Positivity in the New YearThe power of positivity is mighty. While only science, sometimes aided with nutrition and homeopathic methods, can cure, there is something to be said for the glass half full mentality...reactions8comments
How Virtual Reality Changed My RealityMy friend bought me a virtual reality (VR) headset for Christmas. He ordered it before Black Friday and before I had the chance to decline it. It was a very...reactions15comments
What A YearWhat. A. Year. Who would have thought that it would have been like this?! In a weird way, it’s nice to have lived through something unprecedented that will be written about...reactions4comments
Two Years Seemed So Far Off When I Was Diagnosed...It’s almost here. That date that some cancer patients reach after their illness progresses past a certain point. The two-year cancerversary, the end of the beginning, the “OMG did I...reactions8comments
The Other D-wordAuthor’s Warning: the following article is about a bodily function some people are uncomfortable talking about; defecation. Actually, it will focus on the subset called diarrhea. If you are uncomfortable...reactions6comments
Speak Up (Kindly) If Something’s Not Right!This past year, while receiving treatments at my local cancer care center, I noticed that every time I went for another one, I was being cared for by a different...reactions4comments
Helping Cancer Patients Deal with Emotional IssuesThe emotional effects of a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. When first diagnosed, I felt anger and a tremendous feeling of loss of control. Expected reactions to this life-threatening illness...reactions13comments
Cancer, Mind Demons, & the Importance of DistractionsCancer, it’s scary, unpredictable, and exhausting. It drains your energy all the time and makes doing anything almost impossible, physically. There’s an entire second side to cancer and chemo, though...reactions10comments
Update On My JourneyAn update on my journey and battle with blood cancer continues. To date, four infusions of R-CHOP have been completed and the latest scans show that the cancer appears to...reactions14comments
My Journey: Acute Myeloid Leukemia at 19 Years OldOn April 26th, 2019, I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at the age of 19. At the time, I was a sophomore in college and a field hockey player...reactions5comments
A Christmas CAR T MiracleOne of the best and worst parts of having cancer is the relationships with others who have the same disease. The highs of making lifelong friendships are sometimes trumped by...reactions18comments
Grieving Over CancerOn November 22, 1963, most baby boomers remember what happened that day. I was practicing my printing in a second-grade classroom at McKinley Elementary in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Our principal's voice...reactions20comments
From Emotional Regulation to Emotional AcceptanceI’ve been a cancer patient for eight years so far. That’s eight years of balancing symptoms, appointments, tests, treatments, and side effects. Being a cancer patient is a part of...reactions12comments
Scared ManagementI know not everyone handles life turmoil in the same way, which is why we’re all so unique in how we cope with blood cancer. So what do we do...reactions11comments
Medication - Not The Savior It Is For Other DiseasesMedication. It’s supposed to be a word that brings hope and joy to anyone who has an illness. It’s a way out of the predicament, a road to health, a...reactions16comments
Snip Snip, Bye-Bye HairBye-bye hair. Well, this is the written word so you don’t necessarily know what I look like. Until 5 days ago, I had really really long hair. I’m quite emotionally attached to my...reactions7comments
What Is It Really Like to Be a Caregiver? Results of the 2020 Caregiving In America SurveyWhen faced with a chronic health condition like blood cancer, many people rely on the help and support of a caregiver. In many ways, the family members, partners, and friends...reactions1comment
Caregiver Resources: Where Caregivers Can Go for SupportMillions of people are caring for loved ones who are sick or disabled. In fact, some 25 percent of U.S. adults report providing care or assistance to someone with a...reactions2comments
The 'D' WordIt’s a funny thing, leukemia. I’m in the wait and watch stage so, for me, Leuk is still an invisible enemy lurking somewhere inside. And though I can’t see him...reactions9comments
Describing Blood Cancer to a Person Who Doesn't Have ItA cancer diagnosis is a very distressing event. As a cancer survivor, I had to learn to explain what blood cancer is in simple terms. Friends and family wanted to...reactions12comments