If you haven’t already, this is the perfect time to take the important step of creating your will. While it’s not something anyone likes to think about, making a will doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. This simple act can have a profound impact on your future, the well-being of your loved ones and the organizations that matter most to you!
By including a gift to Gilda’s Club Kentuckiana in your will, you become a member of our Thumbprint Legacy Society. Thumbprints are at the very heart of Gilda’s Club as we leave indelible impressions on each other by participating in our community. Every member, participant, volunteer and donor share a unique part of themselves with one another and with the future participants, volunteers and donors.
No two thumbprints are alike; the unique impression we leave on the lives of those we love lives on long after us.
Creating your legacy by making a gift to our Thumbprint Legacy Society ensures that no one faces cancer alone.
Below are several quick, legal and reliable ways to complete your will without an attorney. You may also reach out by emailing gckdevelopment@gck.org.
Online Will-Making Services: Websites like LegalZoom, Willmaker, and Trust & Will offer user-friendly tools to create a will tailored to your needs with step-by-step guidance to ensure your will meets legal requirements.
DIY Will Templates: Platforms like Nolo and Rocket Lawyer offer downloadable will templates. These templates are designed to be filled out with your personal information and instructions and they often come with helpful information to ensure your will is legally sound.
State-Specific Forms: Some states offer free will forms on their official websites. These forms are customized to meet state laws and can be a simple way to ensure your will is legally valid.
By joining the Thumbprint Legacy Society, you will join the ranks of people like Paula Barmore and Anoosh Shariat. Paula and Anoosh are true ambassadors for Gilda’s Club, supporting our mission in myriad ways.
Paula received the Gilda’s Girl Scout award due to her willingness to help in any way possible, and to come through when we need it most. She is a tireless volunteer, often serving as a Meal Host. A realtor, Paula and her partner donate to Gilda’s Club each time they sell a home. We are humbled by her example and know you will be moved by her story.
Paula’s Story
Gilda’s Club has been a lifeline for me during one of the most challenging periods of my life. When my husband was diagnosed with Stage 4 Colorectal cancer over six years ago, our world turned upside down.
Paula Barmore and Anoosh Shariat
Cancer is something many of us are familiar with, but it’s entirely different when it becomes a personal battle, especially when it’s your loved one. The journey we’ve been on has been incredibly tough, but the support we received from Gilda’s Club, particularly the caregiver group, has made all the difference.
The caregiver group at Gilda’s Club has provided me with a level of understanding and compassion I couldn’t have found anywhere else. There is a unique bond that forms with others who are walking the same path, and the extraordinary team at Gilda’s has been there every step of the way with love, knowledge, and unwavering support. I can’t put into words how much this has meant to me, but it’s something I am beyond grateful for.
To ensure that other families can continue to receive this vital support, my husband and I have decided to include Gilda’s Club in our estate plan. We believe that the services Gilda’s provides should be available to everyone who needs them, at no cost. By making this bequest, we hope to contribute to the long-term sustainability of the organization, allowing them to continue their incredible work for years to come.
Although we hope for a future where no one has to face cancer, we take comfort in knowing that, through our gift, others will continue to receive the care and support they need from such a wonderful organization.
If you would like information about becoming a member of our Thumbprint Legacy Society, email Tonya Cook or call 502.371.3052.
Stock photo posed by models, sourced by Getty Images
Two navigators from our Cancer Support Helpline share strategies to help you through the ups and downs of your cancer experience.
Editor’s Note: This is part of our Spotlight on Mental Health series examining critical mental health concerns that affect cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and providers.
Each year as May rolls around, days become longer, and flowers and trees reach peak bloom. Many people have emerged from their winter cocoons and may notice an improvement in their mood. May is also Mental Health Awareness Month and, while everything may be looking up, it is a time to acknowledge the importance of honoring one’s mental health needs throughout the year, especially if cancer is also in your life.
Mental health encompasses our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, affecting how we think, feel, and act. While most people experience normal everyday ups and downs, 1 in 5 adults in the United States will experience a mental health condition such as anxiety or depression.
Hearing the news that you have, or may have, a cancer diagnosis is a devastating moment in a person’s life. Those everyday ups and downs you once had may now be complicated by the practical realities of navigating serious illness, communicating updates to loved ones, and managing feelings around planning for the future.
Receiving a diagnosis or learning that your cancer has changed can bring about many emotions. These feelings can be complicated to sort out. All the while, lives don’t stop moving — bills still need paying — and it can be all too easy to put our emotions to the side to deal with later. An already existing mental health condition could be worsened by the new uncertainty of cancer, especially if formal support is limited.
In short, it is expected that you may not be okay while balancing all of this.
Tips to Cope With Stressors
As oncology social work navigators at Cancer Support Community’s Cancer Support Helpline, people share stories with us that include other components of their lives that impact their mental health and wellness. Dynamics that were occurring long before cancer entered their lives have an impact on their mood and coping abilities such as:
Being caregivers themselves to aging parents or young children
Experiencing loss in the form of divorce or with the passing of a loved one
Managing life transitions such as with jobs changes or family planning
Navigating the highs and lows of being an emerging adult
When cancer arises, it may occur alongside these other life stressors that are common life experiences for many of us.
It can be helpful to know some coping strategies that can be used in moments when you are not feeling okay. Asking yourself, “How can I improve the moment?” can help to pause and redirect your focus on something that can help reduce the distress temporarily. This may include spending time in nature by going for a walk, taking a shower or bath, calling a loved one, writing, or listening to music.
Mindfulness is the practice of noticing the present moment or an emotion for exactly what it is, without feeling the need to change how we are feeling or push the emotion away. Developing a regular mindfulness practice can be beneficial to understanding how to balance intense feelings. Smart phone apps such as Insight Timer or Calm are great resources to get started.
Need to pause and take some deep breaths? Watch our 13-minute guided meditation using breath, visualization and intention to call upon healing within.
It is also important to know when you may need to turn to formal support. Some signs that it may be time to talk with someone include:
Feeling unable to control your thoughts or worries
Sleeping less or more than you are accustomed to
Eating more than usual or not having an appetite at all
Finding it difficult to complete basic daily tasks
No longer enjoying activities you once enjoyed
Your cancer center may have oncology social workers available to offer practical and emotional support. You can ask your oncologist or nurse navigator for a referral to the oncology social worker to be connected. Your primary care provider is another great resource for referrals to community mental health providers.
NOTE: If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, experiencing depression, or feeling a loss of hope, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat with a counselor from the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. They provide 24/7, free, and confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress anywhere in the United States.
How Our Helpline Can Provide Cancer Support
Our Cancer Support Helpline is staffed with community navigators and resource specialists who are here and ready to support you by phone at 888-793-9355 and online via our live web chat service. Our Helpline staff can offer emotional support and share personalized resources that may be helpful in coping with difficult emotions that can come with cancer.
A few ways we can help include:
Linking you with one of our Gilda’s Club or CSC locations across the country that provide free support programs to anyone impacted by cancer
Helping you find a therapist in your community or online if you prefer
Finding a peer mentor, matching you with someone who has been through a similar experience
Offering support and guidance around talking openly with your oncology team, primary care doctor, or any of your other care providers about how you are feeling.
Remember, it’s okay to not be okay sometimes. We are here to support you through the ups and downs of your cancer experience.
“To keep going is resilience in the face of something terrible going on,” says Courtney, pictured here.
Writing, joking, TikToking and connecting helped Courtney get through the toughest moments of an advanced-stage melanoma diagnosis.
“If I wasn’t going to laugh, I was going to cry, and there was a better way for me to get through it.” – Courtney
The news came just when life was starting to feel normal again.
It was late 2021. Many people were easing back into their pre-pandemic routines. Theaters, concert halls, and comedy clubs were booking events again. Performers were returning to the stage. Courtney, a 26-year-old Chicago-based actress and comedian, had plans to do the same.
But when Courtney received the results of a biopsy, everything changed in an instant. She was told that a persistent bump under her arm — first examined by a doctor 6 months earlier and dismissed as breast tissue — was, in fact, late stage 3/early stage 4 melanoma.
“It felt like I was living some alternate reality,” she says, looking back on the days and weeks after her diagnosis. “Like someone else who was living this really terrible life, because I never expected my life to go down this path.”
“You just lose the innocence of youth — for me that’s what it felt like, because I just wanted to be a normal 26-year-old and not have the pressure of a life-threatening illness.”
— Courtney
In the days after her diagnosis, Courtney grappled with the question “Why me?”
“I think this is almost universal for cancer survivors is [asking] ‘Why me? Why did this terrible thing happen to me?’” she says. “There are not a lot of reasons why. It’s like, ‘Why not you?’ It could have happened to anybody. I never spent a day in a tanning bed, but I had melanoma. It was anger around that — you think there are a lot of worse people in the world it could have happened to, and I was comparing myself to other people which, I don’t know, was a coping mechanism at the time.”
It wasn’t just anger that she felt. Courtney recalls feeling a deep sadness and grief for the life she had been living before cancer. Over time, those emotions gave way to resilience.
“You can’t cope with your life unless you are resilient,” she says. “You have to grieve — that is what makes us people. But to keep going is resilience in the face of something terrible going on.”
Getting Through Treatment
After weighing a first and second opinion about her treatment options, Courtney opted to go with the second, from an oncologist at Northwestern Medicine who specializes in skin cancers and melanomas. The course of treatment would include immunotherapy using a combination of 2 drugs.
Like other cancer therapies, immunotherapy can have side effects. Often, they are temporary and not severe. Less often, side effects can be severe, such as problems with the liver, kidney, or heart.
“I lasted one round of the two drugs and went into liver failure,” says Courtney.
She was hospitalized for 10 days after her first round of treatment. For her next 11 rounds of immunotherapy, her care team administered just one drug.
“Of course, they never know what is going to be effective for each individual person,” says Courtney. It was scary, she adds, not knowing if just one drug would be effective.
“Going through immunotherapy is hard,” she says. There were side effects — gastrointestinal issues, fatigue, rashes. “I was able to try to live as normal as possible. I still didn’t know what life would look like — what my end goal was going to look like — if I was going to be able to finish treatment. I felt pressured to leave something behind at that point.”
Courtney paired up with her friend Kelton, a comedy writer, and together, they wrote a comedy show (the duo later performed it before an audience). “It was like, ‘God forbid, if I’m not here, at least I left something behind,’” she says.
Having a strong support system among friends and family also helped her during treatment. Her parents and sister periodically traveled from out of town to stay with her, and her longtime partner Tyler accompanied her to treatments at the hospital. Often, she joked with friends and family about her cancer experience. “It was always kind of the butt of the joke [with] people I was close with,” says Courtney. “If I wasn’t going to laugh, I was going to cry, and there was a better way for me to get through it.”
Ultimately, the 11 additional rounds of immunotherapy with the single drug worked. In 2022, Courtney was declared as having NED: no evidence of disease.
“When I did finish treatment, it was full steam ahead,” she says, “like I have my life back and I need to take advantage of this and start performing again.”
Courtney (center, front) performing with her improv team Whimsy Lohan in 2023.
Finding Peer Support
Adolescents and young adults with cancer face “real disparities” when it comes to both diagnosis and care, notes hematologist-oncologist Allison Rosenthal, D.O., in a Mayo Clinic blog.1 As Dr. Rosenthal put it, “This is an underdiagnosed, underserved, and under-recognized population.”1
Compared with other age groups, cancers in AYAs are often diagnosed at later stages.2,3
Cancer care itself is generally not targeted to meet the unique needs of young adults.4 Treatment and management tend to fall on either the pediatric side or the older adult side of the oncology care spectrum.4 As a result, young adults can feel sidelined throughout their cancer care experience.
Courtney sensed this disparity from the moment of her diagnosis. “Even when they handed me a brochure for melanoma, it was older people on it. I was like, ‘Where is the representation?’”
Finding other YAs with whom she could connect proved invaluable. “There were young adult programs to help me process — just meeting people who are going through the same thing. Everyone of all ages suffers from cancer. It doesn’t care what age you are, but it can be daunting to look around the cancer center and you are the youngest one there.”
For peer support, Courtney turned to a variety of resources. There was Imerman Angels, a program that pairs young cancer patients with a mentor of a similar age and cancer diagnosis. And First Descents, an organization that hosts outdoor adventure trips for young adults impacted by cancer and other serious health conditions. Courtney went on a kayaking trip through the organization. “I still talk to my First Descents friends that I’ve made,” she says.
After she completed treatment, Courtney also participated in CSC’s YA survivorship educational program, Cancer Transitions for Young Adults: Moving Beyond Treatment. The professionally facilitated, 4-week program addresses physical, social, and practical issues young adult survivors can face. Participants also have opportunities to learn from one another through group discussions. “I think it’s important for people to meet other young people who have gone through it,” shares Courtney.
“There are so many resources. That was important for me, coping, getting connected and having access to these things, especially for my mental health.” — Courtney
Sharing Her Story
Throughout her treatment, Courtney shared her experience on her social media, filming videos for Instagram and TikTok that depicted “a day in the life of getting treatment.” Now she has a collection of journal-like videos to look back on. Watching them helps her recall the emotions she was feeling at the time, she says. “For me it was vital to be processing it while going through it. I’m very open about it and like to talk about it.”
Courtney continues to share her story today as she navigates the ins and outs of survivorship, including regular CT scans and annual MRIs. Currently she’s writing a show about her experience.
“It’s comedic, but still authentic to what I went through,” she says. “I’m hoping to finish it sometime before the summer ends. I think I will have ensemble members to play the nurses and doctors and my friends.”
Courtney also continues to be open about her cancer experience and welcomes people’s questions about it.
“It doesn’t define me,” she says. “But I went through something very hard and very difficult, and I think it shows who I am as a person. Especially when I’m meeting people, I always feel like there’s a point where I have to come out and say, ‘Yeah, for a year I had cancer, and it’s part of me.’”
Stock photo posed by model, sourced by Getty Images
Are you applying enough sunscreen before you head outdoors? “It’s a lot more than people realize,” says dermatologist Vishal Anil Patel, M.D. Use this Q&A to brush up on your knowledge about skin cancer, prevention & protection ― including just how much sunscreen you should be using.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States today, accounting for about half of all cancers. Thanks to public awareness campaigns in recent decades, we are more knowledgeable about skin cancer prevention and sun safety than ever before. Still, many of us have lingering questions about everything from risk factors to screening recommendations to proper sunscreen application.
Have you wondered:
Should I get skin cancer screening?
Can just one sunburn increase my risk of skin cancer?
Is skin cancer curable?
Does skin cancer run in the family?
Can I use last year’s bottle of sunscreen?
To get the answers to these and other common questions, we spoke with Vishal Anil Patel, M.D., Director of Cutaneous Oncology at the George Washington (GW) Cancer Center and Director of Dermatologic Surgery in GW’s Department of Dermatology.
Here’s what to know:
How does the sun play a role in the development of skin cancer? Are there other causes of skin cancer besides the sun?
Dr. Patel:Sun is a carcinogenic exposure. But there are also other carcinogenic agents that can cause skin cancer, like arsenic or even a virus like HPV (human papilloma virus). UV radiation is the most common and the most prevalent cause today.
Globally, we have a positive and a negative relationship with the sun. We all love to do stuff in the sun, but sometimes we consume it too much. We have a sun-worshipping culture, and that exposure is additive over time. So, while the sun can cause harm, you can modify your behavior to reduce your exposure risk now and going forward.
The most common types of skin cancer are non-melanoma skin cancers, and those are caused by long-term, chronic sun exposure. So, it can be decades before you develop these malignancies.
There are other causes of skin cancer, as well ― genetic predispositions, and some medications. There are medications that lower or alter your immune system. We have so many new medications that can control your immune system, to a degree, for overactive immune systems. These chronic medications that people take ― some of them increase your risk of skin cancer. If we are artificially hampering your immune system, that can increase your risk. There are even blood pressure medications and other medications that can make you more sensitive to the sun.
Can just one sunburn increase someone’s risk of skin cancer?
Dr. Patel:Yes. Intense sunburns, especially at an earlier age, increase your risk, especially of melanoma. There is no such thing as a healthy tan ― it’s a sign that your skin is seeing UV radiation and is responding to it. It’s a marker that it’s seeing more damage than it would like. So, people who don’t blister, don’t burn, but tan a lot, [will] begin to see the effects of that. Suntans will cause you to prematurely age. It’s all on the same continuum. And that damage is variable — you can get just one sunburn and that increases your risk [or] have low levels of underlying damage over time, so your risk of non-melanoma goes up.
I tell patients you can eat a terribly high-fat meal just once, and it increases your risk of high cholesterol temporarily, or you can have unhealthy eating over time and this could increase your cholesterol.
The same analogy works with sun exposure. Just like with everything in this world, moderation and protection is key. We try to moderate how much sugar and fat is in our diet. With the sun, we should try to moderate it too. Don’t play tennis or golf at noon. If you have to be outside, try to do your activities earlier or later. Wear sun-protective clothing. Reapply sunscreen because it wears off every 2 hours or so. Get under the tree or an umbrella, do something active, and then reapply sunscreen and take a break.
“Tanning is your body’s way of reacting to UV radiation. The skin cells are reacting to the sun and there is localized damage that is potentially occurring.”
― Dr. Vishal A. Patel
Can skin cancer be inherited?
Dr. Patel: Melanoma has a much more genetic component to it [than non-melanoma]. There’s much more of a driver to it with known targeted genes.
We think about melanoma in subgroups ― there are ones that are driven by mutations that were acquired from sun damage only, and there are ones that are due to family history and are genetically predisposed.
The genetically predisposed ones occur when 2 or more family members on one side have invasive melanoma. That’s when we think there is a specific genetic component to it.
Where is the most common place to find skin cancer?
Dr. Patel:For about 85% of non-melanoma skin cancers, the most common places are on sun-exposed areas like the head and neck, forearms, and hands.
For melanomas, they are also on sun-exposed areas, generally, but also can be anywhere on the body. If it’s genetic, it can be on an area that hasn’t seen sun damage.
Is skin cancer easy to treat and cure?
Dr. Patel:We like to start by saying that the lower risk skin cancers can be treated well when caught early. They have different risk profiles, so we have different treatment options.
The non-melanoma skin cancers can be treated in a variety of ways, through surgical and nonsurgical options. They generally have high cure rates when cut out completely.
As a whole, skin cancers do really well when managed early on. This includes melanoma as well. But even some melanomas that are caught and treated earlier can have a risk of the cancer spreading or causing death. But that risk is low, so early treatment is best for any skin cancer.
Dr. Patel:We don’t have clear skin cancer screening guidelines because there isn’t clear evidence about how many lifesaving benefits it has. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force does not recommend skin cancer screening for the general population because it can lead to unnecessary biopsies and unnecessary treatment.
It’s an individualized risk stratification* that we like to consider. Most patients should get risk stratified once by a dermatologist and discuss if and what frequency you might need to be seen for skin cancer screening. If you are at high risk, you should probably get screened at different (more increased) frequencies.
*Editor’s Note: Risk stratification is a practice healthcare providers use to assign patients risk levels, from low to high, for specific conditions. A person’s risk status for a condition depends on individual factors like medical history.
“We recommend that you get used to looking at your skin once a month and get used to where all your moles and spots are. … If you notice something change or a new growth, you should consider having that evaluated more closely.”
― Dr. Vishal A. Patel
Can doing monthly skin checks at home be helpful for anyone to do, regardless of their risk level for skin cancer?
Dr. Patel:Yes, doing self-screening at home can be one of the most effective ways to find skin cancer. In fact, self-screening has been shown to be almost as effective or even more effective than seeing a dermatologist in certain scenarios. This is because you are considering the history of the way your skin looks and not just how it looks at one point in time when you go to see the doctor.
Generally speaking, we recommend that you get used to looking at your skin once a month and get used to where all your moles and spots are. Get used to how they look. And if you do that each month and regularly, our brains and eyes pick up changes or new spots. If you notice something change or a new growth, you should consider having that evaluated more closely.
Practicing sun safety, including wearing sunscreen on both cloudy and sunny days, is one of the most important ways people can lower their risk of skin cancer. There are many sunscreen products available in a wide range of SPF values, from 6 to 100.
What should people look for when choosing a sunscreen?
Dr. Patel: The first thing I say is pick one that you like to put on ― one that feels good, that’s not annoying. Some have moisturizers; there are some that have make up. There are chemical and mineral sunscreens. See what is easy to apply and feels comfortable, whether it’s on your face, body, or whatnot. You have to do a little trial and error. I tell patients if you want the easiest one, go for the kid’s or baby version, because they are gentler and they are mineral-based.
The second point I say is that the SPF number is difficult to fully understand. It’s a strength and a duration. But in general, the higher the number, the longer it is going to work ― it’s a burn-ratio factor.*
What I tell people is you want to have at least SPF 30, and 50 or above is best. The incremental effect after that is small. But if you see sunscreen with SPF 80 on sale, you might as well get the 80. Make sure that’s its broad-spectrum to get skin protection against both UVA and UVB rays. If you do that, then you should be in good shape.
*Editor’s Note: SPF (sun protection factor) is a measure of how long it takes UV radiation to burn skin with a sunscreen product vs. the time it would take without the sunscreen (Skin Cancer Foundation).
UVB vs UVA: What’s the Difference?
The sun emits two types of UV (ultraviolet) light that can harm the skin. UVB light affects the outer layers, causing sunburn. UVA light has a longer wavelength and reaches deeper layers of the skin. Over time, UVA exposure can cause premature skin aging. Learn more about UV radiation.
As we prepare for outdoor activities and beach vacations this summer, some of us might be tempted to dig out our old bottles of sunscreen from last year, or previous years.
Does SPF lose effectiveness after it expires?
Dr. Patel: Expiration dates are meant to be a safety point. That shelf life is that’s its optimally working to that point. If it’s a few months expired, it’s probably totally fine. If you realize that it’s expired, you can use it or mix it with [new sunscreen] so you can stretch it. Usually after 3 months is my cutoff ― that’s when I know the value is going down, and beyond 6 months there certainly will not be value.
But the real question is, if you are going to be getting more anyway, why don’t you just make the move to [a new bottle]? That is always better and recommended, but if you are in a bind and only have one to use that is a month or two expired, that is better than not using anything at all.
The other thing people miss is underutilizing the amount of sunscreen you need. It’s a lot more than people realize. You need one shot glass amount to apply to your whole body. You split that up per area — your torso is one area, your legs and your arms are other areas. The ineffectiveness of sunscreen is usually due to incomplete application.
There are different myths about skin cancer and its prevention. What is one common myth you can bust now?
Dr. Patel:We always hear that myth about getting a healthy tan or starting your sunny season off with a base layer of skin hardening, so to speak. That’s really a myth. Tanning is your body’s way of reacting to UV radiation. The skin cells are reacting to the sun and there is localized damage that is potentially occurring. The myth that getting a tan is healthy for your skin is something people should disregard.
About Vishal A. Patel Dr. Vishal A. Patel is an Associate Professor of Dermatology and Associate Professor of Medicine/Oncology at the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences. He serves as the Director of Cutaneous Oncology at the GW Cancer Center and the Director of Dermatologic Surgery at the GW Department of Dermatology. He is a board-certified dermatologist as well as a fellowship trained and board-certified micrographic dermatologic surgeon who specializes in cutaneous oncology and reconstructive surgery, including the medical and surgical management of melanoma, cutaneous squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas and Merkel cell carcinoma.
During Skin Cancer Awareness Month in May and year-round, skin cancer prevention advocates emphasize the importance of sun safety while enjoying the outdoors. Now this “Uptown Girl” is speaking out about it, too.
As we head into summer, there’s no better time than now to brush up on measures you can take to protect yourself from the sun’s powerful rays.
In March, beloved model and actor Christie Brinkley announced on Instagram that she has been treated for basal cell carcinoma (BCC). She also explained how it was discovered. At the end of a dermatologist appointment for her daughter, Brinkley asked the doctor to examine a small bump on her own face. “He took a look and knew immediately it needed a biopsy,” Brinkley shared in her post. After the biopsy was performed, the results came back positive for BCC.
“The good news for me is we caught [it] early,” she wrote in her post. After its early detection, doctors at a skin surgery center were able to promptly remove the BCC.
BCC, the most common type of skin cancer, causes a bump, lump, or lesion to form on the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin). These formations may present as scaly, itchy, painful, shiny, surrounded by blood vessels, or fluid filled. BCCs often appear on areas of the body that are most frequently exposed to the sun. The face, nose, eyelids, legs, ears, and arms are common locations.
Risk factors for BCC include:
frequent sunburns
using tanning beds
a family history of skin cancer
spending a lot of time in the sun
Other risk factors include having light skin tone, light colored eyes, and red or blond hair.
Treatment for BCC
When caught early, BCCs can be easily treated. They are typically treated with surgery or topical medications. However, a different treatment may be necessary depending on the stage of the cancer and other factors.
Most superficial BCCs (not very deep) can be treated with medicated creams or gels applied directly to the skin. Consult your doctor about which treatment may be right for you.
Brinkley — often remembered as the face of CoverGirl cosmetics in the 1980s — stressed the importance of skin protection while in the sun to help prevent skin cancer. In her Instagram post, Brinkley encouraged her fans to learn from her diagnosis:
“The good news for you is that all of this can be avoided by being diligent with your sun protection!… I’ll be slathering on my SPF 30, reapplying as needed, wearing long sleeves and a wide brim hat. And doing regular total body checkups…that is a MUST!”
Wear protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses.
Protect yourself from sunrays by wearing broad-spectrum sunscreen. Broad spectrum means it blocks both types of ultraviolet rays (UVA and UVB).
Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside with an SPF of 30 or higher. Do this even on cloudy days and in the winter.
Apply a thick layer of sunscreen, about 2 tablespoons, on your face and body.
Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours and after swimming, toweling off, or sweating.
Get into the shade whenever possible.
Do not use indoor tanning machines.
Did You Know?
The sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. It’s best to avoid or limit your sun exposure during that time frame, if possible.
Christie Brinkley’s openness about her basal cell carcinoma diagnosis and treatment is a reminder that cancer can impact anyone and everyone. In the time since her diagnosis, she has used her platform to advocate for the importance of early detection and sun safety for skin cancer prevention. As Brinkley once shared in an Esquire magazine article, “The best beauty secret is sunblock.”
We talk with a palliative care clinician about the potential benefits & risks of using medical cannabis (medical marijuana) to ease cancer pain and other symptoms — and why getting clinical guidance is key.
Note: Gilda’s Club and the Cancer Support Community does not provide medical advice. This blog is not intended as an endorsement for the use of medical cannabis and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your healthcare team. Always consult with your oncology provider before using cannabis and any alternative medicine interventions in your cancer care regimen. Some but not all states have legalized medical cannabis. Please check your state’s laws.
Can cannabis help relieve nausea from chemotherapy?
What about cancer-related pain?
Can cannabis improve sleep when struggling with insomnia after a cancer diagnosis?
Could cannabis use hinder cancer treatment?
If you or someone you love is going through cancer, you may have asked these or other questions about the safety and effectiveness of using cannabis to cope with cancer symptoms and treatment side effects.
To get answers, we talked with palliative care clinician and researcher Brooke Worster, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at EO Care, a clinician-based cannabis consultation service for patients with chronic medical conditions.
This Q&A with Dr. Worster is designed to provide a general overview of cannabis and cancer. Making an informed decision about using cannabis for cancer symptom relief should always include a discussion with your oncology team.
What are the potential benefits of cannabis for cancer patients?
There is also evidence that cannabis may reduce reliance on opioids in cancer and survivorship. There is little evidence that cannabis helps with primary insomnia in patients with cancer, but it can improve sleep disturbances, such as trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, when related to pain or anxiety.
CBD and THC are two common cannabinoids used in cannabis products. What are the main differences between CBD and THC, and how do they work to help provide symptom relief?
Dr. Worster:Cannabinoids are the group of chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant that have physical and mental effects when they interact with the cannabinoid receptors in your cells. The two most common are THC and CBD.
THC is the primary intoxicating cannabinoid. It is the component of cannabis that can make people feel “high.” THC receptors target motor activity, thinking, motor coordination, appetite, short-term memory, pain perception, and immune cells.
THC is federally illegal, and legal on a state-by-state basis for recreational and/or medical use. To get well-regulated, labeled, and chemically tested THC products, state-regulated dispensaries are the only current way people can purchase high-THC products.
CBD is the primary non-intoxicating cannabinoid. CBD receptors target the reproductive system, immune system, cardiovascular system, respiratory tract, gut, kidneys, and more. CBD is federally legal, meaning that it can be purchased online and in person from trusted retailers.
There is some evidence that high-dose CBD may be most helpful for anxiety and sleep, but more research is needed. Despite this, studies have shown that patients more frequently report using high-THC cannabis for sleep. This is likely because many more high-THC products are available in state-regulated dispensaries.
Has there been any significant research to support the benefits of using cannabis to relieve cancer symptoms and treatment side effects?
Dr. Worster:Yes, a number of studies support the use of guided cannabis care to help address cancer symptoms and the side effects of treatment. The EO Care website shares a collection of clinical and scientific research that informs our methodology.
What are some common barriers to getting reliable information about using medical cannabis?
Dr. Worster:Patients don’t know where to access reliable, medically sound information about cannabis. They often turn to dispensaries or friends and family for guidance. Despite their best intentions, dispensary staff are not medical professionals and simply lack the medical knowledge to responsibly partner with a cancer patient or survivor.
A Google search will generally lead patients to webpages geared toward recreational users or “pot docs.” Some M.D.s or DOs will charge patients a fee to give them access to a medical card. They rarely give solid guidance and typically lack the evidence and tools to make personalized and detailed recommendations — including the most useful kind of product needed by the patient and the appropriate dosage. In addition, they usually lack the necessary time needed to understand patients’ individual needs.
Providing ongoing, timely support and partnering closely and responsibly with the patient to arrive at and maintain an optimal regimen takes time and doesn’t work for most cannabis M.D.s’ practice models. Cannabis doctors are also prohibitively expensive. Most charge $50-$350 per appointment, putting ongoing, collaborative care out of reach for most patients.
How can cancer patients overcome the stigma associated with using medical cannabis?
Dr. Worster:While attitudes are steadily improving, it’s possible that patients will encounter people who still carry a stigma against medical cannabis. Often much of this stigma is also tightly bound to fear of arrest, prosecution, or jail time, which has been sadly overused in prior decades for cannabis possession. In these cases, I recommend that patients have an open dialogue about their concerns with the people who have negative stigma or are not accepting of their use of cannabis as a palliative treatment.
Often, people are just unaware of the benefits or even how to legally access and use cannabis. Citing research is a good way to change minds. The truth is that cannabis use is not without risk. Rather than ignore the risks, identify and address them. With the appropriate guidance, risks are minimized and cannabis can provide real symptom relief.
What forms of cannabis are considered safer to use medically?
Dr. Worster:There is increased evidence that smoking/inhaling cannabis causes both pulmonary and cardiac concerns. I avoid recommending that people smoke cannabis. Other forms such as capsules, gummies, tinctures, and inhalers are much safer.
What are the potential risks of using cannabis products for cancer symptom relief?
Dr. Worster:Cannabis can be complicated. Most people are unaware of the products, doses, and times of use that can best address their symptoms, safely align with other medications in use, and fit their daily schedule.
Misuse can also create serious problems. Cannabis hyperemesis (frequent vomiting) has been shown to occur in over 33% of people who use cannabis over 20 times in a month.
Over a period of 12 months, 30% of regular cannabis users are at risk of developing a cannabis use disorder, meaning that their cannabis use has a persistent negative impact on their health, work, and/or social life. Patients need expert guidance in order to responsibly and efficiently identify a care regimen. It often takes weeks or even months to determine an effective treatment dose and form to improve uncontrolled symptoms. Such delays are unacceptable, especially when suffering is acute.
What are some common cancer symptoms and treatment side effects that cannabis may help relieve?
Dr. Worster:There is good evidence that cannabis can help with pain and, in some cases, can help reduce or prevent neuropathic pain. It may also provide real relief from chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and improve appetite. CBD can help with anxiety. Relief from any of these symptoms may also lead to improved sleep quality.
Can cannabis interact with cancer treatments, and in what ways?
Dr. Worster: There is some concern that cannabis can have an impact on reducing your immune response, which is helpful for alleviating discomfort associated with things like osteoarthritis and low back pain, but it may affect how immunotherapy (or immune checkpoint inhibitors ICI) works in your body. While this information is based on limited case-report type studies, it is important to have a conversation with your oncologist about cannabis if you are on any form of immunotherapy.
Are there certain types that are better to use than others when you are in treatment?
Dr. Worster: This is a very personalized question, like what type of pain medication and dosing do you need or what antidepressant will work best in your body. This exemplifies why good guidance for cannabis is needed.
Are there situations when someone should not consider using cannabis to relieve cancer symptoms and side effects?
Dr. Worster: Patients should consult with their clinician before beginning cannabis use.
For patients who seek more information after consulting with their clinician, EO Care can provide additional guidance. EO Care works to decrease side effects or concerns about cannabis use, including when it may be high risk to an individual. To do this, we ask patients about their medical history, cancer treatments, medications they are taking, and prior use of cannabis. This helps EO Care develop a safe plan, and sometimes this plan is to say that cannabis may not be the right therapeutic for a patient.
A pioneering palliative care clinician and researcher, Dr. Worster is currently Director, Supportive Oncology, at Jefferson Health in Philadelphia. She is a graduate of Temple University School of Medicine and completed her fellowships in palliative care and pain management at MGH Brigham and Dana Farber Cancer Center in Boston.
A volunteer conducts a visual screening during an event hosted by the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance to recognize Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month. Photo courtesy of the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance
We talk with the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance about risk factors, screening, and more to help you and your loved ones stay informed.
Head and neck cancer is 2 to 3 times more common among men than women, but it has been increasing in women for several decades.1 Meanwhile, among men, HPV (human papilloma virus)-related throat cancers have been on the rise, and the incidence rate is expected to continue rising until 2060.2,3
Not all risk factors for head and neck cancer (HNC) can be controlled. But nearly all types of HNC, including oral and throat cancer, share some lifestyle risk factors that can be changed. What can you do to lower your risk of developing head and neck cancer? Are there ways to detect it early?
To learn more, we turned to Amanda Hollinger, M.P.A., executive director of the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance. The nonprofit organization works to advance prevention, detection, treatment, and rehabilitation of head and neck cancer through public awareness, research, advocacy, and survivorship.
Could you tell us about the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance and its work?
The Head and Neck Cancer Alliance has its roots in an organization that was founded 30 years ago called the Yul Brynner Head and Neck Cancer Foundation. While the Alliance’s name and mission has evolved, the organization has remained steadfast in its commitment to increasing public awareness and early detection.
Over the past decade, the Alliance has increasingly focused on supporting patients and caregivers through the entire journey, from diagnosis through survivorship. We do this in a number of ways: by providing comprehensive educational programs resources; by providing patients and caregivers with one-on-one support; by building community connections; and by advocating for improved patient outcomes.
Why is the early detection and diagnosis of HNC so critical?
When detected at stages 1 and 2, survival rates for head and neck cancer are significantly higher than when found at more advanced stages. Treatment may also be less invasive at earlier stages, leaving patients with fewer long-term side effects.
Currently, there isn’t a routine screening test for HNC. What are some ways to screen for and detect it early?
While there is no screening test for head and neck cancer, dentists should provide regular screenings to look for signs of oral cancer, such as a red or white patch in the mouth lasting two weeks or longer, a growth or sore that doesn’t heal, or a lump on one side of the neck.
We also encourage the public to learn how to do an oral, head, and neck self-exam. There is a video and images on our website to walk people through how to perform a self-exam.
In addition, the Alliance partners with medical sites across the country to offer free screenings, especially during April in recognition of Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month, but also throughout the year. Our website provides a map showing the locations of free screenings.
What are a few important ways people can reduce their risk of developing HNC?
Tobacco and alcohol use are two important risk factors, especially when used in combination. Not smoking, avoiding smokeless tobacco products, and limiting alcohol consumption can help reduce a person’s risk of developing head and neck cancer.
HPV is another risk factor, with almost 70% of throat and base of tongue cancers now attributed to HPV, surpassing cervical cancer as the most common cancer associated with HPV.
Childhood HPV vaccination can prevent the majority of HPV-associated cancers, and the vaccine is now available to people up to age 45. The American Cancer Society recommends starting the HPV vaccine as early as 9 years old.
Note: The HPV vaccine can prevent more than 90% of HPV cancers when it’s given at the recommended ages, reports the American Cancer Society.
Why can HNC be difficult to treat, and are there promising treatment options available now?
Treatment for head and neck cancer typically comprises a range of options such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery, or a combination thereof.
Managing this condition presents numerous challenges, partly due to its tendency to be diagnosed at later, more advanced stages as well as its proximity to vital nerves, organs, and tissues affecting various aspects of a person’s life. The effects of treatment can significantly impact functions like speech, eating, taste, and appearance.
Long-term side effects pose a particularly daunting challenge for many patients, encompassing issues such as dental and oral health, damage to the carotid artery, difficulties with speech and swallowing, hearing impairment, and profound mental health concerns stemming from changes in appearance and the ability to engage in daily activities and social interactions post-treatment.
On a positive note, there are many patients thriving today and helping others by providing hope and support. There are also many clinical trials underway for head and neck cancer, which is a very promising thing to see. Clinical trials are an opportunity for patients to potentially benefit from tomorrow’s medicines today while still receiving the standard of care. Discover More About Cancer Clinical Trials
“I wish we would talk about it more because you wouldn’t feel so alone going through it,” shares Jawanna, pictured here. Photographer: Casey Templeton
Multiple myeloma is the second most common blood cancer in the U.S., and Black and African American people develop MM at much greater rates and at younger ages than people of other races.1,2 Currently, there’s no cure. But with treatment, there’s hope. As Jawanna shares in this story of determination and resilience, it’s possible to manage MM and thrive.
It’s very important for me to share my story because I want to be an example that you can fight this cancer, you can live a fulfilled life, and you have to be able to push on and have faith. – Jawanna, diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma
The symptoms started mysteriously, seemingly out of the blue, about 5 years ago.
“I was in my favorite place ― Grenada,” remembers Jawanna, who was taking a one-year sabbatical at the time. The island country in the Caribbean is known for its lush rainforests, stunning waterfalls, and sparkling beaches. Traveling is one of Jawanna’s passions, an interest she developed while working in the Coast Guard.
“Over time, I started to notice that my health had declined,” she says. “I had back pain. I was severely anemic. I didn’t have an appetite. I was fatigued. I would sleep 10 hours and feel like I didn’t sleep at all. I had lost weight. I didn’t know what was going on.”
Looking for answers, she went to a local clinic on the island, where x-rays were taken. “They said I had compression fractures,” says Jawanna.
Those findings were puzzling.
“I hadn’t broken a bone in my body or had any traumatic injuries or surgeries,” she notes. “I could only get so much help there. I needed to come back home. When I came home, people that knew me knew I wasn’t myself. I would go to the hospital once, twice a week, sometimes the ER, just to figure out what was wrong with me. They would say, ‘Oh, you’re fine, you’re young. Just eat better.’ It was like a revolving door, just trying to figure out what was happening with me.”
Persistence, Then ― Finally ― Answers
Jawanna didn’t give up searching for an explanation for her symptoms. Determined to find a doctor who would listen to her, she pushed on.
“When it comes to doctors, I can only speak for the African American community, sometimes in my community we get so stuck on a title and just trust what they say,” she says. “That’s why I kept pushing. I feel like we don’t question medical professionals enough. There’s a disconnect there where, a lot of times, we feel like their word is final. We’re telling them how we feel and nothing is happening, instead of getting second, third opinions, and asking questions.”
Jawanna’s persistence paid off when, finally, she received a referral to see a neurologist. He ran some tests but refrained from making a diagnosis.
“He didn’t want to say anything to me,” she says. “He said he had a friend who was an oncologist. You hear about the big cancers — breast cancer, prostate cancer. I would do the Susan G. Komen walk. I know about those big cancers. I never knew what oncology was. I never had much interaction with cancer in my personal life.”
The neurologist called oncologist Dr. James Xu, who wanted to see Jawanna right away. “[Dr. Xu] looked at me and was like, ‘Something is wrong, we are going to figure this out,’” she remembers.
Jawanna spent several days at the hospital, where she underwent tests and blood transfusions to address her severe anemia. When she returned to Dr. Xu’s office, he had a diagnosis. It was multiple myeloma.
What Is Multiple Myeloma?
Multiple myeloma (also called myeloma) is a blood cancer that starts in the plasma cells of bone marrow. As myeloma cells crowd out healthy cells, it can lead to symptoms like anemia, bone problems, and kidney damage.
Once she had the diagnosis, Jawanna says, “I felt a little sense of relief. I just wanted an answer. I feel like, when people go through this stuff, all they want is an answer instead of being pushed aside. I felt relief that I found a doctor that took my symptoms seriously and went the extra mile to order all the tests. He knew that something weird was going on and needed to figure this out.”
“Once I met with Dr. Xu and he diagnosed me, I hit the ground running,” says Jawanna. “I met a doctor who cared about me and cared about my symptoms, and I went on treatment right away.”
Jawanna started chemotherapy, making two to three trips a week to receive treatment. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic was starting to unfold across the world. “At the beginning, my mom was able to come with me and then, as it got crazier, I had to go by myself. And that’s when it got crazy financially,” recalls Jawanna.
To maintain her treatment plan, Jawanna had to leave her job. “I had to move back with my mother at that time, and I had a walker,” she says. “I had been on my own for so long, I didn’t want to put this burden on my mother, this financial stuff.”
So, Jawanna started doing research, googling cancer organizations that could help. That’s how she discovered resources like the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Cancer Support Community. CSC helped connect Jawanna with funds to finance her hotel stay while she prepared for a stem cell transplant at the University of Maryland Hospital in 2021. The procedure required her to stay near the hospital during the cell collection process.
In the U.S., about 157,000 people are living with or in remission from myeloma.3 Currently, it’s managed like a chronic illness, and there are different treatments to help manage it.
“During that time, I was doing my own research on multiple myeloma,” says Jawanna. “Throughout that process I met a lot of people in my demographic, young Black people who had my issue. I started to share my story on my social media, and I would get DMs from people — some who I knew, some who I didn’t ― in my demographic, same lifestyle as me and no prior history, no childhood illness, and some prior military like myself, who were going through the same thing.”
As Jawanna navigated her diagnosis and treatment, she discovered strategies and resources that were helpful to her.
“I wish we would talk about it more because you wouldn’t feel so alone going through it,” she says. “I wanted to try to be a face to the illness and just let people know that you are not alone and there are resources out there. Every time I found a resource that would help, I had this document I would share with everybody. My gift is connecting the dots, so I really homed in on that. I wasn’t working at that time, and that was my passion project.”
Developing a Support Network
Among the people who reached out to her via DM, Jawanna remembers one young woman who wanted to know, “Jawanna, how do you do it? How do you keep going?”
“She was younger than me, single, no children, an African American female, and had no idea where this cancer came from,” Jawanna recalls. “She could not get out of her head.”
Jawanna worried that the young woman lacked a strong support system, both personal and medical. “I feel like that’s the number-one thing you need when you are going through something like this,” she says. “Unfortunately, she passed away.”
“I wish we would talk about it more because you wouldn’t feel so alone going through it.” – Jawanna
Jawanna credits her own medical team ― including her doctor, a mental health therapist, and her transplant team and a transplant coordinator at the University of Maryland Hospital ― for helping her navigate her diagnosis and treatments.
“She didn’t have that,” says Jawanna, who did what she could to offer support to the young woman through their messages. “I could only do so much from the DMs. I think that the mental part is big because it keeps you from taking the necessary steps to go forward.”
Self-advocacy, determination, and help from loved ones played critical supporting roles in Jawanna’s cancer experience.
“I took charge of my health and had a great support system with my family, friends, doctor, and transplant team,” she says. “All of those factors helped me get to the point where I am today. Healthwise, my numbers are great. After my transplant, I hit the ground running. I’m not going to let this cancer take over my life. I was so determined to bounce back. I was back at work two months after my transplant.”
Everybody’s different, she adds. “The way my body reacted to treatment may not be the way others do. But you have to have a good support system and be ready to tackle this mentally. Without that, you are going to have a harder fight. Even when I didn’t want to fight for myself, I had my mother, my uncle, my friends. I had people to ask me, ‘What do you need?’”
Today Jawanna’s treatment plan includes infusions and regular follow-up appointments with her doctor. “I feel amazing and really am blessed, and I just want to continue to be a voice for people,” she says.
Jawanna in her favorite place, Grenada
5 Takeaway Tips
If you or someone you love is navigating multiple myeloma, here are key tips Jawanna wants you to know:
Educate yourself: Knowledge is power! Changes are ongoing in the MM space. Keep up with the latest treatment options and research on MM topics. Ask your health professionals questions.
Build a support network (family, friends, support groups).
Practice self-autonomy: Do what you can for yourself, and also don’t be afraid to ask for help and what you need from your network.
Prioritize self-care: Remember to do some of the things that bring you joy and happiness.
Stay positive and hopeful: Mental health is so important in the cancer journey. Do whatever you need to do to stay healthy mentally.
“Above all,” says Jawanna, “remember that you are not defined by your diagnosis. While living with multiple myeloma presents its challenges, it’s also an opportunity to appreciate life, cherish meaningful connections, and find strength in resilience. Be kind to yourself, stay informed, and lean on your support network as you navigate this journey.”
Watch this short video to hear more words of inspiration from Jawanna.
“If you’re not taking care of your physical health and mental health, it’s going to be a lot more challenging to be there for your loved one. And you’re going to approach that burnout point pretty hard and fast”. – Nichole Goble, Webinar: “Bridging the Gap: Navigating the Practical Challenges of Cancer Caregiving”
Cancer caregiving involves a wide range of experiences, feelings, and responsibilities. Whether you describe yourself as a caregiver, care partner, care supporter, or co-survivor, there’s no question that the role can be very rewarding and fulfilling. But caregiving can be hard physically and financially. Sometimes, it can also bring about complicated emotions like anger, shame, and guilt.
First, know that you’re not alone. Many caregivers have the same questions, concerns, and challenges you may be experiencing. Consider the following caregiver statistics:
1 in 5 Americans identify as caregivers
61% of family caregivers also work
23% of caregivers report difficultly coordinating care
24% of caregivers care for more than one person
It’s also important to know that you don’t have to navigate your caregiving role on your own. There are many resources that can support you and help you thrive. A good place to start is with some expert guidance from our Cancer Support Helpline’s Christina Bach, MBE, LCSW, OSW-C, FAOSW, and Nichole Goble, Director of Community Initiatives at the Caregiver Action Network.
Christina and Nichole, who are both long-distance caregivers, share personal stories and practical strategies to help you:
Assess your needs and get organized
Find help and support
Make time for self-care to relax & recharge
Manage complex emotions
Maintain open & constructive communication with your care partner
Keep reading for a few highlights:
Take Stock of Your Needs
As caregivers, “we’re concerned all the time,” Christina says. “We’re always worried about the future.”
Here are just a few common worries among caregivers:
Am I doing this right?
What if something happens to me? Who will take care of my loved one?
Can I keep doing this?
Are there people who can help us?
What if I need to pay somebody to help us?
Who’s going to take care of the kids, the spouse, the dogs … while I’m focused on caregiving?
When caregivers experience anxiety and worry, it can lead to other mood disturbances, sleep issues, and burnout, notes Christina. It can also lead to unhealthy patterns like not eating, not drinking enough water, or not getting enough physical activity.
In addition to worrying, it’s also common for caregivers to miss or forget their own healthcare appointments and needs. “They cannot find space for it in their schedule,” says Christina. “And oftentimes caregivers feel guilty. We feel ashamed. We’re isolated, oftentimes lonely and angry. We love being a caregiver for the most part, but we are also worried about voicing any of these emotions as realities of our experience.”
It’s okay to feel all those feelings, Christina adds. The good news is there are strategies that can help caregivers cope and manage personal challenges. “Now’s the time to take stock,” she says.
Ask yourself these questions:
What can I do?
What can’t I do?
What am I uncomfortable doing?
What might I be able to do if someone taught/supported me?
What do I need to do for myself?
Who can help?
Do I have resources to pay for additional assistance?
Can I get financial support to provide care?
After you take stock of your needs, you are ready to get organized. One tip Christina recommends is making a list of tasks that others can help you do. For quick access, you can keep the list in a note-taking app on your phone. Then, when friends and family offer to help, you can share your list with them.
To organize helpers, you can create a personal network site on MyLifeLine, our free online support community for people impacted by cancer. There, you can easily join your friends and family together and assign volunteers to help you with specific tasks, such as rides to medical appointments, meal preparation, pet care, and more.
“A lot of times I hear from caregivers ‘I don’t have any more time for myself.’ We have to do the work to make the time to sustain ourselves.” ― Christina Bach, MBE, LCSW, OSW-C, FAOSW, “Bridging the Gap”
Improve Communication With Your Care Partner
Having open and constructive communication with your care partner can be beneficial to both of you. “It promotes connection between you and your loved one, it can improve coping resilience, and it can lead to better outcomes for you and your loved one,” explains Nichole.
So, how can you improve and strengthen communication when you’re navigating the complex emotions of caregiving, such as anger or frustration? Or when you are having hard discussions such as end-of-life planning?
Here are just a few pointers Nichole shared:
1. Respect your own feelings, needs, and desires.
Notice and name your feelings.
Pick one emotion and track it all day.
Recognize what is your need and what is the need of the other person.
2. Be clear and be honest.
Use “I” statements.
Consider a weekly check-in to talk about how you both are feeling.
Give each other space and respect to share your feelings.
Identify your and your care partner’s preferred style of communication.
3. Know your limits. Keep your emotional pot from boiling over.
Recognize the signs (racing thoughts? quickening pulse?).
Ask for a break or a stop ― specify how long you’ll need and when you’re committed to trying again.
Clear your head (take a walk, or talk with a trusted friend).
“When you’re feeling those complex emotions, put a name to them. Name them and notice them. That’s part of getting that intervention and being able to manage them.” ― Nichole Goble, “Bridging the Gap”
Ready to learn more from Christina and Nichole? Watch “Bridging the Gap” now:
Watch, learn, and find encouragement in this engaging and empowering webinar, specifically for cancer caregivers.*
*Editor’s Note: “Bridging the Gap” was made possible with generous support through Merck and in partnership with the Caregiver Action Network.
New treatments, biomarker testing, and clinical trials offer hope for people living with lung cancer. Read on for 25 questions to discuss with your healthcare provider as you consider your options and what’s important to you.
I ask a lot of questions because I feel I need to learn about what’s going on inside me. – Tammy, diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer
If you are newly diagnosed with lung cancer, you probably have dozens of questions going through your mind right now. One of the biggest might be: “Can my lung cancer be treated?” Or “What is the best treatment for the type of lung cancer I have?”
It’s natural to feel overwhelmed as you review treatment options with your healthcare team. There are more ways to treat lung cancer now than ever before. Standard treatment often uses a combination of approaches, such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Thanks to ongoing research, there are also promising new treatments available. New drug therapies, including immunotherapies and targeted therapies, are approved regularly.
One way to take control is by asking questions. The more you know about your lung cancer diagnosis, the easier it will be to talk with your healthcare team to determine the best treatment plan for you.
Not sure what to ask your healthcare provider? Here are some helpful suggestions:
1. What type of lung cancer do I have?
Tip: The type of lung cancer will determine the types of treatment you will receive. There are two main types of lung cancer: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). There are 3 major types of NSCLC: adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma.
2. What is the stage of my lung cancer?
Tip: The stage of your cancer will also help determine the types of treatment you will receive. Non-small cell lung cancer can be anywhere from stage 0 (very early stage) to stage 4 (cancer has spread beyond one lung and to another part of the body). Small cell lung cancer is staged differently. Doctors classify it as limited-stage or extensive-stage disease.
3. If my cancer has metastasized (spread), where are the metastases located?
Tip: Cancer occurs when cells in your body start growing and dividing faster than they are supposed to. At first, these cells may form into small clumps or tumors. But they can also spread (or metastasize) to other parts of the body. You still have the same type of cancer you started with. For example, if your lung cancer spreads to the bone, you still only have lung cancer. You do not have bone cancer.
4. Has a sample of my tumor been sent for comprehensive biomarker testing?
Tip: Some cancer drugs are only effective for certain cancer subtypes. Biomarker testing (also called tumor testing) provides specific information about the type of lung cancer you have. So, biomarker testing may help determine the best treatment for you. It may also help determine if you are eligible to join certain clinical trials.
Take our 2-minute survey to find out what biomarker test you should get for your type of lung cancer and what the results mean for your treatment.
This 2-minute video helps explain what you need to know about biomarker testing and how it can impact cancer treatment.
5. How do my age and current health affect my treatment options?
6. What is the goal of my treatment? A cure? To stop or slow the cancer’s growth?
Tip: Be sure to share your own expectations for treatment and the quality of life you hope to have during and after treatment.
7. Which treatments do you recommend, and why?
8. What are the benefits of these treatments?
9. What are the risks of the recommended treatments?
10. What side effects might I expect?
Tip: In your discussion, ask how you can prepare for any expected side effects. By preparing for common side effects before starting treatment, you can improve your quality of life and stay on course throughout your treatment schedule.
Tip: Discuss what your treatment will involve in terms of time and travel. Will you need to visit a clinic to receive treatments? Will there be restricted activity or the need for hospitalization?
12. How likely is it that this treatment will work for me?
13. Are there other treatments besides the ones you recommended?
14. Will I be given any combination treatments?
15.How and when will you determine if the treatment is working?
16. How much will this treatment cost me?
Tip: In your discussion, you can also ask if there is a treatment that is just as effective but that costs less. You also may want to ask your healthcare provider if there is a financial counselor with whom you can meet.
17. Is surgery an option?
Tip: In your discussion, ask if the tumor can be removed through surgery.
18. Will I have chemotherapy before or after surgery?
19. What is the name of the chemotherapy I might receive?
20. Will I have radiation before or after surgery?
21. What kind of radiation?
22. Will I have immunotherapy? What kind?
Tip: Immunotherapies are a type of cancer treatment that use the body’s natural defenses to identify, attack, and kill cancer cells. Some may be given in combination with other therapies or with a different immunotherapy.
23. Am I a candidate for targeted therapy? What kind?
Tip: Targeted therapy drugs are a newer kind of cancer treatment. They “target” specific cancer subtypes. They are better able to attack cancer cells and leave healthy cells alone. Targeted therapies may be given alone or in combination with other treatments.
Watch this 2-minute video to learn how targeted therapy drugs work and if it targeted therapy might be an option for you.
24. Am I eligible for any clinical trials?
Tip: Cancer clinical trials are studies to test new cancer treatments or learn how to use current treatments better. They may be the only way to try a promising new treatment. Some clinical trials are looking at new ways to treat lung cancer, including new kinds of immunotherapy like vaccines and cell therapies.
25. Are there other resources that can help me during this time?
Tip: Your healthcare provider can recommend resources specific to your needs and treatment plan. This may include certain people on your healthcare team who can provide extra support, such as an oncology social worker.
In addition to these 25 questions, you may have questions of your own. Create a list of all the questions you want to ask your healthcare provider and take it with you to your appointment. Consider bringing a trusted friend or loved one with you to take notes and help ask questions.
If you need extra support at any point in your cancer experience, you can also reach out to our Cancer Support Helpline. Our Helpline offers free, personalized navigation by phone and online for people impacted by cancer. This includes navigation for financial issues related to cancer, from managing treatment costs to communicating with healthcare providers about the cost of care and payment. Call 888-793-9355 to be connected with one of our navigators.
Paula Barmore and Anoosh Shariat
