The Return of the Dear Cancer Magazine

Click here to read and download the June 2021 Magazine!

What would you say to cancer if you could write it a letter? That is what this new issue is all about.

For those that do not remember and have not been a part of the Herd prior to 2020, we ran our first Dear Cancer issue in December 2019. When we had the idea to run an issue solely comprised of letters to cancer, we had no idea what to expect. Myself and our team were completely blown away at not just the volume of submissions but the rare emotions behind each one.

We had emails, social posts, text messages and phone calls from people that read the letters, and several were in tears. The emotions that were triggering for people in the community was something we did not anticipate and how these letters helped let out all the emotions people had kept locked in for so long. Even social workers, oncologist and program managers at hospitals were able to share the letters with patients to help start tough conversations.

It was powerful, it was raw, it was real and it was necessary.

Then, 2020 happened. For different reasons, we decided not to run a second Dear Cancer issue. Our Herd let us know how they felt, and we listened. It was missed and we needed to bring it back. Thus, back by popular demand, is this second iteration of the Dear Cancer issue.

In this issue, you will read different emotions from each individual writer. Some of these emotions may surprise you, while others will feel like long los friends. We have people that give cancer the middle finger, tell cancer that they will fight till their last dying breath, tell cancer that while they hate it with every ounce in their body, they are in fact thankful for showing them what it is like to live and how precious life truly is. You will also read from folks dealing with recurrences and how some writers are still finding their path through healing in their own way.

You will read letters that relate to what you or your loved one is going through and read stories that you could not even imagine was possible. That is the beauty of the Dear Cancer issue, of the letters to cancer, there is a story for everyone.

I hope you enjoy this issue and can find a way to reflect on any emotions that you have kept bottled up. Let it out, tell someone how you feel. Dealing with cancer is not easy and you should not face it alone.

Our community is support. Our community is storytelling.

Nick Giallourakis
#OurCommunityisSupport
#OurCommunityisStorytelling