
Learning to Advocate for Yourself – An Important Skill!
Posted June 15th, 2023
Carolyn Vachani, MSN, RN, AOCN
When given a cancer diagnosis, you quickly enter a world with a whole new vocabulary, many appointments, and new healthcare providers. Advocating for yourself means being able to ask for help and letting others know what you need. This is an important skill during cancer treatment! It is hard to ask for what you need […]

Resource Round-Up: Let’s Win Pancreatic Cancer
Posted May 23rd, 2023
Carolyn Vachani, MSN, RN, AOCN
A diagnosis of pancreatic cancer can be devastating. Patients and caregivers can find it difficult to know where to find the best treatment and what that treatment should look like. This was the experience of Anne Glauber and her family in 2014. They did not know where to turn for information and care but knew […]

Resource Round-Up: 2Unstoppable
Posted May 16th, 2023
Carolyn Vachani, MSN, RN, AOCN
When you are given a diagnosis of breast cancer, exercise may not be top of mind – but perhaps it should be. There are many benefits to exercise – including: These benefits are not lost on Ilana Gamerman and Michelle Stravitz, two breast cancer survivors who saw how exercise and fitness support improved their own […]

Happy 29th Birthday OncoLink!
Posted March 7th, 2023
Carolyn Vachani, MSN, RN, AOCN
Twenty nine years and still going strong! When I was finishing up nursing school in 1994, computers were a novelty. I still researched my school papers using the card catalogue and email was just starting to gain popularity. In a small office at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Joel Goldwein was playing around with creating […]

Be a Holiday Helper!
Posted December 14th, 2022
Carolyn Vachani, MSN, RN, AOCN
The holidays can be very stressful- particularly when you are already dealing with a cancer diagnosis or are the caregiver for someone with cancer.

Sun Safety
Posted May 20th, 2022
Carolyn Vachani, MSN, RN, AOCN
Many of us love the sunshine – but it isn’t always good for us! UV radiation from the sun causes skin damage and aging, cataracts, and skin cancer. Every year there are more new cases of skin cancer than new cases of breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancers combined! Did you know one in five […]

Foodie Friday: Winter Warm-Up White Bean Soup
Posted February 11th, 2022
Carolyn Vachani, MSN, RN, AOCN
Does the cold weather get you thinking about soup? There is nothing better on a cold, snowy day than a warm bowl of soup. This recipe is easy and pretty quick to make, fills you up, and is healthy too. It is a great base- if you don’t like the spices I use, use one […]

Grief Anniversaries
Posted January 28th, 2022
Carolyn Vachani, MSN, RN, AOCN
This week is always just a little harder. Grief is funny like that – not haha funny but interesting funny. As time moves on, the feelings of grief are far fewer and replaced with memories that bring smiles and phone calls to my sister to reminisce. But every year as January 27th arrives and the […]

Foodie Fridays: It’s Cucumber Season!
Posted July 23rd, 2021
Carolyn Vachani, MSN, RN, AOCN
You never know what will happen when you plant those tiny seeds in early spring. This year did not disappoint when it comes to cucumbers! Mine are going bananas- I am picking 2-3 every day. So, what am I doing with them? Making salads, pickles and just snacking on them with some hummus. These 2 […]

5 Tips to Move Beyond the Bedside
Posted May 17th, 2021
Carolyn Vachani, MSN, RN, AOCN
Have you ever wondered how a nurse can expand on their bedside role to include other areas of interest or moving into different roles? While everyone has their own story, there are a few things that bridge many stories and that you can do to support your career journey. Maybe your goal is getting involved […]