I believe that the treatment of the emotional trauma of cancer is as important as the treatment of the physical disease. Psychosocial support and psychotherapy are the pillars of healing for the survivors of treatment for life threatening illness as well as for the growing population of people who live with cancer. The capacity to [...]

Fear has many eyes and can see things underground.
Miguel de Cervantes
My annual mammogram took less than 15 minutes. The lovely young technician, knowing my history, smiled brightly at me and gave me the words we all love hearing, “We’ll send you a notice in the mail with the results.”  This generally means, “Everything is fine, [...]

Our layers are our complexities. Rings that tell the age of the tree, the images beneath the paint that covers an original masterpiece. In the wreckage that is cancer, we can get trapped in the “litter”, not allowing ourselves to plunge deeper beneath the surface to find what treasures and truths live within us. Diving [...]

I will be facilitating a group on Friday, May 30, 2014 from 8-10pm called Tales of Heart and Bone: Helping Cancer Survivors Tell Their Stories. This conference is held annually at Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove. It’s a great group of people and the setting is beautiful.

The Northern California Group Psychotherapy Society is [...]

This is a short excerpt from the introduction to my book on cancer survivorship.  I offer it as a reminder that even when we feel lost, we aren’t alone. Please feel free to contact me with your thoughts and feelings. Your story is important.
The black angel bending over me in the darkness of the [...]

With love and gratitude to my friend, Wilma, who sent me this video.
And to all of those wonderful friends who support and love us through difficult times.
http://www.okcfox.com/story/25008587/friends-truly-do-anything-for-love-for-friend-with-breast-cancer#.Uyqe6-Ntpj0.email

This is important work being done by the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.
Dear Cheryl, We need your help today. Tell your member of Congress that cancer care planning can’t wait.At a recent seminar co-sponsored by NCCS and the American Enterprise Institute, we asked cancer care experts how we can put the patient first in reforming [...]

As cancer patients, we have the opportunity to be better informed about our diagnosis, treatments, alternative paths to healing.  Being an educated patient can help us feel more empowered and involved in the quality of care that we can receive. This is an interesting blog post by a physician on the subject of the “e-Patient”. [...]

By Gina Shaw
WebMD Feature                        Reviewed by Arefa Cassoobhoy, MD, MPH

Easing your pain, fatigue, or even itchy, peeling feet is part of your doctor’s job when you’re in treatment for advanced breast cancer. Don’t be afraid to speak up! There are many ways to treat [...]

Cancer affects everyone who is involved with the patient. Whether in a crisis or on an ongoing basis, it is stressful to cope with illness. It’s important to know that you don’t have to do this alone.  Check for local resources online.  Here are some for the San Francisco Bay area.

Women’s Cancer Resource Center of Oakland, [...]