Survivorship
The stories and experiences are written by people after cancer treatments. These stories are written for those learning how to get back to work, college or just trying to be themselves again. Just getting past treatments isn’t enough, it is surviving and thriving that is key to being you again.
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The Time Bubble
It’s crazy being in the time bubble. While it happens to the patients, it also happens to the families. It is wild to see it happen, and almost everyone goes through it.
Read More...Maybe One Day Things Won’t be as Bad
This week has been insane, and it’s only lunchtime on Wednesday. My projects are overwhelming me, a coworker got super pissed at me yesterday; a client basically told me I couldn’t do my scheduled visit tomorrow; and my manager’s emails all point to my lack of understanding.
Read More...Into the Void: A Poem of Survivor Grief
A blanket of grief enrobes me as I talk with other AYA cancer patients. As I hear their stories, painful thoughts crash in waves and quickly make their way to the forefront of my mind, creating emotional turmoil.
Read More...One on One Support
We are excited to be able to partner with Imerman Angels as we continue to help people across the AYA cancer community know they are not alone in facing cancer by providing one to one support.
Read More...Challenging My Comfort Zone
This summer working with Elephants and Tea has been more incredible than I could have imagined. I have gotten to work with the most wonderful people, do tasks that I love, and connect with so many new people. I never quite knew how to get connected in the AYA cancer world. I was always nervous […]
Read More...Cancer Guilt: A Poem
I feel guilty Waking up with all of my natural limbs. Getting ready unassisted Complaining about a bad day at work. Paying exorbitant medical bills I feel guilty Yelling at my caring sister Seeing my family pictures ruined with my bald head Watching my brother evaluate his faith Hearing my mom demand nurses take […]
Read More...Listening to Folklore as a Cancer Survivor
If you haven’t heard the new Taylor Swift album yet, this is your friendly reminder to go check it out. I have to admit, since her style has shifted, I haven’t been following her super closely, but when she announced her new album’s release in the midst of quarantine, she had me hooked.
Read More...The House That Survivor’s Guilt Built
Life hurts and it inspires, it causes grief and joy, it’s sweet and it’s sour. The people who have disappeared from my life, they all contributed to a story. A story much denser, more complicated and much bigger than me and my own story. I’m lucky that I got a second of their time or got to know them at all.
Read More...Body Positivity with Cancer is Kind of Bullsh*t
I can take all of these past statements that helped me make peace with my body and be gentle with her during cancer, and change them to the future tense. I love my feet for the adventures they will soon take me on, my eyes for the beauty they have yet to see, and my belly for the jokes it has yet to laugh at.
If mainstream messages of self-love and body positivity leave you feeling left out: do not fret. You still are, and always will be, worthy of self-compassion, grace, and hope.
Disappearing Behind the Diagnosis
I’ve found myself pondering and writing about friendships a lot lately. I think all human beings are created for connection, and that is something that I personally crave so much. Having obstacles to that connection is so frustrating, and I’m still piecing together what life looks like these days since finishing treatment.
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