Survivorship Series

Have you been touched by cancer? Read inspiring stories from other cancer survivors about their experience coping with a diagnosis and navigating treatment and survivorship concerns. Discover how they found strength, courage, and hope in difficult times.

Amber smiles while standing on a sidewalk in front of a leafy green tree in the summer sunshine
Read August 30, 2022

A Brave August

“August, you get me every time. It’s that time of year…when my trauma triggers fire nonstop.” In the final installment of her blog series, Amber Havekost reflects on the difficult August, 5 years ago, when an advanced-stage cancer diagnosis changed her life. “Anniversary dates are complex,” she writes. “Some are amazing but now also tainted by pain. Some we wish to forget but then, if we do, what else would have to be forgotten?”
Amber and her husband enjoy the autumn colors on a mountain hike with their dog.
Read August 18, 2022

Grief & Loss. Gratitude & Gain.

“Grief isn’t shameful and it isn’t cause for panic. It isn’t taboo, it isn’t unnecessary, it isn’t weak, and it isn’t wrong or dangerous. Rather, to grieve is to be authentic. To grieve is to be honest. To grieve is to be grateful. And to grieve is to be human.” In the latest installment of her 5-part blog series, Amber Havekost continues to trace her cancer journey, honoring both her losses and her gains along the way.
Amber standing in the rain
Read August 4, 2022

The Elusive Wonder of Foreverland

“Survivorship is in the whole cancer experience. It’s getting up and going to the next appointment, whether it’s appointment No. 2 or No. 282. It’s treatment. It’s surgeries. It’s putting one foot in front of the other even when the direction you’re going is unknown.” Amber Havekost reflects on the meaning of survivorship and the ways it has touched every step of her journey with cancer.
AmberApril2018
Read July 21, 2022

Cancer Defined. Me, Redefined.

In part 2 of a 5-part series that traces her cancer journey, blog writer Amber Havekost unpacks the word cancer, stripping the term of its vague meanings and abstractions and laying bare the difficult, sometimes painful realities it has unleashed in her own life. In the process, Amber also reflects on what she has gained because of it all.
Dressed in jeans and a red Cancer Support Community T-shirt, Paul smiles outside with the Boulder foothills behind him
Read July 19, 2022

You’ll Never Believe What This 71-Year-Old Is Doing

Paul, a 3-time cancer thriver, has been walking a lot ― 6.7 miles a day, on average, to be exact. And the 71-year-old has no intention of slowing down. His goal is to walk 1,500 miles this year, and he hopes to far exceed that. Keep reading to find out why.
Amber and her family, lake photo
Read July 7, 2022

The Enormity of 3 Small Words

When Amber Havekost learned she had breast cancer, her world turned upside down. “Time stopped,” she writes. “The picture of my life in my head suddenly turned blurry and void of color, now with the word ‘cancer’ in bright red, etched onto my mind’s eye.” Read on to learn more about Amber’s story and how she confronted the enormity of 3 words, “I have cancer,” with the belief that hope can permeate hardship.
Terry smiles while playing the guitar in a bright-lit room
Read October 19, 2021

A Laryngeal Cancer Survivor Navigates His Journey With Grace, Wit, and Love

"My cancer is real. I can deal with real," shares Terry, a laryngeal cancer survivor, in the next edition of our Survivorship series. In this Q&A, Terry discusses initial challenges with his laryngectomy surgery, ways he provides support to others with head and neck cancer, and the many passions that bring him joy.
Alyssa smiles from inside her car
Read September 4, 2021

A Childhood Leukemia Survivor Discusses Survivorship Care and the Power of Positive Thinking

Meet Alyssa, a 2-time pediatric cancer survivor who was diagnosed with leukemia at age 3. She experienced a relapse at age 9, and now in her early 30s, she shares her experiences with late effects of her cancer treatments. Of her cancer journey, she says, “It doesn’t define who I am, but it has made me who I am.” Read on to learn more about Alyssa.
Liz Hiles
Read August 17, 2021

A Cancer Advocate Speaks Out About Bladder Cancer and Survivorship

Liz Hiles spent months trying to get answers from medical providers about her unexplained urinary pain. When she was finally diagnosed with bladder cancer, surgery results revealed she had stage 3B cancer. Read on to learn more about Liz’s survivorship story and her work to dispel stereotypes around bladder cancer.
Evelina, a breast cancer survivor, smiles wide on a city sidewalk
Read July 20, 2021

Strength in Survivorship: Cancer Survivor Evelina Shares Her Story

Our survivorship series continues with a Q&A with Evelina, a breast cancer survivor who has been sharing her experience — both the gifts and the challenges — with others. “One of the toughest challenges I faced throughout my journey was losing my father right in the midst of treatment,” she says. Read on to learn more about Evelina’s story.
    Amber smiles while standing on a sidewalk in front of a leafy green tree in the summer sunshine
    Read August 30, 2022

    A Brave August

    “August, you get me every time. It’s that time of year…when my trauma triggers fire nonstop.” In the final installment of her blog series, Amber Havekost reflects on the difficult August, 5 years ago, when an advanced-stage cancer diagnosis changed her life. “Anniversary dates are complex,” she writes. “Some are amazing but now also tainted by pain. Some we wish to forget but then, if we do, what else would have to be forgotten?”
    Amber and her husband enjoy the autumn colors on a mountain hike with their dog.
    Read August 18, 2022

    Grief & Loss. Gratitude & Gain.

    “Grief isn’t shameful and it isn’t cause for panic. It isn’t taboo, it isn’t unnecessary, it isn’t weak, and it isn’t wrong or dangerous. Rather, to grieve is to be authentic. To grieve is to be honest. To grieve is to be grateful. And to grieve is to be human.” In the latest installment of her 5-part blog series, Amber Havekost continues to trace her cancer journey, honoring both her losses and her gains along the way.
    Amber standing in the rain
    Read August 4, 2022

    The Elusive Wonder of Foreverland

    “Survivorship is in the whole cancer experience. It’s getting up and going to the next appointment, whether it’s appointment No. 2 or No. 282. It’s treatment. It’s surgeries. It’s putting one foot in front of the other even when the direction you’re going is unknown.” Amber Havekost reflects on the meaning of survivorship and the ways it has touched every step of her journey with cancer.
    AmberApril2018
    Read July 21, 2022

    Cancer Defined. Me, Redefined.

    In part 2 of a 5-part series that traces her cancer journey, blog writer Amber Havekost unpacks the word cancer, stripping the term of its vague meanings and abstractions and laying bare the difficult, sometimes painful realities it has unleashed in her own life. In the process, Amber also reflects on what she has gained because of it all.
    Dressed in jeans and a red Cancer Support Community T-shirt, Paul smiles outside with the Boulder foothills behind him
    Read July 19, 2022

    You’ll Never Believe What This 71-Year-Old Is Doing

    Paul, a 3-time cancer thriver, has been walking a lot ― 6.7 miles a day, on average, to be exact. And the 71-year-old has no intention of slowing down. His goal is to walk 1,500 miles this year, and he hopes to far exceed that. Keep reading to find out why.
    Amber and her family, lake photo
    Read July 7, 2022

    The Enormity of 3 Small Words

    When Amber Havekost learned she had breast cancer, her world turned upside down. “Time stopped,” she writes. “The picture of my life in my head suddenly turned blurry and void of color, now with the word ‘cancer’ in bright red, etched onto my mind’s eye.” Read on to learn more about Amber’s story and how she confronted the enormity of 3 words, “I have cancer,” with the belief that hope can permeate hardship.
    Terry smiles while playing the guitar in a bright-lit room
    Read October 19, 2021

    A Laryngeal Cancer Survivor Navigates His Journey With Grace, Wit, and Love

    "My cancer is real. I can deal with real," shares Terry, a laryngeal cancer survivor, in the next edition of our Survivorship series. In this Q&A, Terry discusses initial challenges with his laryngectomy surgery, ways he provides support to others with head and neck cancer, and the many passions that bring him joy.
    Alyssa smiles from inside her car
    Read September 4, 2021

    A Childhood Leukemia Survivor Discusses Survivorship Care and the Power of Positive Thinking

    Meet Alyssa, a 2-time pediatric cancer survivor who was diagnosed with leukemia at age 3. She experienced a relapse at age 9, and now in her early 30s, she shares her experiences with late effects of her cancer treatments. Of her cancer journey, she says, “It doesn’t define who I am, but it has made me who I am.” Read on to learn more about Alyssa.
    Liz Hiles
    Read August 17, 2021

    A Cancer Advocate Speaks Out About Bladder Cancer and Survivorship

    Liz Hiles spent months trying to get answers from medical providers about her unexplained urinary pain. When she was finally diagnosed with bladder cancer, surgery results revealed she had stage 3B cancer. Read on to learn more about Liz’s survivorship story and her work to dispel stereotypes around bladder cancer.
    Evelina, a breast cancer survivor, smiles wide on a city sidewalk
    Read July 20, 2021

    Strength in Survivorship: Cancer Survivor Evelina Shares Her Story

    Our survivorship series continues with a Q&A with Evelina, a breast cancer survivor who has been sharing her experience — both the gifts and the challenges — with others. “One of the toughest challenges I faced throughout my journey was losing my father right in the midst of treatment,” she says. Read on to learn more about Evelina’s story.