Navigating a Colonoscopy: A Step-by-Step ExperienceColorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers with proper screening, yet screening rates remain well below a target of 80% in the United States. Colonoscopies remain the gold...reactionscomments
Enter Our Giveaway: Medical Gaslighting Signed Book (*Giveaway Closed)**Please Note: This Giveaway is Now Closed** This month, we are thrilled to be offering a signed book giveaway, featuring one of the Social Health Network's very own Health Leaders!...reactions1comment
Telling Loved Ones About Your Cancer DiagnosisAfter getting news of a serious illness like cancer, you will likely turn to family and friends for support. Here are some things to think about before you share your...reactionscomments
My Diagnosis Story: Randalynn VaselEditor's note: This article was written by Randalynn Vasel and originally appeared on our partner site AdvancedOvarianCancer.net. January 19, 2017...it was the day a hard line was drawn in my...reactionscomments
End of Life Care and Wrapping Up Unfinished BusinessI now find myself in Hospice Teams diligently assessing each organ system during their weekly visits. Particularly, the scientific data remains of interest. Is there an advance of the disease?...reactions2comments
Advocacy: My WhyEditor's Note: This article was written by Julie Salazar and originally appeared on our partner site AdvancedOvarianCancer.net. From a young age, my energy was enormous. My mother threw me into...reactionscomments
Getting Comfortable Speaking About End of Life Care and DeathEditor's note: Read Ellen's first article titled "It Isn't Over Until It's Over: Deciding to Stop Chemotherapy" here. An early memory: At three years old, nine of our family members...reactions2comments
Navigating Stress, Anxiety, and Depression as Patient AdvocatesAs patient advocates, we dedicate ourselves to supporting others through their healthcare journeys. However, amidst our commitment to others, it's crucial not to neglect our own mental health. Stress, anxiety...reactionscomments
Using Airport Assistance When TravelingWhen I was first diagnosed with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, I could never imagine the journey my condition would open for me. I thought it was a curse and nothing...reactions1comment
U.S. Service Dog Law BasicsHave you ever considered getting a service dog to help with your medical condition? Service dogs are dogs that are trained to help their owners with their disability. Disabilities are...reactions2comments
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do: When It’s Time To Find a New ProviderYou can start to sense when the relationship has run its course. Maybe clinic appointments are feeling rushed. Maybe you don’t feel heard or understood. Maybe you don’t feel comfortable...reactions1comment
The Emotional Side of Managing Endometrial CancerAs Mariah Carey once sang, “you’ve got me feeling emotions, deeper than I’ve ever dreamed of.” She was singing about a romantic relationship, but did I apply these wise thoughts...reactionscomments
The Difficult Journey of Endometrial Cancer TreatmentIt was during the Thanksgiving holiday in 2018 when I answered the phone. It was my oncologist. He told me my blood tests were positive for ovarian cancer. I was...reactionscomments
Navigating an Endometrial Cancer Diagnosis: Advice From a PatientIf I could go back to my June 2022 self and tell her what was around the bend: a cancer diagnosis, starting the search for my birth mother, the sudden...reactionscomments
In America: What’s That?To learn more about the challenges of living with chronic, rare, and terminal health conditions, we are conducting our In America survey. By taking our survey, you can bring awareness...reactionscomments
Living With Chronic Illness as a Black Woman: A Personal StoryI have been living with chronic illnesses for over 20 years. I was diagnosed with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the prime of my life. As a black woman...reactions6comments
What to Know About Health Leader CompensationTime and time again, we hear the question, “How much should I charge for my patient advocacy expertise?” It’s an ongoing and worthy debate for patient advocates in the health...reactions14comments
Navigating Copyright as a Patient Leader: An Interview With Gerry LanganBeing a Patient Leader in the chronic, terminal, and rare disease communities is no easy feat. You're constantly balancing managing your health and providing your community content, information, and support...reactions5comments
Participatory Medicine and the Patient Leader: An Interview With Danny Sands, MDAs patients and caregivers, we often look to our doctors and other healthcare practitioners for the answers to our health problems. But what if we told you that to manage...reactions3comments
Replay: The Story You Need to Tell Writing WorkshopApril Johnson Stearns, founder and editor-in-chief of WILDFIRE Magazine, led a writing workshop for Social Health Network Health Leaders interested in using their voice to advocate for themselves and others...reactionscomments
