Writing About Cancer
When I began writing this newspaper column about cancer, I wondered how long it could last. After all, how many story ideas about cancer could there be? Seven years later, […]
Common Phrases
I’ve worked at the Cancer Resource Center for more than 14 years and have talked with thousands of people during that time who have been affected by cancer. Although every […]
A Cancer Pity Party
A woman with cancer recently told me that she was planning a pity party. She explained that, “Cancer just sucks and I want to get together with my friends to […]
Boredom of Cancer
A young man with cancer recently told me that he felt bored. That’s not something I often hear from people who are dealing with cancer, but I know what he […]
Cancer And Community
I recently asked a group of cancer survivors if anything good emerged from their disease. One woman gestured at the people around the room and said simply, “This.” She went […]
The Vivid Images Of Cancer
People with cancer often form mental images of the disease or its treatment. When I was first diagnosed, I heard people compare their cancers to a game of Pac-Man. They […]
Appreciating The Normal
A man with cancer just told me that he felt joyous when he was on chemo. That was a little startling because I’ve never heard the words joyous and chemo […]
Cancer And Prayer
Every person affected by cancer faces challenges. There are the challenges of the initial diagnosis and coming to grips with the fact that life is suddenly different. There’s the challenge […]
My Dog Who Loved Flannel
This column is about cancer, but this week, I’m writing about my dog who died a few days ago. She didn’t die from cancer, but she was my constant companion […]
Purple Ribbons At The Lincoln Street Diner
There’s a basket filled with purple ribbons next to the cash register at the Lincoln Street Diner. Purple is the color associated with pancreatic cancer, the disease that took the […]
