Perspectives from those who live it every day.
When I think of the word cancer, “celebration” is not the next word that immediately comes to mind. But, last Sunday, that’s exactly what cancer survivors at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center did. Cancer Survivors’ Day is an annual event that falls on the first Sunday in June. It’s a date recognized around the(...)
Jun 9, 2011 No comments
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture replaced its traditional food pyramid with a new "plate icon" to help direct consumers on how to eat a healthy, balanced meal. It turns out that an emphasis on fruits and vegetables can also be helpful in preventing cancer. In one segment of the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer(...)
Jun 6, 2011 9 comments
Some types of chemotherapy damage cells that cause hair growth. For some patients, losing their hair is one of the most emotional and upsetting parts of undergoing treatment. The good news is that hair almost always grows back 2 to 3 months after chemo is over. Since it usually takes about one or two weeks(...)
Jun 2, 2011 No comments
Nausea and vomiting can occur while getting chemotherapy, right after, or many hours or days later. You’ll most likely feel better on the days you are not receiving chemo. Here are 9 tips for managing your nausea: 1. Use a journal to record what causes your vomiting and nausea. Discuss this with your doctor or nurse.(...)
May 18, 2011 No comments
What is Compassion? It’s a Nurse. Compassion is defined as the awareness of the suffering of another, coupled with the wish to relieve that suffering. It isn’t something that can be taught. Compassion comes from the heart and it’s a quality that sets apart our cancer nurses. Our nurses put patients first by providing outstanding(...)
May 16, 2011 No comments
As an oncologist, I am continually astonished by the strength and determination patients bring to bear in their fight against cancer. One such patient - Heather Johnson - is a dedicated mom, a loving wife and a self-proclaimed cancer warrior. Heather decided early on in her fight with colon cancer that she would wage an(...)
May 13, 2011 No comments
***This post is written by Judith Minkove, editor of Inside Hopkins and senior writer at Johns Hopkins Medicine. On any given day, as many as 170 patients pour into Weinberg 2’s outpatient infusion center for cancer treatments or blood products. Another 100 come in for follow-up visits. One by one, patients are escorted back to one(...)
May 11, 2011 No comments
I read an article about a 10-year old boy who took all the money he had saved to purchase a Super Bowl ring from a retired NFL player. Imagine his delight to own such a rare commodity . I know grown men who would give up a limb for a trophy such as this .(...)
May 9, 2011 5 comments
Chemo can cause diarrhea because it harms your healthy cells that line the large and small bowel. It may also speed up food moving through your bowels. Diarrhea also can be caused by infections or drugs used to treat constipation. Here are a few dos and don’ts for managing diarrhea: Do drink 8 – 10(...)
May 5, 2011 No comments
Kimmel Cancer experts frequently say that “the best way to cure cancer is to prevent it from ever occurring.” Most experts agree that currently-available cancer screening tests have lead to a decline in cancer deaths. Moreover, they allow cancers to be detected early, making more treatment options available to patients. Let me say up front,(...)
May 4, 2011 2 comments