Survivorship

A male breast cancer survivor shares a note of gratitude to his surgeon.

Cancer can both open and close doors. It can make life feel crowded and foreign. It can bring out both the best and the worst in people, much like being on a crowded elevator can. As it creates space in our life it can also push us out of our comfort zones but it doesn't change who we are.

After treatment, this survivor was terrified of everyone and everything until her very wise doctor said, “I did not put you through all this for you to put yourself in a bubble – go live your life.” And she has… for 16 years and counting.

On those dark days, cancer survivors need to remember there are rays of sunshine behind the clouds.

We have to find light in the darkness of cancer not just for ourselves, but for those that will come after us.

When you are lost you ask, "Where am I?" When you go through cancer, it is hard to find where you are. In the map of life, why not find yourself where you are in this very moment? You are here.

Four out of 100. That is the survival rate for stage 4 glioblastoma: four percent.

As a result of what I went through and my never-ending passion for helping others, I believe that my diagnosis happened for a reason – to lead me to a career in patient advocacy.

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

One of the hardest things to realize about cancer is that it rarely goes in a straight line.

Art is a creative outlet that provides health benefits to those affected by cancer. Art therapy is becoming more widely used in the field of medicine as its ability to help people is evidenced.

Sometimes it doesn't pay to make comparisons.

Carrying chronic illness can be very difficult, but there are ways to navigate the world without being crushed by the weight of what we cannot control.

I hear friends talk about feeling old and resisting the natural process of aging. “Old” for me was a dream and a wish. Now I rejoice in every wrinkle as affirmation that I am getting older. Yahoo. I can’t wait to be 70.

Vision Boards are both therapeutic and fun for cancer survivors and everyone else!

Most people have heard the term "new normal" for individuals living, surviving and struggling with cancer. What actually does that mean?

Researchers examined the prevalence of chronic opioid use among survivors of breast, colorectal and lung cancer.

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

When treatment ends and survivorship begins, how do those with cancer make the transition? In this post, one survivor shares her findings.

Which is more important – research or imagination? Maybe they are equally vital in survivorship!

Can a diagnosis of cancer affect a person in a positive way? One survivor seems to think so.

After receiving a diagnosis of colon cancer, one survivor started the Cancer Warrior Martial Arts Program, which honors kids and martial artists with their Cancer Warrior Black Belt and certificate for their courageous fight against cancer.

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.

I probe the scars of cancer treatment and realize they are my salvation.

The attitude we have makes a huge difference in our lives and with cancer, a positive attitude can help us to live longer!

The cancer journey can take you on a jagged road with too many twists and turns. It doesn't always have to be an emotional rollercoaster if you know how to walk it.

For those of us living in the wake of a big diagnosis, how we define life, living and every day can be clouded by fear and misguided ideas of what it means to truly live. What I’ve learned is that life is not about what we are doing, but why and how we do what we have to for however long we get to be alive.

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