Almost 18 months ago, AnCan was honored to host a fascinating, thought provoking webinar titled ‘The Language of Cancer’. To save repetition, click on this link to learn exactly what that means. Essentially we are speaking about how cancer patietns refer to themselves, and how the medical world may employ language that is unintentionally insulting.
By way of example, a doc often say a patient has failed a drug ……. NO, the patient hasn’t failed the drug – the drug has failed the patient!
Just the past week, when we were discussing this very webinar and topic in one of our virtual groups, one of our webinar panelists published a new article on the same old topic in Psychology Today, Prof Jamie Aten is the Founder of the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College, where he also teaches psychology. He has also lived with Stage 4 colon cancer diagnosed 7 years ago, though, thankfully, Jamie is currently NED – No Evidence of Disease.
If you live with cancer or are a caregiver, it’s almost certain you’ll have an opinion on this topic. We welcome your response if you’d like to write your own blogpost!
Sometime over the past month, a man attended one of AnCan’s video chat, virtual support groups with a big problem on his mind. This man had been on hormone therapy – more precisely androgen deprivation therapy, for close to 12 months and he was suffering, physically and mentally from having little or no testosterone in his body. He was fatigued, had “Lupron Brain” – brain fog, and was emotionally on the edge … all the time. Moreover, & understandably, he didn’t want to let his employer and workmates know he lived with advanced cancer. Result ….. he unintentionally upset colleagues, couldn’t complete his work tasks and …. received an offiicial employment warning.
This fellow came to us for support, and the best we could do was to suggest he speak to Human Resources under confidentialty; and/or seek an employment lawyer. What we didn’t know is that there is a non-profit out there to assist … and in their own words, this situation is their bread and butter.
Cancer & Careers is dedicated to tackling cancer-related problems in the workplace. Whether involving healthcare, employment, job seeking, employment law, Covid, or working through treatment – Cancer and Careers will help you resolve any of these issues and more, both one on one and through webinars, handouts, and other educational supplements. Check out their website and don’t hesitate to reach out to them if you have a question that needs answering.
What’s more, Brian Morvant, a senior program coordinator at Cancer & Careers told us just today in a presentation for our Male Breast Cancer Virtual Support Group that Cancer & Careers still offers a maximum grant of $500 per family experiencing financial challenges … apply now!
Make sure you’ve signed up for our upcoming Connect Education Workshops! These free workshops provide the latest cancer information straight from leading experts, via phone or online. At the end of the workshop, you’ll have a chance to ask the experts your own questions. Register by clicking on the selected link below.
Alexa Jett has recently connected with AnCan – initially to co-moderate the planned thyroid cancer virtual group we hope to start by year-end. But subsequently her infectious, warm and enthusiastic pesonality opened volunteer opportunities with us. Alexa recently directed The TALK – MS webinar, and she has introduced the Renal Meduallry Carcinoma (RMC) group to us wthat will have its first meeting this ocming week. Now we are working on Adolescent & Young Adult (AYA) opportuities.
Alexa survived recurrent papillary thyroid cancer, most recently in 2019. First diagnosed in 2017, aged 25, Alexa was treated at M.D. Anderson. Whilst there, she refequented Kim’s Place – the AYA retreat where she met one of our RMC moderators, caregiver Charissa Monroe, who lost her husband to RMC.
ESPN published an article this week on how Kim’s Place came to be, and Alexa was interviewed extensively, It was just published on The Undefeated blog and you can read it here:
Editor’s Pick ….. From Down Under, we hear from a Gent diagnosed metastatic at aged 50 who has managed his disease successfully since 2012! AnCan LOVES these anecdotal stories that offer hope (rd)
Topics Discussed
Cancer returns, but is it prostate cancer or lymphoma?; ‘young man’s’ successful treatment of metastatic cancer over 8 years; TMJ and bone support medicines; another man finds he’s BRCA+ & anemic; East Coast PSMA scans; chemo leads to foot & hand rash – or maybe allergy at the infusion site; enz, abi or chemo – which first?; acupuncture solves neuropathy; NIH still shut down for PSMA scans; seeking empirical validation for treating the primary tumor; needle biopsy of inguinal lymph node
Chat Log
AnCan Barniskis Room (to Len Sierra): 5:10 PM: is Jim still on HT??
AnCan Barniskis Room (to Len Sierra): 5:14 PM: They dont need tissue – liquid Bx
Peter Kafka (to Everyone): 5:15 PM: Who is treating Jim
David Muslin (to Everyone): 5:18 PM: Dr. Marc J Chernoff, DO is a doctor primarily located in Meadowbrook, PA, with other offices in Meadowbrook, PA and Willow Grove, PA( and 4 other locations). He has 29 years of experience. His specialties include Internal Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Medical Oncology.
AnCan Barniskis Room (to Len Sierra): 5:21 PM: Geynisman @ Fox Chase
John I. (to Everyone): 5:22 PM: https://www.foxchase.org/daniel-geynisman
Len Sierra (Private): 5:41 PM: For lymphoma?
Len Sierra (Private): 5:46 PM: that was in response to your suggestion that he should have a liquid biopsy.
Len Sierra (to Everyone): 5:52 PM: Jim Jeffries, Read Mark Scholz book on prostate cancer: “The Key to Prostate Cancer.” Maybe others can suggest other recent good books.
Peter Kafka (to Everyone): 5:54 PM: Jim: Book available on Amazon
AnCan Barniskis Room (to Len Sierra): 5:57 PM: completely missed the whole lymphoma side initially ,,,,,
Rusty (to Everyone): 6:00 PM: Gotta run guys! Have a great night.
Carl Forman (to Everyone): 6:03 PM: Interesting that PSMA scans have been readily available in Australia, but not yet in the US.
AnCan Barniskis Room (to Everyone): 6:04 PM: PSMA on trial in Oz
Jake Hannam (to Organizer(s) Only): 6:29 PM: I do have a question if there is time.
AnCan Barniskis Room (to Everyone): 6:39 PM: University of Indiana PSMA
Mark Perloe (to Everyone): 6:40 PM: Emory and Columbia University have trials now.
