Martha Carlson

Reflecting on the lessons learned from the trauma of living with a stage four cancer diagnosis.

An improved app sends clinical trials straight to the phone of this patient with breast cancer (and she can forward them right to her doctor).

They're billed as "nothing", but for this patient with cancer, the tattoos are daily reminders of her new life.

Think you're in control of your healthcare team? A recent experience reminded this patient that though it's her body, others may not consider her in charge of its care.

Why US cancer registries need to be modernized to help us better understand cancer.

A single question acknowledging someone else's experience can lift the heavy feeling of cancer isolation.

It isn’t easy living with stage 4 breast cancer when people want to hear uplifting stories about survivors.

A prolonged and doctor-sanctioned respite from scans gave one woman time to re-evaluate her life with metastatic breast cancer.

Searching for healthcare information online is a fact of life. Here are some ideas for how to do it responsibly.

If you want my money, you'll have to do better than just putting a ribbon on a t-shirt.

How I went from a grocery list to a bucket list and found greater meaning and hope.

Setting goals and recognizing milestones matters in a life with cancer.

My hospital made complete visit notes after my cancer diagnosis available online and what I found in them is a gift of gratitude and shared awe.

Blood clots are more common in people with cancer than in those without, and new guidelines urge knowledge.

How a dog provides unconditional love, comfort and life lessons in caring for this patient with stage 4 cancer.

Breast cancer links to weight, diet and exercise are all over the news, but remember this: You are not to blame.

Living with cancer means more than letting the negative go, it means finding a way to take in the happiness of right now. This cancer survivor calls it "Minute Mindfulness."

Why this breast cancer survivor thinks more oncologists should be listening carefully to patients on social media.

Getting back up matters when cancer knocks you down, but so does pausing for reflection.

The power of friendship within the world of metastatic cancer has hit home for this survivor.

At 42,000 US deaths a year, the push to call metastatic breast cancer "chronic" is premature.

I didn't see how alone I was with cancer until I found purpose and friendships with advocacy.

How a single phone call can change cancer outcomes and improve patient lives.

When the physical effects of cancer make it harder to do things, you can still find a way to move forward.

Create a digital health binder, improve communication, find clinical trials and get connected with three free mobile apps.

In metastatic breast cancer, the brain MRI is often a special request for what you don't want but truly need.

How to build good self-care habits for a better life with cancer.

How physical therapy restored this cancer survivor's quality of life.

Why it matters when hope isn't really hope at all (and tips on reading articles about cancer research).

Meeting others, learning tips, hearing from docs: breast cancer patients have it all when they get together.