
NCCS Advocate Spotlight: Rachel Ferraris
Advocate Spotlight July 2021 | Rachel Ferraris Nearly all cancer survivors can reflect on their cancer journey and recall one specific moment – the low point. To be able to reflect on that moment is, of course, the real gift. It means you are a survivor. Reaching the light of ...

NCCS Elevate Ambassador Kimberly Richardson Drives Award-Winning SASEP Initiative
As lifelong Chicagoan Kimberly Richardson trained for the 2013 Chicago Marathon, the unusual lethargy she felt drove her into her doctor's office. Diagnosed with an ovarian cyst she was scheduled for a routine surgery to remove it. She woke from the surgery to a tap on her shoulder, "Kim, it's ...

Nancy Howe’s Cancerversary Keeps Her Moving
My #cancerversary®, October 16, 1997, was the day I reaffirmed how important it is to listen to my body – it was also the day I finished cancer treatment. My cancer care team told me that while my prognosis wasn’t great, I was in better shape than they expected. I ...

Advocating for Women Who Choose to Go Flat After Mastectomy
By Kim Bowles Founder Not Putting On a Shirt When I woke up from surgery and realized my surgeon had overridden my wishes, I was angry. I thought that because I had been clear with him, that I was safe. But as I began speaking with other women, I discovered ...

Health Care Roundup: “Surprise” Billing and ACA Updates; NCCS on Fear of Cancer Recurrence; Study on Long-Term Young Survivors; End-of-Life Care; More
How Should Patients Be Protected From “Surprise” Medical Bills? The Latest: Democratic and Republican House staffers met with Speaker Pelosi’s office to try to protect patients from getting large “surprise” medical bills. There was no breakthrough, according to The Hill. The Issue: Patients can receive extremely high medical bills during ...

Guest Post: I Must Advocate for Improved Quality of Life for Cancer Survivors
Guest Post by Virgie Townsend Advocate, Caregiver, and NCCS CPAT MemberI am the mother and caregiver for my son who was diagnosed with biphenotypic leukemia in March of 2011. Being there for my son gave me a first hand look at what cancer survivors go through. I think most of us ...

Guest Post: Mesothelioma Awareness and the Danger of Asbestos Exposure
Ten years ago, I was just another woman, wife, and mom-to-be. I was anxiously and happily awaiting the birth of my daughter when I began experiencing symptoms that seemed over the top for pregnancy. Just 3 ½ months after she was born, I found out the truth—that cancer had been ...