Hodgkin Lymphoma
Survivor’s Guilt – It’s Up To You
It’s up to you.” I remember the hematologist saying. I have been misdiagnosed in staging and risk for relapse of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Without seeking a second opinion, or treatment options, I now have both and the incredible burden of deciding what treatment to undergo.
Read More...I Am A Cancer Patient Success Story, and That’s Great?
As my cancer survivorship is extending into my fourth year in August of this year, I’ve become reluctant to feel lucky. Luck is waning. Guilt is waxing.
Read More...Modesty
I lay next to another human, warm and comfortable and was filled with a wave of gratitude. Lovingly touched by someone who deeply cared for me. My heart felt like it would explode with happiness.
Read More...Broken Together
Cancer has left my body. It no longer resides, but it has certainly left its mark. Diabetes, beginning arthritis, fibromyalgia, lung damage, heart damage, neuropathy, anemia, and much, much more still reside with me.
Read More...My Transplant Birthday
I’m sitting here crying at 8AM on a Wednesday morning, and I don’t even know why. Wait…I kinda do. Tomorrow’s my 8-yr transplant birthday. WOW! I should be so excited! Eight years is terrific!! Celebrate life! Do something big! Enjoy all the things!! Congratulations!!
Read More...The Other Shoe
I remember my freshman Honors College Orientation. We were each given a fill-in-the-blank paper. What are your graduation goals? What academic goals do you have? What social groups are you going to join?
Read More...How Pokémon Prepared Me for Cancer
Like many children of the early naughts, I grew up on a strict diet of Pokémon. I watched the anime every day and spent my free time playing the Game Boy games. The adorable monsters consumed my life starting at five years old.
Read More...Reality of Love
I’m a woman of faith. And my faith has gotten me through both cancers, and a myriad of other diagnoses. And in 8+ yrs since my original diagnoses, I have never once asked God to rewrite my life without cancer. I accepted that He allowed it into my life, and trusted that He had a plan. But today my faith is struggling (this isn’t a religious article, so keep reading).
Read More...Remission… What Now?
I finished my last chemotherapy treatment for stage 3b Hodgkin Lymphoma on May 28th. I should have been elated – months of treatment, done! Officially in remission! On the path to full health! But instead – I felt a distinct sadness. In a time of quarantine and uncertainty,
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