iCARE: The Cancer Anthology
This anthology was launched on World Cancer Day for and by those with cancer and their caregivers (aka everyone around them).
Hello, Dear Reader! Welcome to our new Carer Mentor community members!
I’m Victoria. You can read why I’m publishing Carer Mentor here: Who Started Carer Mentor and Why?
World Cancer Day was February 4th, 2025
CLICK HERE to learn more about the campaign and its organisers. #UNITEDBYUNIQUE #WORLDCANCERDAY
"The new World Cancer Day theme 2025-2027 “United by Unique” places people at the centre of care and their stories at the heart of the conversation."
Everyone has an important role: patients, loved ones, caregivers, friends, neighbours, practitioners, researchers, advocates, and allies.
Table of Contents
Click the lines on the left of the screen (desktop version) to see the Table of Contents as you scroll through the Anthology.
Anthology of Cancer Experiences
Our Recommendations of Organisations (including support for children) and Books
Anthology of Cancer Experiences
“Why I’m curating A Cancer Anthology”: iCARE about Cancer.
The authors/creators who are subscribers of the Carer Mentor Community have kindly agreed to let me share a few of their chosen articles to expand this Cancer Anthology. Each shares a short introduction about their cancer experience.
An intention and disclaimer. The anthology aims to share unique voices and experiences, offer insights and recommendations, and ensure that anyone on a cancer journey (everyone, not just the person with the cancer) knows they are not alone. The Carer Mentor publication aims to network empathy and inspiration; a hub of resources, a portal to other like-minded souls human-ing hard.
The information here is not a substitute for medical advice. Please seek medical support or ask a healthcare professional if you have specific questions about your cancer/symptoms or if you have worries or questions about a loved one/friend.
1. Adult cancer experiences
Breast Cancer
Emma Vivian writes Am I Cured Yet? by Emma Vivian about surviving through the experience of breast cancer beyond that of her friend.
I survived aggressive breast cancer at age 29. My childhood best friend, diagnosed the same year, did not. In this piece, I reflect on how writing helped me overcome survivor’s guilt. The Messy Art of Self-Forgiveness
Five years after losing my breasts at age 30, I reflect on how the loss shaped me and changed the way I view my body. Five Years Ago, I Lost My Breasts
Kristina Adams Waldorf, MD writes After He Said Cancer about how her family continue to navigate through her husband’s breast cancer.
How It Began. This story is the origins of my Substack publication and tells the story of the first moment when we learned of my husband’s breast cancer diagnosis.
That Ribbon. This chapter delves into my emotional response regarding the gendered stereotype of breast cancer and who it leaves out of the narrative.
writes My Big Fat Cancer Plot Twist. She says, 'I’m a British writer diagnosed in December 2024 with triple-negative breast cancer. Writing is how I process things – and I really wanted to create a real-time diary that would also explain cancer honestly, but with humour, too. Chemo, surgery, jargon can all be so intimidating – I’m aiming to humanise it for everyone affected by that bolt-from-the-blue moment that begins with diagnosis.’
So in Meet my Brussels Sprout I share the details of my diagnosis just weeks before Christmas – a tumour in my lymph node the size of a very un-festive Brussels Sprout – and explore how daunted I feel about what lies ahead but also my consultant’s advice to embrace the treatment and keep on running…
And a month later, in So What’s Chemo Really Like? I explain why chemo isn’t like the movies – and why that’s seriously good news! It’s more boring and less disruptive than I expected. I reflect on how the stories we tell shape how we feel about challenges in life - and share the tips and little luxuries that make my weekly infusions more tolerable.
I don’t yet know what the ending will look like – I’m angling for a happy one – but I promise to give you all the twists in my real-life drama.
writes Life. After. Life. about grief and losing his beloved wife to breast cancer.
"On World Cancer Day, I want to remember this incredible human being who shared her life with me." John generously shares a video his wife made during her chemo session. This link will take you to a note with the video.
nonHodgkin’s lymphoma
Jeannie Moloo writes about the gaps in cancer care, her late husband’s experience of nonHodgkin’s lymphoma, and her own experience of Breast cancer.
In Beyond the Cure, I explore how curing and healing, while interconnected, are also distinctly different. The article reflects on my personal experience as the caregiver for my late husband during his struggles with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and how embracing healing earlier might have allowed us to take greater control of our situation over the 12 years rather than feeling defined by the cancer.
A Critical Gap in Care highlights my top five recommendations for how cancer centers can step up to help make the caregiving experience more manageable and supportive. From communication to emotional resources, these ideas are rooted in my personal journey and what I wish I had access to during my cancer caregiving and treatment years.
Alone in the Shadows is about helping caregivers, patients, and families connect through difficult times.
Lung Cancer
Mel Erwin writes My Lovely Lungs about living truly living with stage 4 lung cancer. Lung cancer is the biggest cancer killer of men and women globally and increasingly affects younger people and non- smokers. Mel lives with va-va-voom and writes about diagnosis, treatment, her cancer tribe, integrative care and above all, love.
I wrote Signs of Life on Planet Cancer in a painful week when we lost two young, beautiful souls from the global, young lung cancer community. I see us all as fellow cancernauts on this planet we did not ask to be landed on. We offer solace, empathy, knowledge and humour to one another.
Doing cancer queerly - Gay, straight, lesbian, transgender, non-binary, bisexual, intersex, queer, no label or all the labels. It is remarkable to be human. Be curious, stay connected, be kind with or without cancer.
Ovarian Cancer
Jennifer Garam writes Rebuilding With Jennifer Garam and Jennifer’s Website & Blog where she writes about her recovery from ovarian cancer.
I’m also a BRCA1-positive ovarian cancer survivor, breast cancer previvor, and women’s health advocate — if you’re interested in or impacted by cancer, or know someone who is, I publish articles for cancer patients and survivors and their caregivers on my personal website’s Cancer Blog, which you can read here.
My Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis: Where It All Began What I remember from the week I was hospitalized and diagnosed with stage 3c ovarian cancer.
Reconnecting With My Purpose After Cancer How I found my purpose after being diagnosed with cancer — and how I'm trying to remain connected to it in survivorship amid the obligations and challenges of day-to-day life.
Colorectal Cancer
Janine Cutting writes about life beyond her colorectal cancer.
Cancer experiences do not usually end after the last treatment. As a matter of fact, many cancer patients go on to develop troublesome mental health symptoms. For me, at the end of a year of radiation, surgery and chemotherapy treatments for stage 3 colorectal cancer, my recovery was just beginning. We must allow recovery time to restore a healthy balance of mind, body and spirit. You can read about my experience here: Recovery Time. Giving Oneself Gentle Permission to Heal and Seek Support is not Easy in our Culture.
Many people develop fears of recurrence after cancer treatments have ended. Learning how to manage these fears in a supportive way is so important, as they can vastly impact well-being and healing. In this article, I write about my own process of overcoming “The Question of Recurrence”
Prostate Cancer
writes AnthonyFeig's Substack Have You Seen My Prostate? where he says "I'm on the other side of prostate cancer and I write funny stories about that." This is the real deal—simple, incisive (pun intended) and ouch!
When My Man Part Got Sick. A cancer story told entirely in one-syllable words and dumb drawings
I'm a cancer guy? Face to face with two grand misfortunes: An incurable, potentially life-threatening disease, and having to call Blue Cross when they are Experiencing An Unusually High Volume of Calls.
writes Prostate Cancer, the bits they leave out.
Why did I write Well this is shitty news? Easily answered, because getting diagnosed with prostate cancer is exactly that, shitty. But instead of keeping it all to myself and spending a small fortune on therapy, I thought that I would share the raw, real, and sometimes ridiculous side of this journey. If you or someone you love is facing this, you’re not alone. Give it a read, share it, and let’s talk about it.
The cancer journey doesn’t always end when the initial treatment does, in my case there was regular blood tests, the waiting, and the nagging ‘what ifs.’ I wrote So is 'it' still there? to talk about the part no one prepares you for. If you’ve been there or know someone who has, give it a read, share it, and let’s talk about it.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
writes Everything Is An Emergency. I’m sure you'll be as drawn to her writing as much as I've been since day one. Bess is an emergency medicine doc and writer. She is the wife of Jake Seliger, and mother to the beautiful Athena, who was born shortly after Jake passed from squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. Bess writes about life, cancer, death, love, health, and healthcare (“health” and “healthcare” being distinct).
Cancer Speaks Its Own Language How we spend our words is how we spend our life. What happens when you find yourself speaking a language the people you're closest to don't understand? Is it possible to bridge the unbridgeable gap?
How to let go: one life ends while another begins I'm seven months pregnant with our daughter as Jake's life comes to a close. How do I walk into an uncertain future without him?
2. Child/childhood cancer experiences
Osteogenic Sarcoma
writes Disability and Rizz about her childhood cancer, osteogenic sarcoma.
Nerisa courageously shares her heart wrenching experience about The First Steps Into the Unknown: My Early Days with Childhood Cancer. The Day My World Changed: A Cancer Diagnosis at 10
Leukemia
writes Writing Elizabeth where she chronicles her family's post-cancer life in the aftermath of her daughter's leukemia.
In Reaching Through the Dark, I reflect on my daughter’s leukemia diagnosis and the emotional weight of her treatment. Visiting an art exhibition featuring works by Suleika Jaouad and her mother Anne Francey, I confront my own unresolved grief, finding parallels between their creative expressions of illness and the ways my daughter and I processed our shared nightmare.
In the Shadow of Relapse, I explore the emotional toll of living with the lingering fear of relapse as I navigate the tense hours awaiting my daughter's blood test results. I grapple with both hope and dread, reflecting on the ways humor and love can coexist with the persistent shadow of past trauma.
Our recommended organisations (UK, USA and Canada).
OUTpatients: The UK’s only LGBTQI+ cancer charity led by LGBTQI+ people affected by cancer
Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation: support and information for everyone affected by lung cancer
Oncogene Cancer Research : a charity focused on research for mutation driven lung cancers and information for those affected
EGFR Positive UK: a patient-driven charity committed to providing information and support for EGFR-mutated lung cancer patients and their families.
Maggies: Everyone's home of cancer care
Macmillan Cancer Support. 'Because cancer can affect your life in so many ways, we do whatever it takes to give people the support they need.'
CarersUK page ‘Caring for Someone with Cancer “A cancer diagnosis can come as a huge shock for family members as well as the person with cancer. To help support those throughout their journey, [Carers UK] have compiled caring tips and information from some leading charities that can offer help.’
Metavivor: METAvivor is dedicated to the specific fight of women and men living with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.
Young Survival Coalition: Young Survival Coalition (YSC) strengthens the community, addresses the unique needs, amplifies the voice and improves the quality of life of young adults affected by breast cancer, locally, nationally and internationally.
Stupid Cancer: Stupid Cancer, a nonprofit, is the largest charity that comprehensively addresses young adult cancer through advocacy, research, support, outreach, awareness, mobile health and social media.
The Breasties: for those impacted by breast and gynecologic cancers
"You, Me and the Big C" podcast Janine says “I listened to this podcast on my 5 hour drives back and forth to the city for treatment. Dame Deborah James has since passed away from stage 4 colorectal cancer, and she was a beacon of light during my experience. I loved the way she infused so much of her advocacy work with humour.”
The Canadian Cancer Society: “We offer a nationwide support system for people with cancer and their family, friends and caregivers. Access free programs and services that can help manage life with cancer, including our supportive online community, our online and phone-based information specialists and much more.”
For the care of children
Alex's Lemonade Stand We’re changing the lives of children with cancer by funding impactful research, raising awareness, supporting families and empowering everyone to help cure childhood cancer.
St. Baldricks Foundation The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer and donor powered charity committed to supporting the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives.
The Children's Oncology Group The Children’s Oncology Group (COG) a member of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN), is the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to childhood and adolescent cancer research. COG unites over 12,000 experts in childhood cancer at more than 220 leading children’s hospitals, universities, and cancer centers across the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia in the fight against childhood cancer.
Recommendations by
“Following are resources that may be helpful for parents caring for a child whose parent is dealing with cancer or who has lost a parent to cancer.”:Camp Kesem - A wonderful free summer camp program designed specifically for children who have lost a parent to cancer. It’s run through many universities across the country. The camp creates a supportive environment where children can connect with peers facing similar experiences.
National Alliance for Grieving Children - Offers local and online support groups, resources, and webinars focused on helping grieving children and families. Also, provides education for parents and caregivers on how to support grieving children.
The Dougy Center - Provides peers support groups, grief resources, and advice for parents and caregivers.
CancerCare’s Bereavement Program - Offers professional support for families who have lost a parent to cancer. The programs include counseling, support groups, and workshops.
Other organisations
Macmillan Cancer Support Website. Cancer statistics in the UK
Macmillan Cancer Research studies data and funds research to understand the lived experiences of people living with cancer and to improve outcomes and services.
Our Book Recommendations
Dr Susan Love’s Breast Book By Susan M Love (Jan 1, 1990)
The Year of Magical Thinking. By Joan Didion (Sept 1 2005)
The Untethered Soul by Michael SInger. (Oct 3, 2007)
Human-ing alone is hard. You are not alone.
Do you have an article or podcast episode you’d like to share? Let me know in the comments.
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Thank you!
Thank you so much for creating this, Victoria! It's a brilliant idea, and I'm thrilled to be included.
And who cares about publishing early? It's always good to get the resources out there! 💛🤍✨
Thank you Victoria for curating such a valuable resource for both those with cancer or are accompanying someone who has it. We need a tribe, a crew and crucially we need to talk about cancer. In solidarity,
Mel 🙏🏽