Articles

I was so excited to turn 25 years old. I was about to move across the country to start a new job that I was so excited about. This would...

One of the things I hear most from people who have blood cancers (and probably all cancer) is that they can’t do as much as they used to.  It’s a...

After I was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 2009, I watched my white blood cell and lymphocyte counts quickly climb. But in mid-2013 they began to plateau. They continue...

Financial distress or financial toxicity is a term used to describe the financial problems experienced by cancer patients because of the out of pocket expenses not covered by health insurance...

Check out Part 1 of Ronni's series on life after transplant, Going Home After Transplant: Not a Piece of Cake. When you go home from the hospital after your stem...

This is something that I really struggle with and it never seems to get any better. I’m fine and then out of nowhere BHAM. I hear that someone I was at school...

When I was in high school, I had surgery on my knee which required I wear a brace over my whole leg. I didn’t know which was worse: the recovery...

Perhaps you are thinking about situations where you may not be able to make decisions about your own health care. This may be because you have a chronic illness that...

When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they are already feeling insecure and overwhelmed with heightened emotions. It’s important to consciously try to understand your intent and think about the words...

A cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship are fraught with numerous stressors and challenges. Research has been done to look at stress in cancer survivors and it's often been found that...

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Americans, but new research shows that cancer is likely to surpass heart disease as the number one killer in 2020, especially...

A routine blood test revealed a slightly elevated white blood cell count. "No problem," said the physician's assistant, “it's probably just a cold or flu bug.” A few months later...

I’ve written before about how I’m mental about my weight. I know I am. It’s a work in progress. I’m so much better than I used to be. It doesn’t...

Several months ago, I received a sad email notifying me that a fellow nursing colleague had passed away. Rosemary was the one of several colleagues who had been diagnosed with...

Ah, the bucket list. Almost all of us talk about it, but usually in the “if I won the lottery” kind of way. They include all those things that most...

I know we talk about fatigue a ton here, and rightfully so. It’s one of the worst side effects of any disease, and cancer gets it in spades. The disease...

I had been divorced for many years when I got leukemia in 2003, but I didn’t go into it alone. My baby sister, Diane, stepped up, becoming my primary caregiver...

The word “will” can seem loaded when mentioned in casual conversation, and it might seem morbid to talk about or even unnecessary for the average person to think about. However...

Journey. Battle. Fight. Warrior. War. Purpose. Survivor. Test. Beast, which is my personal favorite. The list of words used to describe our cancer experience is endless. I’m ok with all...

After completing my chemotherapy, I was uncertain as to who I should see for routine health care. Routine healthcare includes annual checkups, medical tests, immunizations, and occasional sick visits. My...