From "Cure": "Give Patients Permission to Get Angry"

From "Cure" magazine...

Give Patients Permission to Get Angry

Sometimes going through cancer makes a person want to scream, and sometimes, it should be OK if they do.

BY JANE BIEHL, PH.D.

PUBLISHED MARCH 13, 2018

Jane has earned three advanced degrees and had several fulfilling careers as a librarian, rehabilitation counselor and college teacher. Presently she does freelance writing. Her articles include the subjects of hearing loss and deafness, service dogs and struggling with cancer. She has been a cancer survivor since 2010.

She has myelodysplastic syndrome, which is rare, and would love to communicate with others who have MDS.

I have been battling cancer for over eight years now. Eight years of chemo with devastating side effects. Eight years of going monthly and sometimes five days a month into the cancer center, reminding me I am not well. Eight years of roller-coaster ups and downs and in and out of remission. Eight years of waiting for the results of over a dozen bone marrow biopsies.

"Kicking Chemobrain to the Curb" from Cure Magazine

For all of us who complain about "chemobrain" this article may prove useful!!

Kicking Chemobrain to the Curb

This cancer patient undertook a brain training regimen to knock out chemobrain.

BY MARTHA CARLSON

PUBLISHED MARCH 05, 2018

Martha lives in Illinois and was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in January 2015. She has a husband and three children, ranging in age from 12 to 18, a dog and a lizard.

Last month I read a curetoday.com essay of mine that had just been posted online. I was dismayed to see that I'd combined the names of two women I know into a single incorrect name. That preceded by just hours an admonition from one of my daughters that I "don't pay attention," even though I act like I am. When things like this happen, and they happen more than I would like, I wonder if it's due to normal aging, three years of ongoing cancer treatments, or, let's be honest, mental laziness.

Good article from Cure, an on-line version of the (free) magazine available to anyone with cancer. You can also get it in print form.

Tips for Managing the Cost of Cancer and Related Procedures

There is no doubt that cancer can be costly, but there are some things you can do to help lessen the financial impact of the disease.

BY TAMERA ANDERSON-HANNA

PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 19, 2018

Tamera Anderson-Hanna is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified Addiction Professional, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and became a Registered Yoga Teacher while coping with breast cancer in 2015. She owns Wellness, Therapy, & Yoga in Florida where she provides personal wellness services and coaching and she is a public speaker on wellness-related topics. You can connect with her at www.wellnesstherapyyoga.com.

There is no doubt that cancer can be costly. For some, this might be the first major medical diagnosis ever faced, and it can be both emotionally and financially overwhelming.

If there has been one time in my life I was grateful to have insurance, it was when I was diagnosed with cancer. I had no idea how my policy would kick in for medical procedures related to cancer, but I dove in to reading about my benefits. I was relieved to learn about some of the details regarding coverage. First, I had to learn and understand what my annual catastrophic deductible was, just in case. Essentially, a catastrophic deductible means that once you met the limit for out-of-pocket expenses for a calendar year, then, per some policies, all other procedures, copayments and expenses are covered for the remainder of the year. I kept track of the in-network expenses, and once I met a catastrophic deductible, I was no longer charged for any in-network appointment or procedures. I tried to use in-network providers I felt comfortable with whenever possible.