Joe Bullock

I always wanted to make a difference, but I never expected my biggest impact to come through cancer.

Cancer tested my friendships by showing who could stay present through tough conversations, support me emotionally and endure pain together despite the loss.

As someone who has overcome colorectal cancer, I reflect on the support I received from others and vow to continue their legacy of advocacy.

Before receiving my colorectal cancer diagnosis, I had experienced cancer. However, my depression felt different during treatment.

After being cancer-free for five years, I struggle with my own existence. However, I find meaning in helping others through their cancer experience.

From a testicular cancer scare to colon and skin cancers, my body is a roadmap of my cancer experiences.

Experiencing losing a friend to cancer in the cancer community is never easy, but it’s OK to allow your heart to break.

After five years of being cancer-free, my oncologist said I'm graduated and can live my life freely.

I recently said goodbye to my oncologist of five years now that I have no evidence of colorectal cancer; it's time to let go.

My wife's simple sentence to me ended up saving my life from colorectal cancer.

As a survivor of colorectal cancer, I expect my scan to say that I’m 99% cancer-free, but it’s the 1% that worries me.

During the holiday season, the most important thing you can do for a patient with cancer is ‘hold space’ for them.

One of my favorite songs really hit home after I was diagnosed with cancer.

Sometimes you just need to be present, whether that means being in the room or a phone call away.

Battling the unforgiving foe: Cancer.

Becoming an advocate after my cancer diagnosis made an impact not only on others, but for myself.

If it wasn’t for my friends and family, I don’t know how I would have gotten through cancer alone.

When it comes to a physical exam, you don’t know how much of an impact it could make.

I was diagnosed with cancer five years ago, and am extremely grateful for the people I met along the way.

Even though I’ve had no evidence of cancer for the last five years, I still stay up to date about the latest developments for the disease.

Nowadays, I think of myself more as a cancer survivor and advocate than patient. Here's what I learned along the way.

When I was in the throes of cancer, I didn't know how to answer well-meaning people who asked, "How you doin'?"

Cancer took so many experiences away from me, yet I sometimes feel guilty that I survived and others did not.

In 2023, my goal is to continue building my role as a patient advocate and to support other cancer survivors in the fight through the various organizations I am involved with.

Many men — my former self included — can be stubborn when it comes to cancer screenings or visiting the doctor. Thankfully I’ve changed my ways, which saved my life.

I’ve heard the phrase, “don’t waste your cancer,” as a way to encourage survivors to tell their stories and donate to nonprofits.

Going through chemotherapy treatment was extremely difficult, and eventually I learned that sometimes, it’s OK to not be OK.

My family put off future plans because of my cancer, but now I’ve decided to take risks and do what we always hoped to accomplish.

Walking on the American Tobacco Trail has become church-like to me, as I ponder life with cancer.