Survivorship

Bonnie Annis reflects on her breast cancer diagnosis, dealing with worries of cancer recurrence, using natural remedies, and how fear and stress affect our well-being.

After her cancer diagnosis, Michelle Stravitz’s oncologist told her to keep moving throughout treatment. In this article, Michelle highlights the many benefits of exercise during cancer, and explains she started her organization, 2Unstoppable, with a fellow survivor to inspire women with cancer to exercise.

With this moving portrait of how a cancer diagnosis can shake up one’s emotions and sense of self, Lydia DeJesus describes her experience with breast cancer and how she found her strength again.

At first, Tiffany Easley was overcome by anger that cancer robbed her of her childhood. She soon realized that she had to change her mindset to embrace survivorship; she created a 3-part strategy based on the concept of “Mindset Makeover” to turn a negative mindset upside down.

At her annual mammogram, Katrina Shaw made a decision that turned into a stroke of good fortune and prevented a delay of her diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma.

At age 84, Inocencio Melendez-Schroder was diagnosed with stage IV leukemia and was told that chemotherapy and radiation would not be recommended. Soon after his death at home, his daughter, Barbara, was diagnosed with stage II leukemia and used her dad’s lessons to improve her prognosis.

Six months before he was diagnosed with stage IIIB colorectal cancer, both of Joe Bullock’s parents passed away. Chemotherapy hit him hard and stirred a mixture of depression and feelings of inadequacy as a husband and father. Then he discovered the power of opening up.

Dr. Maurie Markman explains that missing multiple doctors’ appointments because of the COVID-19 pandemic could have a profound impact on people’s health, because of delayed diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

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.

Long-term survivors face unique challenges, such as endocrine resistance, but thanks to advances in research and clinical trials, new options can help face these problems, says Di Stuppy.

Cancer survivorship can be a strange and confusing road to navigate. Long-term survivor Judy Pearson offers advice on post-treatment questions and how to find positivity in the darkness.