The Elephant in the Room is Cancer. Tea is the Relief Conversation Provides.

Cancer

Things I Wish I Knew

by Stephanie Detwiler March 28, 2024

I started doing self breast exams after reading a Glamour or Cosmopolitan magazine when I was in my late teens. The first of every month the magazine informed. November 1st, 2021, I found a lump in my left breast. One I thought I’d never find but one I was preparing to find.

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Welcome to the Worst Club Ever

by Seana Shallow

Long before the cancer tried to kill me, being blunt and upfront has always kind of been my thing. Having been raised by Irish parents who always taught me to be honest and to stick up for myself, this really comes as no surprise. So that’s how my attempted advice to welcome you into the Wort Club Ever may come across in the next few minutes, but I promise it’s all from experience and said with tons of love.

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Welcome to the Arena

by Jacki Mjoen March 27, 2024

Welcome to the arena. The cancer arena that feels like you are the only one on this battlefield. Especially since you are the young one with cancer. The arena stands are full of people you know and love.

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Beyond Expectations: Gratitude for Those Who Kept Showing Up

by Rebekah McNamara March 26, 2024

As a military spouse, making and keeping friendships is often challenging. The constant moves and short time in any one location often make it hard to make and maintain friendships while moving from base to base. In January 2018, my husband received orders from the Army, notifying us that he’d been reassigned to work in Manhattan, New York.

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Changing The Conversation From Survivorship To Thrivership

by Alona Shaked March 21, 2024

I was so excited on my last day of chemo. I made a big glittery sign, brought cupcakes for the staff, and posted about how I beat cancer on social media. I planned an “apres-cancer” trip to Europe to celebrate and, other than waiting for my hair to grow back and my nipples to be tattooed on, I pretty much thought I was DONE with cancer.

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A Long Cold Trek to Loving Yourself

by Lauren L. Lopriore

To have someone who understood what I was going through and could guide me along the way would have been whipped cream and a cherry on top, but for most of my experience, it was like climbing up snowy mountains, sliding across an icy pond, and then through a winter storm.

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Aliens

by Michelle Lawrence March 20, 2024

As I slowly transition out of the shower, I glimpse myself in the mirror. I don’t recognize my body. I see bright-colored stretch marks, dark and angry bruises, cuts that won’t heal, and scars I can’t place. Unsolicited weight gain, sagging skin, and multiple chins.

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The Tug of War of Cancer

by Susan Villanueva March 19, 2024

I am a long-term childhood cancer survivor. At the age of 11 months, I was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Now I am 55 years young and counting. I would like to share how cancer has impacted my stages of life from childhood to adolescence, adulthood, middle age, and hope of continued blessings during my senior life.

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Navigating the Uncharted Terrain of Cancer

by Tracy Brock March 14, 2024

In the intricate tapestry of life, sometimes we find ourselves in unforeseen chapters that redefine who we are. My journey with cancer began with my mother’s diagnosis in her late 30s, a pivotal moment that shaped my own destiny. As her youngest child, I discovered I had inherited the aggressive gene that had nearly taken her away from me.

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A Lonely Journey Ahead

by Cecily Liu

I’ve been surrounded by loved ones from the first moment I’ve been diagnosed with cancer, and never been left alone since. They brought me gifts, prepared my favorite food, and took really good care of me day and night. “Are you cold? Do you want food? Are you tired?”

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