Living

Chemo. It’s a scary word, almost as scary as “cancer,” or “unauthorized charge on your credit card.” Chemo, though, is a necessary part of blood cancer treatment and after years...

In December 2007 I was diagnosed with hairy cell leukemia, a chronic and often repeating blood cancer. I have had 2 relapses and have undergone treatment each time since the...

After nearly nine years of living with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), I think I should have paid better attention earlier on to the signs along this road. I’m not talking...

This year it felt different. It wasn’t really on my radar but then again, that’s not necessarily a surprise. I normally remember World CML Day, just about. But that’s easier...

It is not an easy process when you're trying to get the most updated information about blood cancer. Taking on this particular article was like a maze to find the...

If you live in a climate that tends to be hotter than hot like I do (Texas *cough cough*) You know by now how horrid the heat can be. It’s...

In 2020, one of the newly arrived church ladies approached me after the service and said, “You have a nicely shaped head and I wanted to just say ... you...

Sadly, I recently received a call from a cousin who was distraught over a new cancer diagnosis. She was upset and totally overwhelmed. It brought back memories of my own...

The other day, I was walking down the street, choking back tears, stopping and starting and stopping again. I was trying to finish a text to my nurse practitioner at...

This month we are recognizing Blood Cancer Awareness Month, celebrating the lives of everyone in this community and the memories of those who are no longer with us. Survivorship is...

This giveaway is now closed! Thank you for participating! We are honoring Blood Cancer Awareness Month this year, themed "Survivorship," with a special giveaway. The giveaway starts on September 1...

Because of a hectic work schedule and medical problems, I recently took a hiatus from social media. I left a pinned "status" on Facebook. I don’t watch the TV show...

Fatigue. It’s always a popular topic when talking about blood cancer. Why? Because we all experience it, sometimes for years after we are in remission, and doctors rarely talk about...

When I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2011, I was severely anemic and my kidneys were near failure. These are two of several possible symptoms that are visible with...

Well, I’m currently in the 2-week wait for my leukaemic results, which seems to be coming around faster and faster. I was down to 8-week checks but it’s gone back...

"She's difficult!" I overheard the phlebotomist say while looking at my arm. WHAT?! I thought. I just said, "Good morning," when I sat down. That's all I said. "She doesn't...

When I was first diagnosed with hairy cell leukemia in 2007, I honestly didn’t know anything about blood cancer, let alone this very specific and rare type. And since it...

They diagnosed me with chronic lymphocytic leukemia at age 37. I was barely familiar with leukemia. I certainly had never heard of this form of the disease. My initial thought...

Do you remember how "The Tonight Show" host Jay Leno would preface a funny story by saying, "I am not making this up!"? Although it isn't funny, that's how I...

I want to share my blood cancer pet peeve with you. A pet peeve is one of those little nagging things that really aren’t all that important, but have a...