Stupid Cancer
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Surviving Cancer, Navigating Disability: Exploring the Intersection of Cancer Survivorship and Disability Identity
Reading Time: 2 minutesAs a survivor of four different types of cancers, my grandmother faced the greatest challenge not from the cancer itself, but from the treatment. The chemotherapy and radiation that saved her life also inflicted a
Chemobrain: Why Research is Important
Reading Time: < 1 minuteI am a researcher and licensed psychologist studying how to improve quality of life for people who have or have had cancer. Right after I finished college, I had the opportunity to work as a
An Ultra Marathorner’s Story
Reading Time: 2 minutesIn 2018, my life took a dramatic turn when I discovered blood in my stool. What I initially dismissed as minor, soon revealed itself as a sign of something far more sinister. Amidst the chaos
My AYA Survivorship Research Journey: How I became (and continue to be) a psychologist
Reading Time: 3 minutesBeginning college, I had no idea what psychologists did or why anyone would want to become one. When one of my classes was unexpectedly canceled and an Introductory Psychology class was my only option –
Bridging the Gap: Leveraging Health Technologies to Empower AYAs
Reading Time: 2 minutesMy name is Susanna Choi and I’m a PhD candidate in Nutrition at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill. I research how we can leverage health technologies to improve the health and quality
Britt’s Ovarian Cancer Journey
Reading Time: 2 minutesHere is my Ovarian Cancer story 🦋 On October 6th, 2022, I ended up in the emergency room for an issue unrelated to Ovarian Cancer. Since I started puberty at age 8, I’ve struggled with
My Love & Hate Relationship with MRD
Reading Time: 3 minutesThe year was 2013 when I first heard of MRD (minimal residual disease). I was about 5 years post my initial cancer diagnosis, dealing with recurrence #1, and on the path to a stem cell
Marshall
Reading Time: < 1 minute Marshall shares his story at our 2024 Albuquerque Takeover Storytelling Open Mic.
Luther
Reading Time: < 1 minute Luther shares his story at our 2024 Albuquerque Takeover Storytelling Open Mic.
Jade
Reading Time: < 1 minute Jade shares her story at our 2024 Albuquerque Takeover Storytelling Open Mic.
Kayla
Reading Time: < 1 minute Kayla shares her story at our 2024 Albuquerque Takeover Storytelling Open Mic.
Advocating Beyond Adversity: The Importance of Education and Resilience in a Cancerous Journey
Reading Time: 2 minutesAs a doctoral candidate at the University of Florida in Educational Leadership, I would have considered myself a traditional student. I volunteered in community equitable education missions, served as a graduate research assistant, and spent
Realities of an AYA
Reading Time: 5 minutesIn the beginning of my 2023 Fall semester, I was a senior at Ramapo College of New Jersey, majoring in Social Work with a double minor in Criminal Justice and Substance Use. Along with my
Researching How to Promote the “Good” and Reduce the “Bad” with Cancer Support on Social Media
Reading Time: 2 minutesMy name is Allison Lazard. With my cancer communication research, I focus on ways to improve the design of health messages and online resources for cancer prevention and support. I didn’t start my career thinking
From Personal Loss to Professional Passion: Advancing Oncofertility Counseling as a Medical Student and Researcher
Reading Time: 3 minutesCancer has been a presence in my life from a young age. When I was two years old, my maternal grandmother passed away from ovarian cancer. When I was eight, I watched my aunt’s bubbly
Molly
Reading Time: < 1 minute Molly shares her story at our 2024 Atlanta Takeover Storytelling Open Mic.
Charisse: An Open Letter to Cancer
Reading Time: < 1 minute Charisse shares her story at our 2024 Atlanta Takeover Storytelling Open Mic.
Theresa
Reading Time: < 1 minute Theresa shares her story at our 2024 Digital CancerCon Open Mic.
Savannah
Reading Time: < 1 minute Savannah shares her story at our 2024 Digital CancerCon Open Mic.
Jewel
Reading Time: < 1 minute Jewel shares her story at our 2024 Digital CancerCon Open Mic.
Erin
Reading Time: < 1 minute Erin shares her story at our 2024 Digital CancerCon Open Mic.
Alexa
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alexa shares her story at our 2024 Digital CancerCon Open Mic.
What Deck of Cards Do You Have?
Reading Time: 2 minutesWhy? That’s the question in some form or another I have asked since December 6th, 2023. Getting diagnosed with cancer, let alone kidney cancer at the age of 32, wasn’t on my bingo card to
Advocating for Myself
Reading Time: 2 minutesAs a stage 3A melanoma skin cancer survivor, I’ve learned valuable lessons about self-advocacy during my journey. Looking back, there are two critical points that underscore the importance of advocating for your own health. Childhood
Cancer Diagnosis: Deja’ Vu
Reading Time: < 1 minuteIt was a day I’ll never forget, marking the one-year anniversary of my diagnosis with Polycythemia Vera, a day that seemed cursed with cruel symmetry. Pulmonary hypertension. The words hit me like a freight train,