Genetic Testing and Your Family Relationships

With the approach of Mother’s Day in the United States in May, followed soon after by Father’s Day, our thoughts often turn to our grandparents and parents, aunts and uncles. If your family has experienced multiple cases of breast cancer and possibly other types of cancer, you also may be thinking about your health history — and whether or not your family members might be …

Our Friends Respond: About 80% Have PTSD Symptoms After Diagnosis

A study published in March validated what many people diagnosed with breast cancer have felt: Over 80% of women experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms after an early-stage breast cancer diagnosis. One year after diagnosis, almost 60% of those women still experience symptoms.

If you’ve been newly diagnosed with breast cancer, you may feel like your emotions are on a rollercoaster, swooping from scared to …

Have You Been Told You’re a “Difficult” Patient?

I care for many patients diagnosed with breast cancer, and they’re often accompanied by family or friends. Some of my patients are so invested in their care that they bring me stacks of research studies about their treatment options, along with many questions. And some are more well-versed in their healthcare rights than I am. Maybe this describes you. Are you the kind of patient …

Our Friends Answer: How Do You Feel About the “Survivor” Word?

Recently, we asked our Facebook community this question:

We often hear the words “survivor” and “survivorship” in connection to ‪‎breast cancer. If you’ve finished treatment, you may feel comfortable thinking of yourself as a survivor; others might be uncomfortable with that word. And some living with ‪metastatic disease consider themselves “survivors” as an ongoing part of living their lives; others don’t see it …

Jacqueline Kabat on Comedy Improv and Healing

If you’ve ever seen the show Whose Line Is It Anyway? then you’re familiar with comedy improvisation, or improv. Comedy actors make up the plot, dialogue, and characters spontaneously in the moment, without a script.

Comedian Jacqueline Kabat has been immersed in improv, standup, and sketch writing since 1997. She’s taught improv workshops at Omega Institute, Esalen Institute, and the Chopra Center. Today, she runs …