Living

Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been living as a survivor for a while, it’s best to prepare yourself for some scarring. Sometimes these scars will be a thing or...

Living to be 100 years old makes one a centenarian (pronounced cen-ten-air-e-an). I have been volunteering for Centenarians of Oklahoma since 2018. Oklahoma honors these folks with a certificate and our...

In Part 1, I talked about how I sometimes had a difficult time working while living with blood cancer. In those early years as a chronic myeloid leukemia patient, I...

It’s hard to always know exactly what makes you want to call or email a certain friend or family member on any given day. Is it something that reminds you...

Throughout my 6½ year journey with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), I’ve always worked. When I was first diagnosed, I was working as a reporter at a large daily newspaper. One...

When I was first treated for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), it helped me to speak to someone who had “been there, done that.” Specifically, in Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s One-to-One Volunteer...

“This is a life and death decision.” How many times have people around you thrown around that phrase? Probably a lot when it comes time to ponder things like, “Do...

Fred Rogers once said in an interview, "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say, 'Look for the helpers. You...

I remember when I was young and indestructible. There were only a few things to worry about like grades, the next great date, and of course getting that driver’s license...

To know or not know, that is the question. I’m no Shakespeare but I know that his characters often face catastrophic decisions. That’s no less true for patients with blood...

Early on during my cancer diagnosis and journey, I felt overwhelmed, angry, and worried. In addition, I was out of control and sad. When my second oncologist said my outlook...

Superheroes are great, aren’t they? With their flashy costumes and exciting story arcs, most of us love to read or watch Superheroes. I never thought one would help me with...

I guess after a while you learn to adapt to the challenges, trials, and everything that comes along with blood cancer; however, sometimes those rare instances of awkwardness are frustrating...

There's a certain type of courage to facing cancer. It's a very individual experience. Leya Elijah’s article, The Pressure to be Brave, really got me thinking. What is Cancer Courage?...

Anticipatory nausea was one of the worst feelings I experienced during cancer treatment. I would usually get sick just at the thought of an upcoming chemo appointment, even days before...

When I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, I hoped that the disease that was damaging my body would also heal some strained family relationships. I envisioned family members bringing me...

One of the biggest hurdles I've had to face when told I had multiple myeloma was strong consideration of the side effects, and what they would be. First off, I...

Invisible illness. It’s a term that sometimes gets thrown around for certain kinds of blood cancer. Yes, cancer, the big C, the unstoppable force, sometimes gets called an “invisible illness.”...

It’s hard to explain the sinking feeling I get when I hear of someone who has died of “my” disease. Maybe that’s because it’s a combination of reactions: sadness, a...

Yes, the title is a question. Don’t get me wrong... “Do I continue to have chronic pain?” Yes. “Do I sometimes want to stay in bed because I’m too tired...