What’s in your “chemo bag”? Gearing up for lung cancer treatment

Chemotherapy is one of the most common treatments for lung cancer, so the community on PatientsLikeMe is chatting about what’s helpful to pack in a bag for chemo appointments (join PatientsLikeMe to take part in this lung cancer forum discussion). Everyone’s experiences, side effects and preferences are different, but here are some items that people who’ve had chemotherapy say… Continue reading What’s in your “chemo bag”? Gearing up for lung cancer treatment

Spill the beans: How do caffeine and Parkinson’s disease interact?

Do you crave that cup (or more) of joe each day? Or a spot of tea or chunk of chocolate? Research about caffeine and Parkinson’s disease (PD) has been all over the map. What have studies shown? And what’s the PatientsLikeMe community’s take on caffeine and its effects when you’re living with PD? Take a… Continue reading Spill the beans: How do caffeine and Parkinson’s disease interact?

2 immunotherapy treatments in the news: Imfinzi and Keytruda update

Two immunotherapy treatments — Imfinzi (durvalumab) and Keytruda (pembrolizumab) — have made headlines recently in relation to lung cancer treatment. What’s the latest? Here’s an update. Expanded FDA Approval For Imfinzi The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved Imfinzi as a bladder cancer treatment in 2017. Imfinzi is marketed by AstraZeneca. In February 2018, the FDA approved… Continue reading 2 immunotherapy treatments in the news: Imfinzi and Keytruda update

Managing MS fatigue & guilt

Ever feel guilty about how your MS symptoms impact your life or the people around you? Like you can’t “pull your weight” or that people don’t understand that needing to rest is a real symptom and not laziness? The PatientsLikeMe community can relate — there are nearly 26,000 members with MS reporting fatigue as a symptom, and… Continue reading Managing MS fatigue & guilt

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) by the numbers, 30 years in

Now that deep-brain stimulation (DBS) — a groundbreaking treatment for Parkinson’s disease — has been around for just over 30 years in the U.S., check out some stats and data about it. Plus, see how many members of the PatientsLikeMe community have had DBS and what they’ve said about it. What is DBS and how… Continue reading Deep brain stimulation (DBS) by the numbers, 30 years in

Remodeling for ALS? Tips from a pALS who’s been there

Thinking about remodeling your home but don’t know where to begin? You’re not alone. Many people living with ALS consider a remodel to accommodate their needs as their condition progresses but don’t know where to start. To get some real-world advice, we talked to Jonathan Woodman, a pALS who recently renovated his garage into what… Continue reading Remodeling for ALS? Tips from a pALS who’s been there

13 Spring Clean Laundry Hacks when you have a Health Condition

Pain, fatigue and other symptoms can make spring cleaning and household chores… stink! We’ve rounded up some tips, tricks and life hacks for cleaning and doing laundry when you have a health condition. 1. Make a plan. Write out your cleaning to-do list (or find a free printable one online) and tackle your top priorities first.… Continue reading 13 Spring Clean Laundry Hacks when you have a Health Condition

Are we really more likely to cry when watching movies on planes? New study de-mystifies the urban legend

The Oscars have been awarded and spring travel is in full swing, which got us thinking about the urban legend that you’re more likely to cry watching a movie on a plane than on the ground. Is it just a myth or is there more to it? While celebrities, polls and pop culture have covered the phenomenon… Continue reading Are we really more likely to cry when watching movies on planes? New study de-mystifies the urban legend

Defining “good” health care: 2 new studies reveal patient perspectives

Do you feel you’re getting the best possible care from your doctor? In two recent studies, PatientsLikeMe members answered this question and shared their perspectives on the health care they’re receiving. The results show that while patient opinions about care and provider performance vary according to condition, diverse patient groups agree on the top factors that define… Continue reading Defining “good” health care: 2 new studies reveal patient perspectives

Is there a medical gender gap? The not-so-brief history of sexism in medicine

As Women’s History Month comes to a close, take a look at the gender gap in health care and how the centuries-old notion of “hysteria” may still taint women’s experiences today. History of “hysteria” Turns out, there’s nearly 4,000 years worth of evidence that people believed women’s illnesses stemmed from the uterus or sexual issues. An Egyptian… Continue reading Is there a medical gender gap? The not-so-brief history of sexism in medicine