Blood Cancer Anxieties: Financial StressIn 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...reactions8comments
The FearToday 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...reactions10comments
From Passive By-Stander to Empowered Partner (Part 2)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...reactions2comments
Practicing MindfulnessWhen 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...reactions8comments
Port of Entry ClosedOnce 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...reactions6comments
12 YearsWell, 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...reactions1comment
What About Sex? (Part 2)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?...reactions1comment
Yoga as a Supportive Strategy for Cancer PatientsAs 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...reactions4comments
Pushing a Positive Attitude Not Helpful to Cancer PatientsIn “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...reactions9comments
Mine vs. YoursWho 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...reactions7comments
My Toolbox for Managing StressNumerous 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...reactions9comments
It's Hard to Separate from Longterm CaregiversEditor'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...reactions3comments
Silence Is Not GoldenSomeone 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...reactions11comments
Why Not?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...reactions9comments
Agent Orange Exposure & Blood Cancer RiskAgent 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...reactions1comment
How I Deal with Survivor’s GuiltAs 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...reactions2comments
Rituals, Pancakes, and the RideOn treatment day, do you have a ritual? My daughter, Crystal did. When Crystal was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma when she was 25, we decided to go to Memorial Sloan...reactionscomments
BelongingBelongSynonyms: affiliation, acceptance, fellowship Some of us won’t admit it, but in reality, we spend a large time of our lives developing an outer image of who we are and...reactions18comments
Prednisone Came Before a Fall“Throw yourself onto the court,” the tennis coach was saying. We were practicing serve and volley. The idea is that you get a head start by being part-way into the...reactions2comments
What About Sex? (Part 1)Author's note: This is the first of a two-part series. Here we discuss the practical side of sex for couples dealing with blood cancer. We’ll cover ways to improve your...reactions2comments