The Art of Survivorship

Last evening I was interviewed by Betsy de Parry on Lymphomation Live, a weekly webcast sponsored by Patients Against Lymphoma. In this show entitled "The Art of Survivorship," we discuss how knowledge, hope and action help people become Healthy Survivors. The information and advice are addressed to patients dealing with any medical challenge (not just cancer) who want to get good care and live as fully as possible.

The hour-long interview is available online by clicking here.  I hope it helps.  With hope, Wendy

Comments

[Betsy de Parry]

Dear Wendy,

My listeners are already writing to me that you are not only inspirational but offer sound and practical strategies that they can put into action to help them live more fully. Your webcast was truly a "mini-course" in how to achieve Healthy Survivorship, and I am honored that you shared your wisdom and time.

Betsy

[Wendy S. Harpham, M.D.]

Betsy, it was an honor and a privilege.

I'll continue the conversation on my blog, since I thought of more points and examples after our time ran out.

Keep up your good work!
With hope, Wendy

[Wei Chong]

Hi Wendy,

I read your blog, which led me to your books Happiness in a Storm and After Cancer (the later of which I'm going through). So your webcast w/Betsy was still another way to internalize the message, this time, actually hearing your voice. It is in voice that I can absorb such learnings in another media.

Some of your last words in the webcast hit home to me, "Life is good." A few weeks ago my family, relative and I were in the Yolo Wildlife region (just south of Sacramento CA), looking at the thousands of birds preparing for winter & migration. We stopped at a promising viewpoint near a marsh. The others went off to seek views of our avian friends. Another birder ambled to us, with scope & tripod on his shoulder. We asked him about what he saw, and about his equipment (I'm sorta a gearhead.).

I was about to leave, when he said if I hurried I could get glimpses of egrets or ibises. I replied that it was such a nice day, with the sun raking the marsh with warmth, I was just going to see what ever was there...I was happy. He shouted "Yes, Today is a good day to be alive."

In that one instant, both of us were connected, though going our separate ways. We both had tough times that we'd gone through, and were enjoying life for the moment it was. We didn't need to say anything else to each other.

Thanks for affirming in words what I experienced about Healthy Hope.

Wei

[Wendy S. Harpham, M.D.]

It is an honor, and my pleasure. With hope, Wendy

[Joanne]

I read your book, Happiness in a Storm, when I was being treated with R-CHOP for non-Hodgkins lymphoma. It helped immensely. Now that I'm getting Rituxan maintenance, I'm going through a lot of anxiety. Your comments on the podcast really helped me to understand why this is happening to me now. I don't trust my body anymore and am plagued by fears. I'm waiting to find out if a recent CAT scan found a nodule that an x-ray seemed to locate near my right lung. But I know that I will be able to deal with whatever happens and your stating, "It is what it is" keeps going through my mind. I won't celebrate having the scan done, but I surely will celebrate good results.

[Wendy S. Harpham, M.D.]

Dear Joanne,

Thanks for letting me know the book and podcast are helping. You might also want to look at AFTER CANCER. A GUIDE TO YOUR NEW LIFE, a book that focuses on recovery following completion of treatment.

And we'll celebrate good news with you! With hope, Wendy