Psychosocial

We may never know what triggered the global pandemic that has claimed more than 3.8 million lives. And we won’t know the long-term effects until enough time has elapsed. What we do know for certain is that the incredible strength and collaboration of the scientific community have allowed us to regain some semblance of normalcy.

In this episode of the “CURE® Talks Cancer” podcast, Dr. William Breitbart, chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health within the cancer community and what people can do to manage this extra strain.

When a patient’s cancer care team determines treatment is no longer working, it’s time to make some difficult decisions regarding long-term care, writes one breast cancer survivor. Here, she shares advice on how family members can offer their love and support.

A cancer survivor describes her interpretation of a quote about loss by philosopher Marcus Aurelius.

A cancer survivor and former military service member writes how he used to be short with people, demanded things be done his way and often made others feel little — that is until his cancer diagnosis. Here, he shares how his experience with cancer taught him to be kinder to others.

A cancer survivor writes about all the little things she has missed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those little things — such as going to a diner and connecting with friends — are now appreciated more than we ever would have imagined, she writes.