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Myth or Fact- You should avoid exercise during cancer treatment.

What have you heard and what’s one gentle movement that’s helped you (even a short walk or stretching)?

Caring for someone you love can be meaningful- and exhausting. Burnout isn’t a personal failure; it’s a sign you’ve been carrying too much for too long.

Common signs of caregiver burnout

• Feeling constantly tired (even after rest)

• Irritability, numbness, or frequent tears

• Trouble sleeping or changes in appetite

• Feeling guilty when you take a break

Food choices can play a helpful role in overall colon health. We've created a general list of nutrient-rich foods many experts commonly include in healthy eating patterns.

Fruits

• Berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries)

• Apples and pears (with skin if tolerated)

• Citrus (oranges, grapefruit)

• Bananas

**Compounded Pharmacy: Personalized Medication for Individual Needs**

A compounded pharmacy plays a vital role in modern healthcare by offering customized medications tailored to meet the specific needs of individual patients. Unlike commercially manufactured drugs, compounded medications are prepared by licensed pharmacists who combine, mix, or alter ingredients to create personalized treatments. This approach is especially beneficial for patients who require unique dosages, alternative forms of medication, or allergen-free formulations.

One of the primary advantages of compounded pharmacy services is personalization. Not all patients respond well to standard medications due to differences in age, weight, allergies, or medical conditions. For example, pediatric and geriatric patients often struggle with swallowing pills, making liquid formulations a better alternative. Compounded pharmacies can transform tablets into flavored liquids, topical creams, or even dissolvable forms, ensuring ease of use and improved patient compliance.

Another significant benefit is the ability to eliminate unwanted ingredients. Many commercially available…

A Colon Cancer diagnosis can change everything but it doesn’t get to take away your joy. Whether you’re in treatment, recovering, or years out, you deserve moments of peace, laughter, and meaning.

Here are a few gentle, real-life ways patients and survivors can enjoy life beyond diagnosis:

• Celebrate small wins: A good lab result, a walk around the block, a day with less fatigue- count it.

• Create a “joy list”: 10 simple things that lift you up (music, sunshine, a favorite show, a warm drink, a phone call).

• Move in ways that feel safe: Stretching, short walks, chair yoga- anything that supports your body where it is today.

• Reconnect with people who feel supportive: One safe person is enough. You don’t have to do this alone.

Caregiving is hard, and it’s also deeply meaningful. If you’re caring for someone affected by Colon Cancer, you’re not alone.

Some things caregivers often love about being a caregiver:

• Feeling close and connected through the everyday moments

• Being able to bring comfort, dignity, and calm

• Learning how strong they really are

• Becoming an advocate and making a real difference

Collectively we're advocating for a cure for Colon Cancer and for medications that are affordable and accessible for everyone. Too many patients and families face impossible choices because of high drug costs, insurance barriers, and delays in care.

Question for the group: What’s one change you want to see most- more research funding for a cure, lower medication prices, or better access to screening and treatment?

Beyond insulin, where is the innovation?

• A (Endocrinologist): GLP-1 agonists (Ozempic, Mounjaro) have changed everything. They lower A1c and cause weight loss. But supply and cost are crises.

• B (Pharmacist): Don’t forget SGLT2 inhibitors. They protect kidneys and hearts, even in non-diabetics with CKD. That’s a massive label expansion.

• C (Payer): We can’t afford $1,000/month per patient. We are forcing step therapy (metformin first). Drug companies need to compete on price.

• D (Patient): I was on metformin for 10 years with GI side effects. These new drugs gave me my life back. Stop gatekeeping based on cost.

Here are meaningful ways caregivers can show up for our Colon Cancer Patients:

• Listen first. Ask, “What do you need today?” and follow their lead. Sometimes they want solutions, sometimes they just want to be heard.

• Protect their energy. Help limit stressful conversations, manage visitors, and create quiet time for rest.

• Nutrition and hydration. Offer small, gentle meals, keep water/electrolytes nearby, and track what foods feel best (especially during treatment).

• Help with symptoms. Take pain, fatigue, nausea, bowel changes, and anxiety seriously. Encourage calling the care team when something feels off.

• Be a treatment partner. Go to appointments, take notes, keep a medication list, and help organize questions for the doctor.