I Thought I Was Dying. When I Learned The Truth, I Became Desperate To Keep It Secret.
The author on a moms’ night out. “This was just one of the ways I busied myself to avoid some of the hard feelings and anxieties I was dealing with,” she writes. Courtesy of Lauren Dunn If you know me, or see me on the street, I might appear to be carefree. That is a […]
I Was Given 6 Months To Live. I Made 1 Unexpected Decision That Helped Me Beat The Odds.
The author at Antelope Island in Utah, near the Great Salt Lake, in summer 2022. Courtesy of Jillian Meyer Photo On October 1, 2021, after having what I had thought was routine thyroid surgery, I was diagnosed with anaplastic thyroid cancer, a cancer so rare that none of my doctors had ever seen it before. […]
My Son’s Brain Tumor Was Benign. We Thought We Were In The Clear — But We Were Wrong.
The author’s son consulting with his doctor, Eugene Hwang, associate chief of oncology at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, during treatment in 2020. Courtesy of Adina Ciment I saw the mass on my son’s brain from the small booth in the CT room. It didn’t take much to realize that the golf-ball-sized circle on one […]
I Kept My Schizophrenia A Secret For 20 Years. Everything Changed When I Told A Friend.
The author today. Photo Courtesy of Rebecca Chamaa On a Thursday this past July, my husband and I drove to our county’s police academy training facility. A uniformed officer let us in. We were escorted through several hallways and into a conference room, where I was scheduled to speak representing our local National Alliance on […]
I Nearly Died From ‘Broken Heart Syndrome’ — And Here’s Why You Could Be At Risk, Too
The author and her husband on their honeymoon in 2017. Courtesy of Melisse Lombard “I hope you’re taking care of yourself.” That’s the line that’s been coming at me for years now –– across my texts, LinkedIn DMs and voicemails, across dinner tables and Slack messages, and haven’t-seen-you-in-forever emails. I know people mean well. I […]
I’m A Breast Cancer Survivor. I Was Slighted And Belittled Throughout My Treatment.
The author in the recovering room following her breast cancer surgery on March 28, 2023. Courtesy of Joy Jenkins I was scared as I approached the receptionist at my oncologists’ office. I had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer at age 56 after my annual mammogram. I didn’t know yet how bad things were. Was […]
My Doctor Missed My Postpartum Symptoms. I Started Treating Them Myself — And Got Addicted.
The author says many are still afraid to speak up about postpartum symptoms. Cooper Urlich I’m a recovering addict who published a memoir about my addiction to alcohol and pills earlier this year. A few weeks ago, I was being interviewed on a podcast and the host asked me when I thought I had become […]
Why You Shouldn’t Necessarily Freak Out About That Aspartame Research
The World Health Organization made a declaration Friday that surely came as a surprise to diet soda drinkers everywhere: Aspartame, a low-calorie sweetener found in many popular “diet” or “sugar free” drinks, could be carcinogenic to humans. An agency of WHO reported that aspartame is “possibly carcinogenic to humans” based on “limited evidence” that the […]
ACLU Sues DC For Police Response To Mental Health Crises
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on Thursday on behalf of a Washington, D.C., nonprofit alleging that the city’s reliance on police response in mental health emergencies is a violation of federal disability law. According to the lawsuit, the Washington police department routinely dispatches armed officers to respond to 911 calls involving mental […]
Here’s Why Your Wellness Routine Isn’t Complete Without An HIV Screening
The era of prioritizing self-care is here, and the importance of personal wellness has become more apparent than ever. While self-care looks different for everyone —from getting your steps in, to journaling, to practicing yoga—making choices that support your physical and mental well-being is key to helping you live a healthier life. Prioritizing your sexual […]