Ovarian Cancer

Thick is Beautiful

Thicker skin doesn’t suggest overweight, A bigger size doesn’t mean too big, The size of a waist doesn’t define beauty, Hair doesn’t define me though history is attached to it, Cancer made me believe that I had lost myself due to losing my hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes

White Flag

He walked in greeting me with a hello… as if he was waiting to meet me. And it began, Can I go over your story? My story? I was familiar

I am a Zebra

As the child of a single parent, I was raised to be a strong, independent individual who wanted to be the best possible version of myself. In my attempt at perfectionism, I had illnesses – IBS, eating disorder, anxiety, body image and acceptance issues.

Still Here (A Letter to Cancer)

Dear cancer, Your name and “dear” don’t belong together, I’m just being polite. You however, skipped the niceties altogether When you crept into my life

Cancer Sucks

You know what sucks? Dying alone. You know what sucks more? Cancer. You know what sucks even more? Dealing with it when you’re 17, and supposed to be getting your life started. It’s hard.

The “In-Between”

One day, someone who just finished their active treatment asked me, “So what is survivorship?” At that moment, I suddenly froze, even though I’ve been in “it” for several years, I didn’t have an immediate response for her.

My Resilience

The cancer journey can take a lot from you. Outsiders may think it’s only the physical things that get to you, like your hair. They’re wrong.

My Identity After Cancer

After being diagnosed with cancer and overcoming it, a new label was added to my identity: cancer survivor. While this label carries a positive connotation, it also brings a sense of uncertainty.

Dating and Sex After Cancer

It was always going to be hard—deciding when to start dating after cancer. I waited until I had my NED (no evidence of disease) results and then made a conscious effort to start talking to people on Bumble, as if I was a “normal” 34-year-old in the dating pool. I’m sure I speak for an entire generation when I say I hate Bumble.

The Things You Said, the Things I Heard

The things you said versus what I heard… these are words that we hear and the way they warmed.

“I am happy to drive you”

Thank you for not only offering something specific but attaching emotion to this offer. Thank you for knowing that driving is not my favorite thing; my car is not reliable and driving can be exhausting.