Articles

It was a whirlwind of activity once I entered the CAR T trial for my blood cancer. I was struggling with recurring pneumonia since the stem cell transplant. My ears...

For over a decade I worked while undergoing treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia. I experienced a delicate balance between work commitments and health challenges while fully employed. Throughout that time...

Reflecting on my time in active treatment, it was challenging to accept that everyone's treatment journey is different. Some people have shorter treatments, while others have longer ones. I often...

As a blood cancer survivor, our immune system may be altered because of chemotherapy. I've noted that I now have more frequent upper respiratory infections and colds. The function of...

Do you know that feeling when someone tells you they are going to do something, but they don’t do it? Or what about feeling very excited to do something, and...

Once again I’ve started writing various different blog posts in my head on dog walks, never writing them down or dictating them in a voice note. So by the time...

After years of going through scanxiety, I have finally graduated to labxiety, transitioning from bi-annual scans to just having labs. I am about to hit my six-year anniversary of my...

As a retired elementary teacher, I enjoy reading aloud to second graders as a monthly volunteer project. Despite technology, children still enjoy being read to. I recently reviewed Just Because by...

One of the reasons I love the Netflix series “Never Have I Ever” is the role of tennis legend John McEnroe as the narrator in comedian Mindy Kaling’s semi-autobiographical coming-of-age...

When I was a kid, I used to play at being a writer. My friend down the street and I would create little books that I’m sure were brilliant (insert...

Many people looking in from the outside wonder what, if any, call-outs were given before a diagnosis of blood cancer. Unfortunately, for most, warning signs are not necessarily easy observations...

I have my next check-up in 2 weeks. Later than it should have been, really, but there wasn’t a time slot that worked, and I’m not going to lie, it...

Not everything about blood cancer is sad. There, I said it. I know, I know it sounds like I have fallen off the chair and bonked my head, right? The...

One of my articles “What does chemo feel like” recently came out on our website, and it seemed like a lot of people appreciated having some insight into what it...

There has been a lot of talk about the potential causes of the various blood cancers. The one I’ve heard and read about the most is chemical exposure. And I’ve...

We’ve lived in our house for over twenty years, which is longer than I’ve ever lived anywhere. I often wonder what stories would the walls of our house share if...

It’s funny, well. It’s not really. I seem to often start writing with that phrase when the reality is anything but. Feeling minimized. It’s something that I have too frequently...

In the world of battling blood cancer, money matters can quickly become a big deal. It's a lot to handle, from figuring out insurance to finding help with bills. This...

A built-in and unconscious defense mechanism by which we refuse to recognize cold hard facts or experiences in our lives is called  Denial.   For better or worse, that built-in...

When being told you have blood cancer, there is often a lot of missing information. Sometimes, the links become connected in time, but it can be hard to figure out what...