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PREVAILING

To survive is to live; to prevail means to live better.

we’re all in this together

This is vast. (No, not a conspiracy theory, more like Earth’s oceans.)

I’m part of it. Caregivers, including friends and family who’ve taken care of me or my young son since my diagnosis, are also members of it. Philanthropists and researchers spend time and money trying to get rid of it. Journalists cover it.

Every year millions worldwide join it—the cancer community—with a diagnosis. More and more, cancer patients live long after their presumed expiration dates. With that extra life comes physical, mental, and spiritual hurdles. Cancer can run the show. But for those living with or after cancer, they can choose to lead their lives. When others in the cancer community, from journalists to caregivers, support that choice, everyone breathes a bit better. That’s what prevailing is all about.

prevailing = mindfulness + creativity

To prevail over cancer, I had to get to a place of freedom. I couldn’t let cancer rule my life. For me, being mindful and creating were key to prevailing.

professional cancer prevailers

Lots of folks are cancer prevailers. Here’s a partial list in my no evidence of disease (NED) network.

  1. Dr. Anthony Stein, hematological-oncologist—and lifesaver—at City of Hope
  2. All my City of Hope post-cancer specialists (in endocrinology, rheumatology, neurology, pain management, physical therapy, women’s health, podiatry…)
  3. City of Hope NPs, RNs, PAs, and all the other unsung heroes of my healthcare team who support #1 and #2
  4. the City of Hope schedulers who coordinate the routine labs for and clinic visits with #1 and #2
  5. Nikki Ho, pharmacist extraordinaire at Claremont Pharmacy
  6. Dr. Sunil Shivaram, ophthalmologist at Claremont Eye Associates, whose training included stem-cell transplant patient needs
  7. Dr. Maher Barsoum, dentist at Barsoum Family, Specialty & Cosmetic Dentistry, who knows how osteopenia treatments affect jawbone health

read more about prevailing

Sometimes it’s challenging to sort through all the headlines. Information overload happens. I curate what people are doing in and for the cancer community. When I discover new ways to prevail, I enjoy sharing the news. (Mostly) every month in my newsletter I feature a cancer prevailer. Check out my blog, The Cancer Prevailer, to read weekly(ish) about prevailing.