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Category - Caregiver Support

Inviting Cancer Into Your Social Life
Monday, May 20, 2013 - 12:50pm
Ryan Rose Weaver

Nothing can change the caliber of a conversation—or a relationship—quite like cancer. Like an acquaintance we've been trying to avoid, mortality suddenly appears in the room, and from then on, it never leaves. By choosing to invite the Big C into our social lives, we are always taking a risk—a risk that our friends and partners might not react well, might freeze or run away. For people with cancer and their close friends and families, it's a risk we take every day.

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The Power of Pet Therapy: Rorie's Story
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 - 3:09pm

A little over six years ago, Sandra Szopinski caught a segment on the news featuring Roswell Park's first therapy dog, Monte. At the time, Sandra's eight-year-old golden doodle, Rorie, had already passed therapy dog testing. After seeing the news report, Sandra instantly felt compelled to call Roswell Park to find out more about our Pet Therapy Program.

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Long Distance Love
Monday, April 29, 2013 - 7:45am
Ryan Rose Weaver

What do you get a kid brother with brain cancer for his birthday? Especially when you live four hundred miles away?

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Traveling With Cancer
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 - 9:34am
Ryan Rose Weaver

One week before my brother was set to study business in Singapore this summer, Dr. Metchler delivered his alarming news.

After nearly a year of clear MRIs, Dr. Metchler was seeing something new. The images he’d received in May seemed to suggest a new growth of malignant cells deep inside David’s brain.

My memory of this moment is admittedly fuzzy, but I’m sure our faces betrayed the panic and sadness we felt as we jumped to what felt like an obvious conclusion: summer in Singapore was out. 

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Back to Work: Coping with Cancer in the Workplace
Wednesday, January 2, 2013 - 9:35am
Ryan Rose Weaver

When my brother was diagnosed with cancer, my family’s priorities were clear: his health came first. But eventually, we also had to return to work. 

We were not sure how to talk about how the "C" word was affecting us with co-workers, how the constant worry and uncertainty made it hard to focus or plan the way we used to. In fact, we are still learning how to talk about that. But we have learned some lessons along the way.

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Adjusting to the New Normal
Monday, November 5, 2012 - 9:21am
Ryan Rose Weaver

When my brother was diagnosed with brain cancer, it changed all of our lives, in ways big and small. The texture of reality shifted as anxiety and uncertainty set in. All of our future plans were placed on hold. And a new kind of normal began to replace the old, one in which doctor’s appointments were as common as coffee dates. 

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Our First Brain Tumor: Early Lessons Learned
Thursday, September 13, 2012 - 7:19am
Ryan Rose Weaver

It’s become a running joke in our family: “Hey, give us a break. We don’t know what we’re doing. After all, this is our first brain tumor!”

All families who come through the doors of Roswell Park Cancer Institute are rookies at this, to some degree. Including ours. After all, no one plans for cancer the way they do for college. And every cancer is different.

But still, a nagging sensation remains that we should all be better at this, somehow.

If you’ve been feeling this way, read on. 

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Cancer Can't Win

More patients are being diagnosed with cancer every day.

Here at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, we must continue to do what we do best – to understand, prevent and cure cancer. Because if we don’t, cancer wins. And Cancer Can’t Win.

  • With more than 3,000 scientific, academic and medical minds – Cancer Can’t Win.
  • When we are leading an advanced genetic program and creating next generation cancer vaccines to prevent it – Cancer Can’t Win.
  • When we are starting 13 new companies to advance our discoveries and share them with the world – Cancer Can’t Win.

Learn more about why Cancer Can’t Win

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