
Looking back at my experience with osteosarcoma, I realized that managing the mental game was half the battle, especially with so much negativity.
At just thirty years old, Steve was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer. The journey has taken him through chemotherapy, multiple surgeries, and many different avenues of holistic health. An avid blogger, Steve shares his personal health regimens as well as love of music, movies and sports in his writing. Follow along his quest for wellness as he reacclimates into the world in spite of daunting statistics. You can connect with Steve on Instagram @steve.othercword, Twitter @othercword and his website, www.othercword.com.
Looking back at my experience with osteosarcoma, I realized that managing the mental game was half the battle, especially with so much negativity.
Reflecting on different reminders that have helped me maintain an empowering mindset and stay motivated on healing with cancer, one day at a time.
When my life after stage 4 osteosarcoma felt unclear, I did my best to trust the process. Three years later, here's what happened.
Putting a focus on healing is most important before fixating on the far future. Take it one day at a time.
My goal is to focus on what I want as a cancer thriver, especially after moving to the other side of the country.
Here are some tips to upgrade your healing cave during cancer, which can help improve one's headspace.
It’s not just toughing out the side effects from cancer treatment.
Cancer has taught me valuable lessons and now, I'm letting these lessons guide me.
As I reflect upon the past, I wonder: Was I just lucky to have turned my health around after fighting and healing from stage 4 bone cancer?
About four years ago, I wrote a post called "All the Answers" where I discussed the weight of uncertainty after cancer.
The holidays are rolling in, which often means reconnecting with friends and family— some of which you haven’t seen in a while.
Can I be honest with you?
There were so many opinions on my healing after cancer.
The highs, lows and a courageous decision that changed everything.
“And… ok, that’s enough!” That was my brain’s reaction after the oncologist broke the news.
Constantly replaying scary cancer situations or drowning in anxiety isn’t only depressing it wastes valuable energy that could be used for healing.
I spent most of the past decade obsessed with self-preservation. After being diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer, this was necessary for my survival.
I remember hearing somewhere that there’s no such thing as achieving the perfect balance; rather, life itself is an act of constant rebalancing. I've found that to be true in life with cancer.
Before every cancer scan, I used to prepare myself for the worst.
Anything that got in the way of my healing from cancer had to be put on hold.
It’s essential that I maintain a sense of urgency, as well as long-term stamina, in my cancer survivorship.
After being diagnosed with aggressive bone cancer, I had to accept that much of my life was going to change.
I've learned that with cancer, there’s a difference between cathartic venting (a natural stage of grief) and falling into a victim mindset.
While undergoing cancer treatments, I wasn’t prepared for what it would feel like while interacting with the world outside of the hospital, but I found a few things that helped.
I recently reflected on the most difficult decision I faced during my experience with cancer.
My body and mind go through a lot before and after cancer scans. Here is how I bounce back.
As a cancer survivor, major medical appointments cause a great deal of stress. It took my dog throwing up to make me snap out of it.
I recently came across a Twitter thread where people were shaming a cancer survivor’s decisions, forcing me to step back before reacting.
When I experienced a sarcoma recurrence in 2017, I was given less than a 10% chance to live for five years. Now that I’ve surpassed that statistic and celebrated my five-year wedding anniversary, I’ve proven to myself that I’m not defined by cancer statistics.
For some, sticking to healthy habits can be difficult, but when I was going through cancer, I felt that my life depended on it.
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