Care for adults

What Is Brain Metastasis and How Is It Treated?

When cancer spreads from its original site to the brain, it’s known as brain metastasis. While a significant percentage of all patients with cancer develop brain metastases, the most common cancers to spread to the brain are lung, breast, melanoma, colon, and kidney tumors. Every year, an estimated 100,000-400,000 people in the United States are … Continued

How Is Immunotherapy Used to Treat Colorectal Cancer?

Cancers of the colon and rectum haven’t yet been as effectively treated with immunotherapy as have melanoma and lung cancer, but researchers are increasingly identifying patients who do appear to benefit from the immunity-boosting drugs – and devising strategies they hope will expand the reach of immunotherapy in colorectal cancers. Read More: Can Coffee Affect … Continued

How To Ease Chemo-Related Fatigue

Cancer-related fatigue is one of the most common problems patients face. Patients often report feeling wiped out during cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, and for many, feeling tired or worn out continues into life after cancer treatment. Here are 10 tips for alleviating treatment-related fatigue, through methods such as energy preservation and exercise – … Continued

What Is Chronic GVHD and How Can I Manage It?

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a common and potentially life-threatening complication of stem cell transplants that use donor cells. It arises when the donor’s immune system cells treat the recipient’s body as foreign and raise an attack on certain organs and tissues, most often the skin, mouth, and eyes. The assault can interfere with organ … Continued

Which Cancers Should Men Be Screened For?

Studies show that men are often less likely than women to keep up with regular doctor’s visits, or be honest about their symptoms, which may contribute to worse health outcomes. Learn More: Make an Appointment at Dana-Farber What is Genetic Testing? Being vigilant about health care screenings is one of the best things you can … Continued

Young Dancer Back on the Stage after Lymphoma Treatment

When Lauren Leonard bounces across the stage, she is in perfect harmony with the rhythm of the music. Amongst a group of other dancers, she stands out, moving with tangible energy. Dancing has been an important part of Leonard’s life since childhood. She started taking ballet lessons when she was 5, and as a teenager … Continued

A Brain Tumor Kept at Bay by Immunotherapy

It’s 19 months after being diagnosed with the aggressive brain tumor, glioblastoma, and Andrew Wall is itching to go back to work as a police officer. “Sitting around is not my thing,” says Wall, 53, who hasn’t yet been cleared to return to work as a police officer in Monroe, Connecticut – a job he has … Continued

What to Say When a Loved One Has Cancer

Empathizing with a cancer patient can be difficult. After all, many people haven’t had the experience of being diagnosed with cancer themselves, so knowing what to say when a loved one tells you about their illness can be tricky. “When someone you love is dealing with something like cancer, there’s a feeling of helplessness,” explains … Continued

Cancer Patient Creates ‘Living Art’ for Her Wedding Day

This story originally appeared on Offbeat Bride. By Jordan Kraft “Will you postpone the wedding until after your cancer is gone?” my friend asked the week I was re-diagnosed with lymphoma. My response was so feral it surprised even me: “Honey, come hell or high water, I am motherloving having this wedding, and you better … Continued

Treatment of Testicular Cancer in Young Men

Although cancer most commonly occurs in older people, certain types are more likely to develop in younger individuals. One of the biggest culprits is testicular cancer, which overwhelmingly occurs in younger men, with the average age of diagnosis just 33. The incidence of testicular cancer begins to rise with the onset of puberty, and many cases develop … Continued

Attacking A Weak Point in Pancreatic Cancer’s Defense

In the fall of 2015, at the age of 44 – young for a person to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer – Doron Broman was stunned to learn he had a large tumor on his pancreas that had metastasized to the liver. Facing only months to live, Broman would find himself in the right place … Continued

7 Ways Integrative Therapies Help Cancer Patients

Research has shown that integrative therapies can help ease cancer-related symptoms and improve overall quality of life. These therapies range from individual treatments, such as acupuncture, massage, and Reiki, to group programs for movement, meditation, and creative arts. View the slideshow below to learn more about how integrative therapies can help cancer patients.   Visit … Continued

What’s New in Immunotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer?

For patients with advanced head and neck cancers, immune-based therapies have started to show results against these hard-to-treat tumors. Two immunotherapy drugs were approved in 2016 for use when standard treatments failed, and many other agents are being tested in clinical trials. Immunotherapies work by enhancing the body’s natural defenses against malignancies, and have made … Continued

Signs and Symptoms of Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer forms in tissues that line the esophagus – the hollow, muscular tube that moves food and liquid from the throat down into the stomach. While relatively uncommon in the United States, esophageal cancer is often challenging to diagnose and treat, as it usually doesn’t cause symptoms until the cancer has already advanced. View … Continued

Online Tool Offers Guidance for Men with Non-Metastatic Prostate Cancer

Men diagnosed with non-metastatic prostate cancer now have access to a new tool on the TrueNTH USA website to help them prepare for their first meeting with a cancer physician. The tool, called Personal Patient Profile-Prostate (P3P), was created by Dana-Farber researchers and is now available to all men with non-metastatic prostate cancer though TrueNTH … Continued

Q&A with Young Adult Cancer Survivor Andrew McMahon

Andrew McMahon, founder of Dear Jack Foundation and front man of the band Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, was diagnosed with leukemia at 22, in the midst of his musical career. Like other young adults with cancer, McMahon’s treatment affected every aspect of his life, from career to relationships and everything in between. Learn more … Continued

Breast Reconstruction Following Mastectomy: The Pros and Cons

Many women who undergo a mastectomy, either to treat breast cancer or reduce their risk for the disease, are eligible for reconstructive procedures that restore the shape of the lost breast. The choice a woman makes – whether to have reconstruction, what type, and when – is highly personal, and takes into account her overall … Continued

Tips for Dealing with Lung Cancer Stigma

By Allison DiBiaso, LICSW A cancer diagnosis can fundamentally alter a person’s life, and it can often add an unexpected burden: stigma. Lung cancer patients are some of the people who experience this stigma most, as others may look at or treat them differently because of their diagnosis. In some cases, the patients themselves may … Continued