It’s been three years

Posted July 10th, 2018

It’s been THREE LONG YEARS since my ovarian cancer diagnosis.  Three long years of fear and fight. Of treatments past, followed by worry. Of putting the future on hold and living between tests and checkups. Of wanting to live more than ever before in my life. It’s been THREE SHORT YEARS of self-reflection and learning […]

Exercise for the Caregiver

Posted July 5th, 2018

This webinar provides an overview of the important of exercise and physical activity for caregivers of cancer patients. Joann Fegley, MBA, MS, C-PT is an exercise physiologist specializing in cancer fitness personal training. She is the owner of JoFly’s Fitness and a specialized fitness instructor for Penn Integrative Medicine at the Abramson Cancer Center.

Exercising

Exercise During Cancer Treatment

Posted July 3rd, 2018

This webinar provides an overview of the role of exercise and physical activity during cancer treatment. Joann Fegley, MBA, MS, C-PT is an exercise physiologist specializing in cancer fitness personal training. She is the owner of JoFly’s Fitness and a specialized fitness instructor for Penn Integrative Medicine at the Abramson Cancer Center.

How to Feel Like a Survivor

Posted June 6th, 2018

A couple years ago at the market I ran into Elizabeth, a casual friend who was gearing up for the Avon39 Walk to End Breast Cancer. I encouraged her and told her how impressed I was; most likely I also thanked her, as I am always grateful for fundraising efforts. I can’t recall if I […]

My Road to Becoming an Oncology Nurse Navigator

Posted May 31st, 2018

The month of May each year celebrates Nurses Week and Oncology Nurses Month. With winter past us, the anticipation of summer – celebrations of graduations and new beginnings – brings a moment of reflection on the blessings and path thus far of my oncology nursing career. As I write this, I realize there has been […]

How to Be Diagnosed With Cancer

Posted May 24th, 2018

It’s a tacky educational brochure you hope no one ever thrusts in your hands: So You’ve Been Diagnosed with Cancer, Now What? I certainly didn’t know what to do with myself. My first diagnosis when I was 28 came after a game of phone tag. The surgeon who performed the needle biopsy—the gentleman who had […]

How to Find Out Who Your Friends Are

Posted May 15th, 2018

There’s an old adage that when going through tough times you find out who your friends are. I always inferred it to mean that challenges reveal who in our lives deserves to be called a Friend, as if we are Santa Claus drawing up a Naughty and Nice Friend list. Let’s see: I bumped into […]

School Re-entry After Cranial Radiation Therapy

Posted April 20th, 2018

This webinar focuses on considerations for parents coping with their children re-entering school after cranial radiation therapy.   Iris Paltin, PhD is a Pediatric Neuropsychologist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She works with the neuro-oncology and pediatric Proton Therapy programs.  

How to Say the Wrong Thing

Posted April 18th, 2018

I’ve heard so many unbelievably wrong things throughout my cancer career, I’m no longer shocked. Some comments are so wrong they aren’t worth noting here—they’re not likely to occur to most people. Would you tell a cancer patient you wish you could have chemotherapy because you need to lose weight? No? Because you know that’s […]

Just Go For The Ride!!!!

Posted April 11th, 2018

Recently I was in a work meeting and the statement was made to “go for the ride” during this busy time of growth and innovation. This really resonated with me personally, and I was inspired to reflect on this. As an ovarian cancer survivor, what does this mean to me? I remember every second of […]