Caregivers Empower the Next Generation of Cancer Care

Posted August 3rd, 2023

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, […]

November is National Family Caregivers Month

Posted November 5th, 2021

This is a time across our nation to honor our family caregivers: to recognize the challenges that family caregivers face, and how they manage their day and night as they offer care around the clock! There is just so much that our family caregivers do!  For many of you, caregiving can truly be a 24 […]

When Caregiving Takes a Toll

Posted May 28th, 2021

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Over the next few weeks, OncoLink will feature blogs about common mental health challenges faced by cancer patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. Please remember, if you are in crisis, help is available. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255 National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) Helpline 800-950-6264 A caregiver is someone […]

The Caregiver Curve

Posted March 15th, 2021

by Kate Farrell I’ve Got This…  This month of March marks our 16th year of Multiple Myeloma action. That’s a long time….a lot of “action.” But of course, we didn’t know that when my husband, Doug, was first diagnosed. Early on the future was very uncertain. We did know that a cancer diagnosis was deadly […]

Ways to Help and Show Support for a Loved One with Cancer during COVID-19

Posted April 17th, 2020

Changes are happening Many institutions and cancer centers have put restrictions on visitors accompanying patients for outpatient appointments. This includes patients that are receiving cancer treatments, such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Most guidelines now state that patients can’t have anyone accompany them unless they are unable to complete the visit on their own. As […]

5 Ways to Slow Down while Dealing with Cancer

Posted October 1st, 2019

Michelle, a running coach, approached me. “What about a weekly walking group for cancer survivors and caregivers?” Michelle’s class was officially named Walking for Wellness. My part as Survivorship Coordinator at the St. Charles Cancer Center was trail sweep—to hang out with the slowest walker so no one got left behind. In all the years, I didn’t […]

Why You Should Tell the Story of the Mountain You Climbed

Posted August 14th, 2019

My husband, Gary, and I climbed several mountains during his cancer years. He was on a treatment to slow down prostate cancer cell growth. One of the side effects was osteoporosis. So in our middle years, we laced up hiking boots and conquered the nearby Oregon Cascades. And then we took on more mountain ranges. […]

What Is Anticipatory Grief?

Posted July 9th, 2019

A close friend’s husband was recently diagnosed with cancer. They’re saying maybe three, maybe four months. Which reminded me of my own husband’s terminal diagnosis. I’ve often thought, Oh, how lucky was I … because we had the gift of time to say everything we wanted to say to each other. But there was also the […]

5 Surefire Strategies for Thriving Despite Cancer

Posted January 9th, 2019

My husband, Gary, was diagnosed with late-stage prostate cancer. As in, no cure because it had already metastasized outside the prostate.  But Gary—tenaciously, courageously—went on to defy the odds and live ten really good years. How is it that some people seem to flourish despite life’s challenges, while others wither up and curl in on […]

Dear Caregivers, We See You and We Thank You.

Posted November 16th, 2018

Caregivers are everywhere. They are taking care of the sick, the elderly, their family members, loved ones, neighbors…the list could go on and on. They work a sometimes thankless job and are not always recognized for all that they do. Despite this, they keep doing what they have to do to provide the best care […]