Cancer

Did I Ask for Cancer?

Did I ask?

I didn’t choose cancer

But I did ask for it

The Stairwell

You never can make sense of the whole picture until you remember the trepidation you felt at nine years old when you went back to school, fresh out of the children’s hospital. Not only were you a little girl with barely-there hair and a chemo-induced puffy face, but you were still relearning how to go […]

Genito-What? Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause Part II

Welcome to Part II of our series all about genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM)—t he sneaky but significant side effect you’ve never heard of! If you haven’t read Part I, I’d suggest going back and starting there. It’s a good intro into our current convo because it gets into the nitty gritty of what GSM is and why it can develop in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) after cancer.

Fake It Until You Make It

When you see cancer portrayed in the media, there are two common storylines. Either the patient is dying, or they are living their “best life” despite it all.

What Do (and Don’t) You Expect?

Expectations. From the second we come into this world, there are expectations. They expect their bouncing baby girl to be a prom queen, or a genius, or an author, or a myriad of things.

A Groundless Place

As a pre-med student majoring in psychology, I was fascinated by the brain and engrossed in my neuroscience courses. Oliver Sacks’ books filled my shelves, days spent shadowing in neurology clinics filled my summers, and research into the evolutionary origins of human cognition filled my college years.

The Misunderstood Tragedy

I have a confession. Last week, I did something I never thought I would—I signed up for a 5K. Let me be clear: I’ve never willingly run that far in my life, and I’ve never felt the desire to.

I Didn’t Expect to Live

Expectations.

I expected to live a long, healthy life without wondering if I’ll reach my thirtieth birthday.

I expected not to lie awake tonight, stunned and saddened because Alex is gone.

No One Expects the Spanish Inquisition (Or Pancreatic Cancer)

I was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic adenocarcinoma—the muchdreaded, frequently lethal cancer of the pancreas—in early 2021. At the time, I had just turned 33 and was living in Durham, North Carolina, while the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Memories of a Different Christmas

The December that changed my family’s life was during the pandemic. At first it was a little weird because I could not go to school, see my friends face to face, or go to church. Then it became kinda fun because I got to spend more time with my family.