Traveling with Multiple MyelomaOne of the questions many ask when they are diagnosed with multiple myeloma or any blood cancer is if they are able to move about as they once did. Multiple...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Riding on a Rollercoaster, and Falling off ItGetting treated for acute myeloid leukemia is like being on a rollercoaster. You get a round of chemotherapy and your blood counts go down. You stay in the hospital while...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Cancer & ClothesClothes. No one thinks much about them, especially when you are told you have cancer. Why would you? The first thing that pops into your mind when a doctor says...Reactions0reactionsComments21 comments
Speaking Up About My CancerI’m not going to lie. I really enjoy talking about myself. I think it’s partly middle child syndrome and partly being human and inherently selfish and wanting to self-promote. And I am 100%...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Memories of My Nursing CareerIt is National Nurses Week so I've been thinking about my experiences as an RN, Nurse Executive and RN Instructor, and now as a nurse cancer survivor. I also began...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
The Roar Is BackIn late 2009, I was trimming some trees in my backyard. A small branch fell over the wall into my neighbor’s yard. I jumped over the wall to get the...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Post Cancer Post Traumatic StressDuring my battle with lymphoma, my focus was on wellness. I could not think about anything else but getting well. I didn’t let myself plan for the future or months...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
Strength...What's That?Sometimes, I have to remind myself exactly what is strength and why is it so important for our care and getting through the battles faced by so many. One thing...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
Please Don't Ask Me How I'm FeelingYou wouldn’t think a cancer survivor would get upset by being asked, “How are you feeling?” Or that they would be bothered by being told, “You look great.” None of...Reactions0reactionsComments10 comments
You Must Have Patience!Being a caregiver is always a challenge. Many things in your life will change. You want to be there for your family member, but it can get hard sometimes. Some...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Having a Life AgainThe last 7 weeks have been amazing. I’m on my new drug and I am able to have a life! I’m not completely crippled by chronic fatigue. And it’s completely...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Helpful Tips for a Patient Receiving a Chemotherapy InfusionReceiving chemotherapy can be a frightening experience. Even as a nurse with many years of clinical practice, I really did not know what to expect. I thought it might be...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Keep Your Friends Close and Your Cancer Friends CloserThis journey has been so eye-opening to me in more ways than I can count. I've learned a lot about myself, but also a lot about the people around me...Reactions0reactionsComments17 comments
Introducing Our New Accessibility FeatureYou may have noticed that we added a new accessibility feature to our website. This feature will allow community members to change the size, color, or contrast of the text...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
What’s the Difference Between Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?There are three main types of blood cancers: lymphoma, leukemia, and myeloma. Roughly half of the blood cancers diagnosed each year are lymphomas. Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
Worrying About Results for the First TimeFor the first time in over 11 years, I worried about blood test results, which was a strange place to be. I’m normally completely trusting that all will be ok or...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
OverloadMy long-term memory is still pretty decent (I think). I can still solve a quadratic equation using formulas I learned almost 50 years ago in algebra class, and sing the...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Thinking Like a Child: A Strategy for Dealing with AdversityA few years ago, I found myself dealing with the adversity of cancer. I was feeling totally exhausted after chemotherapy and was expected to return to my full-time teaching position...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
AML on My Radar for More Than 15 YearsBack in my newspaper days, when telling someone what beat I covered, I would say something like, “I have arts and entertainment.” I also had the mental health beat, so...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
By the NumbersGrowing up I always liked numbers. In high school, I’d get bored and watch the clock and on a sheet of paper on my desk I’d keep track of how...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments