Felicia Mitchell

After seeing my brother go through extraordinary pain because of lymphoma and then surviving breast cancer myself, I always pushed through the pain — even when I shouldn’t have.

A breast cancer survivor describes how preparing an outfit for her son’s upcoming wedding and seeing social media photos of other women sparked body envy within her for those who have not been affected by breast cancer surgeries.

Nobody wants to learn they have cancer. But sometimes, the disease teaches people to appreciate other aspects of life, one cancer survivor explains.

A cancer survivor describes the emotional rollercoaster of learning her tumor marker levels have risen. "I had decided that this would be the year I would bid farewell to my cancer journey. So much for my big plan," she writes.

How does COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy relate to fear of mammograms for breast cancer? A cancer survivor explains the connection.

A cancer survivor describes how happy she was to return to the public swimming pool after getting her COVID-19 vaccine.

“Hiking is a great activity for all of us, including cancer survivors,” writes a breast cancer survivor. “As long as we can put one foot in front of the other, being out on a trail is inspirational and health-affirming.”

"Some experiences we have as cancer survivors may help inspire those reluctant to get or complete COVID-19 vaccinations to follow through. We are all role models for each other."

Sorting out symptoms as survivors age can be challenging, writes a cancer survivor. She notes that survivors have special needs that they need to be aware of to make the most of their “new normal.”

A breast cancer survivor who opted for a unilateral mastectomy advises people to look at all treatment and risk reduction options when first diagnosed with breast cancer so they can avoid any regrets years later.

Cancer is something that impacts the entire family and changes how you and your own family may approach the holidays. Here are 5 tips for families with cancer to use during the holiday season.

Using the full use of my left hand for a few months, I relied more on my lymphedema limb. Those with lymphedema, I learned, might do well to avoid fractures as best they can.

Cancer survivors sometimes wonder about their purpose on earth as time passes and so many others pass away before us with cancer. We need to be gentle with ourselves and not stress to much.

For a long time, I refused to acknowledge the lingering effects of neuropathy. I found a way to joke about it and told everybody I was clumsy. To acknowledge the elephant in the room, I had to admit I needed to explore balance further.

Even though I knew I was eligible for COBRA and that it would come into effect soon, my anxiety soared and grew as the days progressed. I told anybody who would listen that a cancer survivor in the time of COVID cannot be without insurance for even a second.

A cancer journey influences how a person contemplates retirement. In my case, it inspired me to retire from teaching earlier than I had originally planned.

Even those who have undergone mastectomies can enjoy a vintage bralette. And maybe being more comfortable with who I am, a survivor who did not opt for reconstruction, can be a lesson to others.

Surviving cancer teaches us emotional resilience, making even a frightening pandemic something we can decide we can navigate.

With so many cancer survivors working at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, we may need to assess how our shift to computer-based work affects limbs with lymphedema and make a few adjustments to the new routines to help ourselves out.

Hair loss, a common side effect of some chemo drugs, affects us all in different ways. Yet when hair grows back differently, it becomes a reminder of the changes that come with a diagnosis of cancer.

Cancer survivors need to keep up with the news. However, reading about a new study or risk factor might make us worry about past choices and/or current options, in a way we can't quite control.

When we lose a family member to cancer, grief may seem interminable. With time, though, the memories become golden, and there is no reason to forget the good because of the bad.

Living life means living with the risk of cancer. It is interesting to contemplate how the cards are dealt even as we try to outwit fate.

One breast cancer survivor shares the whirlwind of emotions that accompanied her while sitting in the waiting room.

It is hard for me to have regrets, especially when it comes to cancer treatment. I am thankful for every step of my journey. At the same time, voicing a few of my regrets after all this time might help others. A cancer patient needs as much information as possible to make the journey work.

Keeping copies of both official and personal health records for cancer and other health concerns can be empowering, and practical, for the cancer survivor.

As patients with cancer are among those who are prescribed opioids for pain management, being mindful of news and of shifting policies during the opioid crisis goes along with survival.

Biological drugs, as well as animal testing, concern both consumers and researchers. But, as these drugs can save or extend lives, they provide important advances in medicine.

Even a cancer survivor with an upbeat attitude can experience bittersweet blues sometimes out of the blue. There are ways to learn from this feeling, whatever we call it, and keep on going.

Exercises specifically designed for breast cancer survivors are helpful after surgery and years out, if we remember to do them!