Mary Sansone

After two diagnoses of acute myeloid leukemia, intense chemo and a bone marrow transplant, I’ve learned some things that helped me along the way.

Lasting guilt gets no one anywhere — especially when it comes to cancer.

Looking back on my experiences with leukemia and with alcoholism, I realized that the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous can be applied to life with cancer.

Throughout my cancer experience — and my entire life — there were many people who came in and saved my life.

After leaving the hospital, I craved the security and support my cancer care team provided me.

After going through cancer, I better recognize my triggers for heightened anxiety.

After undergoing a bone marrow transplant for my leukemia, I started to have some odd symptoms, and sent wacky texts to my loved ones.

When I was undergoing cancer treatment, writing was a creative outlet that helped calm my nerves.

After being diagnosed with leukemia, my Golden Retriever, Payton, was my emotional caregiver and gave me the will to live.

When I experienced an alcohol and cancer relapse, I fell into a depression. Thankfully, clinicians, loved ones and medicine helped.

I’ve been watching a YouTube channel about Borneo orangutans, and realized that these animals remind me of myself after cancer.

From ballooning ankles to rashes, there were multiple chemotherapy side effects that I had to deal with — here’s how I did it.

As a recovering addict, I was nervous about the painkillers that would come alongside my cancer treatment, but I soon learned that they would be needed.

“Was I OK with dying? Would I still be there for my dog? Can I still smoke?” — all these thoughts entered my mind when my oncologist told me that I had leukemia.