Cancer Survivors
Coping with Cancer

Seldom was the word cancer used in the press, except as a metaphor for something dreadful that was “spreading like a cancer.”

Cancer – 25 Years Later

by Neil Fiore, PhD, 30-year survivor of a "terminal" cancer diagnosis

 

When the first edition of my book Coping with the Emotional Impact of Cancer: Become an Active Patient and Take Charge of Your Treatment was published in1984, the stigma associated with the word cancer was so strong that I had to fight to get the word cancer included in the title. Twenty-five years ago, it was considered controversial for patients to actively participate in their medical treatment. And a battle of correspondence ensued in The New England Journal of Medicine when I and others suggested that you might improve the quality of your life – and possibly your chances of survival – by learning how to cope with the stress and emotional impact of cancer.

Life Lessons from a Four-Year-Old Kid

by Lt. Mike Koprowski, USAF

Nearly two years ago, I wrote in these pages about my battle with testicular cancer. After waging the greatest battle of my life, I felt lost in a vacuum. Questions raced through my mind: Where do I go from here? What does all this mean? Who am I supposed to be now? In a sense, my article was an open invitation to all cancer warriors to be my companion in the journey – to be my “comrades in arms” as I found my way through a remarkably changed life.

More Than Survivors

by Chris Frey, MSW

I have had wonderful cancer care. At each stage of my journey, I have met highly skilled, efficient, and compassionate caregivers. I have also been repeatedly reminded that I am not just the recipient of that care; I am an active, vibrant member of the team, working to restore me to health.