I discovered that Living Proof's co-founder, Mary Ellen Cunningham, has nerves of steel and a strength underneath her gentle smile. Mary Ellen and I met in 2010 at the Quad City Breast Cancer Support Group. I found out that she had some of her art in a local show. I'd been using art as therapy during my cancer treatments so I bounced up to her and suggested we find out if other survivors were artists. Could we put on a show of their work? Not only did Mary Ellen not run a

When I was diagnosed with cancer, I had several people tell me that I should keep a journal. They said that it would help me to express my feelings, both good and bad, and would be therapeutic. I wasn’t surprised by their suggestion, after all, I was writer. I had spent several years creating clever copy for commercials, heartfelt narrative for fundraising videos and promotions and had even written and published a few plays and short stories. I taught my love of the written w

When I had my breast cancer surgery in 2008, my lymph nodes were removed, too. My doctors gave me information on lymphedema, but since I was undergoing chemotherapy and radiation, I didn’t think much of it except to purchase a “no medical procedures this arm” bracelet and to wear a compression sleeve when I flew. That all changed four months ago when I began renovations on my new house. My arm, hand, neck, and shoulder blew up. I immediately went to the local lymphedema clini