At 5:40 one morning, I woke before the alarm and lay still, listening to the refrigerator hum. An MRI waited for me that afternoon. Fear had already filled in the result, the next phone call, and every hard thing that might follow. But hope during cancer is not always a bright feeling. Sometimes it is…
Plan a Cancer Treatment Break Without Losing Care
A pause in Cancer treatment can feel like stepping away from the only thing holding the line. Sometimes your body needs rest. Sometimes a family event, hospital stay, fear, or exhaustion makes the next appointment feel impossible. A cancer treatment break, sometimes called a treatment holiday, doesn’t have to mean you’re abandoning care. Your oncology…
Not Writing from the Opposite Shore
This essay isn’t being written from a beachside towel line or from the opposite bank, where someone hands you a towel and asks how it felt. I’m writing this while I’m still in the middle of crossing, my arms tired, the current pulling at me, unable to see which direction will take me to land….
Cancer Blood Transfusions: What to Expect Before, During, and After
When cancer treatment lowers your red blood cells, less oxygen reaches your tissues. You may feel exhausted, breathless, dizzy, or weak. A blood transfusion may help your body carry oxygen again or lower the risk of bleeding. The idea can feel frightening. You may picture an emergency, unfamiliar equipment, or one more hard thing your…
How to Find an Oncology Social Worker During Cancer Treatment
A cancer diagnosis can fill your days with appointments, unfamiliar words, and worries that do not wait their turn. You may need help with a bill, transportation, a family conversation, or the fear that rises after everyone else goes home. An oncology social worker can offer emotional support and help with transportation, bills, family concerns,…
