I am a painter, creator, artist. But, what have I been doing when I’m not in my studio? I’ve written a book.

 

When one receives a cancer diagnosis, the mind goes into overdrive (and overload) with emotions and questions. Patients seek out different ways to cope: talking with a spouse or close friend, support groups, perhaps therapy. I've always written - journals, articles, websites - so when I received my diagnosis of Stage 4 Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in April 2012, my way of processing this new normal was to write. My chosen method was to blog, not for clicks or likes but as a permanent record of my tests, scans, treatments, feelings and emotions, and how I coped. I wrote and published the blog for four years until my life was absolutely gutted, not by my blood cancer, but by the loss of my beloved dog, Jake. The blog was put on the shelf then, waiting to be resurrected.....

 

The blog ended up being read by people from all over the globe, for which I am grateful. If my story could help someone living with  blood cancer - or in spite of it - then what was coming out of my pen achieved a triple purpose: it helped quiet the cancer chatter in my brain; my scans, appointments, and treatments were documented for my own personal record; and maybe someone recently diagnosed could know that blood cancer is not automatically a death sentence. It certainly achieved the first two objectives, and my hope is that the third happened too.

 

Writing the blog was immensely helpful in my personal journey. During the years of publishing it, a few people suggested I turn it into a book. With work, commuting, and life ongoing, that just wasn't gonna happen. Fast forward to now: I'm retired and have a little more free time, when I'm not creating in my art studio. I re-examined the idea of creating a book from the blog, but I wanted it to be something that would be beneficial to lymphoma patients. Writing the blog was therapeutic for me - why not help others document their own journey with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma? The idea germinated and continued to grow, and the concept and title were born: Writing My Way Through Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma - My Journey and Yours.

 

Writing My Way Through Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma - My Journey and Yours isn't just solely my blog posts. Each chapter ends with several prompts, suggestions, and questions to help guide the reader in documenting their own journey with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Space is provided to jot down notes, and readers are encouraged to write up the margins of the book with their thoughts to help construct their own story.

 

I was thrilled when, after editing my way through four proof copies, Writing My Way Through Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma - My Journey and Yours was complete and went LIVE on Amazon on June 1, 2025. Why that particular day? Because June 1 is National Cancer Survivors Day, and I have dedicated this book to all cancer warriors who are fighting their battles every day. Their stories matter.