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

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Patients

The stories and experiences in this category are written by people currently going through treatments for cancer. Read these stories to find inspiration and know that you are not alone in your experience with cancer.

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Door Number Three

by Matthew Englander February 3, 2020

Thankfully three years have come and gone, but the fear of that moment has remained in the foreground.  Am I three years from dying of cancer right now? One? 25? It’s the not-knowing that amplifies the effects of the disease.  Yes, everyone will die, most are afraid of it, there is no escaping death.

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Tales from the Cancer Data Free Zone

by Hope Nesteruk February 2, 2020

I had cancer when I was 29.  Hodgkis Disease, stage IIA. Had cancer. Past tense. I did my 6 cycles of ABVD, got a clean PET, pulled out the port, and went on with my life.  I didn’t embrace the “survivor” label, didn’t raise money, didn’t even really talk about it. Sure, I followed up with oncology… for the most part.  Truth be told I was “lost to follow up” for a few years.

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Back Door Invasion – The Colonoscopy

by Dee Master January 29, 2020

Health before modesty! That was one of the fist things my urologist Dr. Colli said to me when I started my bladder cancer journey in 2013. 2012 Thanksgiving was horrific. It was extremely stressful for me Dr. Google announced to me ‘hey you have bladder cancer just the day after thanksgiving’. But back to the […]

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Survived, Endured and Beaten Bowel Cancer

by Peter King January 28, 2020

After a big operation like bowel cancer it would be surprising to live a normal life without any after effects or pain.  One very common thing people have after bowel cancer is adhesion and abdominal pain. 

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Cancer Vision Board

by Christine Kelly January 27, 2020

My vision board sits on the corner of my cluttered desk in my dorm room. I see it every day, a reminder of the hope and excitement I have for my future. I used pictures and text from magazines, stickers, construction paper, and gemstones.

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Never Underestimate Love

by Alyssa Wilson January 22, 2020

What I can say is that it took me a near death experience to learn to be a softer person, to love more deeply, and to know that some people can’t handle your diagnoses but its important to put you first. The body is an amazing thing, be careful of your words, never underestimate love and on the days you think you can’t make it, know that you can.

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We Don’t Just Have Cancer. We Have a Whole Life to Live.

by Elizabeth Papautsky January 13, 2020

When asking about a potentially overwhelming side-effect of an impending new medication, my nurse told me, “Don’t worry until you get there.” OK, I get it. I just didn’t die from breast cancer. I’ve had worse. But come on. Let’s do better. Let’s have a conversation.

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The Faces of AYA Cancer

by Nick Giallourakis January 10, 2020

It is officially our one year anniversary!  Can you believe it? I want to personally thank everyone who has contributed, subscribed and supported us through this first year.  We would not have made it this far without all of you. As of January 1st, we are now giving the magazine away for free to over 1,000 […]

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Motion is Your Lotion

by Jacqueline Cashman January 8, 2020

I think the power of exercise can never be underestimated. When I was first diagnosed, two and a half years ago, I was very physically fit, I do think this helped me to stand up to the rigors of everything that was to come my way.

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The Devastation Is Unforgivable

by Chantale Thurston December 26, 2019

Finding out about you was one of the two worst days of my life. My mind went into panic as I had lost my dad to you just seven months before and my father in law was told about you invading him just a mere six days before I heard the words.

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