If you’re going through cancer, it’s likely that you’re now experiencing the most difficult challenge of your life. That certainly has proven true for me. Even the strongest, most courageous of us have moments of doubts; times when fighting cancer can seem just too much. We can lose hope, and it’s natural to ask if it’s all worth it.     I’ve found the most difficult times are at night, or when something unexpected changes in the treatment plan. Doubts seep in, fear takes hold, and anger unexpectedly intensifies. I’ve found that having a touchpoint for these times helps me ..read more

After receiving my cancer diagnosis, I asked three courageous cancer survivors for one key piece of self-advocacy advice for someone who was newly diagnosed. Here is what I’ve learned from them: Show Up Prepared My friend Eileen's advice was to show up prepared for every test, scan, treatment, or doctor’s appointment. Quickly, I realized why she said show up PREPARED and not just to show up. When I reported for a liver biopsy, I’d planned on taking a rideshare home. The nurse in charge threatened to cancel the procedure because I didn’t have someone to take me home and stay with me after the ..read more

Cancer is quite the teacher. It isn’t the curriculum I would have chosen, but…going through cancer is apparently a requirement for me. I hope to graduate with a certificate in good health. “I have plenty of scars from the battles - Scars that tell the story, Of a lady living a comfortable life, Who became a mighty breast cancer warrior.” From the poem, The Breast Cancer Warrior by Suzanne Travers As treatment continues and the battles wear on, a weird gallows humor began to stir within me. Don’t get me wrong: I know cancer is serious business, but humor is good medicine. Here, even in the Wor ..read more

My medical team psychiatrist recently pointed out that the severe depression that haunted me in the early days of cancer treatment is gone.  She asked me to reflect on the changes I made and the steps I took to banish the depression. After discussing it with the psychiatrist, I decided to start sharing depression and cancer experiences with you.  I hope that it will help someone else who, like me, also struggles with debilitating depression as they go through cancer.  There are too many steps and changes for one blog post, so expect to see a series of posts on the future topic ..read more

Image by Kelly Sikkema As I run the chaotic race against time to defeat cancer, I regularly pour out my thoughts, prayers, and emotions onto paper. Writing helps me sort out and process those feelings. Early on in the cancer fight, I wrote two poems that came from my inner warrior. One of them I titled, “Breast Cancer Warrior.” The second poem, “Love, Live Well, and Win,” has become my personal battle cry. The “love” I refer to in the poem is not romantic love, or the love for a family member or friend.  It is the love of self. Self-love comes from an inner, caring place. This love is n ..read more

Photo by Bernard Hermant on Unsplash After my cancer diagnosis, I was alarmed to learn: according to the internet, the average life expectancy for someone with metastatic breast cancer is two years. My Oncologist, however, did not agree with the internet. She believed the cancer was treatable, and I would live for many years to come.   I wasn’t so sure. After all, I use the internet for answers to many of life’s questions and it’s generally correct. Why is my computer freezing up? How do I install a new toilet seat? What are the top restaurants close to the stadium? How do I change ..read more

Dear friends,  You lifted me when I was weak, and I am indebted. Now, I have another reason to be thankful. I will remain Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer as long as I live: but yesterday, the Oncologist told me I’m stable. That means at the moment, there is no cancer activity showing up on the scans.  Imagine that! Ten months of chemo, and now six months of Herceptin melted the breast tumor and the spot on my liver. As long as I can tolerate it, I will remain on intravenous Herceptin, receiving treatment every 3 weeks. I couldn't have done it without you. And God. You who know me w ..read more

As mentioned in my last post…due to chemo, I had stopped eating. When I learned it’s not unusual for a cancer patient to die from starvation, it grabbed my attention. I got serious about doing what it took to ensure I ate – to heal. I’ve been perusing cookbooks which I believe are top shelf for cancer patients like me. The following are four cancer cookbooks I’ve recently acquired, and found to be particularly noteworthy. Three of these are authored by registered dieticians, and one by a physician who’s also a professor of nutrition. Beyond their education though, each one specializes professi ..read more

As anyone knows who has been through cancer, or: like me, is currently going through cancer – it is tough. I knew nothing about cancer after receiving my diagnosis. I needed a tsunami of information; but reeling from the diagnosis, all I could handle were tiny sips. Reading is my thing, so I turned to books about cancer and began a knowledge quest. Today, I write about books I believe are beneficial for cancer patients and their caregivers. I am excited to introduce the newest cancer cookbook on the market. But first: a little background on my experience with food, while going through cancer ..read more

In a recent blog post, The Energy In The Room, I shared that somebody delivered delicious cookies to the Infusion Center where I receive cancer treatments. The energy in the room shifted and, we all couldn’t help but smile. The gourmet gingersnaps were from bakers Susan and Laura Stachler, authors of The Cookie Cure: A Mother-Daughter Memoir of Cookies and Cancer.  I read their book, and while it might sound cliche, I couldn’t put it down! I found it inspiring and encouraging. I shed tears while reading it: tears of sadness, and of happiness. It was a lovely balance.   The Cooki ..read more