RPCI Cancer Talk

Spring Forward to a Better Night’s Sleep

Tips to remedy sleep disruptions during Daylight Savings Time
Friday, March 7, 2014 - 9:48am

We are approaching that bittersweet time of year when we gain an hour of sunlight but lose an hour of sleep. At 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 9, most Americans will set their clocks ahead one hour as daylight saving time returns.

Losing sleep – even an hour – isn’t easy for an already sleep deprived nation. Day-to-day stress, anxiety, medications and busy schedules regularly impact night-time routines. But proper shut-eye is essential to overall health and quality of life. Lack of sleep can interfere with thinking, memory and judgment, and increase risk of illness.

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Healthy Eating on the Internet: Week 1

Thursday, March 6, 2014 - 11:14am

March is National Nutrition Month! The theme of 2014, “Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right” suggests we focus on how to combine taste and nutrition to create healthy meals for our families and ourselves. Finding credible information on the Internet about healthy eating can be overwhelming and time-consuming! Each week during the month of March, we will provide a nutrition link on our blog to help you find reliable advice on how to make healthy eating with nutritious, tasty foods part of your meal planning each day. Every website is unique – check out the weekly links this month and see which on

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What Makes an Exemplary Nurse?

Tuesday, March 4, 2014 - 8:37am

“In late 1999, at the age of 33, Patrick awoke with some blood blisters in his mouth. Having survived Hodgkin’s Disease twice, he was admitted to his nearby hospital and diagnosed with the autoimmune disease ITP (Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura). During those weeks, we experienced the best of nursing,” said Bonnie Barnes, Patrick’s mother.

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Fighting Cancer with Fun

Friday, February 28, 2014 - 12:39pm

The words cancer and fun seldom share space in a sentence. But cancer support groups – especially for young adult patients – are increasingly geared towards fun and entertainment in activity-based settings.

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Making a Mark in Medical History

Antique Medical Equipment
Tuesday, February 25, 2014 - 12:16pm

As we conclude Black History Month, we look at some of the major achievements in medicine by highlighting five African Americans who made their mark in cancer research. These individuals were among the first of their ethnic group to make significant contributions to the medical field and helped pave the way for others. Read about these hardworking visionaries that changed the face of cancer for countless patients throughout the world.

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Fulfilling a Wish With a Search for Clues

Friday, February 21, 2014 - 12:20pm

My husband, Brian Townson was in his 60s when he learned that he had collecting duct renal carcinoma (CDC), a rare and very aggressive form of kidney cancer that is usually diagnosed after it has spread to other parts of the body.

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Rest For Your Soul

Tuesday, February 18, 2014 - 3:17pm

The news of a cancer diagnosis is difficult for patients and their caregivers, so it helps to find ways to cope with the added stress.

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Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth the Healthy Way

Thursday, February 13, 2014 - 12:28pm

If you’re looking for a sweet treat for your Valentine this week, look no further than dark chocolate. Of course dark chocolate tastes good. It’s chocolate! But it may also be good for your heart.

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Be Our Guest

Wednesday, February 12, 2014 - 10:56am

A kind gesture is sometimes the best form of medicine. Every day in the Roswell Park Patient Hospitality Room, you’ll find one of 24 volunteers eager to help make your day a little brighter. Whether it’s through friendly conversation, a cup of coffee, or a sympathetic hug, the Hospitality Room is a place for patients and families to relax away from home.

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What We Learn from Blood

Monday, February 10, 2014 - 9:51am

If you are a cancer patient or survivor, you've most likely become accustomed to frequent visits to a phlebotomist, or a specialist trained in drawing your blood for testing. But what is all that blood work for? What exactly is your cancer care team looking at?

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