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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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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Getting Through the Darkest Days

by Anne Courso December 19, 2019

Dear Cancer, It was right between chemo number five and six. Against everything that you read on the Internet I was going home to visit my dad. This meant one week of airplanes and hospitals, the two places filled with the most germs. As I prepared myself to go home, I packed my steroid pills, […]

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A Goodbye Letter to my Breasts

by Marloe Esch DNP, RN, OCN December 16, 2019

I guess I owe you an apology.  I’m sorry it took me so damn long to love you for what you were.Remember when I was little, and I ran around with balled up napkins and water balloons under my shirt?

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#SorryNotSorry

by University Hospitals AYA Cancer Group - Cleveland, OH

It’s been a year. Fuck you. (x a billion). You took over my life. I’m trapped. I can’t do anything I used to do. I hate feeling so tired. You make me walk like a 70-year-old woman. Everyone walks miles ahead of me.

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Not Today Cancer

by Amy Correa December 12, 2019

Dear Cancer, I hate you. I hate everything about you. You latched yourself onto my breast and created a fast-growing invasive tumor that decided to travel to other essential parts of my body. You do not care who I am. You do not care about my family, my heart, or my mind. You only care […]

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Bring It On Cancer

by Timothy Tusick December 11, 2019

I’m grateful you came to me. You made me realize who I am and have brought far more good into my life than bad. I recognize what you are doing to me is nasty, messed up, and depressing but you will never depress me, and you will never break me.

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