My Chemo BrainI didn’t really like this phrase to begin with. I didn’t really get it. That’s probably why. But the longer I am on treatment the more it becomes apparent. Chemo brain...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
This is SurvivorshipHey everyone, Sierra here - wanted to flush out a bit more of my experience before this really takes off. With my field hockey teammates (far right) pre-diagnosis. Currently playing:...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Safety Tips for Traveling During ChemotherapyCancer patients try to maintain normalcy while receiving chemotherapy and other treatments. By using simple, plan-ahead strategies you can enjoy a vacation as an exciting getaway during your off weeks...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
6 Things I Have Learned About Watchful WaitingIn January 2008, I was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma (FL), an indolent (slow-growing) form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. After all of the blood tests, the bone marrow biopsy, and the scans...Reactions0reactionsComments11 comments
Writing for the Sake of WritingI call my thoughts and blogs ‘brain vomit’. Often very little thought goes into it. Which, if you follow my twitter or read my blogs, this might be hugely apparent!...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
When Is It Time to Downsize?Recently, my wife and I had a yard sale. We’ve been talking for a while about how we want to downsize and get rid of clutter. We definitely got rid...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Understanding Hairy Cell LeukemiaHairy cell leukemia is a rare form of blood cancer, accounting for only 2% of leukemia cases. The name, hairy cell leukemia, comes from the appearance of the cells under...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Determination: My Strength and My DownfallI never really thought of myself as determined until my cancer diagnosis. I have discovered that I am, well, quite stubborn and pig-headed when I decide to do something, even...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Time for a New Cancer ParadigmWhen I meet someone new, there often comes a question about what I do for a living and my mid-life career change. I take a deep breath before answering this...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
Hospital Exercise Offers Stress ReliefIf you had a fitness routine before cancer, chances are you’re going to want to continue during treatment on days that you’re feeling up to it. As a runner and...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Staying Positive In Spite of a Cancer DiagnosisLiving with cancer can be a difficult situation. Emotions can fluctuate from moment to moment. I recently learned of an interesting concept known as “radical acceptance.” It can be described...Reactions0reactionsComments25 comments
Blood Cancer FAQsIt is estimated that someone in the United States is diagnosed with a blood cancer every three minutes. Blood cancer can affect both children and adults. Whether you’ve been diagnosed...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Leaving the BubbleOn day +25, I was finally able to leave the hospital. Released. Free to sleep in my own bed, spending only days at the cancer center’s various clinics. As overjoyed...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Sunshine...It’s the Little Things That Make the Biggest DifferenceI am a sun baby. I am a lizard. I take time to warm up. I love the sun. The heat. It makes me happy. I function so much better in...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Strategies to Reduce Mental CloudingChemo brain commonly involves cognitive changes including a reduction in short term memory, speed of information processing, and a limited ability to organize information. During my chemotherapy, I had noticed...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Travel AnxietyI didn’t realise I could get anxious, or that travel anxiety would become a part of my life. But it did. And I only realised it a couple of years...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Beginning of My Acute Myeloid LifeI was your everyday high school student before being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 2003. Going into my junior year at 15 years old, I spent the summer months...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
After Diagnosis, Choosing a Treatment CenterWhen I learned I had leukemia, my first thought was to be treated close to home at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass. The local hematologist who diagnosed me said...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
If Possible, Keep MovingPrior to being diagnosed with multiple myeloma, I commuted to work by bike every day. It was a ten-mile ride each way. Where I live is flat, so it wasn’t...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
When Going to the Hospital, Consider Bringing a LampIf you were going to be in a room for a good period of time, you would want something more welcoming than a harsh overhead light and bare walls. In...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments