Articles

Cancer, like many diagnoses, means that you’re going to be devoting a lot of time to talking with doctors and medical professionals. Spending that long with anyone, doctors or not, means...

When my doctor presented my treatment plan to me in 2003, he asked if I wanted to be enrolled in a trial for something he called a hole plugger. He...

Have you ever wondered what the deal is with people wearing surgical masks? Could it be that everyone has a weak immune system or is something else going on? I...

Chemotherapy can often result in fatigue, nausea, and sleep disruption. From a personal perspective, I experienced debilitating fatigue and questioned my oncologist as to whether massage would help. At that...

I still remember the day my daughter, Crystal, called me to tell me she thought she had cancer. I was sitting in the living room resting when the call came...

10 years ago I had just graduated from the University of Edinburgh with my ‘fake degree’. A general arts degree. It means nothing. My diagnosis and having to take a...

Has your sleep ever been interrupted by constant thoughts? I liken it to repeated thinking about events of the day, worries or “what ifs”. This can be similar to a...

Mental health and physical health are often linked, with one impacting the other. Mental health, in particular, can be difficult to talk about with others, leaving people isolated and without...

No one told me to expect a long recovery after completing chemotherapy treatment. Or if they did, I somehow mentally blocked it out. In any event, I expected to be...

Normally around Christmas and New Year, I become a bit maudlin, melancholy and reflective. I suppose a part of that is natural. Winter is officially here. The days are short...

When faced with a life threatening illness, many people have very specific reactions to their faith and how they continue to practice their faith. I wasn’t sure how my beliefs...

I have bad luck with oncologists. I’ve been a blood cancer patient for almost 11 years. I was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma from a biopsied lymph node near my hip...

People love to talk about my hair now that it’s been growing back. I think a lot of people are trying to be nice when they start these conversations, but...

Once the fear of the cancer diagnosis subsides, the telling begins. I told my mother and my husband right away, but I kept it for myself a little longer. I...

Resolution: A firm decision to do or not do something Pledge, promise, or undertaking Solution: An action or process of solving a problem An answer to a problem, specifically a...

I assume, at some point in your life, you’ve had an anthem. An anthem to a break-up, an anthem to summer love, an anthem to a new job, and if...

I am always eager to learn about new research and treatment options for my blood cancer. When visiting my oncologist, he knows I will have questions about what I have...

You may have recently learned that you, or someone you love, have been diagnosed with cancer called chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). You may have been...

Editor's Note: The following article mentions details surrounding the author’s experiences with body image, which may be upsetting for some readers. When I was in my finals year at Uni...

The past year was busy for me in regards to gaining recognition in the myeloma community. As I move forward as a patient advocate, I’m learning some very important details...