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A good friend's son has advanced, stage 4 melanoma. He's 15, which is rare. Despite a missed diagnosis and a few major set-backs he's doing pretty well.
At last, the sun is shining, the sky is blue, it's actually warm enough to go without a coat (well it was when I started writing this!) and everything suddenly seems much nicer. Most of us feel better in the nice weather and also we tend to feel we look healthier with a bit of colour, and even more fit with a deep tan!
As a nurse working on the helpline, I'm aware that some of the most common feelings people experience when faced with a cancer diagnosis are a sense of uncertainty,
June is Male Cancer Awareness Month, which is supported by Everyman who fund research with the aim of stamping out male cancers. I thought now was an ideal opportunity to blog about the two cancers in question - testicular cancer and prostate cancer - to raise awareness, and hopefully dispel some myths.
Carer's Week is from the 8th - 14th June 2009. The theme this year is "Carers...the UK's secret service".
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Lots of people dealing with cancer - doctors and nurses, researchers and statisticians, patients and carers - talk about a 5 year period. But what does it mean? When does it start? Why is it so significant?
The reality is that this magical point in time, means different things to different people.
On the nurse helpline we often speak to people who have been asked to make decisions about their treatment. One treatment versus another treatment, which treatment first, treatment versus no treatment - the list is endless and it's no wonder people end up anxious and confused.
There are lots of potential side effects to cancer treatments. One of the most difficult to come to terms with is a change in body image. Body image is the mental picture we have of our own appearance. This image is drawn from what our body actually looks like, and also from how we think we look. Throughout life, our body image is constantly changing.
There has been some speculation posted that asparagus can cure cancer.
As most of our bloggers have said, it’s best to treat theses claims for asparagus as a cure for cancer with a good dose of scepticism. There’s no good evidence that eating asparagus prevents or cures cancer.
As nurses on our helpline and email service, we come from all sorts of backgrounds. We have lots of experience of looking after people with cancer in different environments. This may be on hospital wards, in out-patient clinics, at hospices, or visiting patients in their own homes. As well as t
I'm sure that most of us, at some point in our lives, will have feelings of complete and utter despair. When life seems hopeless and there seems little point in going on. Fortunately, for a lot of us these feelings and emotions, although very difficult to cope with at the time, are short lived and pass with the support and love of our family, friends and health care professionals.
April is bowel cancer awareness month. Bowel Cancer UK has a new campaign called Check It that you might like to read about.
I'm in the middle of revising Cancerbackup's booklet (and web information) about sexuality and cancer, and thought it was an ideal time to write a quick blog on the subject.
Talking about serious illness, or death and dying is never easy. And talking to kids about it is really hard.
As adults we often struggle to understand and come to terms with someone we love and care about dying so how can we possibly explain something to a child we don't understand ourselves?
With the announcement that ovarian screening may be beneficial, I thought I'd take a look at the issues around screening for prostate cancer.
I recently attended a prostate cancer awareness evening in Colchester, Essex, and I thought it might be of interest to some of you to know these events are taking place.
I was driving back from visiting my family on Sunday with my partner when the news came on the radio. The news reader discussed the global economy, an MP having to justify his expenses on his home, and then the sad news that Jade Goody had died. My partner and I talked about how irrelevant everything else becomes when you're faced with the death of a loved one. And h
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I'm sure you're aware of the vast amount of coverage in the press about Jade Goody's sad situation. As a result, we've noticed an increase in enquires to our service about cervical cancer. Many people are also telling us about how the media is affecting them in other ways.
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Today is No Smoking Day. We all know about the potential harm that can be caused by cigarettes. But are we so aware of all the health benefits of giving up? As you can read from the link, these benefits start very soon after you quit.
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Just in case you haven't heard yet, from 1st April 2009 cancer patients in England will be eligible for free prescriptions. Anyone undergoing treatment for cancer, the effects of cancer, or the effects of cancer treatment can now apply for an exemption certificate.
You can apply by collecting an application form from your GP surgery or oncology clinic.
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I was reading through some of the blogs on the site and came across a long discussion in answer to a query about preparing for chemotherapy. The thread included loads of great suggestions - and a few less good ones - and made me think that some pointers from a nurse might be useful.
About 36,000 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year in the UK. Around two thirds of colorectal cancers are in the large bowel (colon) and one third are in the back passage (rectum). It is unusual for people under 50 to get bowel cancer. More than 8 out of 10 bowel cancers (83%) are diagnosed in the over 60’s.
It's worrying to know that 24% of people with cancer feel they don't have anyone to talk to about their cancer and one in five people find it hard to talk to their friends and family about it.
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Well I might be being a bit over optimistic but there finally seems to be a bit of sunshine around and it feels warm enough to want to be outside. It's great to think we might be able to get into the garden for a bit, go out for walk, or sit outside at a country pub... And some people will be going off to the sun for a holiday.
Adjusting to life after cancer treatment has finished can be a difficult time. Often people describe their last visit to the hospital as an anticlimax.
It‘s always a shock when you or someone you know is diagnosed with cancer.
Shock is something we all experience at some point in our lives, often when something affects us personally, but national or international events can leave us all feeling shocked and confused – remember how we were affected by Princess Diana’s sudden death, or 9-11.
Of course when it’s something like a cancer diagnosis, it’s a very hard time for everyone involved. Everyone has different reactions. This is all very normal, and it’s usual to feel up one minute and down the next, OK and not OK, etc.
It’s often been wrongly assumed that hair loss during cancer treatment is less traumatic for men than it is for women. However, men’s feelings about hair loss are underestimated and unfortunately they’re often not explored by health professionals, family or friends.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men with about 35000 new cases diagnosed each year in the UK.
A couple of facts about prostate cancer. Did you know that:
As well as my nursing experience with patients, I worked in a role supporting carers before coming to Cancerbackup. The carers I met coped with everything including the physical needs of the person they cared for, the day-to-day running of the home, employment issues, financial problems, practical difficulties around hospital treatment, and of course, the emotional impact.
I've been asked to write a regular blog, but to be honest I don't know where to start. I want to write something that is both worthwhile and relevant, but cancer and coping with cancer is such a huge and complex subject that I'm a little overwhelmed .
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One of the biggest challenges in trying to support carers, is that they often don't recognise themselves as such. Many people see it as their 'duty' to care for a relative, friend or neighbour. Yet this shouldn't mean that they don't get access to the help they need. The Royal Princess Trust for carers provides a useful definiton of what a carer is.
Each year at the end of May, beginning of June many of the UK's cancer specialist doctors, and a fair number of the nurses, head off to the US to attend one of the world's biggest cancer conferences. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (or ASCO as it's generally known) meeting is huge. It attracts specialists from all over the world.
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Food plays a big part in the quality of our lives and is more than just a physical need. Planning a menu and shopping for ingredients can be really enjoyable - even for someone like me, who comes from the ‘pierce film lid and cook on high’ school of cuisine. Mealtimes are as much about family life, conversation and friends as they are about nutrition.
Well it's all change here at Cancerbackup this month as we have merged with Macmillan Cancer Support to become one charity. While it's the end of an era, it's also the beginning of another. The decision to merge was made so that both charities could acheive the aim of reaching as many people affected by cancer as possible. Cancerbackup won't exisit as a charity in its own right anymore but will be part of Macmillan. We're really excited by the chance to develop our services and get our information 'out there' to more people.
Something we often get asked is what do you say to someone who has been diagnosed with cancer. When we feel uncomfortable, we often get a bit tongue-tied. We want to say the right thing but we're not sure what that is. And of course, it may not be that they've been diagnosed themselves, but that someone close to them has.
The credit crunch...falling house prices...share values wiped out ...Watching the news can make it feel like a recession is just around the corner. But when your family is affected by cancer, financial concerns can really come into sharp focus. If the main breadwinner is no longer able to work (because of treatment or illness) then things can seem very tough indeed...Often there are unexpected costs to cope with (prescriptions, childcare, travel to appointments, parking fees, extra laundry/heating bills, special diets etc).
You may have read that the reality TV personality Jade Goody has returned home to the UK after being diagnosed with cervical cancer. She was appearing in India's "Bigg Boss" show - the Indian version of "Celebrity Big Brother" in the UK. Her spokesperson said she has pulled out of the show so that she can start treatment.
"To pray or not to pray?” that is my question. How relevant is this idea for those dealing with cancer right now?
A recent study day I attended has set me thinking about the reality of the spiritual dimension for those who are ‘in the thick of it’ now.
You may have heard in the media this week that the cervical cancer immunisation scheme is starting across the UK. The vaccine will be available for girls between 12 -13 years initially and there will also be a 'catch up' campaign for those up to the age of 18.
If people have experienced cancer in their families, they may worry and wonder if they are at a higher risk of developing cancer. It's natural to think about what the future may hold, and it may sometimes cause a person to begin looking into their family history.
It’s seems that never a day goes by without there being some sort of cancer story in the news. Recently there was a lot of news about Patrick Swayze who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. And then Kylie of course who has been in the news loads ever since she was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2005.
It's perfectly normal for people to worry about their health. It's important to be aware of your body and any changes so that you can take care of yourself and visit your doctor if you need to. Some people may go through phases in their life when they're more concerned than usual but find that there isn't anything wrong. This is often a response to something that's happening around them - such as a friend becoming seriously ill - or a high impact story in the media.
My maternal grandfather was blessed somewhere in his ancestry with olive skin that always seemed to have a depth of colour to it even in the longest of winters. But I certainly didn’t inherit that gene and instead simply burn and peel with too much sun.
Growing up on the beaches of Australia before we knew about the link between sun exposure and skin cancer, and remembering my Rudolph like glowing red nose each summer, I sort of expect to develop some type of skin cancer at some point.
Amongst other roles, I worked as a chemotherapy nurse in a day unit for some years before starting work here at Cancerbackup. Once people completed their chemotherapy, we often didn’t get a chance to see them again or to talk with them about how they were feeling. I was always left wondering how life was after chemotherapy for the people I’d looked after.
The number of people surviving and living longer with cancer is increasing and is likely to continue to rise.
In recent years there have been various campaigns in the media such as Cancer Research UK’s ‘All Clear’ fundraising campaign. They’ve increased awareness that it’s possible to survive cancer and adapt to living with it.
There are a number of physical, emotional, social and practical issues that face cancer survivors and their family and friends including things like:
• Coping with long term side effects
• Financial worries
• Returning to work
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