Hello and welcome to the June 2018 issue of CONQUER.
Summer is finally here folks. And as we all know, summer means lots of events and activities with family and friends, and many of these gatherings will likely take place outside. What does that mean for you? Sunblock. Hat. Longer-sleeved clothing. Skin cancer is looking for someone like you to live with. Don’t allow that to happen!
Read about skin cancer in this issue, and how to prevent it, or at a minimum reduce your risk of it happening. We are especially worried about those who are diagnosed with melanoma or with advanced squamous-cell carcinoma. These are deadly cancers. Read the touching story about a young woman who lost her battle to stage IV melanoma, and how her family remains dedicated to raising awareness to this disease in her memory.
There are quite a few patient stories in this issue. Besides melanoma, also read personal stories from patients with cancer/survivors who have dealt with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, GIST, and lung cancer. There’s also an article by a multiple myeloma survivor who discusses his experience with stem-cell transplant, explaining what it is and what is involved for anyone whose doctor may recommend this procedure.
Although much of your time, after being diagnosed with cancer, is spent focusing on your treatment, you also need to be aware of the types of legal issues you need to know about. Some may be surprising. Read about these issues, and how to address them effectively—for you and for your family.
Exercise and smart nutrition choices are 2 important ways to help reduce the risk of your cancer recurring or of you getting a new type of cancer. Read how to go about incorporating these activities and philosophies into your daily routine to remain a long-term survivor.
Can’t sleep? You are not alone. Getting a good night’s sleep is part of your survivorship care and shouldn’t be neglected. Learn how to stop counting sheep and get a better night’s rest.
Caregivers get drafted into becoming caregivers. They are expected to figure out caregiving as they go along, taking on additional responsibilities at home, juggling work, parenting responsibilities, as well as being the one-on-one caregiver. This story by a caregiver has some teaching points to share that may make your caregiver experience easier to accomplish.
Finally, an article from me addresses patients living with metastatic breast cancer and the importance of making your future milestones known to your treatment team, with the goal that they can be preserved for you rather than lost.
Well, that’s a rap! We hope you enjoy this new issue of CONQUER. Be well. Enjoy the summer. And remember—sunblock!