Blogs
I’m Thankful for Early Cancer Detection
Even though I had no symptoms, my prostate cancer was caught thanks to frequent follow-ups with my doctor.
I’m Not a ‘Cancer Warrior,’ But I Am a ‘Joy Warrior’
I’m giving cancer’s “battle language” an update and focusing my survivorship plan on emotional wellbeing and honesty.
Praising My Oncologist and Nurse Publicly
I recently was asked to speak at a banquet for my cancer center and saw that as a great opportunity to recognize those who cared for me.
Setbacks Happen While Rebuilding Life After Cancer, But I Control What’s Next
I'm no longer the "helpless patient with cancer," though sometimes I need a reminder to keep myself in check.
Summer Travel Amid Cancer/COVID-19 Concerns: Are You in or Out?
After being homebound for two years from the COVID-19 pandemic, I was eager to get out, though I did have many cancer/COVID-19 concerns.
The Spiritual Side of Cancer
Receiving a pancreatic cancer diagnosis has caused me to reexamine my spirituality, which led me to believe that my life is a line, rather than a single dot in time.
Create a Cancer-Fighting Superhero
Here's a step-by-step guide on how I drew the superhero that I wish existed to fight my wife's cancer.
A Cancer Lesson Learned from a Funky Pair of Shoes
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.
I’m Irked by the Cancer Stereotypes Portrayed on TV
From bald heads paired with lush eyebrows to the typical emaciated patient, there are certain tropes of how cancer is portrayed on TV that bother me, as they do not represent the experiences of everyone with the disease.
The Hard Truth About Young Women Facing Breast Cancer
My doctor once told me that if you're old enough to fight for your country, then you're old enough to get breast cancer.
A Letter to Those Newly Diagnosed With Cancer, Including My Younger Self
As I reflect on four years of “warriorhood” since being diagnosed with cancer, I wrote a letter to my younger self and others who are just receiving diagnosis.
I’m In a Great Place With My Cancer Despite Feeling 25 Years Older Than I Am
I am still here fighting, fighting hard and I will continue to do so to make sure I have more graduations, more weddings, and more everything that I can squeeze into my precious time left here on earth.
I Don’t Regret My Choice to Forgo Chemotherapy
My choice to not undergo chemotherapy for breast cancer was not an easy one, but looking back, I don’t regret it.
I’m Still Alive With Cancer, But I Want More
Cancer and COVID-19 took away my yearly “benchmarks” of time, when I fly out to see friends and family.
A Look at Mindset, Optimism in Life After Cancer
As I recover from the traumatic effects of cancer, I’m realizing that success has much to do with mindset and optimism.
I Use a Simple Button to Combat Anti-Maskers, Since Cancer Made Me Immunocompromised
I was shocked at a recent doctor appointment when practically nobody in the office was wearing a mask.
How I Keep My Cancer at Bay
I’m playing the cancer cards dealt to me as best I can, and am trying to stay healthy.
Cancer, Bears and Fierce Compassion
Gender be damned, a mother bear’s “fierce compassion” became my default mode as I cared for my ailing adventure partner and soul mate.
Crying Over a Movie, Cancer and Lost Innocence
“Love Story,” the story about a young woman who falls in love and then dies of cancer, affects me differently now than it did when I was a teenager and no experience with either love or cancer.
Be Kind to Yourself in Cancer Survivorship
I must remember to be kind to myself, and not compare my current abilities to my pre-cancer days.
Honoring Olivia Newton-John, My Cancer Icon
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.
Cancer Is Like a Hula Hoop, and I Need to Stay Inside My Circle
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.
An Online Group Helped Me Get Rid of Post-Mastectomy Items I Didn’t Need
I made too many late-night purchases for things that I thought I’d need after my mastectomy. Thankfully, the STOMP group helped me get rid of some of these items.
Does My Cancer Give Me a Pass at Patience?
When my grandmother passed, I noticed my aunt was ruder than usual, and I wondered if I was like that during my cancer experience... and if the pain I was going through excused that behavior.
Parallels Between the Psychology of Money and Life After Cancer
I recently read a book about the psychology of money, and actually related much of the content to my life after osteosarcoma.
Loving People in My Life Could Not Handle My Daughter’s Cancer
Despite how caring they may be, certain people in our life had a difficult time being there for the realities of my daughter’s cancer experience.
Losing My Hair Helped Me Empathize With Others
Losing my hair from breast cancer treatments was an emotional experience for me and helped me empathize with others who also lost their hair.
The Incredible Shrinking Patient With Cancer
Cancer treatment-related osteoporosis caused me to shrink two inches.
No Matter How Bad the Cancer News, Hang on Tight to Hope
After being diagnosed with cancer, hope can be a very fragile thing, but it is essential that we hold on to it.
My Story of Hope After Being Diagnosed With a Cancer I’ve Never Heard Of
I don’t fit the profile of someone who gets diagnosed with mesothelioma, so my diagnosis came as a shock.