The Day That Changed My Life - Reflections.........

We have received emails regarding the dates of our return to the stage. Although we have not confirmed any dates, we plan to return in 2012 and we will make the announcement here. We appreciate your supportive enthusiasm and we miss you too. In the meantime, we will continue to keep you updated with various journeys. Our hope is that you will find encouragement and inspiration through their journeys.

The Day That Changed My Life made its Off Broadway debut in the fall of 2010 to rave reviews. This unconventional Off Broadway experience takes the audience into the journeys of those whose lives have been touched by cancer.

While each journey is unique, we all share a common theme - cancer changes our lives forever.



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The Day That Changed My Life - Retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma is a cancerous tumor of the eye. Many people are unaware of the disease as most cancers are at the forefront in terms of raising awareness to fight the disease.

In honor of Retinoblastoma Awareness week, we focus on this rare cancer that affects the retina and is commonly diagnosed in children by ages 1-2. In the Off Broadway Play, The Day That Changed My Life shared the journey of parents whose child was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma. We will be focusing on the disease in depth as we want to be a part of bringing awareness to the disease. Although it is a rare form of cancer, for the parent whose child has the disease, it becomes an added challenge that at times can be painful to think of the child's future and what lies ahead.

Learn more about Retinoblastoma

Here's Gracie's Journey:

The Day That Changed My Life - Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal Cancer is a cancer of the esophagus. The esophagus is the muscular tube that moves the food from the mouth to the stomach. While the main goal is to remove the cancer through surgery, some treatments includes chemotherapy, radiation or a combination of both.

Keep in mind each journey is different and these features are not endorsements of any medical facility, physician or course of treatment. Our best effort is to give you hope as you listen to those who have faced the disease and survived:


Bart Frazzitta



Nick Koulouvaris shares his incredible journey:



Ken Papini

The Day That Changed My Life - The Real Deal

Early detection is very important - get screened. No family history? Get screened.

Check out Coralee's Journey:





In the final video, you may need to sign in to YouTube to view as Coralee shares the reality of her mastectomy.

The Day That Changed My Life - Depression

The truth is receiving a cancer diagnosis can be quite depressing. It is the initial phase that many people go through. Well, it is really about the uncertainty of the outcome. While some people find that they can get pass the depression and focus on getting better, there are those who are overwhelmed with fear. Listen to Dr. Michelle Riva Director of the PsychOncology program at the University of Michigan Health System and patient Bill Howe discuss depression - his journey:



Mental health is a major part of dealing with any illness. If you or someone you love has is going through a state of depression, we encourage you to seek counseling with a support group, discuss with your oncologist, speak to the social worker, your religious leader or call a cancer support line. Do not try to face it alone, there is nothing wrong with reaching out for help.

National Cancer Institute offers assistance to locate the support services within your area. You may contact through a live online chat session or you may call them at 1-800-4-CANCER 1-800(422-6237).

CancerCare offers online, telephone and face-to-face support groups that connect you with other people who are in a similar situation. To learn more about support groups, please call at 1-800-813-4673 or email info@cancercare.org.

The Day That Changed My Life - Faith

This week while doing my research on Faith and Cancer, I found an interesting article regarding a young pastor who is the leader of a mega-church in Flower Mound, Texas. What I found most fascinating was his approach to the diagnosis. It all began on Thanksgiving morning 2009, a day where families unite and share a day of giving thanks for all of their blessings. It was a normal morning for Matt Chandler. He woke up, got a cup of coffee, fed his six month old baby, burped her, placed her in the bouncy seat - then everything after that went blank. He had a violent seizure and was rushed to the hospital where he was diagnosed with Anaplastic oligodendroglioma, a malignant brain tumor.

Have you ever wondered how a pastor would handle being diagnosed with cancer? Would he still have the same strong convictions of his faith in the word and the God that he serves? Here you will see a few videos that will expose you to his journey. Will there be biblical references? Yes of course, but even more so he is open and clear with his journey. Let's follow this journey:







End of Year Report!


The journey is never easy. Each person has their own way of traveling through this rough path. Some rely on faith, some share their love for life while others may reach into their fierce spirit of fighting to survive to sustain them. If you or someone you know would love to share your journey with us please feel free to send it to info@thedaythatchangedmylife.org

The Day That Changed My Life - Cancer & Pregnancy

The excitement of having a baby comes with it's own share of anxieties, hoping for a smooth pregnancy, safe delivery and a healthy baby. So the last thing anyone expects to hear is "you also have cancer." Each journey shared is different with ages/stages of life, yet the common theme shared is that there is still hope.

Crying, crazy thoughts, decisions, crippling fears, overwhelmed, depressed, uncertainty and so much more........ Normal emotions.

Anya Silver was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer, an uncommon and particularly aggressive type of cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, inflammatory breast cancer accounts for 1 to 5 percent of all breast cancer cases in the United States. It tends to be diagnosed in younger women compared to non-IBC breast cancer. It occurs more frequently and at a younger age in African Americans than in Whites. Like other types of breast cancer, IBC can occur in men, but usually at an older age than in women. The symptoms include, redness, swelling, and warmth in the breast, often without a distinct lump in the breast. The redness and warmth are caused by cancer cells blocking the lymph vessels in the skin. The skin of the breast may also appear pink, reddish purple, or bruised.

Listen to Anya's journey:



Here's forty something year old Joan Dymand-Hintz's journey:



Lisa Peterson Bender & Ryan Bender share how the diagnosis affected their lives - their journey:

We're praying for a safe delivery for the Benders whose due date is on March 17th!!!

The Day That Changed My Life - 10 Tips for Survivors

Kris Carr survivor and author offers some really great tips to assist you through your cancer journey. Ms. Carr has not taken her journey lightly but instead she took charge of her cancer diagnosis which is a rare tumor Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE). While it can be found in any tissue, it is most often found in the lung and liver.

What's even more incredible, Ms. Carr shared her journey in a documentary Crazy Sexy Cancer which she directed, starred and was shown on The Learning Channel (TLC). She is also a New York Times best seller whose books Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips, Crazy Sexy Cancer Survivor and most recently Crazy Sexy Diet.

In this video, a radiant Kris Carr shares insightful tips that worked for her and may just be right for you:



There is so much more to learn about Ms. Carr and her journey She is truly inspirational!

The Day That Changed My Life - Ovarian Cancer

Consider this.......

When someone is diagnosed with cancer there are some things that they immediately think of:
*Survival
*Family
*Relationships (spouse,Fiancée,boyfriend,partner,girlfriend)
*Friendships
*Lifestyle (health, hair, career/work, social)

Elana Waldman is facing ovarian cancer - again. Ovarian cancer begins in the ovaries and is difficult to detect/diagnose as the symptoms are linked to other non life threatening health related illnesses:

*Abnormal menstrual cycle
*Bloating
*Constipation
*Indigestion
*No appetite
*Nausea or vomiting
*Increased gas
*Heaviness in Pelvic area
*Swollen abdomen or belly
*Vaginal bleeding
*Discomfort in abdominal area
*Weight gain or weight loss
*Pain in the back that appears without reason while pain increases
*Increased/Urgent need to urinate
*Excessive hair growth
*Feeling full quickly
*Difficulty eating

If you experience any of these symptoms for more than a few weeks, put your doctor on alert. Let your concerns be heard early detection may save your life. In most cases, by the time ovarian cancer is diagnosed, it may be very difficult to treat successfully. How can you make a difference? Take a moment...

The Day That Changed My Life - The Age Factor

In sharing more journeys of survivors, we found Stephanie LaRue's heart warming story. Ms. LaRue discusses how her age played a role in dismissing the reality of her diagnosis which our director would declare "critical." Her journey shows how she became the spokesperson for young women through her advocacy and sharing her journey with everyone all the way to Washington reaching out to congress.
Her journey reminds us to be vigilant - follow through when your body sends you signals.

The Day That Changed My Life - His Journey

The Day That Changed My Life is an exploration into the lives of those who have been touched by cancer. While millions face cancer privately, every now and then we learn of a famous person which unites us to face the disease in a public and hopeful way. We were all moved by the news of actor Michael Douglas's diagnosis of throat cancer. What was even more frightening was the term used, stage IV which in most cancer cases generally means - the end is near. However, Mr. Douglas vowed to give it his best shot to beat the disease and we privately prayed and cheered him on. In this interview, the Oscar winner shares his journey:

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We remain optimistic and prayerful for Mr. Douglas as his journey continues..........