Tag Archives: #survivorship

5 Years Cancer Free: Babies After Breast Cancer

When I first started thinking I’d be lucky enough to celebrate 5 years free of cancer, I imagined that I’d host a huge party with everyone I knew. The 5-year NED (“no evidence of disease”) mark is sort of a magic ticket in the cancer realm, a sign that, if you’ve managed to outrun aContinue reading “5 Years Cancer Free: Babies After Breast Cancer”

After-Shock

She’s nobody’s foolto think she deserved some reprievefrom these headwinds and chaos,the tumultuous dayswhen she was caught up in the storm.Now, she spins circles,finds the air is still loadedwith the damp heaviness that forbodes a second storm. I wrote this poem for the Wea’ve Written Weekly prompt #165, which was provided this week by BobContinue reading “After-Shock”

Wide-Open Field

the hallway holds a spiraling blur of blinding light,eternal and etherworldly.I step through with hands shading eyes,trying to glimpse the world ahead.For the longest time, it remainedcordoned off,a heavy blockage impenetrable,the stone path held in place by gatesonly partially of my own making:the limit of struggle,the toxins of trauma,too many brick blocks boarding me up.Now,Continue reading “Wide-Open Field”

5-Year Cancerversary

There is a lot about life that is cyclical. Trends, for instance. The 90s are really “in” right now, or so say my students. We were at a roller rink a few days ago, and every song they played was from 1990-2005. It was definitely creating an intense wave of nostalgia for this Millennial. EvenContinue reading “5-Year Cancerversary”

Healing Connections

I’d mentioned earlier about driving (more like, sloughing through a never-ending mire of idling vehicles) in New York City in mid-May. My main reason for traveling to the area was to attend a “Breathe Now” AYA cancer survivor retreat in Chester, New York. I’d discovered the retreat over the winter when searching for more AYAContinue reading “Healing Connections”

Healing Wounds

sneaker squeaks linoleum floors distant beeps machine hums fear curtailed under bright lights wrapped in curtained walls bandages slowly counting steps counting days nature’s rest scar tissue’s perseverance heaven’s endurance existence fickle yet bolder striding near holding dear what wounds look like as they heal faith, friendship, love, hope This week’s Wea’ve Written Weekly promptContinue reading “Healing Wounds”

Collecting Mini Milestones

For many of us cancer survivors, the five-year mark is a huge milestone. It’s believed that if you are in remission for five years, with no evidence of disease, that you can be considered “cured”. At least tentatively. Though it does happen, it’s rare for most cancers to return after so long. Many people noContinue reading “Collecting Mini Milestones”