Mac Howard

For me, self-care was never a thought. I was so caught up in taking care of everyone around me that taking care of myself was relegated to having hot coffee...

Isolation is debilitating. Be it physical or emotional. Feeling like you are alone or the only one going through what you are going through is brutal. Being open about your...

November is Caregiver Appreciation Month. I am writing this on the first day of December. On November 8th, election day in America, my wife went to vote and pick up...

I am sure every parent had had those times when a child inserted more food in their mouth than they thought possible. When that happened at our table, the child...

On the 18th of October, I will submit to my annual cystectomy. I believe this will be my 16th yearly check-up. Last week, Thursday, I decided what I really needed...

Living with bladder cancer is no easy feat. One of the comments said, in part, "No man is comfortable hearing about this procedure." I was struck by how lonely this...

"It can feel embarrassing." Yes, yes, it can. Bladder cancer is ripe with embarrassing moments and trials. Let us take a look at just a few. A disclaimer before we...

The BladderCancer.net editorial team published an article on the community's views regarding a bladder cancer diagnosis and the struggles therein. The first point was that it (cancer) is always on...

The last two years have been really hard. We, as a people worldwide, have faced challenges we have never faced before. For those of us on the cancer spectrum, this...

You may have noticed a pattern if you have read some of my articles. I write about the mental health side of cancer and survival. I focus on well-being far...

People talk to me. They open up and unload their burdens. Because of this, I know many intimate details of random people I come across in my day-to-day comings and...

Markers - the milestones we use to measure our progression through life. Cancer is a big one. The diagnosis, the treatment discussions, and the weighing of the options. Even the...

I get up at 3:30 in the morning, six days a week to go to work. Friday, was no different. Get up, pack my lunch and get my coffee and...

Recently I had my annual scope. Everything was routine. The same paperwork - ensuring all of my personal information was up to date. Going over my insurance, dotting all the...

Mrs. had her mammogram this week. Thankfully all is well, and she is in fine health. For me, it was a bit more of an eye-opener and a chance to...

A young man reaches out to his mother and says, “I am suffering from some depression.” The father walks by catches the statement and says, “Your just weak-minded.” I hear...

I want to be transparent here. I want anyone reading these articles to see my truth and be able to relate as they can or need to. This is therapeutic...

(Spoiler alert: No skin cancer! Writer does long “happy dance.”) When last we left our faithful cancer fighter (me), I had just had a biopsy of a spot on my...

The extraction of my tooth had barely registered when the dentist leaned down and said, “Have you had that spot on your nose long?” Without waiting for a response, she...

Limits, boundaries, managed access, call it what you wish. This is a touchy subject, but it is a vital idea as you move along with any illness or condition that...