Living Between Cancer Scans

Coping with Life’s Uncertainties

Living Between Cancer Scans
Image from The Web site of the National Cancer Institute (https://www.cancer.gov)


Life often presents us with unexpected challenges and uncertainties. For families facing cancer, these challenges can feel especially daunting, particularly when it’s a child who has been diagnosed. Markedly, the journey that follows is filled with uncertainty, fear, and numerous medical appointments. And one of the most challenging parts of this journey for both patient and family, is living between cancer scans.

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Healing Power of Art

Healing Power of Art
Photo by National Cancer Institute on 

Nurturing Pediatric Cancer Patients through Creative Activities

Facing a cancer diagnosis is never easy, but when it comes to pediatric cancer patients, the challenges are unique and heart-wrenching. Moreover, the physical, emotional, and psychological toll can be overwhelming for these young patients and their families. However, there’s a remarkable source of support that can help them cope: the world of art. The healing power of art serves as a beacon of hope and healing for these children. Art activities offer them an avenue for self-expression, empowerment, and a break from the clinical environment.

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Bringing Nature Inside: Helping Kids with Cancer

Bringing Nature Inside Helping Kids with Cancer

Photo by Sixteen Miles on Unsplash

When a child is diagnosed with cancer, their world can quickly become confined to hospital rooms and treatment centers. During this challenging time, it’s important to create a healing environment that promotes their well-being and supports their emotional and physical recovery. As a matter of fact, one great way to achieve this is by bringing nature inside!  Here are some ideas on how families can incorporate nature into their child’s surroundings.  This can help lift their spirits, reduce stress, and even enhance their healing process.

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September Shines Gold

Childhood Cancer Awareness

September is the month of crisp autumn leaves, back-to-school excitement, and a cause close to our hearts – Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Every September shines gold for pediatric cancer awareness. For this reason, we join with cancer care organizations, advocacy groups, and healthcare institutions on behalf of childhood cancer patients, survivors, and families.  Our goal is to raise awareness, support young warriors, and advocate for a brighter future for those battling pediatric cancer.

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Stress in Pediatric Cancer

Stress in Pediatric Cancer
Creating art projects can help reduce stress. Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash

Pediatric cancer is a tough battle that takes a toll on children’s physical and emotional health. And it’s not just about the treatments or side effects. Stress becomes a constant companion for both the children and their families. Therefore, it’s important to look at stress in pediatric cancer and explore ways to provide emotional support during this challenging journey.

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“Go Bag” for the Emergency Room

"Go Bag" for the Emergency Room
Photo by Sun Lingyan on Unsplash

No one wants to rush to the emergency room, especially with a sick child. But when your gut is telling you it’s serious, there’s no time to waste. Decisions like this often need to be made quickly during great moments of anxiety and uncertainty. And the last thing on anyone’s mind is to pack a “Go Bag” for the Emergency Room. This is not the time to be thinking about toothbrushes or phone chargers as everyone scrambles to help with what’s most important at the time.

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Self-Care

ASelf-Care
Photo by James Wheeler on Unsplash

As a parent or caregiver, there’s nothing more gut wrenching than watching your child struggle with a cancer diagnosis. And of course, you want to do everything you can to help them. Thankfully, in addition to medical care, there are many valuable tools parents can use to help their children cope with cancer. And among them is a self-care plan.

Creating a plan with self-care strategies is a good way to help children feel emotionally and physically stronger. These strategies are particularly helpful for children when they are dealing with challenging situations like medical procedures or difficult treatments.  A self-care plan empowers them to continue to be resilient and better able to handle future stressors. In fact, even practicing small self-care acts like deep breathing exercises can promote body and mind wellness and decrease stress.

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Journaling Through Cancer

Journaling Through Cancer
Photo by Jess Bailey on Unsplash

A cancer diagnosis can be difficult, even exhausting to process.  The treatment regimen is often physically and emotionally grueling. And it can be scary and overwhelming especially for kids. But research has found that putting pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard can be a powerful therapeutic tool. Journaling through cancer provides a vehicle for reflection and for sorting out one’s inner most thoughts. It’s a constructive way for your child to get feelings and emotions off their mind and onto paper. In fact, it can be an important part of self-care. Particularly as your child weaves through the uncertainty and fear that cancer characteristically fosters.

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A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

A picture is worth a thousand words
Ana’s beautiful smile says it all. “Thank you for sharing this joy with Ana!” wrote her family.

Remember the expression, “A picture is worth a thousand words?”  It’s that age-old adage which basically means that more information can be conveyed in a single still image, than with a whole lot of text. And pictures of our Mikey’s Way Wish List recipients clearly show just that. Despite the challenges they face, Wish List recipients from across the country share beautiful smiling pictures after receiving Wish List gifts. Their pictures tell stories far beyond what words could ever convey. You can tell from these picture that it’s true – a picture is worth a thousand words!

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Cancer Journey

Cancer Journey
Photo by Chivalry Creative on Unsplash

All kinds of people get cancer.  Grandparents, uncles, neighbors, teachers and yes, even children.  In fact, every year about 15,590 young people from birth to 19 years old will receive a cancer diagnosis in the United States. To put this in perspective, every day 47 families in the U.S. will learn that their child has cancer.  And for those of us who receive this gut-wrenching news, life instantly changes as cancer catapults our child into their cancer journey.

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