Living

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. ...

I had heard about the ritual of ringing the bell after chemotherapy is complete, but until I was immersed in cancer treatment myself I didn’t really understand the significance. I...

Living with cancer sucks.There, I said it.I remember when I only had to deal with the occasional cold or flu. Where the heck did leukemia come from? I used to...

You might think your junk drawer is full of, well, junk, but its contents can actually reveal a lot about you. I don't actually know what to make of all...

Cancer, like many diagnoses, means that you’re going to be devoting a lot of time to talking with doctors and medical professionals. Spending that long with anyone, doctors or not, means...

When my doctor presented my treatment plan to me in 2003, he asked if I wanted to be enrolled in a trial for something he called a hole plugger. He...