Volume No. I - Features

At the Survivor's Review, we strive to publish a variety of voices, perspectives and themes. Initially, we attempted to group our features so readers could more easily select pieces according to their interests. However, we found it difficult, if not impossible, to categorize our features.

Carol, for example, expresses the ambivalent relationship she has with her scar. Shirley discusses feeling better, but also touches on her ambivalence during recovery, as she walks "a path between joyfulness and fear, gratitude and trauma."

In "Wigged Out," Lynda unearths humor in a number of challenging situations while engaging us with the possibility of finding new love during illness.

Candice speaks of the variable moods and the grieving that accompany surgery; while Sally Jean finds beauty in the mirror after the bandages are removed.

In "The Old Man and the Sea," Sheree is overcome by fear, intense sadness and a touch of neurosis during her state-of-the-art biopsy.

Next, Laura shares both fear and love while waiting for a second pathology report. Karen expresses her anger over a shell she received as a prompt to spark her muse. And Carolyn's "Dispatch from a Dark Place" describes how her cancer diagnosis and the events of 9/11 are inexorably linked.

In "Red" Marcia writes of the bold, joyful experience of her first holiday after surgery. And Trice finds the strength to attack her cancer head-on.

Phyllis delves into her heritage and the benefits of denial, while Susie discusses her personal experience with the word "STOP," and its connection to cancer.

Joan creates a world in "Wild Card," that explores randomness, fate and cancer. And Nancy reveals the moment she first felt like a survivor.

We hope you will understand why we abandoned our attempt to categorize these pieces, and that you will appreciate them in their complexity and honesty.

If a particular piece stays with you we'd like to know. Please click here to submit your comments.

Volume No. II - Features

The response to the inaugural issue of the Survivor's Review has been terrific. Our readership is growing exponentially and we have received far more submissions than we expected -- from survivors all over the country! We applaud each of you for digging deep and giving voice to your experience, and we wish for all of you continued health and healing through your writing.

As always, we strive to publish a variety of voices, styles, perspectives and themes.

In our first issue of 2007, we'll present "Diagnosis," by Ann, who uses the metaphor of an oncoming train to describe the shock she felt upon learning she had cancer. Charlotte describes the evolution of "The C-word." from "crying" to "cured." Virginia reaches out to a newly diagnosed woman in "Sister." And in "The Calf," Christopher considers the cycle of life while waiting for his wife's pathology report.

Also featured are two poignant pieces written by family members who have lost loved ones to cancer: Anne's "Theology of a Pediatric Cancer Patient," and Martin's "Exposed." We found raw honesty in their expressions is at once humbling and inspiring.

In "The Titanic," Elizabeth speaks of learning to know when to push through obstacles and when to let go. Karen's "The Club" examines the conflict between living every day to the fullest versus returning to normalcy.

Leslie explores her need for temporary escape from her son's illness in "Tethered." And Ric, who continues to wage his own battle against metastatic prostate cancer shares the poem, "A Word For Survival," penned in dedication to another.

In "Daffodils and Me," Ruth writes of her cancer as it relates to her students and the changing seasons, and Maureen shares an epiphany about what is and isn't relative in "Relativity and Human Relations."

Rebecca explores cancer's unanswerables in "750 Words about Cancer," while Marsha writes of learning to live with the unknown in "Stark." Sheree attempts to cover all of her bases in "Just in Case."

We hope these features touch your soul as much as they have ours, and that they inspire you on your journey of writing and healing.

Volume No. III - Features

Once again, we have received many wonderful submissions from survivors across the country. The variety of perspectives, voices, styles and themes that are included in this issue clearly illustrates how anger, gratitude, mourning, love, fear and strength can be expressed in an infinite number of creative ways. We would like to thank all of those individuals who have submitted to us. We would also like to encourage all readers to write. And remember to write for yourself. The decision to share or not should come later.

We wish for all of you continued health and healing through your writing.

In this issue, we present "Helping Hands," by Mara, a two-time breast cancer survivor and poster child for early detection with enough gratitude to fill an ocean. And John tells us his fascinating story through the innocent eyes of a twelve year-old boy in "The Sixth Grade and the Big C."

In "Do You Love an Apple?" Lori captures a moment of intense love and fear four days before her surgery. And, from her adversity, Virginia refines her scope and emerges much stronger in "Survivor."

Dianne tells the story of how her new arrival appeared at just the right time in "My First Grandbaby." And Sheree finds an oasis of calm in a crowded cantina in "The Search for Equanimity."

In "Cancer and Cigarettes," Brian presents a candid and humorous observation of the "cancer conversations." And Alison Timmons mines her experience for a list to which many of us can relate in "To Say or Not to Say." Karen Jandorf compares treatment options to a fast-food menu in "Diagnosis."

Ann shares the many hues of her experience in "26 Colors of White," and Mary Jo's spirit perseveres despite unrelenting forces in "Oceans of Chemo.". In "The Process of Living," Marylyn describes an epiphany that occurred during a lonely moment in the x-ray room.

In "Melanoma," Beebe describes the feeling of a hanging diagnosis in an oblivious world. In "They Called her 'Lukie'," Delores remembers a remarkable woman whose spirit was contaminated by cancer, until it was set free.

And Jane describes how her cancer experience propelled her through a momentous journey in "To the Top of Half Dome and the World."

Volume No. IV - Features

We want to thank each individual who has recently submitted his or her work to the Survivor's Review. Our readership is increasing exponentially both in the U.S. and abroad, which speaks to the universality of the importance of creative expression for healing. However, it was particularly challenging to select fifteen stories, essays and poems from the increasing pool of heartfelt, powerful prose. Please continue writing and thank you all for considering the Survivor's Review.

In this issue, William writes of a tender moment of disclosure between sisters in "The Taste of Water." In "Cancer Prayer," Michael captures the intensity of each fervent hope. In "Wish," Ali explores the foremost desire in the minds and hearts of so many.

What does perfection matter in the face of cancer? Krystyna begs the question in her piece, "Perfect in Every Way." At 21 years-old, Jamie was diagnosed with Leukemia. "Jamie's Journal" brings us face-to-face with the challenges thrust upon her. And Carol speaks of the difficulties inherent in both passing and keeping the cards in "Recombinant Hearts."

Kim paints a vivid picture of her treatment in "Daily Radiation." And Julio writes of his unexpected introduction and continuing relationship with cancer in "Me, A Cancer Survivor?"

Lea's poem, "Vigil," is crafted from the perspective of a loving observer. In "Survivor to Thriver," LauraLynn describes her shift in both perspective and direction. And Lois gives voice to her most personal thoughts and complicated feelings in "Taking Care of You and Me."

Maria wrote the poem, "Post-Cancer," when her hips couldn't sway due to surgery, yet she felt the joy of dance. V. Jane's piece, "Margins," illustrates her conflict between loss of body and peace of mind. And Sheree reveals her hidden fears in "My Secret."

We hope these features touch your soul as much as they have ours, and that they inspire you on your journey of writing and healing.

Volume No. V - Features

We are pleased to offer our readers fifteen new features, and a new Guest Contributor Column presenting the work of author and educator, Barbara Abercrombie.

In this season of celebration and Thanksgiving, several of our contributors share stories and poems inspired by their mothers' cancer journeys. Read about these enduring lessons in Katy's "Mastectomy," Christina's "Indian Pudding," and John's "My Mother's Optimism."

The lessons continue from Michael's wife in "Teacher of Grace," and from Rebecca's beloved friend, in "Special Relativity."

Jeanne pays homage to the caregiver in her piece, "In Hospice." Ric speaks of a profound change in perspective in "POOR DEVIL!" And Marylyn explores the real meaning of graduation day in "Five Years Later..."

In "Cancer as Fire," Joan explores her cancer journey with the San Diego wildfires as her backdrop. Heather writes of experiences all-too-familiar among survivors in "Waiting." And Colleen explores a child's conflicting feelings in "A Child Meets Melanoma."

Laura shares a poignant scene with a friend in "Car Ride." And Paula recalls a less complicated time in "First Love."

Last, but not least, in "The Exchange," Candice describes the unexpected gift of learning to receive. And Sheree writes of points A and B along the challenging road to "Acceptance."

We hope these works inspire you on your journey.

Volume No. VI - Features

Volume No. VII - Features

Dear Readers:

I hope you have been finding time to relax and enjoy some of the freedoms unique to summer. A treasured time for many, this season can also be a challenge for those dealing with acute or chronic illness. I have powerful memories of struggling to be there (emotionally and physically) for my children's swim meets and reunions with family while undergoing a demanding schedule of surgeries, scans and chemo sessions.

In this issue, you will find several pieces contributed by those whose treatments continue far beyond a season or two, including Ellen, who candidly describes her strong feelings about the word "survivor." With Ellen's permission, I share her note with you:

I wholeheartedly agree that "survivor" is not a one-size-fits-all word. We at the Survivor's Review use the term in the broadest sense, as our mission is to encourage anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer to use writing as a tool for expression. I would like to thank Ellen and all of those who wrote on the topic. I hope our readers find these widely varying perspectives as enlightening as I have. Consider Deborah, who, although living with metastatic disease, embraces the "S" word in all of its manifestations in We Are All Survivors of Something." Alternatively, Sandy, while not condemning "survivor," expresses a distinct ambivalence in, "Am I A Survivor?"

You will also hear from Lucy and Kelly, who speak not of semantics, but of their challenges and choices in "A Blessing," and "Living With Hope," respectively.

Medb expands on what might otherwise be a routine radiation appointment in "This Breast," while Jan paints us a picture of the rich decade she was told she wouldn't have in "Ten Years."

Blossoms figure prominently in the work submitted by three caregivers, including Melinda's poem, "As If," Grace's story, "How We Wait Through Winter," and Cara's piece, "The Dogwood Tree."

Michael shares bursts of impressions during a visit with a loved one in "Quiet Hours Passing," and Shawn expresses her struggle helping her best friend in "Remission."

Yoga instructor, Roberta, describes an awesome afternoon in Harlem in her story, "When do Black, White and Latina Women Wear the Same Hairstyle?" And Joanne grapples with a nagging question through the eyes of her childhood self in "My Mother's Gift."

In "Sidelined" Sheree describes how a recent injury led to changes in her post-cancer routine, and Bonnie takes a refreshingly whimsical turn in "Hymn to a Lost Breast."

We hope you enjoy this issue. Please forward our link to anyone you think might benefit from sharing in the Survivor's Review.

Sincerely,

Sheree Kirby
Editor, www.survivorsreview.org

Volume No. VIII - Features

Dear Readers,

With the holidays upon us I find myself in the midst of mixed feelings -- again. While I especially look forward to decorating and baking treats with my girls, listening to collections of holiday music and reuniting with family members, I can't seem to shake my occasional bouts of melancholy. Often I'm remembering happy times spent with loved ones who are no longer here. It's odd how the pain of profound loss manages to snake its way into some of our most joyful moments. Or maybe it's normal. A balancing act, of sorts. Or, at the very least, it's a reminder to squeeze every last drop of pleasure from the time we share with those we love.

May your holidays and New Year be rich with the love of friends and family.

Sincerely,

Sheree Kirby
Editor, www.survivorsreview.org

In this issue, we are pleased to present the work of fifteen contributors, each of whom has found his or her unique way of expressing what it means to be a cancer survivor or caregiver.

Jessica writes of a decision more clear to her than to any of her physicians in Take Them Both! Xochitl-Julisa expresses gratitude to her mother in Lioness. And Chella gives voice to her fears of recurrence in Tonight Listening.

In Are They Real? Virginia explores the difference between real and authentic for herself and her daughter. And in Are They Real? Part II, Eve provides a child's perspective with some helpful suggestions for her peers.

Trudy takes us along for her biopsy in Watering Toes. William compares his journey to his father's in Along this Road. And Kyle questions which is better in Rogue Wave.

Both Jan and Marilyn have strong feelings about pink ribbons, as expressed in October Again and A Darker Shade of Pink.

Amy writes of learning to trust her inner voice in Dark Victory. Judith finds a new physical outlet and more in Racing the Dragon. And Johanna shares her dreams and fears in Cancer.

Ruth and Sheree take stock in Soul Search and Five Years Later.

Please keep writing and reading. And do let us know what you think!

Volume No. IX - Features

Dear Readers,

In this issue, we are pleased to present our guest contributor, Karen Jandorf, writing workshop facilitator at Breast Cancer Connections, a non-profit health foundation in Palo Alto, California. Although Karen works primarily with women facing breast cancer, many of her insights and suggestions for healing through writing are amenable to anyone who has received a diagnosis regardless of cancer type. Please read her column to jump start your writing. As she says, anything can be a prompt...

We also have fifteen contributions to share from writers all over the country. In Tuesdays at Ten, Hal offers a unique perspective on a routine treatment appointment. Ali writes of a most memorable holiday in Hospital Thanksgiving. And Cecilia enlightens those in her world about the necessity of a well-earned break from it all in To Whom It May Concern.

Cara chronicles the few moments when everything changes in Metamorphosis. In Catch and Release, Chris explores one of the lessons learned on his cancer journey. David draws a poignant metaphore in Cancer Cinquain. And Paola shares her determination in the face of scars and labels in Yearning.

In My Days of Wine for Breakfast, Joan shares a glimpse of her time as caregiver to her mother. Susanna speaks of experiencing pleasure in the face of hardship in Joys and Sufferings. Julie ponders her personal definition in Survivor? An anonymous author breathes life into a link between past and present in Comfort. And in Cancer Woman Rising, C.A. traces the path of woman as Phoenix.

Anne draws an intriguing connection between personal and world events in How This All Began. In Debby's Birthday-Year One, Marissa yearns for something mortal with her mother. And Sheree writes of a woman humbled by life in Roadmap.

We are very grateful for all of our generous contributors and readers. We wish you all continued healing through your writing.

Most sincerely,

Sheree Kirby
Editor, www.survivorsreview.org

Volume No. X - Features

Dear Readers,

We are pleased to present our first guest contributor of 2010 - inspiring author, blogger and speaker, Laurie Kingston. At thirty-nine, Laurie, the mother of two young children, was diagnosed with breast cancer. One of the ways she dealt with her disease was to create a blog and write. Ten months later, when she was told that her cancer had metastasized to her liver, she continued writing publicly, although her prognosis had changed dramatically. Then, when she responded to treatment so well that her scans no longer detected cancer, she continued writing, with the understanding that she would likely be in treatment the rest of her life. Although some of Laurie's days are better than others, she remains hopeful for the future and very thankful that she has been able to write about the present. Her story and some of her favorite writing prompts can be accessed by clicking the "Write Now!" tab to the left.

For this issue, we also received many wonderful submissions from survivors and caregivers, and made the difficult choice of fifteen to share with our readers. As always we try to include a variety of topics, perspectives and styles. In Snow Blind, William writes of an awkward conversation and a choice. Wanda takes us behind the closed doors of a post-treatment counseling session in Therapy. Derek writes of an attempt at enjoyment in the midst of a difficult prognosis in We Are These Blue Hills.

In Life After, Elizabeth explores efforts to live fully in the face of uncertainty. Lucy shares lessons learned on a cancer journey in Tempus Fugit. Nancy writes of what is gained from loss in Subtraction Adds. In The Shame of It, Leila recounts regrets surrounding a child's cancer recurrence. And in Treatment, Charlie reflects on the disparity between discussing death in hypothetical terms and confronting it in one's own life.

Nanette writes a letter of love and understanding in Dearest Son. Thelma explains how good bedside manner elevates medical care to an art in A Tale of Two Doctors. In Waiting, Christine offers a unique perspective on a common theme among survivors.

In Scar Terry explores the real meaning of the "masterpiece of surgeon's skill." Patricia writes of holiday reminiscences during surgery and diagnosis in Christmas Forgotten. Diana takes us on an emotional journey to diagnosis in Journaling My Biopsy. And Jan recalls a different journey with her sibling in A Last Path.

Thank you for reading. We wish for you continued healing through your own writing.

Most sincerely,

Sheree Kirby
Editor, www.survivorsreview.org

Volume No. XI - Features

Dear Readers,

For this issue, we received a tremendous number of submissions from survivors, caregivers, and friends expressing their grief, sadness, frustration and the depth of their love through deeply passionate stories, essays and poems. While I hesitate to categorize any particular issue, I have to say that in this one, the theme of loss resonates particularly strongly.

Many writers shared with us their fear of loss, such as Fran in Mommy doesn't have Cancer Anymore, and Victoria in One Week Later. Others wrote of loved ones fighting against overwhelming odds, as did Christine in The Lover's Timeline, Susie in I Missed You and Sheree in Heart of the Neighborhood. Several writers attempted to come to come to terms with the loss of family members, such as Loukia in In the Barn, and Sami in I Called to Ask My Mother.

Other submissions came from those who share a unique aspect of diagnosis or treatment, such as William in Visiting and Judith in December.

In an excerpt from her memoir, Hassidic Love Story, Leah writes of her desire for a major life change, and Lillian shares her conflicted feelings as caregiver in Letting Go. Iain and Loree explore similarities between their cancers and natural disasters in Two Storms and My Earthquake and Aftermath, respectively.

Rosalie expands her definition of what it means to be lucky in On Hearing the News of a Cancer Recurrence. Stacy reconnects with an old friend in Bosom Friends. And Wendy explores roles played out in The First Law of Thermodynamics.

Thank you for reading these heartfelt works. We wish for you continued healing through your own writing.

Most sincerely,

Sheree Kirby
Editor, www.survivorsreview.org

Volume No. XII - Features

Dear Readers,

In this issue of the Survivor's Review we are very pleased to bring you fifteen new stories, essays and poems and our Write Now! column with inspiration from Karin Miller, Writer and Editor of The Cancer Poetry Project.

Recently, we've received a large number of submissions about friends of all kinds. In The Woman in My Closet, Ann writes of a unique friend to whom she is finally ready to say "goodbye." Carol talks of the bonds formed with those who walk in Relay for Life 2010. Friends talk of love and cancer in Hal's Stage Zero. In Mirror Image, Juliet writes of a friendly face at a party she attended after her cancer surgery.

In Hidden Mike Linda shares a sister's love. A new cancer diagnosis evokes memories of a beloved grandmother in Teresa's Two Radical Mastectomies. Don shares the importance of a loved one's memories in Penny Candy. And Mary P. writes of a family's appreciation of blessings in Thanksgiving Journeys.

Frances writes of her deadly battle in Midsummer Murders. Painful memories are evoked at the beach in Jan's Canary Islands. And Mary K. shares her feelings about her husband's cancer diagnosis in Feel Like Crying? Pinch Your Nose.

In Awake, Vicki explores many meanings of the word. And Shawn affirms a woman's choice for life in Pink Ribbons.

Linda considers music and its healing powers in Music Therapy. And Eric shares lyrics and music of love and friendship in Blossoms of Hope.

Thank you for reading these heartfelt works. Please forward our link to anyone you think might benefit from sharing in the Survivor's Review.

Most sincerely,

Sheree Kirby
Editor, www.survivorsreview.org