Jan
09
notepad for writing New Year's resolutions

3 things for cancer survivors to think about when choosing their New Year’s resolutions

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When it comes to starting the new year off right, we all know the typical resolutions. They range from losing weight to traveling more, getting more organized or maybe spending less money. But New Year’s resolutions for cancer survivors are a little different. They tend to revolve around things that will make survivorship easier, which makes it very important to see them through. However, having recently been through a battle with cancer, you may find it mentally, physically, and emotionally difficult to maintain that commitment all year long. That’s why we’ve come up with a few things for cancer survivors to consider when deciding on and trying to stick to your New Year’s resolutions.

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Dec
06
A woman smiles as she prepares a holiday card for someone with cancer

How to Write a Holiday Card to Someone with Cancer

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There’s something so special about receiving a hand-written holiday card this time of year. They’re usually filled with cheerful messages of glad tidings and great joy. However, for someone with cancer, even a simple, well-intentioned greeting like “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” could come off as insensitive. With that in mind, as you fill out your cards this year, we’ve come up with a few tips to help you write a holiday card for someone with cancer.

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Jun
22
Lu and Gabe are the faces of the Chemo Duck cancer program

Provision employee uses her family’s cancer experience to help and inspire other patients

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To say the things Lu has done in her life are inspirational, might be an understatement. As a Care Coordinator at Provision CARES Proton Therapy, Lu is often the first person a cancer patient speaks to when they call our center. Her ability to put others at ease makes her a calming presence for people who are coping with stress and uncertainty as they seek out treatment options.

Her gifts come naturally, but they’re also amplified by her own life experience. Lu’s family has dealt with cancer on more than one occasion – her son was diagnosed as an infant; her husband got cancer more than a decade later. Not only did she find a way to channel that experience to help Provision patients, but she also used it as an opportunity to start the Chemo Duck program, helping thousands of pediatric patients cope with cancer treatment.

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Jun
03

Raising awareness and celebrating life during National Cancer Survivors Month

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June is National Cancer Survivors Month and each year, on the first Sunday of June, we celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day!  With nearly 17 million people in the U.S. living with and beyond cancer – and 43 million cancer survivors worldwide – we all know someone whose life has been touched by cancer.

Naturally, this is a very special event for our Provision family. Since 2014, more than 5,500 patients have been treated in centers developed by Provision. We are so grateful to have been a part of each of their journeys. In honor of them, we wanted to share this blog that includes more information on cancer survivorship and how you can join in on the June activities.

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Mar
29
Cancer patient holding covid vaccine information card

COVID vaccine and cancer: What patients need to know

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Published: Mar 29, 2021 at 12:57 PM EDT

The development and availability of COVID-19 vaccines has stirred up many questions, as well as some confusion. The influx of COVID vaccine information (and misinformation) can be even more daunting for cancer patients and survivors.

To help cancer patients better understand the vaccines, Provision CARES Proton Therapy hosted a special chat session with board-certified radiation oncologist Dr. James Gray, who gave a great presentation on “COVID-19 Vaccine and Cancer: Facts vs. Fiction.”

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Mar
16

The importance of nutrition for cancer prevention, management, and survivorship

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March is National Nutrition Month – an opportune time to raise awareness about the important role of nutrition for cancer prevention, cancer management, and survivorship.

Nutrition is an often overlooked, but essential, piece of the puzzle when considering a cancer patient’s overall health. This article outlines a few keys to nutritional success that can help lower your risk of cancer. It also discusses how cancer patients can help manage their nutrition during treatment, along with some tips to continue living a healthy life after treatment.

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Dec
18
Woman coping with cancer during the holidays

12 tips for coping with cancer during the holidays

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Coping with cancer during the holidays is no easy task. Even when perfectly healthy, we’ve all felt the stress of the season at one point or another. So, adding that weight to an already burdensome cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. Thankfully, there are plenty of things you can do to help manage your emotions. In this article, we’ll share 12 tips to help you cope with cancer during the holidays.

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Sep
29
Lymphoma patient Jonathan chose proton therapy so he could have more time with his family

Lymphoma patient says proton therapy gave him chance at long, healthy future

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“We’re not promised tomorrow, but I didn’t want to make the conscious decision to take away tomorrow.”

– Jonathan L. on choosing proton therapy over traditional radiation

When Jonathan was just 32 years old, doctors discovered a large mass surrounding his heart. Being an otherwise healthy young adult, a diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma definitely came as a surprise. Thankfully though, his prognosis was good. He had confidence in his treatment plan, a combination of chemotherapy and radiation. As he progressed through treatment, things were going off without a hitch, until one day – a curveball.

“I went in for my consultation for the radiation,” Jonathan remembers. “The doctor told me if I went through traditional radiation, it would likely kill my heart in 10 years.”

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