Topic: Cancer Care

Cancer and Mental Health – What’s Really Going On? Part 1

Published by on April 14, 2021 1 Comment

Why does cancer affect your mental health? And, is there anything you can do for your mental health with cancer to make life a little bit less stressful in the meantime? You may or may not know this, but… I’ve been a professional counsellor for the last 30+ years. And I’ve helped thousands of folks through incredibly hard times. Without tooting my own horn too much, it’s safe to say I know a thing or two about mental health! 🙂 Working so closely with cancer patients and their loved ones during the past decade, since CTOAM began, has made me realize, even more deeply, how crucial it is to have awareness about what you’re going through emotionally… How Cancer and Mental Health Affect You You...
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Cancer research

What’s New in Cancer Research?

Published by on April 10, 2021 2 Comments

New Studies and Articles in Cancer Research Welcome to our ongoing list of new studies and articles published on cancer research. Explore the archive below to see which ones are useful to you and your doctor.  Diet and Exercise Intervention May Increase Efficacy of Chemotherapy in Pediatric Patients With Leukemia ASTRO Survey Explores Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Radiation Oncology Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Delivery of Breast Cancer Care in New York Statins Reduced Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Meta-analysis The COVID-19 Pandemic and Cancer Care for Older Patients in the United States: Effect on Diagnosis and Treatment Does Following a Mediterranean Diet Reduce the Risk of Disease Progression in Men on Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer? Fecal Microbiota Transplants May Help Patient...
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Foods to Avoid with Cancer Treatment?

Published by on April 7, 2021 1 Comment

We get asked this question a lot from our patients and readers. It makes sense… Since diet is one of things you can have control over during your cancer care! Our cancer expert, Alex Rolland, made a video to explain which foods you should be avoiding when you’re on cancer treatment: 👉 Watch here Foods to Avoid with Cancer Treatment With chemo, Alex says you definitely want to avoid eating foods that are involved in inflammation. These include… Saturated fats – often found in cheeses, meats, and junk food Acrylamides – a byproduct of barbecuing, cooking, and used in the food industry Bisphenols – a compound found in water bottles and in the lining of tin cans. (Bisphenols are what Alex calls an ‘endocrine effector’,...
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Suffering from Cancer Treatment Wait Times?

Published by on March 31, 2021 | Share your thoughts

You’re not alone. It’s true… 55% of cancer patients in Canada are experiencing treatment & testing delays these. A recent article by the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network reveals that even after cancer services have resumed, over half of cancer patients are still reporting that their treatment, tests, and appointments have been cancelled or postponed… “Respondents said they had to wait an average of 34 days to reschedule cancelled or postponed in-person appointments, and 52 days to reschedule surgery and other procedures.” As I have talked about many times before, the sad reality is…even without COVID, cancer treatment wait times are far too long to begin with. You know as well as I do – you need access to proper diagnostics and treatment, NOW.  You need...
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How to Beat Stage 4 Neuroendocrine Cancer

Published by on March 24, 2021 | Share your thoughts

“I’m just really grateful. Because I don’t think Korey would still be here if we weren’t involved with you.” That’s Erin talking about her husband, Korey, who went from a rare, complex stage 4 neuroendocrine cancer diagnosis to remission in less than a year. Sounds too good to be true, I know – but it’s not. This is the power of Precision Oncology. And it all started with Erin and Korey’s unshakable determination to advocate for better cancer care. 🧬 Erin found CTOAM after standard care had left Korey with no more options. She knew she had to find a way to get him the help he needed…and their three young kids needed her to stay strong. She refused to give up hope. So she...
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The Science Behind the COVID Vaccine

Published by on March 17, 2021 | Share your thoughts

So…what, exactly, is the vaccine and how does it work? That’s the question on a lot of people’s minds these days. I wanted to share with you a podcast episode that I found really helpful… It explains the science behind the COVID vaccine in a simple, easy-to-understand way. So you don’t need to be a science expert to get the gist! Here’s the episode👇 The Real Story About COVID Vaccines: What We Know, What We Don’t I recommend you have a listen. The podcast talks about the development of the vaccine… And how the vaccine works to stop a severe reaction or death from the COVID virus.  The experts emphasize that the vaccine is not a cure, nor does it make anyone immune. They give...
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2 Lifestyle Changes for Cancer Care

Published by on February 24, 2021 | Share your thoughts

When it comes to lifestyle changes for cancer care, almost every patient I talk to asks this question: What should I be eating to help me beat cancer?  But less than half will ask about other self-care aspects, like exercise – and this is actually just as important… So here’s the skinny on both for you! See what our cancer expert, Alex Rolland, has to say about the best diet and exercise plan for cancer patients: Watch here 👇 Important Lifestyle Changes for Cancer Care First up…diet! In a nutshell, cancer patients will generally want to follow a longevity diet: ✅ Intermittent fasting✅ Reduced caloric intake✅ Mostly vegetarian diet (especially after 50 years old)✅ Foods that are easily digested✅ Wide variety of plant-based foods Dietary...
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Can Meditation Help with Cancer?

Published by on February 10, 2021 | Share your thoughts

CTOAM’s Cancer Expert Explores the Connection Between Meditation and Cancer… “When I was going through treatment, I started meditating every day. I’d never done that before but Alex suggested it and some other friends of mine did, too. It definitely helped. That was years ago…as I started to feel better and my life went back to normal, I stopped. Life just got busy. And yeah, I’d like to get back into it…it was really beneficial.” – Annette That’s what one of our patients, Annette, shared with me when we talked a few months ago about how she was feeling being in long-term remission, and reflecting on her journey with cancer and CTOAM. We helped Annette go from stage IV to long-term remission with our Precision...
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Cancer Treatment Delayed by COVID? See Anna’s Solution…

Published by on February 3, 2021 | Share your thoughts

Many patients are experiencing their cancer treatment being delayed due to COVID. Find out what your options are, now. How Anna Got the Right Treatment, Fast Anna had been feeling pretty strong, all considering. Sure, the shock of her breast cancer diagnosis a few months prior had turned her life upside down…  But she’d been dealing with it as well as possible. Her husband was really showing up for her and even her 6-year-old seemed to be managing fine. Anna was trying to live each day as normally as possible…taking things a day at a time. At that point, she’d gotten a few CT scans and was scheduled for surgery. The plan after surgery was chemo. While Anna was dreading the chemo, she was counting...
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Why is Standard Cancer Care Lacking?

Published by on January 27, 2021 2 Comments

Find Out Why Standard Cancer Care in Canada is Just Not Good Enough… I hear this all the time – and I bet it’s on your mind, too: “So is this what our medical plan has come to? People with money can afford better, faster cancer care than people with no money??” Yep.  And it’s sadly true…  For now. We’re working to change this at CTOAM. It is our #1 mission, in fact! But what we’ve learned over the past 10 years is… In order to create change, you also need to deal with the situation as it is now.  As in: you need to work within the current system AND outside of it. It’s the only way to actually build a better future. What...
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