Bonnie Annis

When celebrities are diagnosed with cancer, they wield great power to bring awareness to the disease but being in the public eye must be extremely challenging, especially when facing a personal health crisis.

Among the many lessons I’ve learned since my diagnosis with cancer, there’s one in particular that I refer to daily. It’s a lesson learned from wearing a pair of odd-looking shoes.

Hearing the news of Olivia Newton-John’s death shocked me. I’d loved this lady since the early 70s. But shock wasn’t the only emotion I faced — along with it came overwhelming sadness and fear.

It’s hard to watch other people fight cancer, but I must remember to stay inside my safe zone — my hula hoop — and only run to aid them when they ask.

I was feeling fatigued after undergoing breast cancer treatment, but once I started walking multiple times a week, I noticed that I felt much better.

If I make a wrong turn while hiking, I backtrack until I find my way again. I’ve decided that it’s OK to do the same thing when it comes to finding a cancer care team.

When I noticed the bare shelves in a recent trip to the grocery store, I started to think about how supply chain issues might impact cancer care.

Recent clinical trial results have given me new hope that one day soon, a cure for all cancers will be found.

One of the most loving things I can do for my family is to purchase life insurance, but my application was turned down, presumably because of my cancer history.

When my brother was diagnosed with cancer, I faced challenges of reliving my own journey while trying to help him know what to expect.

Since being diagnosed with breast cancer, I’ve been vigilant about reading the labels of items I buy to see if they contain carcinogens, but I never thought about the potential chemicals in my drinking water... until recently.

There are so many things I wish I’d known before being diagnosed with breast cancer, but if I’d known them all in advance, I wouldn’t have learned many valuable lessons.

While wandering around an outdoor art exhibit, I found a sculpture that really spoke to my cancer experience.

After being diagnosed with cancer, I scoured the internet for ways to live as long as possible and found some helpful tips and not-so-helpful “cures.”

Since having both breasts removed in 2014, I’ve been on a hunt for the perfect replacements. Through trial and error, I’ve gone through the good, the bad and the ugly, but finally came across a product that seemed to meet my needs.

When two small spots appeared on my face, I couldn’t help but wonder if they might be cancerous. Had I failed to protect my skin with a hat or sunscreen? Suddenly, I was cancerphobic.

I was frustrated when I developed lymphedema after my 2014 breast cancer surgery, but have since turned those negative feelings into advocacy for others who may be affected by the condition, too.

As a cancer survivor, I know all too well the struggles with depression and sadness. Fold in those grey winter days and It makes for a disastrous recipe.

A look at a survivor's survivorship appointment and how being a “patient patient” helps tackle anxiety.

Many young people slip cell phones inside their bras or pockets without a thought, but I worry if that is a safe practice and wonder if it could lead to health problems — such as cancer — in the future.

I was hesitant to glance at myself in the mirror in the year after my breast cancer surgery. But I soon learned that I was more than just my image, and I encourage others to do the same.

A breast cancer survivor discusses how researching cancer risks and environmental factors made her feel better equipped with information against the disease.

One breast cancer survivor shares the experience she had with her daughters in trying to get them to understand the importance of participating in preventive screenings.

A cancer survivor explains her approach to New Year’s resolutions and how she plans to make her health a priority.

A person with cancer may naturally assume an oncologist will follow them throughout the course of treatment, but when that person survives for many years, things can rapidly change.

Celebrating “cancerversaries” is important to cancer survivors, but what happens when years pass, and the celebrations feel too good to be true? One survivor shares her story.

Many women with breast cancer choose to undergo reconstruction after mastectomy. Of those women, some opt for nipple sparing surgeries while others do not. “Those who choose to save their nipples are often disappointed when the tissue dies or no longer functions as it did before surgery,” writes one survivor. “But why are nipples so important?”

“Each person living with cancer has a story to tell, but some may choose not to share it because of its personal nature,” writes one survivor. In this piece, she describes how she found a way to give her story words.

“All women with breast cancer deserve quality health care,” writes one survivor. “But for an incarcerated woman, that care may not come in a timely manner, if at all.”

A senior cancer survivor shares her experiences with post-cancer finances and offers some advice to others in the same situation.