Actress and director Angelina Jolie has experienced a great amount of support around her decision to have a double mastectomy to prevent her 87% chance of developing breast cancer. Jolie’s mother died at the age of 56 after fighting breast cancer for 10 years. Jolie, age 37, possesses the BRCA-1 (breast cancer) gene and her doctors estimated that she had an 87% chance of developing breast cancer and a 50% chance of developing ovarian cancer. 

On April 27, Jolie finished the...

I’m Kate, known on WhatNext as KateMarie. Because of some problems I experienced for years I had a total abdominal hysterectomy on 2/5/13. On 2/11/13 while in my gynecologist’s office for a post-surgery exam, she informed me that the pathology report showed I had Stage 1 Endometrioid Adenocarcinoma.

Surprise! After consulting a gynecological oncologist, I had a laparoscopic bilateral pelvic para aortic lymph node dissection on 4/15/13, along with a needed laparoscopic umbilical hernia...

In the whirlwind of emotions that come with hearing you are diagnosed with cancer, anger is a common emotion. People with cancer may experience anger with their caregivers, doctors, loved ones, or with themselves.Here are 10 feelings of anger that WhatNexter’s have experienced and some of their solutions to dealing with each source of anger.

1. When you feel angry because your loved ones don’t “get it”...
- Cancer may feel very isolating; it is likely that your family or loved ones will not...

In honor of National Women’s Health Week (May 12-18), there are five things that all women may want to know about cancer awareness and cancer prevention. The most important things include when to get a mammogram and when to get a pap smear, how to prevent skin cancer, to quit smoking, and to make a few lifestyle adjustments to maintain overall health.

1. Mammograms
A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast that is used to detect breast cancer. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer...

Enemy Attack
Early in 1987, I grew extremely fatigued. Then one morning in May, I was shaving and noticed a lump protruding on right side of my neck. 

Glen and Debbie

My doctor ordered chest x-ray and biopsy of the lump. Results were in: lymph node was malignant. Helplessness, confusion and fear overcame Debbie and I. Soon after I had diagnostic surgery called Stanford Staging Laparotomy. Diagnosis: stage 3a Hodgkin’s disease. After my release from the hospital my physician told us, “...

As May is Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month there are five things you may want to know about melanoma.

Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer that can be dangerous if it is not found early, many clinical trials are offered for melanoma patients, there is about a 90% survival rate for people with all stages of melanoma to live without the disease for at least 5 or 10 years, and that there are a few things you can do that may help protect your skin from skin cancer....

Carol came out of her ultrasound. She hadn’t seen the results yet, but she knew. She got in the car with Tom, her devoted husband of 30 years, and on the way to speak with her doctor said, “Tom, I have ovarian cancer.” He told her not to be ridiculous, that she was jumping to conclusions. She sat there calmly. Later her doctor came into the room holding back her own tears and said, “You know, don’t you?” Carol replied, “Of course I know.”

Carol

Carol was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian...

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 and being a massage therapist myself, I already knew of the wonderful benefits massage therapy offers for helping with every day aches and pains and stress relief. I was yet to learn how incredibly wonderful it would be to help get me through breast cancer!

Marnie Clark, Breast Cancer Survivor

My own massage therapist was also my best friend, so she already knew everything I was going through. I was so fortunate to have her nearby to help me...

Reel Recovery is a national non-profit organization that holds free fly-fishing retreats for men recovering from all forms of cancer with a mission to provide support through the healing powers of nature, sport, and close interaction with others who have similar journeys.

Jimmy Blunt with his first big catch of the day!

 Reel Recovery provides a safe and reflective environment, expert fly-fishing instruction, and information on cancer resources. The retreats facilitate networking,...

Our WhatNexter of the Week this week is AlizaMLS. She is a Breast Cancer Survivor and a very helpful part of WhatNext. We asked for a little about her journey and why she is here on WhatNext and this is what she had to say.

I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer Stage I in August 2012, & underwent a mastectomy in December. To make matters worse I’m a Lupus patient.

After the shock, I went into Medical Librarian mode & researched and chose Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center with the...