Cancer Is a Teacher

Body Language

Celebrating the Softening of Compulsory Mask-Wearing

Lucy O'Donnell on October 2, 2021

For deaf people, mask-wearing has made it impossible to understand what people are saying.

For deaf people, mask-wearing has made it impossible to understand what people are saying.

Sex

Is It True That Libido Is Destroyed Post-Cancer?

Lucy O'Donnell on July 30, 2019

Don't always blame cancer on your lack of sexual desire.

Don't always blame cancer on your lack of sexual desire.

Happiness

Are You Having a Busy Day?

Lucy O'Donnell on October 29, 2018

Being super busy does not make us happy but we are under the illusion that it does. Actually, it just leaves our brain feeling like scrambled eggs.

Being super busy does not make us happy but we are under the illusion that it does. Actually, it just leaves our brain feeling like scrambled eggs.

Embarrassment

Why Are People Missing Vital Smear Tests? Body Shame

Lucy O'Donnell on May 30, 2018

A staggering 35% of young women are too embarrassed to attend smear tests because of their body shape, and 38% over concerns about smell.

A staggering 35% of young women are too embarrassed to attend smear tests because of their body shape, and 38% over concerns about smell.

Gratitude

Understanding Metastatic Breast Cancer

Lucy O'Donnell on May 8, 2017

I find it so odd that people do not know the startling differences between breast cancer and metastatic breast cancer

I find it so odd that people do not know the startling differences between breast cancer and metastatic breast cancer

Why do we not know about the use of everyday low-cost drugs for the treatment of cancer? And what are these drugs? And how do you get them?

Who would have known that it is now possible to have long-term or acute cancer oncology treatment at home.

Yes, I was given an 80 percent chance of dying in five years. My five years is up, and thanks to the incredible advances in medicine for cancer treatment, I am still well.

Knowing what is going to happen when you arrive for your first radiotherapy appointment, and how to cope with the side effects can make it much easier to deal with.

Are you suffering from a multitude of gastrointestinal problems. Look at the findings that suggest melatonin, aside from its other benefits, may greatly help.

The Granola Queen has a new take on Granola - keep it healthy - keep it low sugar but still get that hit.

Cancer surgery may not always go as planned - be prepared for "tweaking" or "fine tuning" and many factors can influence this.

Diet

Chemotherapy: How to Get Through It

Lucy O'Donnell on January 20, 2016

Chemotherapy is gruesome, but there are ways to make it more tolerable. Forewarned is fore-armed.

Chemotherapy is gruesome, but there are ways to make it more tolerable. Forewarned is fore-armed.

Health

The Healing Benefits of Bone Broth

Lucy O'Donnell on December 7, 2015

If you are ill or going through cancer treatment and have a loss of appetite, nutrient dense bone broth can effectively restore the body without the stress of of digesting solids.

If you are ill or going through cancer treatment and have a loss of appetite, nutrient dense bone broth can effectively restore the body without the stress of of digesting solids.

Having so many operations during this cancer journey and coping with so many general anesthetics crammed into such a short space of time—you really need to approach this as you would a job. What are all these tests and what do they do? Understanding this complicated process and being prepared makes it a whole lot easier.

Sometimes it can feel so surreal when you are coping with cancer and hard to deal with all the small things that when compounded have a profound effect on our everyday life. Here, through my experience, I tell of how I navigated through these feelings and situations. To this day, almost 4 years from diagnosis I still find myself in similar situations.

Is treatment for substantially enhancing your recovery from cancer sitting in your medicine chest? There are many "Off Label" drugs - drugs that have become generic and therefore inexpensive that substantially enhance recovery from cancer. Why do you not know about it? Because there is no money to be made from it by the pharmaceutical companies.

Friends

Cancer Is My Teacher Part 2

Lucy O'Donnell on June 3, 2015

Have you just had a cancer diagnosis? How do you tell your children, spouse or partner. Better still, how do you tell friends, schools and co-workers? At the same time as dealing with this roller-coaster of emotions you have to remember about others close to you. They will be suffering too.

Have you just had a cancer diagnosis? How do you tell your children, spouse or partner. Better still, how do you tell friends, schools and co-workers? At the same time as dealing with this roller-coaster of emotions you have to remember about others close to you. They will be suffering too.

Do you ever have a niggling feeling that something isn't right medically? Are you chronically tired for no reason? Has your Doctor often ignored these complaints and put it down to the stress of modern day living? Well, if this resonates with you, then read on. You could save your life.

Being given a "Do and Don't" list when visiting my dying friend may sound strange but was possibly one of the most helpful things to receive. It not only put my friend at ease, but also me. Visiting dying loved ones is traumatic and devastating, but knowing how to behave with that person makes it an easier experience for all.