Essays

Traci Fotorny was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer at age 47. She kept her smile during her aggressive treatment, and when it ended, she started a Boxes of Hope program to give back to women with breast cancer. Read More ›

Michael Bailey, SHRM-CP, went through denial and fear when he was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and finally found inspiration in Bob Marley’s words on his way to perseverance. This is his story. Read More ›

Melanie Shepard was diagnosed with stage IIIB ovarian cancer during the pandemic; she shares her experience of receiving treatment and support during these uniquely stressful times. Read More ›

Lucia Hernandez was forced to have a thyroidectomy, removal of the entire thyroid to treat her cancer, which caused her anxiety after having had an emergency gallbladder surgery that did not go well. Read More ›

At age 68, Dan Greene was told the intense pain in his abdomen was likely pancreatic cancer, until further testing determined he had stage IV stomach cancer. Joining a clinical trial gave him a second chance. Read More ›

Losing weight and her appetite made Lydia Virgo go to the doctor to get a blood test, which showed a low iron count. Although exhibiting no pain, Lydia’s CT scan and colonoscopy revealed a tumor in her colon. Read More ›

A decade after his son passed away from a rare form of bone cancer at age 16, Mark DeLong was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He learned, among other things, the healing power of being vulnerable and sharing personal stories. Read More ›

Montessa Lee’s pain persisted after an initial visit to the doctor and a misdiagnosis. Finally, an x-ray in the emergency room revealed a 15-cm mass on her left lung. Read how she turned anger into action. Read More ›

On his lonely journey dealing with lung cancer, Ron Simmons found that connecting with others who had lung cancer helped him create a sense of purpose and gave him a mission moving forward. Read More ›

Choosing to shave her head gave Michelle Nickol a sense of empowerment over her life as she took matters into her hands and fought back against the hair loss during chemotherapy. Read More ›