The year of 2020 will be described in various terms in history books. Unprecedented. Life-altering. Dumpster fire. Worst year. No matter the description, it’s been quite a year. As 2020 comes to an end, I reflect on all that’s happened. And I realize it’s been a year of clarity for me. It was supposed to
As a three-time cancer survivor, it would be easy to let the negativity surrounding cancer define my life. As a cancer survivor whose dad died from cancer, it would be just as easy to let survivor’s guilt lead my life. And for a while, these things did hold me down in negative emotions and indifference
November kicks off the lead in to Thanksgiving, when many people start talking about gratitude. And while I believe we should focus on our gratitude every day of the year, this is a great time to pause to reflect. Especially this year with so much upheaval and uncertainly pressing on society. So I’d like to
Ah, October. When pink takes over our view almost as much as black and orange for Halloween. As the second most common cancer among American women, conversations about breast cancer are important. And beyond the coloring of this month in pink, there are opportunities to push back against this disease. I wanted to share four
I received my results from recent cardiology tests. Let me share why my heart test matters to you. Ever since chemo for bone cancer treatment 20+ years ago, in which I took the max dose of a chemo drug that can cause long-term heart issues, I’ve seen a cardiologist and get annual heart tests. Last
Birthdays are a big deal in my family. This was true long before cancer touched my family but especially now. As a three-time cancer survivor, I don’t take these opportunities for granted. I am grateful for the gift of another day. As I turn the page of another year, I wanted to pause to share
Facing my third cancer was shocking and heartbreaking. The thought of losing my hair from chemo (again) felt like a punch to the stomach. When my oncologist shared a possibility of keeping my hair, I was willing to try it. And I’m grateful that cold capping saved my hair from chemo. It’s been 16 months
I’m going to share a perspective that is so simple to me, yet has been lost in controversy. Wear a mask, save a life. Be assured that this isn’t a post about politics or constitutional rights or anything like that. It’s about being kind and looking out for others, being part of a community and
My cancer anniversaries are moments to acknowledge the journey. And lessons learned. Surviving three cancers brings many experiences and lessons. Some ugly, some beautiful. With that in mind, I want to share 10 lessons from surviving 3 cancers, focusing on the strength found in this journey. This new road in life I thought I had
Today is National Cancer Survivors Day, a time to celebrate the almost 17 million cancer survivors in the United States. As a bone cancer, melanoma and breast cancer survivor, this is one of my favorite days because it’s a day to celebrate life beyond cancer. And also be aware of simple ways to help improve
