The Elephant in the Room is Cancer. Tea is the Relief Conversation Provides.

Artwork and Poems

Seeing Beyond the Labels

by Chelsey Gomez September 27, 2023

If you were to visit the social media page of a cancer patient who openly shares their diagnosis, I’m willing to bet $5 that their comment section would resemble something like this: “You are so brave!”; “You are so strong!”; “You are an inspiration!”; “You are a warrior!” Seemingly well-meaning comments that end up feeling less like compliments and more like expectations.

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Finding Beauty After the Storm

by Susan Castillo December 11, 2022

When I do see me here,
I SEE ME.
Who has battled for MY life twice.
And who finally SEES beauty through MY journey. Not just with flowers, but MY scars have become marks of strength and hope.

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Aspects of Adjustment

by David Bays May 19, 2020

I was in the middle of a singing lesson during my senior year of high school when I started having trouble gathering enough breath to hit the notes correctly. “It’s probably just the winter season cold and I’m still learning how to use my voice,” I thought.

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The Bubble – Life Comes to a Screeching Halt Because of Cancer.

by Angie Giallourakis, PhD March 2, 2020

Can I keep working? What do you mean I might be too weak? What do you mean my immune system will be susceptible to germs? Will I have to leave school? What about my athletic scholarship?

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How Writing Has Helped Me Live

by Mette de Fine Licht May 14, 2019

I clearly remember the first time I read a book. Not a children’s book but a real novel.  You know? My reading experience happened during what I call LBC or Life Before Cancer. I was 12 years old and it was a magical experience. The pages turned themselves.

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Failed Magic Tricks

by Hannah Starkey March 7, 2019

I’m in line trying to buy my vegetables and pay the cashier but when she says it’ll be $62.48, I shut down. I remember I have cash and I fumble with it and I hand her the money and when she says I’m $12 short I fumble some more to count the money and I […]

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Being a Kid Again: Making a Bird-feeder

by Samantha Krizo

I made the feeder as a present for my father who is an avid bird watcher, so we tied string to it and hung it on a tree. It made me feel like a school girl again to do craft projects and bring it home to my family.

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