Don't Call Me a Warrior...I am called a "warrior" fairly often these days. I am not a warrior. People also call me "heroic," "strong," and even "brave" just for getting up in the morning...reactionscomments
A New Way to Look at Fundraising...I raised over $17,000 for lung cancer research with the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation in November 2018, during Lung Cancer Awareness Month. It was an unexpected experience for...reactionscomments
Cancer is Cancer...There is so much disparity between cancer groups. Of course, lung cancer is the most underfunded. But, when you think about the patient as a human being, and not as a number...reactions2comments
Lung...My stories started in six years and four months. I had a bad infection went to ER they done a chest xray. The Dr found a small spot on upper...reactions2comments
What's Faith Got to Do with It?...When I was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer, the only question I had for my oncologist was, "Can I keep playing agility with my dogs?" He was dumbfounded. He...reactions8comments
Reaching Back to My Newly Diagnosed Self...Sitting in the emergency department. Ebb and flow of patient care flowing around me. Dramas big and small. Doctors in hushed tones sharing results and recovery directions. Nurses doing the...reactions7comments
Love and Support for Alex Trebek...Alex Trebek, a national treasure and host of “Jeopardy!” game show for the past 35 years, recently publicly announced that he was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer. “Now normally...reactionscomments
Sing for the Joy of It, Sing Because It is Good for You...When God passed out singing talents, He skipped right over me. I can't carry a tune no matter how hard I try. How I wish I could. But, I can't...reactions2comments
It's Not Always The Cancer That Brings You Down...I am heading into the second quarter of my 7th year post stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer diagnosis. For more than 6 of those years, allowing for an occasional...reactions6comments
Why Biomarker Testing Matters...As experts learn more about lung cancer, new diagnostic and biomarker testing options have arisen. Along with typical diagnostic and follow-up tests such as CT scans, lung biopsies, chest X-rays...reactionscomments
Sepsis and Lung Cancer...I just got out of the hospital and a rehab hospital after having sepsis. This is not something that we typically talk about because, quite frankly, most people are not...reactions1comment
Living with Cancer-Related Fatigue...No matter the type of cancer, there are some common experiences when it comes to treatment side effects. Across our oncology communities, fatigue is one of the most common side...reactionscomments
Drug Pricing, Co-Pays, and Other Nonsense...Sometimes dealing with insurance and healthcare companies just feels ridiculous. Take the following example, a true story culled from my experience. Filling a new prescription for a steroid cream, I...reactionscomments
It’s Okay to Feel Exhausted: Caregiver Fatigue and Burnout...When we think about fatigue and cancer, we often think about the physical and emotional toll cancer takes on the person diagnosed. Yet fatigue can also drastically affect the day-to-day...reactionscomments
Staying Occupied When Energy Levels are Low...Treatments that we undergo for our lung cancer can really zap our energy. Someone recently posted a question on a forum on which I participate asking what kinds of things...reactions1comment
Deadlines...As a writer, I have been dealing with deadlines most of my life. Some have been arbitrary, some have been self-imposed, others have been more along the line of the...reactionscomments
Doctor Conversations That Go Awry...I’m sure many of you go with the flow in what is being mentioned and suggested. It has always been the culture that your doctors know it all, and who...reactions8comments
Financially Making It with Lung Cancer...When I was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer November 27th, 2012, I was told I had 12-18 months. This was devastating, but I decided to make a bucket list...reactions9comments
Saying Goodbye...A remarkable man died recently. He was a liberal when he was young then converted to conservatism. You may have read his column in The Washington Post or seen him...reactions1comment
Conflicted About NED...I may be in the minority here, but I have serious reservations about the prospect of being declared NED. For years I have pondered the idea of my scans showing...reactionscomments