July is just around the corner and that means it will be my birthday soon. I will be 35, and I say that with great pride because getting older in this uncertain world (i.e., living with an astrocytoma) means appreciating every day.

To me, 'without struggle there is no progress' totally applies to cancer. It captures us, and holds us hostage. And if we are lucky enough to be physically freed from cancer, and escape treatment intact, there are parts of us, at times, that are emotionally enslaved by cancer. I don't want to admit it--because it sounds embarrassingly weak--but I know I am, at times, enslaved.

It sounds pessimistic, but let's be real: even when you are moving on with your life and enjoying survivorship or remission, you still worry about cancer from time to time.

I no longer worry about getting cancer (HA!), however, I do want to improve my overall health--and maybe a cure lies within a lovable ball of fur.

National Brain Tumor Society recently sent an announcement that they will be discontinuing their Patient Line and Support Network to instead focus more on research and public policy. While I am bummed about the discontinuation of the patient support network (as I was one of the support peeps) I totally understand the decision made by the NBTS board of directors.

The HR people told me I should leave and go to the hospital to get checked out. But I couldn't... today was an important day because I had to go to the UC Davis AYA Cancer Advisory Board meeting. There was no way I was going to miss my first meeting. I didn't want to be a flake.

If he was really concerned about the health and safety of his co-workers he could have said he'd read an article about this thing called cigarettes and that they've been proven to cause lung cancer.

All the bad crap in your body comes out at some point or another, and it often leaves through your hair

It has been freeing to let loose a big secret that has defined my life over the past 2+ years. It is like I've come out of the cancer closet.