Thinking Like a Child: A Strategy for Dealing with Adversity
A few years ago, I found myself dealing with the adversity of cancer. I was feeling totally exhausted after chemotherapy …
Living
AML on My Radar for More Than 15 Years
Back in my newspaper days, when telling someone what beat I covered, I would say something like, “I have arts …
By the Numbers
Growing up I always liked numbers. In high school, I’d get bored and watch the clock and on a sheet …
The Big Climb
If you’ve read my past posts you’ve seen me mention The Big Climb where we trudge …
My Three Day Rule
A few days ago, my son sent me a text at 2:00am. He’s in college, and I know he’s been …
Learning to Appreciate Life with All its Ups and Downs
Some days this diagnosis feels like I am sitting on death row, waiting for execution day to arrive. Every time …
National Healthcare Decisions Day 2019
April 16th is National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD). NHDD, founded by Nathan Kottkamp and now run by …
The Relief of a Phone Call
Out of the blue in 2007 around 6 months after my diagnosis and being taken off Imatinib and waiting to …
Fighting, and Giving Into, Fatigue
I’m not good at being tired. As I write this, I’m struggling to stay awake. I have things to do …
What to Say and Do for a Cancer Patient
Cancer is such an awkward topic. What do you say to someone who has just been diagnosed with a …
Blood Cancer Anxieties: Financial Stress
In this series, we discuss causes of anxiety for those facing a physical illness like blood cancer and its side …
The Fear
Today we’re going to talk about fear. Anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, anyone who knows a loved one …
From Passive By-Stander to Empowered Partner (Part 2)
A diagnosis of cancer is life-changing. My family and friends insisted I seek a second opinion from a myeloma …
Port of Entry Closed
Once my treatment plan was in place, the first step was a port-a-cath. My oncologist casually mentioned that the …
12 Years
Well, I can’t really believe it. The 19th of January marked 12 years since my diagnosis. 12 years since I …
What About Sex? (Part 2)
Authors note: This is the second part of a two-part series. Here we discuss ways to improve the sex life …
Yoga as a Supportive Strategy for Cancer Patients
As a cancer patient receiving chemotherapy, I experienced not just the symptoms of the disease but also suffered debilitating …
Pushing a Positive Attitude Not Helpful to Cancer Patients
In “Love, Medicine and Miracles,” the surgeon Bernie Siegel writes about a group of “exceptional cancer patients” whose positive attitude …
Mine vs. Yours
Who would ever think that a discussion of whose cancer is more relevant than another’s would be had, yet we …
My Toolbox for Managing Stress
Numerous stressors are faced by a cancer survivor. Add to that family discord and the result can be disastrous. …