Managing Your Cancer

Whether to share the news you have cancer with others can be a very personal decision. You're probably not sure what to do or how much to reveal. Some people with cancer choose to tell their loved ones only; others find it helps to let people they come in regular contact with know about their diagnosis. When people decide to tell others, they may do so for these reasons: It's too big and scary to deal with a...

Your treatment is over and now begins a new step in your journey: life after cancer. No one forgets that he, she or a loved one once had cancer. After remission, you may still feel anxiety about your health and fear that the cancer may return. This is especially true when you: Feel symptoms, even when they turn out to be unrelated to cancer Need follow-up visits Return to your doctor's office or the hospita...

Blood cancer survivors don't always have serious long-term or late effects of treatment. For those who do, some long-term effects, such as fatigue, can linger for months or years after therapy. Late effects, such as medical conditions like heart disease and other cancers, don't appear until years after treatment ends. Effects can range from mild to severe. Talk with your doctor about possible long-term and late ef...

The term “fertility” is used to describe the ability to conceive a child naturally. Some cancer treatments affect fertility in males and females. The risk of infertility from cancer treatment is based on several factors, including the patient’s age and the type and dosage of treatment received. It is important to talk with members of your oncology team before treatment begins about the effects of your trea...

You may be concerned about how blood cancer and treatment will affect your current or future relationships and your sexuality. Sexuality refers to physical, psychological, social, emotional and spiritual factors. It includes self-image, body image, reproductive ability, emotional intimacy, sensual feelings and sexual functioning. Sexuality-related concerns may arise from the physical aspects of your disease or tre...

One-On-One Nutrition Consultations The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) provides PearlPoint Nutrition Services® to patients and caregivers of all cancer types, offering free nutrition education and consultations. Our registered dietitian has expertise in oncology nutrition and provides free one-on-one consultations by phone or email. Schedule a Consult ...

Keeping a file with all your medical records in one place is a good idea, especially if you're seeing more than one doctor or seeking a second opinion. Get copies of lab reports from your healthcare providers and keep them in a file folder, a three-ring binder or any other system that works best for you. Organize test reports by date (chronological) so they're easy to find. By keeping organized records, you'l...

Healthcare costs are a key concern for most people with blood cancer. Many patients don't have health insurance, and for others, coverage is limited. If you have health insurance, it's essential that you know what your plan covers and how to maintain your benefits.    Where to Start You and your family will need to decide how to pay for treatment while managing household finances. You probably also...

Working often fulfills a critical financial and emotional need for cancer survivors and their caregivers. In addition to providing income and important benefits such as health insurance, employment also can provide a source of support, feelings of productivity, and even normalcy. Cancer, however, may create barriers to finding and keeping a job, as well as wreak havoc on the ability to pay bills and to obtain adequat...

You don't necessarily need to depend on inpatient medical facilities to meet all your healthcare needs. If your condition allows, you can get the quality care you need at home and avoid the inconveniences of hospitals, nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities.   What Is Home Care? Home care encompasses a wide range of health, social and rehabilitative services for recovering, disabled, chronically il...

The terminal phase of an illness can create unimaginable challenges for you, your loved ones and your family. A major shift in caring for the patient occurs; treating the patient to significantly prolong life becomes making the patient's last days as comfortable and painless as possible. Whether you're the patient, loved one or caregiver, you'll have to deal with all or some of the following during this difficult ...

Firefighters are at an increased risk of developing cancer.  There are steps to take that can reduce that risk.
All firefighters, regardless whether they are career or volunteer, put their own lives at risk to save others in their communities. In addition to the danger of putting out fires, firefighters are at an increased risk for different types of cancer due to the smoke and hazardous chemi...