Living

We all seem to have a unique set of experiences that trigger stress within our bodies. I’ve always noticed that certain people seem to trigger me more than others, and...

I was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in 2011. I can honestly say that at that time, the fear of this disease rendered me speechless. My family doctor gave me...

I have been a leukemia patient since 2011. I had lost quite a bit of weight, and stomach issues only made it worse. Dehydration and a trip to the urgent...

As every patient can tell you, coping with a cancer diagnosis isn’t easy. In fact, for me, trying to cope with cancer to get my head around my initial blood...

When I was fourteen, I attended a weekend church retreat with other girls my age. Some of the older kids encouraged us to go on a snipe hunt. They left...

Hearing the words “you have blood cancer” sent chills up and down my spine. Soon after that, the same cold chill impacted every facet of my future life, including any...

I don’t know anyone with a cancer diagnosis that doesn’t experience fear, crippling doubt, and ample amounts of anxiety. I was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in 2011. I’ve only...

My memory has always been great….well, okay, my long-term memory. I can't remember the short term, ironically. But anyway, it's definitely gotten worse since having blood cancer. When I started...

I was relaxing in the sunroom one morning reading when the phone rang. The caller, on that occasion, turned out to be that all-too-familiar automated voice asking for confirmation on...

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what comes next. It’s a pretty big subject when you live with a blood cancer or any of the chronic cancers, really. What’s...

Lately, I have been seeing talk about working with cancer. It’s something more than a few of us try to do, and for some of us it’s a must-do in...

I have been looking for a condo for a couple of years. I’m an empty nester, divorced, and living alone in a house that is too big for me. Part...

I was chosen again to attend HealtheVoices conference. What makes this particular conference unique is the safe meeting place for a wide range of patient leaders/advocates. Most times, a lot...

Having blood cancer, sometimes I feel like my movements are stifled by quicksand. There are ups and downs in life for everyone. But trudging through nine years with chronic myeloid...

Taking care of someone is always difficult. Of course the amount of difficulty depends on the ability of the recipient, but no matter what, it still takes a toll on...

Living with blood cancer presents a unique set of challenges. From managing medication regimens to navigating emotional support, individuals with blood cancer face daily hurdles that impact their quality of...

I’ve been really noticing my feelings lately. And as I look back on the last 17 years since I was first diagnosed with hairy cell leukemia, I realize that I...

I was diagnosed with leukemia in 2011. There were a few symptoms that my doctor had followed up on. Many of the symptoms were pretty vague and persistent. The one...

When cancer first came calling, I wasn’t quite sure how to react or respond. It took a few months, but now I am proud to say my cancer has become...

One of the more stressful discoveries surrounding my encounter with blood cancer, aside from the initial shock, treatment protocols, and the physical/emotional reactions to chemotherapy, was an awareness of a...