Doris Cardwell

I am still struggling to navigate the intrusive questions of well-meaning strangers 17 years after surviving inflammatory breast cancer.

Finding support as a cancer survivor helps me get through the unpredictable twists and turns of cancer.

Cancer is a terrible disease, but sometimes it offers an important perspective I wouldn't have had otherwise.

After a while, I stopped caring about wearing a mastectomy bra and did was what comfortable to me: wearing a regular bra.

A cancer community creates support and care throughout a cancer experience.

There are so many aspects of survivorship that I found myself unprepared for. One deeply personal aspect that caught me completely off guard goes back to my childhood.

October brings many mixed emotions to mind as a breast cancer survivor.

I was told that I have survivors' guilt after seeing a friend while she was actively dying from cancer, but I actually see that day as a gift.

I’m 16 years out from my breast cancer diagnosis, but every now and then, panic still creeps up on me.

My heart breaks for patients with cancer and other health conditions who are forced to flee the war-torn Ukraine.

A cancer survivor describes how hearing about a friend’s cancer diagnosis brings emotions to the surface.

A cancer survivor encourages other patients and survivors to talk more about their thoughts as it may help ease their fears and concerns and help them accept their “new normal.”

That sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach is familiar to those who have heard the words "you have cancer". Telling someone not to worry post treatment can be like telling them to not breathe. Listening is more productive than telling survivors not to worry.

Do parts of being in a pandemic feel familiar to you? Yet you have never been in one before? One cancer survivor suggests that's because those who have been on the cancer journey have experienced this before.

One survivor shares three things that helped her find a sense of control in the chaos that a cancer diagnosis can bring.

Cancer, like many things in history, can be an unexpected landmark in our lives. With it can come crushing fear. If you feel that, even years after that moment in time, you are not alone.

"All cancers deserve the attention that breast cancer gets in October. To my brothers and sisters with 'non-pink' cancer and other diseases: it does not mean we don't care."

Cancer can bring others to love into our lives. This can be costly, but I choose to believe it is worth it.

October is upon us. That means much of our world can turn pink. Pink shirts, shoes, bags, jewelry, hair... I could go on. Many people buy items to support breast cancer education and research. Educating yourself as to where your money goes can be important.

We all have stress in our lives that takes many different shapes and forms. Giving space to each other to feel, to grieve and to vent is part of community. It's part of friendship, family and faith that we are all in this thing called life together.

Many survivors face times of worry and anxiety. An upcoming appointment, a scan, a new lump, bump or spot can all be triggers for feeling intense anxiety. Here are three simple tools from a fellow survivor to help cope in those times.

There is value in information being shared from survivor to survivor. Many health issues may be common, but you can feel alone if you are not aware of them. A well-moderated online support group may be a great place to gain knowledge and comfort.

Cancer can both open and close doors. It can make life feel crowded and foreign. It can bring out both the best and the worst in people, much like being on a crowded elevator can. As it creates space in our life it can also push us out of our comfort zones but it doesn't change who we are.

Family and friends receive the cancer diagnosis right along with the patient. People change, relationships change and life as you know it may never be the same.

Every person handles a cancer diagnosis differently. The most important thing is that you say or do something. Here are three suggestions you may find helpful based on my experience.

I had no idea learning to sit with people in their pain would help me learn how to deal with my own.

While I am and will always be a survivor, there are times in life that it should, and will take a back seat.

Scanxiety, fear of recurrence, whatever you choose to call it, it is real. A sleepless night or hard time here and there doesn't mean you aren't dealing with it well, it means you are human.

I certainly was not used to people talking about my body all the time. "Are they taking your breast off?" several women asked. What? Who asks that question? If you do, you shouldn't.

Life as a cancer survivor can feel like a balancing act. One day you may be dancing with joy, and the next you might be struggling with fear. Support and understanding can come as we help people around us understand the struggle.