How Are Your Emotions Today? Honoring a Pioneer in Cancer Care

f an oncologist, infusion center nurse or any member of your medical team has asked you a question like that recently, you can thank Dr. Jimmie Holland, a pioneering psychiatrist who died Dec. 24 at the age of 89.

BY Heather Millar

PUBLISHED March 23, 2018

San Francisco-based Heather Millar is a breast cancer survivor. A journalist for more than 25 years, she has covered health care and science for many national magazines and websites.

“How are your emotions today?”

If an oncologist, infusion center nurse or any member of your medical team has asked you a question like that recently, you can thank Dr. Jimmie Holland, a pioneering psychiatrist who died Dec. 24 at the age of 89. 

Holland rose from a rural Texas childhood to be the founder of the first psychiatry service in a major cancer hospital, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan.

Learn More About Dr. Holland

Saying goodbye to a year of fear and hello to a new year of hope

I’ve never heard or read so many people say they’re glad to see a year come to an end. Of course, the hope is that 2018 will be better and the surreal, tragedy-filled and civility-unraveling past 12 months will fade from memory. Natural disasters turned so many lives upside down. Political rancor and careless rhetoric divided our nation and made us feel less safe. Evil nature of all kinds was exposed. For me, I’ll always remember 2017 as the year of fear.

As I try to process it all sitting here on New Year’s Eve trying to write this blog post, I’m depressed and in kind of a funk. For me, personally, it’s been the most difficult year of my life. I’m staring at the keyboard, and it’s just a bunch of jumbled up letters. It makes no sense, which is fitting. The world makes no sense. Thankfully, my fingers know where to go, subconsciously disconnected from the conscious noise and confusion swirling around inside my head.

Read More:

Christmas Challenges

Christmas can be a real challenge when going through cancer. Aside from the financial burden that may limit the number of boxes under the tree, the emotional burden can dampen what is usually a happy and cheerful time of year.

BY Kathy LaTour

PUBLISHED December 26, 2017

Kathy LaTour is a breast cancer survivor, author of The Breast Cancer Companion and co-founder of CURE magazine. While cancer did not take her life, she has given it willingly to educate, empower and enlighten the newly diagnosed and those who care for them.

Christmas can be a real challenge when going through cancer. Aside from the financial burden that may limit the number of boxes under the tree, the emotional burden can dampen what is usually a happy and cheerful time of year.

One year, my support group worked on ways to save Christmas while going through cancer. Our reason was that a rather new member was really struggling because her children demanded that nothing changed from the holidays they have always known. In addition, her two older children knew more of the reality of what was happening and told the two younger kids to lay off with their demands. Mom was doing all she could. Of course, the younger children, depending on what they have been told about the cancer and mom's condition, didn't understand. They just know that it's Christmas and they want to go to the country and cut down a tree, like always.

Read More

The Season of Grief, Gratitude and Compassion

Of course, there was sadness, but more than anything there was appreciation for my own life and the people close to me. I feel gratitude for still being here, having an excellent quality of life and for the warning cancer gives.

BY Stacie Chevrier

PUBLISHED December 23, 2017

Stacie Chevrier is a recovering type-A, corporate climber who made a big life change after being diagnosed with cancer in September 2014. She now spends her days focusing on writing, fitness and healthy living. Outside of these passions, Stacie can be found practicing yoga, enjoying anything outdoors, traveling and defying the odds as a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor survivor.

The last few years fall has been a season of challenge for me. In 2014, I was recovering from a distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy after my pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor diagnosis. In 2015, I was recovering from a liver resection, months of chemotherapy and a serious case of PTSD. In 2016, I had a surprise surgery due to a bowel obstruction, a complication from my previous abdominal surgeries. And this year, I am undergoing an experimental treatment, but overall, I’m doing well and grateful to not be watching leaves change through a hospital window.

I admit, I tiptoed into autumn holding my breath with optimism I would exit without a traumatic event. While there are still a few days of the season left, I, personally have been spared, but others have not been so lucky, creating a new kind of trauma.

Read More:

How My Body Is Cured After Breast Cancer, but My Mind Is Still Struggling

Pamela Harris

Contributor

Perfect. My life was really close to perfect. My wonderful husband and I had just moved to our dream area and I had taken a new position which I loved. Our kids were all grown up. Life was amazing.

A routine annual check up to my new OB-GYN had led to a mammogram. A followup biopsy was needed for an area of what they believed to be calcifications. I was told it was likely nothing to worry about and I should get a phone call in a few days.

The morning of July 1 I received the phone call that changed everything. My doctor had called to see how I was doing with the diagnosis. I told her I had no idea what she was talking about. “You have breast cancer. Hasn’t the radiologist called you yet?”

Read More

Tip of the Day- Use the Buddy System

Use the buddy system! Share your health and wellness goals with those closest to you. Ask for help when you face challenges and celebrate together when you reach your goals! Tips to Reach Your Goals Make Small Changes