Real Cancer, Real Lives

Categorized | Cancer

Posted on 04 October 2005

Real Cancer, Real Lives is a blogging “Carnival” dedicated to increasing the awareness of all forms of cancer – not just this week’s cancer-cause du Jour – by showcasing how real people live with, battle, and ultimately come to terms with this life-changing disease.

My hope is that Real Cancer, Real Lives will bring together cancer bloggers of all stripes, be they patients, caregivers, or healthcare professionals, with an aim towards emphasizing the real-world experiences of those who live with the realities of cancer 24/7, day in and day out.

So how does it work?

Patients, caregivers & healthcare professionals are encouraged to submit blog posts detailing their real-life experiences with cancer – with honesty of emotion being valued above all else. While we have all been exposed to the miraculous feel-good cancer stories of people like Lance Armstrong, there are plenty of feel-bad cancer stories that need to be told, too – from the love/hate relationship with chemotherapy, to the paradoxical depression that often sets in with remission…my aim is to create a space where all cancer stories can be told, even the ones that no one likes to talk about.

General medical bloggers are welcome to participate too, by submitting appropriate articles about promising new cancer treatments, research, etc.

Every other week Real Cancer, Real Lives will be hosted at a different blog, and the hosting blogger will be free to choose which posts to include in his or her edition of the carnival. A list of submitted posts will be sent to the hosting blogger on Friday evening, with the goal of having that week’s edition posted by Sunday evening or Monday morning. For an example of what a typical carnival might look like, see the first edition of Real Cancer, Real Lives.

So why participate in Real Cancer, Real Lives?

It will give you an opportunity to be a part of a larger, thriving, cancer blogging community.
It will introduce you to wonderful new people with similar experiences.
It will help promote real awareness of what’s it’s like to live with cancer…not that fluff they show on TV.
It will be equal parts fun, enlightening, hair-raising, breath-taking and gut-wrenching. But that’s cancer for you.

How do I particpate in Real Cancer, Real Lives?

If you are interested in hosting Real Cancer, Real Lives on your blog, just email me.

If you would like to submit a post for inclusion in Real Cancer, Real Lives, please do so via the Carnival Submit Form. When submitting your blog entry, be sure that Real Cancer, Real Lives is selected in the menu space provided.

Past Editions of Real Cancer, Real Lives:

Past editions can now be found at our dedicated Archives Page.

Upcoming Editions of Real Cancer, Real Lives:

Real Cancer, Real Lives