COPING WITH CHEMOTHERAPY WHAT IS CHEMOTHERAPY? Chemotherapy is the use of natural and man-made drugs to treat cancer. These drugs attack cancer at the cellular level. Chemotherapy can be used…

CONSTIPATION WHAT IS CONSTIPATION? Constipation is infrequent or uncomfortable bowel movements. Often the bowel movements are small, hard, or dry. HOW DOES IT OCCUR? You may have constipation because: •…

CONTROLLING NAUSEA AND VOMITING WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF NAUSEA AND VOMITING? There are many causes of nausea and vomiting. Chemotherapy is one reason, but the good news is: just…

ALOPECIA (HAIR LOSS) WHAT IS ALOPECIA? • Alopecia is hair loss that can occur with certain cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. • Cancer treatments may not only…

Communication in Palliative Care Debra E. Heidrich Good communication is essential for decision making throughout the course of an illness. As a disease progresses, new symptoms emerge, more specialists are…

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapies Acupuncture/Acupressure Dorothy Lynn Crider DEFINITION • Acupuncture is based on the belief that the body has energy that runs through pathways, called meridians, in the…

CANCER: SEVEN WARNING SIGNS There usually are no signs or symptoms when cancer is in its very early stage. Sometimes early symptoms do not seem like anything serious. Learning what…

Loss, Grief, and Bereavement Mary Murphy • Loss and its movement toward grief begin at the time the diagnosis of cancer is identified. • Loss is defined by Guillaume (2004)…

CANCER PAIN MANAGEMENT TEAMWORK IS THE KEY! Not everyone with cancer has pain. Those who do know that pain can affect you in many ways. It can keep you from…

CHEMO BRAIN (COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION) WHAT IS CHEMO BRAIN? Sometimes after cancer treatments such as chemotherapy people have problems with memory or concentration. You may hear it called chemo fog or…