By Joanna Kreisel I thought I couldn’t bear any more Then I expand Time slips away, slowly Awake with grief I dig deeper, heart heavy Mine, scars His, wounds Lean on me, I will take you through I tighten my grip, but it continues to take A strength stronger than before I wish I didn’t need to be Moments of deep despair We share tears You are home, where I need to be I am yours I long for before or after But there is only now About Joanna: I am a breast cancer survivor and caregiver to my partner who is undergoing treatment for a rare kidney cancer. Connect with Joanna on Instagram ..read more

Por Dania Francisco Lea la historia de Dania sobre el cáncer de mama: Pensamientos sobre octubre: Mes “Todos demasiado conscientes” sobre el cáncer de mama Todas las mañanas durante 5 semanas. Estaciono mi auto, camino por el largo camino, me registro mientras pacientes mucho mayores que yo no pueden evitar mirarme , y sonrío mientras extiendo mi muñeca derecha para que el amable personal de recepción me coloque mi pulsera de identificación. Camino por el pasillo. El primer día estaba un poco perdido en cada curva, pero ahora sé exactamente a dónde ir. Encuentro mi casillero, el número de ..read more

By Dania Francis Read Dania’s breast cancer story: Thoughts on October: Breast Cancer “All Too Aware” Month Every morning for 5 weeks. I park my car, walk down the long path, check in while patients much older than me can’t help but stare, and I smile as I stick out my right wrist to get my ID band placed by the nice front desk staff. I walk down the hall. The first day I was a bit lost with each turn, but now I know exactly where to go. I find my locker, lucky number 23, and I grab my XXL gown and get changed. I take the same seat every morning and look around the waiting room. Some wom ..read more

By Lourdes D. Heras These six-letter dreadful words I hear In solitude’s embrace, in the shadow of darkness, I battle unseen, unheard. Cancer you said? This cruel touch, a relentless and silent one, has come into my temple. Starting today after hearing the word, my nights and days are devoid of light, my heart, my heart, my mind. I wage a war, obscured from sight. No hand to hold, no comforting embrace, no I love you, No WE will beat this fight or be OK. All I hear... is just whispered prayers in this empty space.  In the depths of isolation, many fears in silence cross my mind.  I ..read more

By Brookshire McDonald After the death of my husband in 1996, I waited the suggested year and moved from Mandeville, Louisiana to my birth city of Raleigh, N.C. Two of my five children had asked if they could get married, and I replied, “If I’m not moving the week of your weddings!” Back in Raleigh, I fell from a ladder while hanging wreaths outside on my windows. Who would have thought my rescuer would be an exterminator who kills bugs and fleas! I had emergency surgery on my shattered knee, followed by a second and third surgery, a blood clot, and a month in a nursing home followed by si ..read more

(my tiny love story) By Sara Kandler Unpacking the shopping bag from Marshalls, my husband sits a chrome cruet on our kitchen countertop. He has a thing for olive oil. Its bold ticket — marked “Oil Can” — tickles me. “Let’s see how much American culture you’ve assimilated over the years!” I tease, and grab the oil can, stiffen my body, grit my teeth and screech, “Oil can, oil can…”  “Wizard of Oz!” he shouts, proudly. I also know a thing or two about his homeland, like how first cold press is an absolute must, and the age-old olive trees shimmer like silvery fish on the breezy hills a ..read more

By Olivia Smith “I have some news to share with you girls. I went to the doctor because I have been having concerns with my breast. I found out that I have inflammatory breast cancer. I don’t have all of the details yet, but I know it’s a very aggressive cancer, but I’m going to fight it. This isn’t a death sentence.” – Michelle “Ginger” Griswold, 11 months before she passed.  My mom and I didn’t have a perfect relationship. She did a lot of things that stressed me out, made me upset, annoyed me, and, frankly, hurt me. But I loved her; she was my one and only mom, and although we did ..read more

By Trudy Trybulski  In 2016, I was 63 and not long retired. I noticed a change in the shape of my left breast and went to see my doctor, who quickly referred me to the hospital where I had a mammogram and biopsy. Three weeks later, it was confirmed that ,,,I had breast cancer. Tissue samples showed I had stage 3, grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma (breast cancer). I received the ,,,treatment that goes along with this sort of diagnosis: lumpectomy, three cycles of FEC (fluorouracil, epirubicin hydrochloride, and cyclophosphamide) chemotherapy, three cycles of docetaxel chemotherapy,&n ..read more

By Jayita Chatterjee I learnt to live, I learnt to stay A voice inside me told me to pray To give thanks and stay the way,  And not to think of what’s beyond today.  When I was weak… each day was hard  I could tell no days apart.  My body was battered... it wept, it cried It wanted to break away and die.  But my spirit held strong and wouldn't let me give up.  The ravaged spirit wouldn’t give up. I despised how I wasn’t strong I felt I didn’t belong I needed help with little things I had to learn it wasn’t wrong.  It wasn’t wrong, and I wasn’t weak It was a ..read more

How can we optimize anti-cancer therapies to ensure we are receiving the full potential of the drug without significantly compromising quality of life?  In the realm of cancer treatment, finding the right dose is paramount. It's a delicate balance between delivering enough medication to combat the disease effectively while minimizing adverse effects on the patient's overall health. Let's delve into the nuances of dosing in cancer therapy and explore how patients can be their best advocates when asking about dosage and how oncologists navigate this crucial aspect of treatment. Understandi ..read more