Living

Since I first heard about it, I always thought it was very clever of someone to designate a day for chronic myeloid leukemia (or chronic myelogenous leukemia) on September 22...

Leukemia can sneak up on you from behind or maybe jump out from behind a bush. That is figuratively, of course. You don’t expect it to jump out at you...

It was a warm August night, and I was on my nightly bike ride along the lake. But this evening, I was on my way to meet up with another...

I’ve had a few past and present conversations and found when we throw the term "patient advocate" in the air; what I’ve learned what should be considered a slam dunk...

Cancer is a heavy word and for most people. It has a very negative connotation and I don’t think I’ve met anyone who hasn’t been touched by it. Maybe not...

As we watched the sun dip low in the sky over Lake Bemidji that early August evening, we thought how small our world really is. Ramae and I are both...

Having a positive attitude when facing any of life’s trials is important. At least that’s my opinion. Nature and life have a way of working things out. Although it’s not...

I have a confession. Yesterday, I woke up at 10:45 am. Then I woke up again an hour later. Then I also woke up again at 12:15 pm. That’s what...

Everything happens for a reasonEven if you don’t know whySometimes all you can do is laughOtherwise, you’d cry... Last year I wrote a song called Sometimes All You Can Do...

Processionary caterpillars are not well-known in the United States but are very well-known to be a significant environmental and defoliation hazard in the forests of southern Europe. A word of caution...

The hotel clock clicked midnight, and I was alone. I felt lost thinking about what life would be like with blood cancer. My friend had offered to accompany me to...

In a previous article, I discussed how my chronic myeloid leukemia specialist decided I should stop treatment temporarily. Late last year, my feet became swollen, discolored, and cold for some...

My only experiences with cancer before I was diagnosed were either: 1. People who beat it and 2. People who didn’t beat it. From what I saw, beating it meant...

Did you ever open an envelope, read its contents, and felt devastated? I was a college junior in 1976 when I received notice that I had not been accepted into...

Sometimes we know what it takes, or we think we do, when it involves walking into unknown territories. Oftentimes it's more than the obvious, it can also take the inner...

While on a walk with friends on a cold winter day, with slush underfoot, I had a secret weapon that you wouldn’t normally call a plus in a person’s life:...

A long time again, in July 2017 (wait…was it 2016? Oh geez, the years are blending into one big blob), nonetheless, a few years back I retired/went on disability. While...

Cancer, more so than any other illness, makes us rely on others for help. Most of the time that means family, and whether your “family” is the one you were...

Cancer is one of the most expensive medical conditions to treat. Multiple types of treatment including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy administration, and hospitalization may be necessary. Compared to prior years...

The first time you hear the words “You have blood cancer,” your world changes forever. The former “happy-go-lucky” person that was YOU just moments ago is now gone -- your...