Connect
The Stephen and Barbara Slaggie Family Cancer Education Center provides free educational resources and support for cancer patients and their families – including group classes, patient navigation, and online resources through Mayo Clinic Connect.
Throughout the year, we publish articles on a wide range of cancer-related topics. You’re reading one of them now! Our hope is that these articles provide support, inspire hope, and offer information that is truly meaningful as you navigate cancer or support a loved one.
No one understands what information is most helpful better than those living through the experience. That’s why we’re reaching out today.
We want to hear your ideas.
What topics would you like us to cover in future articles? No suggestion is too big or too small. Our team will research up-to-date evidence and collaborate with Mayo Clinic experts to ensure the information we provide is accurate and useful. While we may not be able to write about every suggestion, your input helps guide our work and ensures we continue offering resources that matter to our community.
Feel free to browse previous articles for inspiration.
What can we write about that would help you on your journey? Please comment below.
Like
Helpful
Hug
Connect
Thank you for asking! In the area of breast cancer, I am interested in hearing about patients who limited treatment because of age, co-morbidities, and/or personal preference. For example, frail elderly patients who turned down chemotherapy. Or shorter courses of radiation. Or refusal of aromatase inhibitors due to side effects. Did limiting treatment, perhaps to 3 out of 4 suggested modalities, have any significant effect of survival interval or life expectancy? Not asking about alternative treatments or psychological approach or lack of compliancy but a clear decision communicated to oncologist.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsFollowing the previous post regarding age & cancer limitations. I am 83 years old and have NeuroEndocrine cancer with bone on bone knees. My orthopedist says replacement is all he can offer, but my oncologist says he could not recommend this since he would be concerned about my ability to heal from major surgery!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsPulmonary Neuroendocrine
Cancer
Test to determine dx
Stages
Treatment
Prognosis
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionThank you for asking.
I would like to see more informtion about CLL treatments, what kind there are and when it should be considered by doctors to start.
Low risk MDS including side effects of Aranesp for older women, longevity post diagnosis, natural strategies to enhance hemoglobin, foods to eat or avoid, etc.
Thanks for asking!
How do I know if I'm getting the correct treatment?
I am stage 4 endometrial cancer and my main oncologist talks with her "team" to determine my care. But I don't know who the team is!
Lastly, they don't seem to hear me when I say I want to fight with everything I can. They just talk about palliative care and hospice. I am 67.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionGenetic testing for cancer.
When is genetic testing helpful for treatment plans or predicting your chances of getting cancer or your cancer returning? If tested over 5 years ago, should you be retested? Are there new genetic tests that were not around 5, 10, or 15 years ago? What are the most common genetic markers tested for?
Who and where should you get genetic testing? The role of genetic counseling with genetic testing. Are there fake or scam tests that people should be aware of?
Thank you
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsOncotype DX Tests for Breast Cancer. To the best of my knowledge, I never had an Oncotype test when I had breast cancer. It is often mentioned in the Breast Cancer group. There is an article on breastcancer.org about
https://www.breastcancer.org/screening-testing/oncotype-dx
If there is additional information that the Mayo Cancer Education Group can add, it might be a good topic.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionCancer fatigue! I have been crazy exhausted since sept 16 when I got a bad virus and soon after got a chest xray which showed my lung cancer. ALL the doctors but one have said that I shouldn’t be so tired because of the cancer, it must be unrelated. Then my biopsy surgeon said “Of course you’re exhausted, you have lung cancer that’s metastasized to your lymph nodes. I can hardly get out of bed many days, or I take a shower and get back in bed. It doesn’t matter how much I rest in the day and sleep at night… I’m ALWAYS tired. Some days my brain fog is off the charts, it isn’t safe for me to drive. If I do one thing in a day that’s usually all I can do. I was terrified of what else I might have that could be causing this! Then I found an article about cancer fatigue. It described ALL my symptoms and said it is quite normal for people to experience this overwhelming fatigue of body mind and soul. Why don’t more doctors know about it? Does anyone else in this group experience this? I’m having surgery in 3 days and then chemo starts soon after.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI would like to see more articles about CLL treatments, when people start treatment, how long should Watch and wait approach be lasting, how to ask doctor to do more tests rather only relying on blood tests.?
What is prognosis for people with CLL?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction