Dana-farber Cancer Institute

Cancer and other health conditions not only affect the body physically; they can also carry a major emotional impact. While the main focus for many patients is treating the cancer itself and its accompanying side effects, it’s also crucial to address your mental health. While there are many ways to do this, meditation and mindfulness can be effective tools. To learn more about a technique that’s practiced by millions of people worldwide, we talk with Patricia Arcari, PhD, RN, program manager for meditation and mindfulness at Dana-Farber’s Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies and Healthy Living.

What is the number one cause of pancreatic cancer? What are the early warning signs of this disease? And how are researchers making progress in the treatment of pancreatic cancer overall? In this episode of Cancer Mythbusters from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we talk about some of the most common questions and myths about pancreatic cancer with Brian Wolpin, director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Center at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center.

Meditation is a practice that can help us learn to be present in the moment and navigate life's challenges. Produced by Patty Arcari, PhD, RN, program manager of mindfulness and meditation at Dana-Farber's Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies, this audio meditation guide may be able to help you discover your inner peace.

Meditation is a practice that can help us learn to be present in the moment and navigate life's challenges. Produced by Patty Arcari, PhD, RN, program manager of mindfulness and meditation at Dana-Farber's Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies, this audio meditation guide may be able to help you discover your inner peace.

Meditation is a practice that can help us learn to be present in the moment and navigate life's challenges. Produced by Patty Arcari, PhD, RN, program manager of mindfulness and meditation at Dana-Farber's Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies, this audio meditation guide may be able to help you discover your inner peace.

Meditation is a practice that can help us learn to be present in the moment and navigate life's challenges. Produced by Patty Arcari, PhD, RN, program manager of mindfulness and meditation at Dana-Farber's Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies, this audio meditation guide may be able to help you discover your inner peace.

Meditation is a practice that can help us learn to be present in the moment and navigate life's challenges. Produced by Patty Arcani, PhD, RN, program manager of mindfulness and meditation at Dana-Farber's Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies, this audio meditation guide may be able to help you discover your inner peace.

It's no secret: Cancer treatments are powerful. It’s also no secret that these drugs can also harm healthy cells in the body, which can lead to side effects. It’s not uncommon for patients to feel nauseous or experience a loss of appetite as a result of treatment. While there are medications you can take to address these symptoms, making dietary adjustments can also help. In this podcast, Dana-Farber nutrition specialist Stacy Kennedy, MPH, RD, CSO, shares tips for patients.

Although scientists are still learning about the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes, including the question of whether they heighten cancer risk, there’s also been a flurry of news reports about lung-related illnesses and deaths caused by vaping. There’s currently a controversial temporary ban on the sale of all vaping products in Massachusetts, and menthol cigarettes could be banned in the state as well. News outlets and social media sites also report widespread e-cigarette use by students in schools, including classrooms and bathrooms. Dr. Andy Tan, a researcher at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute who is an expert in tobacco prevention and control, is here to tell us some fast facts about vaping, menthol cigarettes, vaping in youth, and what we know about the best cessation methods.

Caregivers play a vital role in helping cancer patients face the daily challenges of their diagnosis. While everyone’s needs may vary, caregivers are often asked to assist a patient with their meals. This help comes in many forms, from preparing a single dish to grocery shopping. No matter what you're asked to do, it’s important to make healthy, educated decisions that can effectively deliver the key nutrients a patient requires. But how do you know what to look for when reviewing a recipe or walking through the grocery store? While most good nutrition habits are universal, there are a few things to keep in mind when cooking or shopping for a cancer patient. For this episode, we sit down with Dana-Farber senior nutritionist Stacy Kennedy MPH, RD/LDN, CSO, who offers suggestions for caregivers. Visit www.dana-farber.org/nutrition for more information.

If you’ve ever thought about starting a diet, you're not alone. Studies suggest that more than 45 million Americans will attempt to diet every year. While it’s easy to find a regimen that claims you’ll lose weight and feel better, how do you know it’s safe or even good for you? The amount of misinformation about diets isn’t just confusing — it can be downright dangerous. For cancer patients and survivors, this is especially true. Patients who are on active treatment or have ended treatment have different nutritional needs than others. In this podcast, we address some of the most popular fad diets with Dana-Farber senior nutritionist Stacy Kennedy MPH, RD/LDN, CSO, from the keto diet to intermittent fasting. Plus, we get down to the heart of the matter: whether a patient on active treatment should even diet at all. For more information on all things nutrition, visit www.dana-farber.org/nutrition.

As of 2019, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in men and women in the United States — but survival after diagnosis has been gradually increasing in the past decade due to advances in treatment. However, since 1994, cases of young-onset colorectal cancer have increased by 51 percent, according to the National Cancer Institute. In March 2019, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center announced the launch of the Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center, which focuses exclusively on the care of colorectal cancer patients under age 50, in an effort to address the alarming increase in rates among young adults. In this episode of Cancer Mythbusters, we interview Dr. Jeffrey Meyerhardt, clinical director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Center at Dana-Farber. He answers common questions about treatment and research, family history, and ways you can reduce your risk, whether you’re a young adult or older.

Whether you're a cancer patient or not, what should you be paying attention to on the Nutrition Facts label found on packaged food and beverages in the United States? How you can take this information and adapt it to your specific needs? We dig into these questions and more with Stacy Kennedy MPH, RD/LDN, CSO, senior nutritionist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. For more information on nutrition for cancer patients and survivors, visit dana-farber.org/nutrition.

Why is nutrition so important, and what should cancer patients should keep in mind during and after treatment? With the help of Stacy Kennedy, MPH, RD/LDN, CSO, senior nutritionist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we debunk a few nutrition myths and provide tips on what you can do to eat healthfully. During the episode, Kennedy discusses the benefits of working with a nutritionist. It’s important to note that she is referring to a licensed nutritionist or a registered dietitian with oncology experience. Patients should always make sure they’re working with a reputable practitioner who has undergone the proper academic training. If you are receiving treatment at Dana-Farber, your doctor’s scheduling office can book you a one-on-one visit with a nutritionist. Otherwise, you can search the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics’ website to find a licensed nutrition provider in your area: https://www.eatright.org/find-an-expert

Childhood cancer is rare, but when it happens, it usually brings up an endless stream of questions for parents. How did this happen? What will life be like for my child? In this episode of Cancer Mythbusters from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we talk about some of the most common questions and myths about childhood cancer with Allison O’Neill, MD, Clinical Director of the Solid Tumor Program at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorder Center.

We all know sleep is important, but sometimes a good night of Z’s feels hard to come by. In today’s episode of Understanding Cancer from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we’ll talk about insomnia and some of its causes, and we’ll give a few tips on how to address the sleep issues that so many of us face.

We hear it all the time: Cancer is a battle, and patients have to fight in order to increase their chances of a good outcome. It’s a common message used in the media, the premise being that a person’s cancer can be eradicated if they are tough enough. But does this put the burden of healing on patients by turning them into winners and losers? Does it saddle those who aren’t doing well with the added guilt of not having fought hard enough? And how much does a person’s attitude really matter in the grand scheme of their cancer treatment? In this episode, we examine these question and more — plus some strategies for how patients, caregivers, and survivors can deal with mental health issues and emotional stress that can result from cancer treatment and survivorship — with Bill F. Pirl, MD, MPH, vice chair of psychosocial oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

The search for new and better cancer treatments has resulted in some incredible discoveries in recent years. Immunotherapy, a kind of cancer therapy that harnesses the immune system to fight cancer, has monumentally changed the way that some cancers are treated. Chemotherapy and radiation have greatly improved. And researchers are working on bringing more treatment options to patients every single day. However, despite the many advances in cancer therapy, not all patients respond to these new treatments. Cancer treatments also often lead to side effects that may last for months to years after treatment. Given this, many cancer patients turn to alternative or complimentary therapies as potential cancer treatments or as ways to alleviate side effects. In this episode, we explore the evidence behind the use of alternative therapies in patients with cancer with Dr. Jennifer Ligibel, director of the Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies and Healthy Living. We also talk about the power of integrativ

Chemotherapy has long been a mainstay of cancer treatment. Today, in the era of precision cancer medicine, there are newer treatments and chemotherapy that can “target” cancer cells more specifically. Researchers have also discovered the effectiveness of using chemotherapy drugs in conjunction with other drugs to pack a more powerful punch. To put it simply: Chemo is a lot better today than it used to be. Still, there’s a lot of misinformation surrounding this kind of cancer treatment. In this episode, we explore some of the most common myths and misconceptions with Clare Sullivan, MPH, BSN, OCN, clinical program manager for Patient Education at Dana-Farber.

Father and daughter Dennis Gorden and Becky Nutley can each tell you first-hand what a cancer diagnosis is like. Gorden was diagnosed with bladder cancer; Nutley has smoldering multiple myeloma. The two sat down together to share their experiences, including how they strengthened their support network and learned to cope with their diagnosis.