Patient Support

Daily Living

Cancer can both impact our daily living practices, as well as encourage us to make changes to how we live on a daily basis. This section is a collection of articles and resources that relate to day-to-day living with the disease. Be sure to talk with your physician before making changes.

Conversation
Daily Living

HOW TO TALK TO YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS ABOUT CUTANEOUS LYMPHOMA
A question that often arises when newly diagnosed patients call the Cutaneous Lymphoma Foundation is: “What and how should I tell my friends and family?” There is no One-Size-Fits-All answer to this. Social worker, Leora Lowenthal offers some guidelines that allow each reader to come up with their own best solution.
Patient Resources

EMPOWER YOURSELF WITH COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION
Empowered patients are those who become active members of their healthcare team. Obtaining and keeping copies of your medical records and lab results is good advice for any person receiving medical attention.
Daily Living

Living With Cutaneous Lymphoma...Yes, Living!
You've been diagnosed with cutaneous lymphoma, is it possible to still have a full and rewarding life?
Friend Support
FROM GUIDE CONTRIBUTORS
Daily Living

LIVING WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF CUTANEOUS LYMPHOMA
You have cancer. Those three words can unleash a riptide of emotions, from disbelief to anger to sadness to fear. All those emotions and more are normal and can be allayed by asking questions, gaining information, and talking with individuals who have either experienced the disease or understand its normal course of action.
FROM GUIDE CONTRIBUTORS
Daily Living

Sexuality
Being intimate can be challenging when you have cutaneous lymphoma.
Couple with physician
FROM GUIDE CONTRIBUTORS
Daily Living

Fertility
Even if you aren’t currently thinking about having a family, aspects of family planning often need to be considered when choosing a therapy for your cutaneous lymphoma.
Patient Resources

Webinar: Protecting Your Privacy
March 2022 - Maintaining your privacy and control over disclosing a cancer diagnosis is a personal decision and there may be ramifications of disclosing. Covered in this webinar, options for maintaining your privacy, while still accessing workplace benefits & protections; common situations that can result in accidental disclosure; and other ways to protect your privacy.

Speaker: Monica Bryant, Esq., COO, Triage Cancer
Patient Resources

Facebook Live: Stress and Its Impact on Cutaneous Lymphoma
May 2020 - Dr. Lucia Seminario-Vidal discusses how stress may impact a cutaneous lymphoma diagnosis.

Presenter
Lucia Seminario-Vidal, MD, Moffitt Cancer Center (At time of recording)
Patient Resources

Webinar: COVID-19 Vaccinations - What We Know
April 2021 - Dr. Jasmine Zain shares what is currently known about COVID-19 vaccinations for individuals with cutaneous lymphoma. Dr. Zain also responds to audience questions regarding treatments and the vaccinations.

Clinician
Jasmine Zain, MD, City of Hope Medical Center
Patient Resources

Cutaneous Lymphoma and Fatigue
People in the modern world are tired, and that tiredness is often more intense for people living with cancer and other chronic illnesses. This article explores the possible causes of fatigue and how it might be managed.
Patient Resources

Blood and Organ Donations
The Cutaneous Lymphoma Foundation is frequently asked whether individuals with CTCL and CBCL are able to be blood or organ donors. We posed the question to our Medical Advisory Council.
Answers from the Experts

Vaccinations: A Brief Summary
Is it safe for individuals with cutaneous lymphoma to get vaccinations? The answer has changed over the years. Provided is a brief summary of currently known safe vaccinations.
Patient Resources

Cancer + Careers - Privacy Considerations
Sharing life events and challenges online is a common occurrence with social media, but what should you post? Cancer + Career's "Your Online Footprint" offers information you need to know about protecting your privacy and your online reputation.
Patient Resources

Facebook Live Interview: Leora Lowenthal, LICSW, MSW
May 2018 - Oncology social worker Leora Lowenthal joined CLF's Susan Thornton to discuss Patient Empowerment: practical and informative presentation on why and how to connect with oncology social services, and how to empower yourself when living with cutaneous lymphoma. Ms. Lowenthal is a senior clinical social worker at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Daily Living

Workplace and Cancer
Can I return to work? People living with cancer frequently ask this question. There are a number of laws protecting the rights of employees with cancer and their care partners. It is very important for you to know the legal protections that exist when you have cancer and are working or are re-entering the workforce.
Hair loss
Patient Resources

HAIR LOSS AND CUTANEOUS LYMPHOMA
Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma (CTCL) can sometimes cause a loss of hair, or alopecia, which can affect any area of the body.
Patient Resources

Air Travel With Medications
Many questions arise for patients who need to travel on an airplane with their medications. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s website offers information on traveling with medications.
Patient Resources

Online Support Groups
Online support communities such as listservs can directly link people living with cutaneous lymphoma to one another via email. The Cutaneous Lymphoma Foundation is pleased to promote the following listservs.
Patient Resources

Managing Your Cutaneous Lymphoma When a Specialist Isn't Nearby
Being diagnosed with cutaneous lymphoma while living far from a specialist may present innumerable challenges. However, there are some strategies for patients to utilize that may be employed to effectively handle these situations.
Doctor & Patient
Daily Living

HOW TO GET WHAT YOU REALLY NEED FROM YOUR DOCTOR
This…is…your…life. You have the right, indeed the obligation to yourself and to those who love you, when speaking to your doctor, to ask any questions you have, to get clarity about anything that has been said and to feel free to keep the conversation open until you are satisfied that in the days to come you can ask about any aspect of your treatment.