
Coming Soon: Medicare Drug Price Negotiations
Posted September 1st, 2023
Christina Bach, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C
In August 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law. This law enacted changes to Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. One part of this was the ability of Medicare to negotiate the prices of some medications. It is estimated that drug negotiation will save Medicare over 98 billion dollars in its […]

Caregivers Empower the Next Generation of Cancer Care
Posted August 3rd, 2023
Guest Post
The role of the caregiver is multi-faceted as they provide family members, friends and partners with the physical care and emotional support needed during treatments and beyond. This role is critical as they are often the patient’s lifeline, and they act as an advocate for the patient with the medical staff providing the treatments. Yet, […]

Feeding the Gut
Posted July 14th, 2023
OncoLink Team
In my own family, whenever someone is asked, “How are you doing?”, the conversation ends up about our health. And with health, the first questions brought up are about any stomach pains or bloating or even how frequently they use the bathroom. It seems silly, but when I started thinking more about why, I came […]

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 […]

A Poet’s Autobiography of Cancer
Posted May 31st, 2023
OncoLink Team
In the fall of 2022, my life was changed by a single phone call when I was diagnosed with stage II B-cell, non-specified, non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a rare and aggressive cancer of the lymphatic system. For me, a large tumor was growing in my left armpit. The tumor was damaging my ulnar nerve to the point […]

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 Occupational Therapy Month
Posted April 19th, 2023
OncoLink Team
April is Occupational Therapy (OT) month, and it is with gratitude and humble appreciation that I come to reflect upon my time as an OT working with cancer patients and their loved ones. Working in cancer care across the continuum has been one of my life’s greatest honors, and I wish to take a moment […]

Addressing Cancer Pain with Complementary Methods (Part 2)
Posted April 10th, 2023
OncoLink Team
This blog provides some information on pain relief methods you can try at home in concert with your medications and other methods you may use to treat your pain. Remember to talk with your provider about any integrative or complementary therapies you are using during your cancer treatment. This blog provides some information on pain […]

Addressing Cancer Pain with Complementary Methods (Part 1)
Posted April 7th, 2023
OncoLink Team
By Carter Moss, MSW Student Cancer pain management often involves a multidisciplinary approach that combines traditional medical interventions with complementary therapies. In this two-part blog series, you will learn more about factors that may contribute to pain and some ways to “turn down the volume” of the pain you are feeling. Pain is a complex […]