He stands nearly two feet tall and weighs in at thirty-five pounds of lean, fibrous strength. His eyes are dark brown and project the wisdom of a battle-stricken Marine. His hands and arms bear witness to pain from which most adults would cower. His head is slick and bald with a sheen. His birth … [Read more...] about Enzo: The Cancer Warrior by Enzo’s Dad
Archives for November 2017
How I Date After Cancer by Aisling Carroll
With an impressive amount of Cha Cha blush on my cheeks, I lie down flat on my hardwood floor. As I hoist my legs up against the living room wall, I admire my new skinny jeans. This pre-date pose ensures I won’t swoon around Scott, literally. It wards against blackouts. This is date number three … [Read more...] about How I Date After Cancer by Aisling Carroll
Survival Lessons by Alice Hoffman
I was not someone who got cancer. In fact, I was the person who sat by bedsides, accompanied friends to doctors’ appointments. Cancer isn’t so discriminating, of course, and when a lump in Hoffman’s breast turned out to be malignant 15 years ago, the expert soother and hand-holder found herself … [Read more...] about Survival Lessons by Alice Hoffman
The Cost of Cancer by Suleika Jaouad
When I blow out my birthday candles next month, I’ll celebrate being alive. But my 25th birthday will also mark a one-year countdown to the date when I will no longer have health insurance. Like many, many other young adults who don’t have insurance through an employer, I rely on the insurance … [Read more...] about The Cost of Cancer by Suleika Jaouad
Holding Hands and Hearts
by Nancy Novack In my experiences as a woman diagnosed 13 1/2 years ago with stage 4 ovarian cancer, a clinical psychologist, and the founder of Nancy's List and Nancy's Club, I have had the privilege of many conversations with many people living with cancer ... children, teens, adults, and their … [Read more...] about Holding Hands and Hearts
The Doctor-Patient Relationship
by Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D. Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D. is Clinical Professor of Family and Community Medicine at UCSF School of Medicine and Founder and Director of the Institute for the Study of Health and Illness at Commonweal. She is one of the best-known of the early pioneers of Wholistic and … [Read more...] about The Doctor-Patient Relationship
This Might be the Best Day Ever
by Anne Lamott My six-year-old associate, who sleeps down the hall about thirty feet away with both our doors wide open, wakes up on many mornings and predicts, This might be the best day ever! Then, in the dead of night, a tiny voice calls out to me, Nana, will you ever get sick or … [Read more...] about This Might be the Best Day Ever
Relieving the Emotional Pain of Cancer
by Paul Brenner, M.D., Ph.D. In medicine, we are amazingly successful at alleviating physical pain, but are too often at a loss for how best to relieve emotional pain. The mind is the greatest stressor known to humankind, and nowhere does that become more apparent than when a loved one or … [Read more...] about Relieving the Emotional Pain of Cancer