The Stress of a Caregiver
Stress develops whenever you start to feel that your responsibilities are greater than the time, energy or other resources that you have to meet them. It is no wonder that stress is so common among...
View ArticleEducation Can Help Combat Caregiver Stress
Research shows that the stress of cancer caregivers takes a serious toll on their emotional and physical health. Emotional effects tend to show up first. You may feel worried, anxious or irritable. For...
View ArticleCaregiver Stress: Take Care of Yourself
The best way to take care of others is to take care of you first. If “putting yourself first” sounds too selfish or too hard, try something simpler: Put yourself on an equal footing with those you love...
View ArticleWorking Together to Improve Quality of Life
“Recently, there has been a strong push for doctors to do a better job of communicating with cancer patients about what to expect as they finish treatment and transition to the survivor period,” said...
View ArticleManaging Emotional Challenges of Long-Term Illnesses
Get Fit While You Sit is just one example of a support group. Emotional stress can play a big role in our overall health. Being able to manage the emotional challenges that come with long-term illness...
View ArticleTips for Communicating With Your Health Care Team
When diagnosed with a long-term illness, your health care team is made up of specialty-trained people helping you understand and cope with your diagnosis. Each person on the team has special skills...
View ArticleManage Nausea and Increase Your Appetite During Cancer Treatment
Nausea is a common side effect of chemotherapy and radiation. You may also experience other symptoms, such as a feeling of fullness, no appetite, a change in the way foods taste, heartburn or feeling...
View ArticleMarch is Colorectal Cancer Awareness
What is colorectal cancer? Colon cancer, or colorectal cancer, is cancer that starts in the large intestine (colon) or the rectum (end of the colon). In 2011 there were 460 new cases of colorectal...
View ArticlePart Two: Colorectal Cancer Symptoms and Tests
What are the symptoms of colorectal cancer? The development of colorectal cancer from a polyp may take between five to ten years and there may be no symptoms at all. Many symptoms are similar to those...
View ArticlePart Three: Colorectal Cancer Treatment
What happens once cancer is diagnosed? If you have colorectal cancer, a team of specialists will be there to help. The team will advise you to have blood tests and scans to determine what is known...
View ArticleDon’t Be Afraid of Clinical Trials
Progress in cancer treatment results from researching new procedures and drugs through clinical trials. If you are thinking about participating in a clinical trial, you may feel nervous or unsure. This...
View ArticleWhat is an Oncology Nurse?
May is Oncology Nursing Month. This worldwide recognition honors the nurses who care for patients with cancer. Thousands of nurses participate in Oncology Nursing Month activities, ranging from social...
View ArticleAre You At Risk For Developing A Skin Cancer?
May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month and while no cause of skin cancer has been found, risk factors have been identified. Some risk factors are passed down from parents to children through...
View ArticleNational Cancer Survivors Day – Sunday, June 2, 2013
Photo attached is a patient at the Avera Queen of Peace Cancer Center in Mitchell receiving her NCSD celebration T-Shirt. From family members to close friends, everyone knows someone whose life has...
View ArticleIs Pain Interrupting Your Sleep?
After reading a recent article about pain and how it affects sleep, the information prompted me to write about the relationship individuals experience with pain and sleep. Whether it’s from a sore...
View ArticleYou Have Cancer … Now What?
Receiving a cancer diagnosis is scary and overwhelming. When cancer enters the picture, life becomes disrupted, fear sets in and answers may not come quickly enough. The next few days and weeks is a...
View ArticleStaying Fit During Cancer Treatment
Exercise is important even while undergoing cancer treatment. It helps to maintain weight, improve mood, boost energy and promote better sleep; it is also enjoyable. However, many times I see patients...
View ArticleFive Things You Should Know About Lung Cancer
A lung cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming and confusing. Here are five things from the Patient Resource Cancer Guide from patientresource.com that you should know about lung cancer. Not all lung...
View ArticleCould a Lung Screening Save Your Life?
In my time at the Avera Cancer Institute in Mitchell, I have seen all kinds of people walk through the door. All with different kinds of cancer, one of the hardest ones to catch early is lung cancer....
View ArticleOffering Help to Someone Going through Cancer Treatment
Many patients’ family and friends say “What can I do to help” or “How can I help?” But what does that truly mean? People with cancer have a hard time figuring out what exactly you could do to help or...
View ArticleLooking and Feeling First-Rate while Going through Cancer Treatments
Cancer treatment can make it difficult to look and feel your best, especially if you’re a woman. One of the most difficult things for anyone is looking in the mirror. Cancer treatment can cause...
View ArticleI Can COPE with Breast Cancer!
Absorbing the news that you have a breast cancer diagnosis is challenging to say the least! Your emotions will be intense — feeling scared, anxious, out of control. But you’re not alone in this...
View ArticleLung Cancer Screenings: A Painless Peace of Mind
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in South Dakota and in the United States. It has caused more deaths than breast, prostate and colon cancer combined. November is Lung Cancer...
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