Felicia Mitchell

Cancer survivors sometimes wonder about their purpose on earth as time passes and so many others pass away before us with cancer. We need to be gentle with ourselves and not stress to much.

For a long time, I refused to acknowledge the lingering effects of neuropathy. I found a way to joke about it and told everybody I was clumsy. To acknowledge the elephant in the room, I had to admit I needed to explore balance further.

Even though I knew I was eligible for COBRA and that it would come into effect soon, my anxiety soared and grew as the days progressed. I told anybody who would listen that a cancer survivor in the time of COVID cannot be without insurance for even a second.

A cancer journey influences how a person contemplates retirement. In my case, it inspired me to retire from teaching earlier than I had originally planned.

Even those who have undergone mastectomies can enjoy a vintage bralette. And maybe being more comfortable with who I am, a survivor who did not opt for reconstruction, can be a lesson to others.

Surviving cancer teaches us emotional resilience, making even a frightening pandemic something we can decide we can navigate.

With so many cancer survivors working at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, we may need to assess how our shift to computer-based work affects limbs with lymphedema and make a few adjustments to the new routines to help ourselves out.

Hair loss, a common side effect of some chemo drugs, affects us all in different ways. Yet when hair grows back differently, it becomes a reminder of the changes that come with a diagnosis of cancer.

Cancer survivors need to keep up with the news. However, reading about a new study or risk factor might make us worry about past choices and/or current options, in a way we can't quite control.

When we lose a family member to cancer, grief may seem interminable. With time, though, the memories become golden, and there is no reason to forget the good because of the bad.

Living life means living with the risk of cancer. It is interesting to contemplate how the cards are dealt even as we try to outwit fate.

One breast cancer survivor shares the whirlwind of emotions that accompanied her while sitting in the waiting room.

It is hard for me to have regrets, especially when it comes to cancer treatment. I am thankful for every step of my journey. At the same time, voicing a few of my regrets after all this time might help others. A cancer patient needs as much information as possible to make the journey work.

Keeping copies of both official and personal health records for cancer and other health concerns can be empowering, and practical, for the cancer survivor.

As patients with cancer are among those who are prescribed opioids for pain management, being mindful of news and of shifting policies during the opioid crisis goes along with survival.

Biological drugs, as well as animal testing, concern both consumers and researchers. But, as these drugs can save or extend lives, they provide important advances in medicine.

Even a cancer survivor with an upbeat attitude can experience bittersweet blues sometimes out of the blue. There are ways to learn from this feeling, whatever we call it, and keep on going.

Exercises specifically designed for breast cancer survivors are helpful after surgery and years out, if we remember to do them!

How can surviving cancer teach us how to endure the discomfort of a common cold and vice versa? Sometimes an ordinary illness can teach us how to vent and exercise self-care beyond self-pity.

As a breast cancer survivor, I have become more active in my efforts to call attention to problems with secondhand smoke in my community. Since I know that exposure is not healthy, lobbying for changes in attitudes, as well as policies, makes me feel more empowered.

Breast cancer treatment is a life-saver but also can have side effects, including some related to shoulder pain. It is good to start doing the exercises as soon as the doctor recommends it. After that, a regular tune-up with a physical therapist can help.

I am the first to admit that I have a love-hate relationship with breast forms post-mastectomy. Every now and then, I do put one on. It comforts me to know that there are multiple options (especially for women who wear them regularly).

Making peace with radiation can be a challenge, even if high doses of targeted radiation can silence cancer cells. It took me almost two weeks to tame the beast of fear. What have you done to trick yourself into handling difficult situations during cancer treatment?

Especially during holiday seasons, we remember loved ones who are not with us. Even long after they have passed, we can cherish old memories and even make new ones with the help of social media. Recently I learned something sweet about my brother John, who died of Hodgkin's lymphoma decades ago, from a high school friend I never knew about.

Cancer is costly. What if I did not have health insurance or a steady paycheck? Would I have fallen through the cracks and died of metastatic breast cancer before anybody told me I was sick? An exercise in role-playing taught me that there is help available.

The mammogram can be an emotional roller coaster for any person. After you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, even good results can tap into deep emotions.

Pinktober heralds the arrival of so much pink that some of us run screaming from the sight of it, despite the good intentions of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As I explain how I have made my peace with pink, you might feel better about your own choices.

What comfort can you offer when somebody tells you she or he has cancer or, more challenging, that cancer has returned or spread?

Perhaps the last thing anybody wants to think about during chemo is a sewer system. If you live in a rural area, however, getting advice about how to pamper your septic system can be helpful.

When life deals you the cancer card, make your own deck with special role models to help you remember how strong a person with cancer can be. Sometimes little reminders to ourselves in our best handwriting can help us through a rough patch.