“My Voice” by Nick O’Hara Smith
It was April 1988 and I’d just woken up mad as hell, because I’d failed in an attempt on my life. I’d not taken the decision to end my life flippantly. After all, I’d just survived Cancer, having just been declared Cancer free at the end of my treatment. Life should have been good, but […]
The Story of Founding “Yes” by Executive Director: Suzanne Lindley
Cancer. Stage IV colon cancer. Eleven years ago these were words that filled my life with fear. They evoked thoughts of suffering. A bald head. Nausea. Fatigue. And even death. In the years since those words and my life first intertwined, I’ve learned that other things cause greater fear, that suffering is not what I’ve done, that bald heads can be covered – […]
“My Voice” by Liz Strobel
I am no stranger to cancer. I have met it several times over the course of my 26 years. My first meeting was my grandfather, who was diagnosed with skin cancer, though it didn’t affect me and the people in my “bubble”. Cancer didn’t enter my world until 1992. My little brother was diagnosed with […]
“My Voice” by Debbie Thomas
My name is Debbie and I am 44 years old. Around Thanksgiving 2006, when I was 41 years old, I was getting undressed to get ready for bed when I had an itch on my left breast. I scratched and felt a lump. As I felt it I knew it wasn’t supposed to be there […]
“My Voice” by Valerie Finnerty
My name is Valerie and I am a breast cancer survivor. For more than 20 years, I often felt like I was just waiting for the diagnosis that had claimed my mother’s life when she was only 48, so it wasn’t a complete surprise when I was diagnosed with stage IIB invasive lobular carcinoma at […]
“My Voice” by Meghan Cheung
After an ultrasound, CT scan, gastroscopy, and MRI, I had an emergency appointment at the cancer centre. I met the doctor and the nurse who are both awesome. Fun Fact: My mom taught my doctor when he was in high school! The doctor explained that I had a tumour that was touching my stomach and […]
“My Voice” by Amanda J. Woods
Survivor: It is an interesting word and one that has many definitions depending upon circumstances. Mine is actually the story of my life and how I found hope and meaning through the process of surviving. It is a word that I have dealt with since birth. I was born two weeks late, not breathing and […]
“My Voice” by Kristin McQueen
My journey has been more of a roller coaster than I ever imagined. On June 27, 2003, metastatic thyroid cancer stormed into my life. It is still so fresh in my mind that I could give you a play by play of that day, down to the detail of what I was wearing and where […]
“The Testicle Tour” by Nick O’Hara Smith
The “Testicle Tour” came to my attention early in 2009. I’d just joined Facebook to raise my profile. I lost both testicles 22 years ago and am on a mission. My sister says I am obsessed ! She may well be right. Three months after I lost my testicles, I made a decision to abandon […]
“My Voice” by Darren Neuberger
How many of you have ever had a cough? How many of you have ever had a cough that lasted longer than 7 months? A cough, a simple-stupid cough – who would have thought that it would have changed my life forever!! This annoying little pest started in January 2003. I was 34 years old […]
“My Voice” by Liz Solorio
On September 4, 2004, my mother called telling me she thought my father was having a heart attack. When I arrived, I found him in his recliner not breathing. I began CPR while my mother called 911. Little did I know this would be just the beginning of my new life. After four months of […]
“My Voice” by Britta Aragon
My first experience with cancer came when I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease at the age of 16. Back in 1992, the “C” word was rarely mentioned, spoken only in whispers or behind closed doors. Fortunately, I was young, and as they say, ignorance is bliss. I wasn’t aware of the severity of the disease. […]
