Living

“Throw yourself onto the court,” the tennis coach was saying. We were practicing serve and volley. The idea is that you get a head start by being part-way into the...

Author's note: This is the first of a two-part series. Here we discuss the practical side of sex for couples dealing with blood cancer. We’ll cover ways to improve your...

Now that 2019 is upon us, it has me thinking.  It’ll be my first post-cancer year.  Which means, succinctly, I’ll be a “cancer survivor.” Yes, that thing that all people...

I’ve been on my new drug for a week. And I can’t believe it, but I still feel like me! I’m drinking far less caffeine. I’m not needing to eat...

The mound of hope, pain, and uncertainty is high for so many. There are so many things we can count our blessings on, in light of circumstances. When I open...

A cancer diagnosis feels like a bleak winter. My diagnosis came just after my 44th birthday at the end of the summer. I had my biopsy, and the diagnosis came...

When Facebook sends you a message to wish someone well on their birthday, and that person has died, the first thing you do is cringe. Then you look at their...

I went on a trip with young adult cancer survivors through a program called First Descents and it was the best trip of my life. I talked a bit about...

Since writing for this site, I think I have become a bit more reflective on me, myself, and I. Today, when making my breakfast, for some unknown reason the following...

Recently I had the opportunity to spend a day with several other cancer patients and advocates. None had myeloma nor even blood cancer.  The type of cancers these folks had...

Living with uncertainty is never easy. From a personal perspective, my fear of recurrence intensifies as the date approaches for my annual CT scan to evaluate my “sleeping follicular lymphoma”...

March is Myeloma ACTION Month. The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) was the first organization to declare March as Myeloma Awareness Month (MAM) in 2009. I was part of that original endeavor. Patients...

I spent a good part of my life working in various facets of the fashion industry. It’s been a hailstorm of events that have shaped me into the tough cookie...

Once again I started my workouts at the gym. I signed up, donned my sweat pants, and jumped on the treadmill. Through the window I saw a perfectly good sidewalk...

I’ve read Blood-Cancer.com’s “A Moment to Reflect” a few times now. In case you don’t remember, it’s the piece that the editorial team wrote that looks back on 2018. It...

Well, I know you won’t believe it if you have read many or any of my blogs.  But, I feel happy!!!!!  I have been treatment-free for a week and the...

Over the last, well, coming up for 12 years, I have constantly been astounded by people’s kindness and generosity towards me. Especially from those who don’t really know me. You sort...

Palliative and hospice care help to provide relief for patients from the symptoms and the stress of serious illness. Both involve teams of doctors, nurses and professional care givers. A...

On August 3, 2017, I was officially given my buff for the Myeloma Tribe. Yep, that’s right, I was now in my battle to be a “Survivor" of multiple myeloma;...

I’ve told this story before, but I believe it is worth repeating.  Prior to my multiple myeloma diagnosis in 2008 I was a passive by-stander on my health care team. ...