“My family is riddled with cancer.”  I hear this phrase often in my work as a counselor and cancer navigator, and whenever someone says it to me, I always ask the same question: “What kind of cancers?” Because learning how to connect your family’s genetic dots when it comes to cancer could be lifesaving. And it all begins with understanding that certain cancers that don’t seem to be related actually could be, as is the case with the Lynch Syndrome gene. Knowing when to pursue Lynch Syndrome...

We're all familiar with the concept of self-care. What often comes to mind are things like a facial or an afternoon at the spa, taking time to get a massage, or making sure you're including exercise in your daily routine. While these are, of course, wonderful ways to care for yourself, when dealing with cancer, it’s helpful to have a bit more of a self-care plan.  In this post, I’m sharing my five favorite, often overlooked, self-care practices for cancer patients that you can incorporate...

Winter can be a particularly hard time for many people. The holidays are over, the days are short, and the darkness seems to linger forever. For those navigating cancer treatment or survivorship, winter can feel even heavier, especially if you’re spending more time indoors due to your treatment. In this post, I want to talk about how to deal with seasonal depression, why winter can impact mental health so strongly, and how tools like light boxes may be helpful during this time of year. Why...