Posted in Coping

  Meditation is no longer associated with highly spiritual people sitting cross legged under a tree. It is becoming increasingly popular even with us common folk, and is proving to be very effective for managing stress and anxiety. A cancer diagnosis is clearly one of the most stressful things that can happen, and clinical studies are showing that Meditation and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction are very useful and should not be taken for granted. It is easy, safe and free - ...

Twenty-two is such a strange age to endure a life threatening disease. I was almost twenty-three years old, and from down the other end of the phone, from a doctor who was almost not going to bother running tests because I was "so healthy", told me that it was cancer. A late stage, but curable, blood cancer. I was too young to have wisdom under my belt, as were any of my friends trying to comfort me. I was too old to adopt the method of my youth and excitedly stay home fr...

What is medical cannabis and which cancer symptoms can it help? Cannabis is definitely the buzzword in cancer care right now. So let's talk about it. What exactly is in medical cannabis?
Plant-derived cannabinoids are mainly manufactured from Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica plant species. Although there are more than 60 active compounds found in cannabis plant extracts, the focus of clinical interest in oncology is on CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabiol). THC a...

Counsellor and Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Well the 'journey' began long before I knew it was a journey... The bones of who I am, or the work Bio, says I'm a recycled Occupational Therapist - and prior to that as an Occupational Therapy aide working in Psychiatry, I had an epiphany it wasn't like Donald Neale Walsch having a conversation with God. It was just a simple sudden knowing that my voice would be my lifes' work. I was 23.  I was walking up and down in a re...

Concerns about sexual health and intimacy is something that comes up a lot with my patients; in fact, over 70% of my patients have discussed sexual issues with me.  Sexual symptoms often slip under the radar of 'important issues' to discuss with your oncologist, but with more cancer survivors than ever (yay!) it is becoming more and more important to chat about it. Cancer-associated sexual symptoms may be noticeable during treatment, but more commonly they are an ongoing c...

Having a diagnosis of cancer is one of the most shocking and stressful realities that a person can face - and not just the affected patient, but also loved ones, friends and family. The shock can last a long time, and it is a long process with many emotional ups and downs. Having a friend or loved one with the diagnosis is a shock as well carers can feel helpless, fearful and frustrated. Your loved one may need acute physical help for at least three months during/after initial surgery/ch...