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Blogging During Cancer

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For survivors, blogging can be a way to cope with the stress of treatment, life and emotions. It can be cathartic and cleansing and, for families separated by thousands of miles, it can be a way to update with those they love. Yesterday, I asked our Twitter community what cancer blogs they read/write. Below are a few that were submitted. If you have a blog that you’d like to share, please post the link in the comments below and tell us why you blog.

The Yellow Diaries by Lisa Ray
About: “I?m an Accidental Actress, model, nomad and covert social activist. Diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells, in June 2009. I write to understand.”

FatCyclist by Elden “Fatty” Nelson
About: “For the past fifteen or so years, biking ? whether on the road or on dirt ? has has been essentially my one and only hobby/activity/obsession. The thing is, though, cyclists need to be light if they?re going to be fast. So, a few years ago, when I went on a nice long bike ride and noticed I was having to walk up hills I had easily ridden not many years before, I realized something had to be done…Besides being a middle-aged guy who loves cycling, I?m also the father of four kids (2 boys, identical twin girls). Until August 2009, I was also the husband of a woman ? Susan ? who passed away after a five-year fight with breast cancer. So while I still write lots of the jokey stuff I always have, I?m now inclined to also write the occasional serious post, keeping my family and friends (including the hundreds of friends I?ve made on this blog, but have never met in person) up to date with how how I?m doing.
I also am prone to frequent contests for my readers, geared toward making money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Huntsman Cancer Institute, two organizations that have helped us in immeasurably in our fight against cancer.”

John’s Blog by John
About: “Thanks for checking out my blog. I started blogging in December 2009, and it has been a great outlet for me. Blogging has helped me clear my mind, and get things off my chest. Based on my own experiences, hearing or reading someone’s “story”, can be very enlightening and inspiring. I have found, there is a strong feeling of connection that happens, when we can relate to a story, or the person, sharing the story. It can bring a sense of comfort, and help us feel less alone, in a world where we can often feel despondent. Hopefully, I can do that for someone, by sharing my stories. Please scroll through “JOHN’S POSTS” and click on, “Adopt a Dog, it Could Save Your Life.” It is my story of how I discovered, I had testicular cancer and embryonal carcinoma. My intentions with this blog are to continue sharing my journey, through stories and poems, and to write and raise awareness about testicular cancer and other topics that I am passionate about. Thanks again for reading!”

Red Headed Bald Chic by Alli Cooks
About: “This is a forum for me to share my story with my friends and provide updates of what is going on with my journey with cancer.”

 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Joe-Schneider/600668209 Joe Schneider
  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Steven-Corio/1812401858 Steven Corio

    FIVE YEARS

  • http://ocwarrior1026.blogspot.com/ Grace

    Ovarian Cancer at 21? This is my story.

  • http://barefootandlaughing.blogspot.com Kirstin Paisley

    http://barefootandlaughing.blogspot.com. Started as a seminarian blog; turned into all-cancer-all-the-time when I was first diagnosed with melanoma on 4/25/08. (Diagnosed stage IV this June.)

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  • http://ocwarrior1026.blogspot.com/ Grace
  • http://toostubborntodie.blogspot.com John Knox

    My name is John Knox. I am a two time cancer survivor. I’ve survived Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and MDS. I’ve had over 60 rounds of chemo and a bone marrow transplant. I started my blog “Too Stubborn To Die” in 2007.

    While I haven’t been able to write in my blog for awhile, because I’ve had many complications from my bone marrow transplant, I’m now working on new posts which will be added shortly. My blog is mostly about my experiences with cancer, the bone marrow transplant, and my complications; but I also write an occassional post on other subjects (just everyday living).

    I write to help myself deal with my experiences, as well as to inform others about cancer and it’s treatment. I hope to encourage other survivors and to give people who’ve never experienced cancer a better understanding of what it means to go through this. I hope you find my blog interesting and helpful.

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  • http://ocwarrior1026.blogspot.com/ Grace

    http://ocwarrior1026.blogspot.com/

    I’m 21 and I was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer nine months ago when I was 20. I blog because I want to look back on these thoughts and realize all that I made it through. I also hope to find other people around my age going through this and find the strength to continue my fight. Livestrong.

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  • http://kfuentes-cityofhope.tumblr.com/ Kris Fuentes

    http://kfuentes-cityofhope.tumblr.com/

    Men can be ignorant about their health. My blog is about how I mistaken cancer for a pulled muscle on my neck. With everything going accordingly to plan in my education and career, I had to put a halt on everything this year to manage my life with cancer.

  • http://nuggetnoggin.blogspot.com/ tim whitecotten

    i was diagnosed with a glioblastoma a little over a month ago, had surgery to debulk it, and am currently undergoing chemo and radiation concurrently while researching what’s next.

    the amount of love, encouragement, and support i received was both overwhelming and humbling, and it certainly has helped speed my recovery. Running three times/week, swimming twice/week, and biking all over town every day.

    i started the blog to help keep friends/family informed; as a release; and as a way to hopefully provide some good info and benefit for others in similar circumstances. it’s a work in progress, but as i continue on, my goal is to continue to fill in what i feel pertinent, especially as it relates to cancer treatment and research.

    to you in good health!

  • http://nuggetnoggin.blogspot.com/ tim whitecotten

    http://nuggetnoggin.blogspot.com/

    i was diagnosed with a glioblastoma a little over a month ago, had surgery to debulk it, and am currently undergoing chemo and radiation concurrently while researching what?s next.

    the amount of love, encouragement, and support i received was both overwhelming and humbling, and it certainly has helped speed my recovery. Running three times/week, swimming twice/week, and biking all over town every day.

    i started the blog to help keep friends/family informed; as a release; and as a way to hopefully provide some good info and benefit for others in similar circumstances. it?s a work in progress, but as i continue on, my goal is to continue to fill in what i feel pertinent, especially as it relates to cancer treatment and research.

    to you in good health!

  • http://www.incaseofemergencyblog.com John Solomon

    John D. Solomon In Case of Emergency, Read Blog (www.incaseofemergencyblog.com)

    About: Two years ago, I started a blog that focuses on helping the public prepare and respond to major emergencies, such as natural disasters and terrorism (I had been writing about that issue since 9/11 for NPR and other media outlets.) A year and a half ago, I had my own natural disaster when I was diagnosed with leukemia (AML). I completed six months of chemotherapy, which initially put the cancer into remission. However, the leukemia returned late last year, and I had a bone marrow transplant in January.

    I have continued blogging ? with a couple of interruptions during the treatment. The subject matter continues to be emergency preparedness, but I often write about my experiences dealing with the trauma of cancer ? and what it teaches about dealing with disasters. I also write a lot about donating blood/platelets and bone marrow as I have been very lucky to benefit from those donations.

    Thanks for asking.

  • http://cancerlandadventure.blogspot.com/ Annelise Pichardo

    I was diagnosed January 2006. By February, I was blogging. I wanted to post a humorous, honest look at the ride I was about to embark on, plus I had developed phone fatigue and this was a great way to have everyone updated. It turned into so much more. Since chemo affected my memory, this has been a great reminder of what happened. The later posts are not much, but the beginning, yes, those were truly inspired. I have a few more to post, haven’t gotten around to it, but I’ve discovered that the journey was not over once I went into remission. The path continues to need walking and I hope to help others to get past their fear. Humor is great for recovery. For a while, I no longer wanted to wear the moniker, CancerGirl, but now I’m ready to resume the writing. Good luck all, i pass on my strength and hope that your journey is not too bumpy.

  • http://cancerlandadventure.blogspot.com/ Annelise Pichardo

    Oops! forgot to list the site:

    http://cancerlandadventure.blogspot.com/

  • http://carolinemfr.blogspot.com Caroline R

    My blog started to be about my breast cancer adventures in 2007. But has morphed in to my continuing health issues as well as follow ups from my thyroid cancer in 1981. I feel a bit dilapidated now but I am still here and going strong.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Brenda-Beguin/1137826384 Brenda Beguin

    I was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer 4 Four half years ago. Now I have recently had lung cancer surgery and it’s now been diagnosed stage 4 breast cancer. I am all for blogging. We need a way to express ourselves. Maybe there will be one person who reads and will be able to relate to us. for those of us feeling lost and alone , one person may be able to reach you and help you to understand that people really do care. Then of course there will be those that really don’t give a damn or will cast stones and tell you to stop whining. To those, I say step in the shoes of a survivor or a cancer patient. – Brenda

  • http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/gabrielperkins/journal/1 Gabriela

    My nephew’s cancer journal; a boy battling alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma since April last year who went throu stem cell transplant 100 days ago.
    I admire the incredible and unbreakable faith of his parents who always have great and inspiring quotes to keep them going.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tom-Interlante/1370434181 Tom Interlante

    I just started my blog, I add to it as the mood strikes,It’s high time I start talking about my adventure. I’m a sixteen year survivor. http://www.livestrong.com/community/profile.html?plckPersonaPage=PersonaBlog&plckUserId=YTQ1YWZmM2E2ZTZhNmQwMGNiY2FkYzRlODg2Y2M4NDA4YjlhNjE2ZA&uid=YTQ1YWZmM2E2ZTZhNmQwMGNiY2FkYzRlODg2Y2M4NDA4YjlhNjE2ZA&sid=

  • http://allisonandben.blogspot.com Ben Jacobsen

    This began as an easy way to keep friends and family in the loop as to what was happening with my treatment without having to make inumerable phone calls or emails every time somthing changed. It has been a valuable tool to disseminate information to a wider audience.

  • http://mpomy.com/seeemilyplay/wordpress/ Emily Beck

    A stage III ovarian cancer diagnosis upended my world in December, 2007. I started blogging at Planet Cancer during treatment, and then when I realized what a powerful healing tool words were, I started my own blog in August of 2009.

    I write because it gives me strength and focus, but mostly because I want to try and help reveal to the world what it means to be a young adult confronting mortality, the end of fertility and the amazing ways in which life after cancer can be richer, fuller and more completely gratifying than life before. The paradox of cancer is in my heart and on my mind every single day; my blog serves as an outlet for trying to make sense of it all.

    http://mpomy.com/seeemilyplay/wordpress/

  • http://cuckfancer.blogspot.com/ Bethany Winsor

    http://cuckfancer.blogspot.com/

    I began blogging to keep friends and family posted, but it has turned out to be a way to encourage myself to move forward and live beyond my diagnoses.

  • http://www.mylifeline.org/joannerichards Jo Richards

    Like lots of people here- this has really helped keep friends and family informed during my treatment and has helped me feel connected to others as well. Mylifeline.org was specifically designed for cancer pts and has some really user friendly pages like a “helping calendar” where you can post your schedule and actually use that to ask for help with rides/meals etc. Pretty awesome!

    http://www.mylifeline.org/joannerichards

  • http://josh-vs-lymphoma.blogspot.com/ Josh S

    Detailing my battle with Stage 3 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: http://josh-vs-lymphoma.blogspot.com/

    Remission for just under a month now.

  • http://digidogdesign.com lucia Rossman

    My blog:
    Between Forever and Today

    http://betweenforeverandnow.blogspot.com/

    I started writing little things feb 09 but I have never published it untill yesterday. How serendipitous.
    THis BLog is more about the hidden aspects of having Cancer.
    This is new terrain for me :)

  • http://www.calupdate.blogspot.com Lorna Scott

    My husband has Stage 4 colorectal cancer, and after disease progression to both lungs in 2008 I started blogging for 2 reasons:
    1) as an outlet to deal with the feelings about what was happening to him and how it affected me.
    2) As a way to keep friends and family updated on what was happening with Callum. I use an email group to send out information updates, but wanted to keep this information brief and primarily for the facts without the clutter of “what ifs” and feelings.

  • http://www.calupdate.blogspot.com Lorna Scott

    Per comment above…my blog address is http://www.calupdate.blogspot.com

  • http://blogfatboy.blogspot.com/ Nick blackhall

    This started out as a weightloss blog, mostly so I could tell folks how it was all going, but wheni found out I had thyroid cancer, it has turned into a blog about my experience and recovery. You should read it. Seriously.

  • http://blogfatboy.blogspot.com/ Nick blackhall

    http://blogfatboy.blogspot.com/ this is the address just incase I messed it up. I promise just as many run on sentences in my blog as these comments.

  • http://radioisolation.blogspot.com Anna N.

    I’ll be blogging my experiences during my upcoming Radioactive Iodine treatment and what it’s like being 22 with thyroid cancer.

  • http://radioisolation.blogspot.com Anna N.

    Oops, forgot the address: radioisolation.blogspot.com

  • http://radioisolation.blogspot.com Anna N.

    Oops, forgot the address:

    radioisolation.blogspot.com

  • http://crystalsaffel.blogspot.com Crystal Saffel

    I began blogging as a way to keep my family and friends up to date on what was going on with my treatments. However, it has become an outlet for me as well as a great support team of cheerleaders who support my fight.

    crystalsaffel.blogspot.com

  • http://ararecancerjourney.blogspot.com/ Kathy S.

    I was diagnosed in 2000 with an extremely rare cancer called Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Breast, or ACCB. In 2006 10 metastatic lung tumors were discovered. These tumors were treated with radiofrequency ablation – RFA – and I now have no detectable cancer. I started blogging in 2008 to spread the word about this under-utilized treatment and to connect with other ACCB survivors. As a result of receiving Cytoxan for the ACCB(which I shouldn’t have received to begin with because ACCB doesn’t respond to chemo), I developed Acute Myeloid Leukemia last year. My blog turned from an educational, informative forum to a vehicle for keeping people informed about my condition, treatments, personal struggles and ways of coping. It has helped me immensely, and I think others have benefited too.

  • http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/brienne Brienne

    I started my blog as a means to communicate with family, friends, co-workers, etc. about what was happening with my fight because it was so hard to tell the story over and over again. It has become so much more than that for me as the fight continues. I’m grateful for the outlet and the wonderful support I get every time I post an update. It has been a wonderful thing for me and my now extended support system.

  • http://www.rocknrealty.net Nanette Labastida

    my blog about my breast cancer journey :)

    http://www.glittereveryday.blogspot.com/

  • http://ruralwomen.wordpress.com/ Linda

    A Rural Woman’s Breast Cancer Journal.

  • http://hodgkinshusband.blogspot.com/ Kevin

    I blogged because I needed a way to syphon off the hate, rage and fear.

    Nicky is now cancer free and living marvelously. She is amazing.

  • http://www.tlen308s-journal.blogspot.com/ Tony

    I am a 47 year old police officer who was recently diagnosed with colon cancer. To help pass the time during my chemotherapy, a good friend suggested that I blog my experiences. Blog entries are factual, spiritual and recalling life lessons learned. This is my journey.

  • http://www.dangennari.com Dan Gennari

    The Dirty Bastard – I call my Hodgkin’s Lymphoma the Dirty Bastard because it will not comply with the expected norm’s of Hodgkin’s. I am 32 years old, and have been at the fight for 19 months and counting. I have done 19 rounds of chemo, am currently getting radiation treatment and will be actively writing about a stem cell transplant that is going to start in two weeks. I also own a small business and write about entrepreneurship, travel, parenting and outdoor sports as I enjoy biking, skiing, hiking, fishing and anything else I can do outside.

  • http://carlhemmings.blogspot.com/ Carl Hemmings

    Hi, have been riding racing touring commuting since I was 14, now over 40. Was told I have Mantle Cell Lymphoma (a type of Non Hodgekins Lymphoma) in Jan 2007, relapsed in Jan 2009, and had a stem cell transplant in Oct 2009.

    I have my cancer news, as well as some of my solo bike tours in Europe pre 2000. Cheers Carl

  • http://locallanes.blogspot.com/ Shiv

    http://locallanes.blogspot.com/
    Colorectal cancer (stage 3)
    Diagnosed July 2009
    Treatment ended in July 2010

    I started my blog for most of the reasons listed above. I’m writing less because my therapy is complete and there’s little, other than follow-ups, to update family and friends on. Nevertheless, new patients may find the older posts informative and (I hope) amusing.

  • http://www.mindbodyharmony.org Richard Wexler, PhD & Suzanne Roff-Wexler, PhD

    We are two psychologists very much in love who three days before we married discovered that Richard had prostate cancer. That was three years ago and today we face advanced prostate cancer.

    We write to share our story and explore the impact of critical illness on relationships. Our blog also includes research and resources. We hope to inspire others to wholly appreciate the wonderful opportunities life offers us every day, understand that shifts happen, and although cancer can manage crisis as best as possible. You will be with us as we travel throughout the world to fully experience its wonders, and look for inspiration, laughter, beauty, meaning and more in our time together. You will learn about the effect of an incurable illness on relationships, and the effect of relationships on an incurable illness. You will experience love?s power and frailties, laugh and learn with us, and understand yourself, your relationships, humanity and the universe a little better. So we write our blog, ready to go wherever mind, body and spirit will take us.

    Mind Body Harmony — The Life, Love, and Legacy of Two Psychologists facing Critical Illness

    • http://www.mindbodyharmony.org Suzanne Roff-Wexler

      Richard and Suzanne’s blog is htttp://www.mindbodyharmony.org

  • Jennifer B

    I?m a 23-year-old college senior who plans to graduate with a degree in English literature in May 2011. My 70-year-old father (I was a ?change of life? baby) was diagnosed with lung cancer 08/05/2010. He?s still recovering from a massive open-heart surgery that he had this past April. We don’t even know how bad things are quite yet, but the suspicion is that his body is too weak to handle treatment. Not sure how to handle everything at the moment either…

    • http://livestrong.org Brooke McMillan (LAF Staff)

      Jennifer- We’d like to talk with you and see how we can help you and your family. Please call 1-866-673-7205 and let us know what questions you have.

  • http://womenofteal.blogspot.com Dee Sparacio

    I was diagnosed in 2005 and started my blog Women of Teal in December of 2007.
    From my blog:
    “Women of Teal is a play on the words “Man of Steel” used to describe Superman. I am an ovarian cancer survivor who has found other ovarian cancer survivors to be some of the strongest, most helpful women in the world. They are truly Women of Teal! I hope women in New Jersey diagnosed with ovarian cancer will find this site useful. Being able to update my family and friends of my progress is an added bonus.”

    Over the past year, have added pages to the blog for NJ events, local support groups, OC resources and products. Through my blog I have met women from all over the US as well as Japan, Canada and England who travel this cancer journey with me.

  • http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/marcmandeville Marc Mandeville

    I have found blogging to be SO cathartic during my 2.5 year battle with stage IV colorectal cancer. In it, I can put down my feelings–good, bad, or indifferent about treatment, my family, my inner thoughts, or just something ridiculous that I saw that struck me as odd. Cancer opens your senses to so many insights (wanted or unwanted) that it’s a great way to get your emotions out. I’ve used caringbridge.org as my platform and all of my family and friends appreciate me keeping them abreast of my goings on.

  • http://www.aprilcapil.com April Capil

    I blog about survivorship (i.e., life post-cancer) at http://teamapril.blogspot.com. While it initially was therapeutic for me to have a place where I could share my fears and triumphs with friends, it has become a place where I can hear stories and get feedback from other survivors, and help people cope with their post-cancer existence. I also have a YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/aprilcapil.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Daria-Maluta/663877680 Daria Maluta

    My blog is entitled Living with Cancer. I was first diagnosed in 2000 with stage 2 breast cancer and then later in 2008 with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.
    Here is the link:
    http://daria-livingwithcancer.blogspot.com/

  • http://apps.mgilbert.net/Blog/ Leslie Gilbert

    “Leslie’s Celebration of Life” – This blog is for me to share my story melanoma brain cancer AND the message of HOPE!

  • Timmy

    The cancer is a universal illness that affects us a lot. This illness also is very painful by what I recommend hydrocodone and lortab.

  • http://cottonblog.org Brandon Harding

    Jason is/has been fighting cancer in one form or another for 10 years now. His writing is inspirational and point blank. His strength and mindset in his fight against cancer are inspirational.