Survivorship

After a cancer diagnosis, it's common for a person to be presented with many choices regarding health care. As each choice is presented, the person with cancer must make decisions based on the information received. Not all choices are beneficial and should be weighed carefully. Each person has a right to do cancer the way he or she sees fit.

A cancer survivor tells readers how we can warm people up with a small spark even when we do not feel well.

This longer-term two-time cancer survivor admits that if she could do it over again, she would spend less of her life letting worry sit in the driver's seat.

There's a difference between being treated for cancer and being a cancer survivor.

Time is a relevant way of recording events during one's cancer journey but it's important to keep a proper perspective.

There are times in our cancer journey – and in life – when we want to “freeze time.” I am only in temporary remission, and eventually will have to go back on chemo again. This time it will likely be a new one with unknown consequences.

A two-time cancer survivor suggests what life after mid-life can be, even for cancer survivors.

While the surgeon suggested I have a lumpectomy followed by radiation treatments, I had already made my decision. I requested a double mastectomy without any type of reconstruction. Why would I pursue such a radical alternative? In this post, I explain my choice.

Sometimes all we can do it put one foot in front of the other to keep going.

There are many instances I could tell you about when and how God carried us through my son’s battle with testicular cancer. The right things happened at the most opportune times.

The search for a clinical trial would turn out to be my most daunting mission yet as a patient with cancer. Here are five important lessons I've learned throughout my search.

CURE® asked its readers: “What is one thing you wish you could tell your younger, pre-cancer self?”

A cancerversary is a significant day of celebration for a person who has experienced cancer. Celebrating a cancerversary is a big deal, and one survivor hopes to provide some clarity on the situation.

Don't sweat the small stuff, but don't miss those simple moments either.

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."

Are these new health conditions popping up late effects from the drugs used in my previous cancer treatment? We are only now living long enough after treatment for the doctors to see what happens years later.

This survivor shares the benefits of finding a local cancer support group or individual as she laments the retirement of her own cancer support group leader.

My doctor explained to me I was in what is called “partial remission.” I am well aware that this is temporary, but as I wrote in another article – so is life! While there is no cure for my disease, I choose to appreciate each and every day that I feel good.

A letter to my chemo wig, Silvie, thanking her for the confidence, strength, courage and bravery that she helped me find during my cancer journey.

This cancer living inside of me has been life altering. On the outside you may think that things are not so bad. What you are not seeing is that my cancer is incurable.

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

How to respond to others that pull away after the cancer diagnosis.

Don't let anyone else decide how you choose to celebrate any post-cancer milestones.

Breast cancer survivorship is something to celebrate and there are many ways to commemorate the fact, but are t-shirts and other items the best way to honor survivors? One survivor shares her perspective and reflects on National Cancer Survivor’s Day.

I have a daily calendar on my desk with very wise sayings. One that really stood out was by J.C.Watts. “It doesn’t take a lot of strength to hang on. It takes a lot of strength to let go.”

Many survivors face times of worry and anxiety. An upcoming appointment, a scan, a new lump, bump or spot can all be triggers for feeling intense anxiety. Here are three simple tools from a fellow survivor to help cope in those times.

Mindfulness and meditation for the masses. What does this mean to those of us with a life-threatening disease?

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.

Can fitness make you physically prepared for a medical detour?

When my oncologist wanted to start me on a standard treatment, I asked her why. She said some of her other patients had gotten it. She was basing my life on someone else’s results? This survivor decided to seek other opinions and became her own advocate.