Taking Charge of Your Cancer Care

Posted January 31st, 2024

When you are diagnosed with cancer, a flood of emotions and concerns can make navigating those early days difficult. Doing your homework to learn about the diagnosis and coming to specialist appointments with questions in hand can go a long way in reducing your worries. Carolyn, OncoLink’s Innovation Director, was recently a guest on the […]

A Poet’s Autobiography of Cancer

Posted May 31st, 2023

 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 […]

Managing Side Effects with South Asian Foods

Posted July 19th, 2022

Foods can help minimize symptoms of cancer treatment. You may turn to foods familiar to you based on your culture or upbringing. This article focuses on Indian food and “comfort” food recipes from this culture. Cancer treatments can cause nausea or diarrhea. Bland, easy-to-digest foods are a good idea during these times. They provide nutrition […]

A Penny for Your Thoughts

Posted August 17th, 2021

One of my favorite things about being a radiation therapist is the relationships that are formed, and the bonds that are created with patients. In most cases, I get the opportunity to interact with my patients daily for several weeks. I know that patients also value this relationship and I have been told hundreds of […]

CancerLand Bookshelf : Loosen

Posted July 26th, 2021

Author: Kyle PotvinISBN: 9781939449078 LoosenInformation: Hobblebush Books, 2021 $18.00 USOncolink Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/3) Flattered. That’s the best word to describe how I felt last week after I clicked on an email from OncoLink and read a forwarded invitation from Kyle Potvin to review her new book of poetry. Incredibly flattered actually, since I had only […]

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 […]

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 […]

Remembering With Gratitude

Posted January 7th, 2021

“At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” – Albert Schweitzer For those who spend time in a cancer treatment center, we encounter each other in a variety of […]