Blogs
Survivorship, the Hardest Part After Cancer?
Survivorship after cancer can be harder than treatment. My daughter faces lasting side effects, fear, and uncertainty while building a life she hopes to live fully.
Pancreatic Cancer Tried to Crash My Three Daughters’ Weddings
I was told I wouldn’t live to see my daughters’ weddings — but 12 years later, I’ve been there for two, and I’m holding out hope for the third.
Beyond Treatment: How Support Groups Helped Me Embrace My New Normal
Joining support groups after cancer treatment helped me heal emotionally, connect with others who understood and embrace a new, meaningful normal.
Don’t Miss Your Shot: A Letter to My Newly Diagnosed Self
Eminem’s lyric about having “one shot” stayed with me, and writing this letter to my newly diagnosed self, reminds me how that mindset saved my life.
Being a Cancer Survivor is a Gift I Never Take for Granted
Being a cancer survivor for nine and a half years has taught me to live in the moment, to make those moments count.
Connected by Shared Experiences and What Cancer Can’t Take Away
Two people connect by sharing their experiences about taking care of their spouses who died from cancer, and the realization that sparked something more.
A Letter to My 2009 Self, Newly Diagnosed With Breast Cancer
I survived breast cancer and medical trauma, but the road was brutal. Fifteen years later, I’m alive, scarred and still searching for peace.
I Sometimes Forget to Celebrate Survivorship
Five years after my transplant for leukemia, I’m learning to focus on gratitude despite daily struggles, remembering that being alive is the greatest gift.
The Gift of a Good Cancer Nurse
When it comes to living with cancer, your nurses make a difference.
The Invisibility of Blood Cancers to Others
I describe what it is like to have an “invisible” cancer.
Being in the Present Moment With Multiple Myeloma
I reflect on finding peace, purpose and presence after my diagnosis through a creative writing exercise rooted in mindfulness and metaphor.
Dealing with Insensitivity After Breast Cancer Surgery
Breast cancer surgery can disfigure the body in some way, and often the scars are more than skin deep, which may worsen by the actions of others.
Cancer Survivors Look Forward, Not Backward
As a cancer survivor I explain the importance of looking forward to life.
The Healing Power of Teddy Bears for Adults With Cancer
There are many instances where teddy bears can be the key to opening hearts and minds during cancer care.
Rebuilding Resilience: Navigating Aging and Exercise After CLL
After running the Boston Marathon at 67, I faced new limits from aging and chronic lymphocytic leukemia — but I’ve found ways to stay strong and resilient.
Connecting With Nature After Colon Cancer: My Self-Care Practices
Connecting with nature through journaling, walking and meditation helped me heal during and after colon cancer treatment.
Finding Peace Beyond Caregiving and Oncology
I reflect on my journey from caregiver to advocate, embracing a future shaped by cancer but no longer defined by it.
What I Learned From My Cancer Nurse Maria
Maria, my oncology nurse, inspired lasting change in my life through compassion, wisdom and faith during my cancer surgery and recovery.
Teaching, Writing, Healing: The Intersections of My Cancer Journey
Fifteen years after being diagnosed with small lymphocytic lymphoma, I’ve found healing and meaning in the work I love and the life I’m grateful to live.
Ovarian Cancer Treatment Side Effects Make for a Difficult Balancing Act
I urge researchers to look into why side effects occur in cancer drugs and to find ways to mitigate them that doesn’t impact their efficacy.
Contemplating AI Assistance as a Cancer Survivor
When I saw a study about using AI facial recognition in cancer decision-making headlines, I decided to try my own informal, non-scientific experiment.
When Others say Your Own Thoughts About Cancer Aloud
I'm a follicular lymphoma survivor, and hearing others name the quiet, lasting changes of life after cancer made me feel seen and understood.
The Unnamed Nurse who Saved My Life During Breast Cancer
I’ll never forget the unnamed nurse who stayed calm and gentle while treating me during a dangerous post-surgery infection that could have ended my life.
Reflecting on my Son's Graduation as a Previvor
As a Lynch syndrome previvor, I feel deep gratitude to witness my son’s graduation — a milestone my brother never lived to see with his own child.
Tips for Combating Lymphedema After Breast Cancer
With proper precautions, international travel and safeguarding an arm with lymphedema are possible. Always prioritize your health and seek medical advice.
Finding Comfort in Teddy Bears Throughout My Experience With CLL
As a patient with CLL, I’ve found comfort in teddy bears — first as a chaplain offering solace, now as a patient embracing their quiet presence myself.
Survivors of Breast Cancer May Still Struggle with Fear of Recurrence
Even after many cancer-free years, the fear of recurrence still lingers, and many long-term survivors struggle to keep those thoughts at bay.
I Found Strength After Surviving Multiple Myeloma and Through Recovery
I share how I survived multiple myeloma, painful spine fractures and years of recovery to reclaim my independence and vitality.
Lymphedema Makes Summer Preparations Challenging After Breast Cancer
Summer heat can worsen my lymphedema, but I’ve learned simple ways to stay cool, reduce swelling and protect my arms — here’s what helps me most.
When a Thoughtless Mammogram Reminder Reopened a Deep Cancer Wound
A thoughtless birthday mammogram reminder underscored how the healthcare system ignored my reality of living with metastatic breast cancer.