Still Here

A Landing Place for Long-term Cancer Survivors

Who Am I?

Welcome! I’m so glad you found your way here. My name is Helen Landalf. I’m an author, a Pilates instructor, a dancer, a wife, a stepmom, a cat lover…

…and a cancer survivor.

Owning up to that last bit hasn’t always come easy. When I completed my final treatment for Stage IV Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at age 18, I vowed to put the whole cancer experience behind me and forget it ever happened. But, as many of you probably know, no matter how far behind cancer is in the rearview mirror, it still follows you. The harder I tried to deny my past, the more it impacted my life through issues like failed relationships, depression and anxiety, and an inability to express - or even feel - my emotions.

It wasn’t until I decided to embrace my identity as a cancer survivor that things began to turn around. Now at 68 (and 53 years cancer free!), I finally have a life I love that includes fulfilling work, opportunities for creative expression, and a joyful, loving relationship with a husband who is himself a cancer survivor.

Sharing my insights in this newsletter will be the next phase of this ongoing process of integrating my past into my present and proudly carrying it with me into the future.

Who are you?

But I don’t want “Still Here” to be all about me. Whether you’re a long-term cancer survivor, newly out of treatment, just starting your cancer journey, or supporting a loved one who has experienced cancer, I want this to be a landing place for you. A place where your stories matter, where your voice is valued and heard. In other words, a community.

What can you expect?

As a subscriber, you can expect this newsletter in your inbox twice a month. In each issue, I’ll explore topics such as:

• Our cancer stories

• Denial and silence

• Is there love after chemo?

• Survivor’s guilt

• Gratitude…and more

In addition to essay-style posts, content may include interviews with cancer survivors, writing prompts, and creative shares. The more interactive the better, please use the comments to let me know your ideas and get acquainted with one another.

A final word

The more full and diverse our community, the better we can support each other in navigating life after cancer. So please consider sharing this newsletter with anyone you think might be interested in subscribing. And once again, welcome!