A Summer Poem

Posted August 20th, 2021

From Blossoms From blossoms comes this brown paper bag of peaches we bought from the boy at the bend in the road where we turned toward the signs painted Peaches. From laden boughs, from hands, from sweet fellowship in the bins, comes nectar at the roadside, succulent peaches we devour, dusty skin and all, comes […]

Embracing Lung Cancer Survivorship

Posted August 3rd, 2021

August 1st is World Lung Cancer Day (#WLCD2021) – a day to raise awareness about lung cancer risk, screening, treatment, and survivorship. As lung cancer screening is helping detect cancers earlier, there are more people thriving after lung cancer. In addition, the advances in treatment have helped some people live with lung cancer for longer. […]

Cancer Rehabilitation Starts at Diagnosis: Part II

Posted July 13th, 2021

Cancer Rehabilitation: An Invaluable Service but a PR Challenge In part 1 of this blog, I told you about the ways that cancer rehabilitation (rehab) providers can help people with cancer, from the time of diagnosis through well into survivorship. After reading that you may have thought why don’t all people get this? I often […]

Cancer Rehabilitation Starts at Diagnosis

Posted July 6th, 2021

Survivorship care typically begins at the end of active treatment. The goal is to provide support and resources for moving forward after treatment. In reality, survivorship care is most helpful when it looks at your whole cancer experience, from diagnosis forward. You are a survivor from day 1. A vital starting point is a baseline […]

Survivor Story: Erin

Posted June 4th, 2021

June is National Cancer Survivors Month! To honor survivors, we will be sharing stories from folks with cancer and their caregivers. Today we hear from Erin. 37-Year-Old Cancer Survivor and Mom of Four Shares Her Survival Story to Help Others An advanced Stage III colon cancer diagnosis was the last thing I expected to receive […]

Get to Know CaringBridge

Posted June 3rd, 2021

A patient website that supports cancer patients and their family caregivers Confronting a cancer diagnosis is one of the most demanding, isolating things you can do. Family and friends are an amazing source of support, but constantly sharing updates with each and every one of them is impractical. So what resources are available to families […]

A Nurse’s Love For Oncology Patients

Posted May 20th, 2021

I still remember the day I walked onto the medical/oncology unit for my interview.  I interviewed at about five different hospitals. I compared the hourly rate, benefits, sign-on bonuses- oh yes, back in 2004 when I graduated, they needed nurses and were giving sign-on bonuses! I never even had any clinicals at Penn, but as […]

To My Fellow Nurses

Posted May 13th, 2021

by Ashley Drake BSN, RN March 11, 2020. No longer a placeholder on the calendar, but rather an inflection point in life as we knew it. Nurses around the world have undoubtedly played an intimate, yet integral role in this monumental event, the COVID 19 global pandemic. A threat was introduced and all eyes were […]

Seven Ways an Occupational Therapist Can Help Patients Recovering From Breast Cancer.

Posted April 30th, 2021

by Dawn Heiderscheidt Once you’ve been diagnosed with something like breast cancer, your mind may be swimming in “what-ifs” and “what aboutisms.” It can be terrifying. You may have concerns about what it means for you in regards to maintaining your life roles, engaging in your favorite activities, or how to continue to live your […]

How Can Occupational Therapy Assist with Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy?

Posted April 27th, 2021

By Dawn Heiderscheidt Undergoing chemotherapy can have a two-fold effect on the body. While it can slow or stop the cancer, it can also cause unintended consequences such as  neuropathy of limbs. Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) is a sensory peripheral neuropathy that can affect one or both hands or feet and is often referred to […]