Articles

Essential thrombocythemia is a rare blood condition that affects platelets. Platelets are blood cells that control bleeding. Essential thrombocythemia is a type of myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN). In these blood cancers...

Life as a survivor for most may still include a busy day with the exception of having cancer. There we go with that word, but so many are hung up...

What is a clinical trial? Does it impact the care of a cancer patient? These are the questions that puzzle many cancer patients. By participating in a clinical trial, a...

On Jan. 31st, 2009, I had my fourth bone marrow transplant. Do the easy math, and you’ll see that Jan 31st, 2019, marked 10 years from that momentous date. But...

Almost every single procedure or event related to my cancer experience was set to be emotional but this one was different. These emotions were not born from fear or anxiety...

Cancer is such a scary thing. No one wants to hear the words, "You have cancer”. Because of that, we sometimes put off going to the doctor. We feel whatever...

Cancer is such a monumental, life-altering experience that it can be difficult not only to get through it but to return to “normal” afterwards.  Normal.  It’s a word that takes...

A reader pointed out that in my post on going home after transplant, part two, I said I had a bad rash but never said what it was from and...

I recently came across a great hashtag on Twitter: #docsplaining. It comes from the word “mansplaining.” That word has been around for about 10 years now, and is used to...

I feel tired again. My legs hurt. I’ve had to cancel something because I just don’t have the energy for it. I don’t want this to start happening. I was hoping that...

One of the things that helped my daughter, Crystal, feel special, loved, and was such a huge comfort to her through a very difficult time was all the support she...

I recently posted a blog on my personal site, titled “Lessons Learned on the Way to Gili T”.  It is in 2 parts and can be found at effcancerblog.com. (Sorry...

The positive effects of practicing gratitude can quickly create a positive mindset and change how your brain works. Researchers found that when we think about someone or something we really...

In Part 1 of this story, I talked about my new job as a broadcast meteorologist. It was a morning news position which was the exact opposite of my previous...

One of the possible side effects of chemotherapy is hair loss. I prepared myself with a pre-chemo haircut. I cut my hair chin length from below the shoulders to ease...

I have been on a double dose for two weeks and I’m still feeling good. This has come as a bit of a surprise. Always wondering when the day is going to...

In 1976, I was 15 years old and that was my first real appreciation of the Olympics. It was the start of Edwin Moses’s domination of the 400-meter hurdles. He’s...

Editor's Note: It is recommended that you speak to your healthcare team before starting, stopping, or changing the dose of any medication. The drugs to treat neuropathy fall into two...

I’ve often thought my leukemia could be traced back to a seven-year period when I endured a chronic level of intense stress. I, of course, had no knowledge of actual...

In the light of traumatic experiences and adversity, it is so easy and common to pay attention to the hardships we endure during these times. It’s so important to open...