Articles

I’m not good at being tired. As I write this, I’m struggling to stay awake. I have things to do and stories to write, but I can do these things...

When someone you love is sick, it can cause stress and anxiety. Illness, especially cancer, can take a physical and emotional toll on caregivers and family, particularly when they are...

Cancer is such an awkward topic. What do you say to someone who has just been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness? How do you talk to them? What can you...

Cancer itself and treatments for cancer can cause a number of symptoms and side effects that often deeply impact daily life. For caregivers, it is not uncommon to feel helpless...

In this series, we discuss causes of anxiety for those facing a physical illness like blood cancer and its side effects. Phrases in quotes are the words of our community...

Today we’re going to talk about fear.  Anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, anyone who knows a loved one or friend who has been diagnosed, or even anyone who...

A diagnosis of cancer is life-changing.  My family and friends insisted I seek a second opinion from a myeloma specialist, which is a doctor who only treats myeloma patients. I...

When I was originally diagnosed with lymphoma, I knew that if I was going to overcome this adversity I had to do it with mindfulness. It was not the easiest...

Once my treatment plan was in place, the first step was a port-a-cath. My oncologist casually mentioned that the port procedure was scheduled. I was overwhelmed by my recent diagnosis...

Well, I can’t really believe it. The 19th of January marked 12 years since my diagnosis. 12 years since I got *that* phone call. 12 years since my life was never...

Authors note: This is the second part of a two-part series. Here we discuss ways to improve the sex life of couples dealing with bloodcancer. Check out What About Sex?...

As a cancer patient receiving chemotherapy, I experienced not just the symptoms of the disease but also suffered debilitating fatigue. Taking a shower was like doing a day’s work. This...

In “Love, Medicine and Miracles,” the surgeon Bernie Siegel writes about a group of “exceptional cancer patients” whose positive attitude helped them heal. When I read it while in the...

Who would ever think that a discussion of whose cancer is more relevant than another’s would be had, yet we see this happen many times. Did you know there were...

Numerous stressors are faced by a cancer survivor. Add to that family discord and the result can be disastrous. I experienced this first hand when that combination factored into my...

Editor's note: This article discusses the author's experience with a friend's suicide, which may be triggering to some readers. A heartbreaking thing happened so many years ago that when I...

Someone I loved died from cancer recently. I don’t like to think about death. But sometimes it gives us an opportunity to reflect. My Loved One’s cancer was a hard...

As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a teacher. I have fond memories from a very young age of playing “school” with my dolls.  My...

Agent Orange is a chemical that was used during the 1960s and early 1970s as part of war efforts in Vietnam, Laos, and the Korean demilitarized zone. It was sprayed...

As a two-year cancer survivor, I have had the heartbreak of experiencing the loss of fellow cancer patients, including my own grandfather. Since being diagnosed with cancer, loss of life...