Make them feel seen. It’s an age-old, time-tested way to bring comfort to those who are suffering. When I was going through the cancer grinder, I directly experienced the healing power of feeling seen. And conversely, the distressing effect of feeling unseen. This sentence, however, may require some clarification. Many people would not know what … Continue reading How to Comfort a Cancer Patient and Make a Positive Impact
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Inside the Mind of a Cancer Patient
One thing I didn’t realize until I got cancer is how opaque the experience of cancer is from the outside. We live our lives assuming that what we see is all there is. So and so’s hair has grown back; they must have recovered. We believe we see the whole experience when, in reality, we … Continue reading Inside the Mind of a Cancer Patient
One-Year Survivor: The Good, the Bad, the Hope
A year ago, I was undergoing cancer treatment. This month, I am celebrating my one-year survivorship. It is a big milestone on many levels. I underwent so much pain and so many sorrows. I am grateful for life, even though the hardships are not over. I enjoy the present moment a lot more than I … Continue reading One-Year Survivor: The Good, the Bad, the Hope
Why I Became a Patient Advocate
Last year, I got diagnosed with breast cancer. My life fell apart. I lost my health, my energy, my job, my enthusiasm, my sleep, my appetite. My brain got sluggish. I was lost. Lethargic. Uninspired. Then I started treatment. It was brutal. I shrank my sense of time to smaller units. I wasn't thinking about … Continue reading Why I Became a Patient Advocate
An Insider View of Radiation Therapy Through the Eyes of a Cancer Patient
A few months ago, I underwent month-long daily radiation therapy for breast cancer. It was hard for my frail rail-thin body. The treatment left me physically, emotionally, and mentally depleted — like nothing I had experienced before. Several months after completion, I still suffer the side effects. (I know survivors who remain affected many years down the … Continue reading An Insider View of Radiation Therapy Through the Eyes of a Cancer Patient
The Healing Refuge (Poem)
Taking refuge in the forest Amidst the tall redwoods Majestic protectors Of all things living. Their cracked brown skin Brings to mind my brown ancestors Still alive among these trees Centuries after centuries. Their resilience exemplary Their strength legendary They’ve overcome severe hardships With awe-inspiring dignity. Settling deeper into the peace I hear them call … Continue reading The Healing Refuge (Poem)
Letter to My Forgotten Heart
When I finished cancer treatment, I sank into grief, and became acutely aware of the fragility of life, and the human heart. It was clear that my body had suffered a great deal. But I also viscerally realized that my heart had been beaten up and terrified by cancer treatment. One night, I felt inspired … Continue reading Letter to My Forgotten Heart
