Was I a Caregiver or Something Else?When my husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer many years ago, the nurse asked me if I was going to be his caregiver. My response: “be his what?” I had...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
What to Consider When Making Treatment Decisions and Sharing With Your DoctorAfter hearing the initial diagnosis of cancer and talking with your family, one of the most difficult parts of figuring out your cancer journey can be decision-making. Cancer has been...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Recognizing Caregiver BurnoutThere are a lot of tips on how to avoid or manage caregiver burnout, but I think recognizing caregiver burnout is another equally important topic. Some of us are caregivers...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
AnniversariesAnniversaries may record and celebrate happy occasions: wedding anniversaries, celebrations for tenure at a job, milestone birthdays. There are also milestones, or anniversaries, for cancer patients, too. We likely don’t...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Friendships During CancerAs we drive to Chicago to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary, we remember our lives together during the past 50 years. After my husband Dan’s prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Lessons Learned From My Husband's Cancer That Helped Me Navigate My OwnAs we go through life, there are lessons for us at every junction, every turn, every corner. We learn from teachers, we learn from friends, we learn from experiences and...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Resolutions and Feeling EmpoweredI try to always select a word of the year and focus on that word throughout the year. And like a resolution, you can really decide to make changes, big...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Caregiver Primer: Breathe, Learn, ShareWhen someone you love is diagnosed with cancer, it can be a big shock to both of you. Yes, that’s quite an understatement. As a caregiver for my husband with...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Patient, the Caregiver, and Responsibilities During Big EventsThe holidays bring a level of joy and excitement that we don't often experience the rest of the year. There’s the hustle and bustle of shopping for gifts, invitations to...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Now I Get It: the Anxiety of Awaiting Test ResultsI’ve always anxiously waited with my husband as we watched for the latest blood test results to be posted showing whether his PSA was on the increase. We waited together...Reactions0reactionsComments12 comments
Just Be KindWe’ve all spent time in doctors' waiting rooms, sometimes for only a few minutes and sometimes much longer. We may have been alone or we may have had the company...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
The Many Faces of a Partial PollyannaAm I a Pollyanna? According to Wikipedia, the Pollyanna principle is the tendency for people to remember pleasant things more accurately than unpleasant ones. A Pollyanna is illogically optimistic. It’s being...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Important Role of our GenesI recently read several articles that discussed what percent of all cancers are inherited, passed down from members within the family structure. One article estimated that up to 10 percent...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Challenges of a Caregiver: Taking Care of Loved Ones' Mental Health and NutritionMany articles have been written about being a caregiver. I’ll limit this article to addressing mental health and nutrition. My experiences are not all related to caregiving for a prostate...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
The Benefits of MeditationLately, as of my writing this, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed with everything associated with cancer and cancer care. Being a caregiver for my husband due to prostate and bladder cancer...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Selecting Your PhysicianSelecting a surgeon or treating physician for a serious illness such as cancer can be a tough decision. Some decisions are made after careful research, while other decisions may be...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Survivor's GuiltMost of us have experienced guilt at one time or another. Sometimes guilt is justified: when we do something wrong, when we didn’t do something that we should have, when...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
For caregivers who are now patientsJust wondering about others who have experienced being a caregiver for a cancer patient and are now a cancer patient as well. My husband has prostate cancer and had bladder...Reactions0reactionsComments2 repliesCaregiving
He Says, She SaysThey say there are two sides to every story. As a caregiver for my husband, a prostate cancer survivor for 14 years, I’ve witnessed our physical, mental and emotional challenges...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Other Caregiver HeroesI’ve shared my thoughts on several occasions about being a caregiver. My husband still battles prostate and bladder cancer, and my oldest daughter is still fighting breast cancer. Being a...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
