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 […]

Happy 29th Birthday OncoLink!

Posted March 7th, 2023

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 […]

News on the Passing of the Lymphedema Treatment Act!

Posted January 23rd, 2023

The beginning of 2023 has brought exciting news for the lymphedema community. The Lymphedema Treatment Act (LTA), first introduced as a bill in Congress in 2010, was finally passed into law on December 23, 2022. This landmark legislation will result in Medicare coverage for lymphedema compression supplies starting January 1, 2024. Why is the LTA […]

Rodney Warner

Fear

Posted July 26th, 2022

The Fear Never Goes Away. That’s By Choice. It’s been more than 21 years since I was first told I had cancer and nearly 20 years since I last got into remission. But cancer still haunts me. The thought of it returning terrifies me. Maybe it wouldn’t be so scary if it hadn’t nearly killed […]

Can I Have a Non-Violent Relationship with Cancer (Part 2)

Posted November 16th, 2021

This is part 2 of Marisa’s blog. To read part 1, click here. Treating Cancer Without a Violent Spirit Having established that cancer is not my enemy can I find a less antagonistic way to face cancer? A cancer diagnosis is a grave problem, for sure, a scary reality evoking a wide range of feelings […]

Can I Have a Nonviolent Relationship with Cancer? (Part 1)

Posted November 15th, 2021

By Marisa Guerin, PhD I have long been struck by the language of war and violence that is associated with cancer, but it hasn’t been a personal concern…. until now. A few months ago, I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood plasma, and I now find myself sorting through my feelings […]

Honoring our Labor

Posted September 1st, 2021

It’s hard to believe the traditional end of summer, Labor Day is upon us.  It’s a good time to take a moment and honor all that labor—work—means to us and our lives. This includes The works of our ancestors whose labor helped pave the way for each of us. The work of our own hands […]

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 […]

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 […]

10 Tips for National Cancer Prevention Month

Posted February 10th, 2021

February is National Cancer Prevention Month. While you are likely well aware of things you should do to prevent cancer –avoiding smoking and wearing sunscreen, and getting regular screenings for colon, breast and prostate cancer, for example– there are other steps you can start taking now to up your odds of remaining cancer-free. In fact, […]