COVID-19

Cancer Won’t Stop Me, And Neither Will COVID-19

By Ben Lepper Most people my age look at COVID-19 as a burden on their everyday lives of seeing friends, hanging out, and going to college. I see it differently.    As an active cancer patient being treated for T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), I am immunocompromised. This puts me at especially high risk for … Continued

How to Prepare For a Virtual Visit With Your Oncologist

The number of patients having virtual visits (or telehealth visits) with their doctors and other healthcare providers has skyrocketed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Providers at Dana-Farber and other hospitals are committed to delivering exceptional care throughout the pandemic, whether via in-person appointments or virtual appointments if appropriate for you. Here are two things you … Continued

How Cooking Can Help Relieve Stress

Making a home-cooked meal is a great way to ensure you’re getting the proper nutrients and nourishment you need. But what might not be as obvious is that cooking (or baking) can also be an effective way to relieve stress. It’s an opportunity to be creative, stimulate the brain, and even connect to the people … Continued

Care for the Caregiver: How to Handle Stress and Anxiety During COVID-19

Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers are continuing to treat patients during these the COVID-19 pandemic — and many are doing so while dealing with their own stresses and anxieties. If you are a healthcare provider, you may be wondering how you can help yourself while continuing to be there for your patients. William Pirl, … Continued

Grieving During the Coronavirus: Advice From a Clinical Psychologist

The coronavirus pandemic has upended our lives and routines in recent weeks, generating fear, uncertainty, and anxiety. Coping with this disruption — adjusting to staying home, working remotely, and distancing ourselves from others, among other changes — has been difficult for many. It can be especially challenging if someone you love has died during the … Continued

Pioneering a ‘Staple’ Approach for Treating the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The wolf at the door is a harmless annoyance compared to the wolf in the house. However dangerous the novel coronavirus is as an infectious agent, it can’t do any harm if it’s locked out of a cell. Strategies to bar the coronavirus (COVID-19) from entering cells — thereby preventing infection and averting transmission of … Continued

Tips for Getting Through Isolation From a Cancer Survivor

When Rosemary Fischer gets calls from friends and family complaining about the challenges of staying home during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, she is always ready with a good-natured response. “Wait, you’re climbing the walls after three weeks?” she said in a recent chat. “I’ve been doing it for three years!” The callers, of course, know … Continued

How to Use Music to Relax During Stressful Times

In times of immense stress and adversity, music and the arts are sometimes viewed as nothing more than novelties: Things to be used and enjoyed in happier times. However, music may be able to help the most during these hard times. It has been proven that listening to music can have a meaningful psychological and … Continued

Childhood Cancer Patients and the Coronavirus: Common Questions Answered

How does a person get coronavirus?  Coronavirus is spread primarily by exposure to respiratory droplets that are generated when an infected individual coughs or sneezes. If these droplets come in contact with the eyes, nose, or mouth of another person, infection can develop.  Infected droplets can remain active on surfaces for some time. This can happen, for … Continued

Institute Researchers at Forefront of Development of Antibody Therapy for COVID-19

As scientists race to develop and test new treatments for COVID-19, Dana-Farber’s Wayne Marasco, MD, PhD, and his lab team are bringing one of the world’s most formidable resources to the effort: a “library” of 27 billion human antibodies against viruses, bacteria, and other bodily invaders. The collection, created by Marasco and his associates in … Continued

Tips for Exercising at Home to Cope with Stress

Regular exercise helps maintain your well-being and can be especially necessary during times of acute stress. Working out — or performing moderate to vigorous physical activity that elevates your heart rate and activates muscles — can have numerous positive effects on your health, both physically and emotionally. Exercise has been shown to reduce stress and … Continued

Immunocompromised: What Does it Mean?

Immunocompromised individuals are potentially at a higher risk for severe illness from the coronavirus, or COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We’re here to help — here is some general information about what it means to be immunocompromised, and how you can protect yourself. This information is specific to people … Continued

How to Fully Utilize Your Pantry Supplies

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), some grocery stores have been overwhelmed by people looking to stock up on supplies. Individuals are also increasingly encouraged to practice social distancing and self-quarantine. As a result, accessing fresh and healthy ingredients can be more challenging than usual. Stephanie Meyers, MS, RD, a nutritionist at the Leonard P. Zakim … Continued

What are the Symptoms of the Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

The coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory virus that can be easily spread from person to person. Currently, COVID-19 can be difficult to identify because it shares many symptoms with the flu. Here is what you need to know. What are the symptoms of the coronavirus? The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure, according … Continued

How to Properly Wash Your Hands

Practicing proper hand hygiene is a simple, yet extremely effective, way of preventing the spread of germs and diseases. By washing your hands properly, and often, you can protect yourself as well as your family and even the community you live in. When should I wash my hands? When in doubt, wash! It’s important to … Continued

FAQs for Cancer Patients on the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The 2019 novel (new) coronavirus, named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), causes the disease COVID-19, a respiratory illness. The spread of COVID-19 is disrupting life — for those who have been infected with the virus as well as those who haven’t — on a global scale. The coronavirus outbreak may pose special risks … Continued