Insights for Patients, Professionals, and Those Who Care, is available in bookstores nationwide and through online retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

It all changed overnight

If your spouse or partner is diagnosed with cancer, your life changes. You worry about the future and your days are filled with appointments, tasks, and caregiving. If your spouse

Adjusting To The New Normal

“The new normal” is a phrase used to describe how life changes for some people who have been through cancer. Here are some examples: A man treated for oral cancer

We all have cranky days

A woman going through cancer treatment was having a bad day. She was miserable and her friends were offering words of encouragement along the lines of, “You’ll feel better tomorrow.”

In Memory of Carol John

Carol Knight John died last week. She had cancer, but she never let cancer define her. She was always participating in triathlons, climbing mountains or moving boulders in someone’s garden.

The Power of a Cancer Support Group

People with cancer share differently within a cancer support group as compared to how they share with their family and friends. One woman recently told me that when she shares

Waiting for the Oncologist’s Call

You know that you’re supposed to silence your cell phone when you’re in a meeting. Exceptions are permitted if it’s truly important, and few calls are more important than calls

Spouses should support, not direct, cancer care

I frequently hear cancer patients say that a spouse or partner is adding stress to their lives by constantly expressing their own opinions as to what is best for the

Living with a Rare Cancer

The most common cancers in adults are prostate, breast, lung, and colorectal. Combined, these cancers account for nearly half of all cancer diagnoses. Other relatively common cancers include melanoma, kidney,

Understanding the Customs of Cancer Cancer in the U.S.

Being diagnosed with cancer thrusts you into a confusing world with its own language and customs. It is disorienting even for people who grew up in the United States and

Cancer and Hair Loss

Becoming temporarily bald is a common side effect of cancer treatment. For many, it is a difficult and all-too-visible symbol of illness and loss. Do you know why people often

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