Essays

As a part-time personal trainer and a veteran strength athlete with 16 years of competition, Patrick McNamee was shocked to hear that he had stage III rectal cancer, and joked with his oncologist that he was the healthiest guy with cancer around. Read More ›

At age 24, Nalie Agustin was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. After about 3 years of remission and gaining a large online following through her inspirational writing, videos, and podcasts, she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. She explains to doctors that their words are as powerful as the treatments they prescribe. Read More ›

When Sandra Lewis found out she was a carrier of the BRCA2 gene mutation, she was determined to get informed. She learned to embrace the moment, focused on the facets of her life that she could control, and remembered to smile as part of healing. Read More ›

Idalina Colburn, BSN, RN, OCN, ONN-CG, recounts her transition from helping people with cancer as an oncology nurse to being a patient herself and learning to appreciate every moment of her life. Read More ›

Gina Stratton was inspired by her granddad, who had advanced-stage lung cancer. She talks about her dealing with her breast cancer diagnosis at the age of 40 while having a full-time job. Read More ›

Laurie Adami chronicles her long fight with follicular lymphoma, including her run-in with 6 types of therapies. After losing all hope, she finally achieved complete remission with a new immunotherapy called CAR T-cell therapy, and then turned her sights on climbing Mt. Everest to raise money for cancer research. Read More ›

Teenagers often feel they are immune from cancer, says Ellen Chun, who was diagnosed with a rare brain cancer at age 18. Before her diagnosis she had many unexplained symptoms. Through cancer she learned to advocate for herself, an experience she shares to guide other young people facing cancer. Read More ›

With a demanding career and 3 small children, Pam Neff had to make some difficult decisions during her treatment for an aggressive blood cancer. Read More ›

Douglas Herman describes the touching moments at his mom’s bedside before she succumbed to bone cancer, and his subsequent journey from distressing thoughts to 40 years of endurance before he received a diagnosis of stage IV prostate cancer. Read More ›

Rex Jones found a unique way to keep his mood upbeat and spread good vibes to others during his chemotherapy for lymphoma. Read More ›