Meet Mandy Harvey, an icon of Healthy Survivorship.

Against the odds, I’m still here. Some people tell me, “It’s because you had a purpose.”

After interviewing me and others, NYTimes health columnist Jane Brody wrote “I now fully understand that a successful life is…a life that rolls with the punches, adapts to changing circumstances, and makes the best of the here and now.” Exactly.

NYTimes health columnist Jane Brody interviewed me for a piece on what to say to someone with cancer. The criticisms in the comments section highlight the emotionality and contentiousness of this topic. They also encourage us to reflect on fundamental principles.

Screening tests sometimes scare me. No, not the discomforts. I’m used to needlesticks (ouch) and contrast (gag). Occasionally, I worry that the risks might not be worth the benefits. What’s a Healthy Survivor to do?

When dealing with medical challenges, New Year’s resolutions can help you become a Healthy Survivor. Firm decisions to do—or not do—something from now on helps motivate you to stick to a plan that challenges you in some way. (You don’t resolve to do things that come naturally, right?) Here’s the problem:

“I’m better.” What does that mean after completing treatment for cancer or other serious illness? It may mean something different than you think.

In the spirit of the winter holidays, I’m highlighting two marvelous children’s grief books. Loss during the season of light and joy is especially painful. You give a great gift when you help families with children who are trying to make sense of such loss.

Let’s explore how to support your loved ones with cancer or other medical challenge.

At our Thanksgiving table this year, each person will share three things for which they are grateful. Oh, no. What am I going to do? How do I choose only three things?

One sentence shouted out to me in an article about how an exercise regimen designed for astraunauts may help mitigate aftereffects in cancer survivors: "Cancer is the only major chronic disease condition in which a comparable countermeasures program is not an aspect of standard management."

What’s the right way for me to celebrate my cancerversary, the anniversary of the day life changed wattage from BC to AC (After Cancer)?

The epigraph of a children’s book caught my eye: Even during adversity, keep dreaming. My survivorship work focuses on healthy ways to deal with illness, one of which is to find reality-based hopes. Is there a place for dreaming in the pursuit of Healthy Survivorship?

Raising children while dealing with your (or your partner’s) illness presents great challenges. One of the first difficult tasks is telling your children.

If you have upsetting health news, how do you tell others? We’re not taught how to do this dreaded task. A few things to consider:

Feeling hopeless is not a good place to be--and never a good place to stay. So, what do you do if you feel hopeless?