Category: Alexa loves AYA’s

Alexa Loves AYA’s: Everything Is Alright

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Hello again my dear friend! I wasn’t sure exactly sure what our song selection would be, but I noticed a pattern.

Many of you had a difficult week.

From pain flares, financial issues, medication side effects, family/friend drama, a bad scan, loss of a pet (including myself), problems with work, fatigue, poor sleep, anxiety, depression, goodness gracious it’s been rough!

I remembered this song from the mid-2000’s and felt it was a good fit. Our song dedication tonight is Everything Is Alright by Motion City Soundtrack.

If you listen to the song, you hear about a person who is going through a lot and struggling. But you also see the self-convincing pep talks and reassuring that “everything is fine!” to others.

It’s okay if everything isn’t quite fine.

It’s important to me that you know I saw all your struggles this week , regardless of what they were. They are valid. You don’t need to tell me (or anyone else) that is everything’s fine. There are many days in our lives. Good ones, bad ones, and even the long boring ones. As this week comes to a close, I am hoping for a week filled with good ones for us all. I want to leave you with this thought:

Be gentle with yourself, you are doing the best you can.

I love you, remember that.

Thanks for tuning in to this edition of Alexa Loves AYA’s and spending part of your evening with me. Feel free to send a link or tag on social media if a loved one needs to hear this. I look forward to dedicating another song to you and expressing my more of heart next week! I can’t wait to visit with you again, dear friend.

Alexa Loves AYA’s: Like We Belong

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Hey dear friend, I’m back! I’m sure you heard I was at the first ever Global Virtual Cancer Conference last Saturday. I had so much fun watching the conference at home and later being on the panel of a session called “So, You’ve Got The Good Cancer?” We talked all about the myths struggles of having a so called “good cancer” with plenty of jokes and laughs.

Missed GVCC 19? You can still attend! All sessions, booths, and clinical trial fairs will be online for 60 days after the conference. Go to gvcc19.com ! To view my session go to “Auditorium”, click the auditorium screen, click the “Live” tab, scroll down until you find our session (you will see the title, my picture and name) and click “Play” at the right hand corner.

With that in mind, I have chosen Like We Belong by Gawvi as our song dedication tonight!

Do you truly believe that your experience matters? Are you more intimidated to share your story next to more “famous” people in our community?

I want to shout something from the rooftops!

Celebrity has no room in advocacy or our community.

Don’t get mistaken, I am not referring to humble successful advocates or highly visible people who serve, they help so much! Not to mention they would tell you the exact same thing, they started off small too, after all. I love many of these folks. “Celebrity” is something else entirely, and you can usually tell. They don’t want to engage, they just want followers. They want perks, not work. Celebrity has ego, and they don’t want competition. They have friends (who are more like fans) that may even attack up-and-comers because they like the benefits they receive by association. Some groups might even be unwelcoming, forgetting that they were once outcasts before they found their friends.

Ignore these people, it’s just noise. I want to assure you that there is not only more than enough room for you, but we need you. We need your experience. Common cancer? So what! You had your own path. Rare disease? Absolutely!

Everyone’s experience matters, and that doesn’t come with an asterisk. That means EVERYONE’S!

We belong here, we belong TOGETHER!

You belong here. And if someone tells you otherwise, tell them Alexa has your back.

Thanks for tuning in to this edition of Alexa Loves AYA’s and spending part of your evening with me. Feel free to send a link or tag on social media if a loved one needs to hear this. I look forward to dedicating another song to you and expressing my more of heart next week! I can’t wait to visit with you again, dear friend.

Alexa Loves AYA’s: She’s Not Just A Pretty Face

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You already know what time of the week it is. That’s right, It’s Alexa Loves AYA’s time!

As September comes to a close and we welcome October in, I have a few thoughts to share with you. September is an awareness month to so many important cancers! Childhood Cancer, Leukemia/Lymphoma, Gynecological Cancer (Cervical, Vaginal, Uterine/Endometrial, and Vulvar cancer), Ovarian Cancer, Prostate Cancer, and of course Thyroid Cancer.

ALL OF THESE MATTER! I’ve been so disappointed to see several retailers (large and small) jumping the gun on Breast Cancer awareness month (which is in October, of course) to make a profit without actually making a difference. I was contacted by several on Instagram trying to sell me things even though my bio states I deal with thyroid cancer. So obviously, it inspired me for our song tonight. I am dedicating She’s Not Just A Pretty Face by Shania Twain to you (if it’s your awareness month or not!).

Are you any of the things listed in this song? If not, it still applies to you! If you deal with any type of cancer or chronic health condition, you already know your advocacy isn’t only for one month or day. It’s every single day. And it’s not just with social media posts, clothing/accessories, or media. It’s at the doctor’s office standing up for yourself or educating a friend.

I love to remind you that you aren’t your diagnosis, but here is another reminder. Your condition is not your ribbon, color, or mascot. It’s your daily realities. Cancer or a chronic illness is not glamorous, cute, (that doesn’t mean you aren’t glamorous or cute!) or even palatable. It’s downright ugly. Don’t be afraid to be honest about that!

Ladies of all cancer types and ages, you are more than just a pretty face. You are not a commodity to profit off of. You make tangible changes in our world. I’m celebrating you tonight!

Thanks for tuning in to this edition of Alexa Loves AYA’s and spending part of your evening with me. Feel free to send a link or tag on social media if a loved one needs to hear this. I look forward to dedicating another song to you and expressing my more of heart next week! I can’t wait to visit with you again, dear friend.

Alexa Loves AYA’s: Tacky

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I have a special edition of Alexa Loves AYA’s for you.

THIS DEDICATION AND INVITATION IS OPEN TO EVERYONE, NOT JUST AYA’S!

I was really, uh, I guess you could say “inspired” (cough) by a story I heard this week. It was a combination of cancer, ignorance, and sheer hilarity. Something we (and serious/chronic illness) know all too well. I picked out a song that was just as silly as those encounters are. It is Tacky by “Weird Al” Yankovic.

I want to call out those comments for what they are: TACKY! Easy Cancer? Tacky! You’re Lazy? Tacky! My Granny died from that? Tacky! Want this one weird trick in your DM’s that cures your cancer/illness? Tacky! Sending flowers and a 3 page letter to guilt a cancer patient? SUPER TACKY!! Just to name a few!

Unfortunately, I can’t take away these comments from you as much as I would like to for the both of us. But I CAN try to make you laugh and remember this song when they come! When people make comments that are usually hurtful or ignorant at the very least, please remember they are just as tacky the lyrics in this song AND the music video.

I want to hear about YOUR tacky comments/experiences! Let me know on Social Media or here on the blog.

Thanks for tuning in to this edition of Alexa Loves AYA’s and spending part of your evening with me. Feel free to send a link or tag on social media if a loved one needs to hear this. I look forward to dedicating another song to you and expressing my more of heart next week! I can’t wait to visit with you again, dear friend.

Alexa Loves AYA’s: Joy Rides

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Welcome back to Alexa Loves AYA’s! You may have noticed my absence the last two weeks. I shared on social media that I had a gut punching loss in my life who was also a fellow member of the AYA community. I needed some time to pull myself together. I would like to thank you so much for all your support and love you’ve given me during this difficult time. I have a special edition of ALAYA’s in memory of him that I will post when I’m ready. Until then, here is what I’ve picked out tonight.

I have loved this band since I saw the amazing music video for their song Typical. I listen to them almost daily due to their unique sound. This song is also deeply personal to me as I will explain later on. The song I want to dedicate to you today, dear friend, is Joy Rides by MuteMath.

I know, I know. This could be a confusing song choice for you! From lines “It all went wrong today” and “the good news is probably worse” why oh why did you pick this song Alexa?? I was listening to Joy Rides when I filled out the new patient paperwork at MD Anderson Cancer Cancer. Getting diagnosed with cancer was difficult and I needed to embrace that instead of “fixing” it right away. But at the same time I still had reason to be hopeful, even if it wasn’t that day. Life IS messy. That is why I like this song. It isn’t all happy or all sad. It’s an acknowledgement of the sad night, but hope for the coming joyful morning.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been going through what feels like a long night. I started questioning if morning was actually coming. Since the loss I’ve been on the quiet side (not like myself), not wanting to laugh or have too much fun. And it’s my cancer awareness month! I’ve been frustrated at my lack of “productivity”. A wonderful quote I heard is that grief is confusing, and it is! Grief isn’t just exclusive to the loss of a person, but maybe a body part, fertility, ability, or any other loss that comes with cancer or a serious/chronic illness. I hope you know it’s okay to grieve and let yourself take the time you need, even if means slowing down during an “important” time. It’s also okay to get help when it gets too overwhelming.

The song reminds us that “morning’s gonna come”. You may not be in your morning yet, and still in “it all went wrong today” phase. Until morning comes, whatever that looks like for the both of us, I will be there hoping. May our joy rides come sooner than later!

Thanks for tuning in to this edition of Alexa Loves AYA’s and spending part of your evening with me. Feel free to send a link or tag on social media if a loved one needs to hear this. I look forward to dedicating another song to you and expressing my more of heart next week! I can’t wait to visit with you again, dear friend.

Alexa Loves AYA’s: On The Inside

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Welcome back to Alexa Loves AYA’s! Each week I dedicate a song to adolescent/young adults (AYA) with cancer or a serious/chronic illness and share some encouraging words along with it. I usually post on Saturday, but today is the two year anniversary of when Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, Texas. Since I am a patient at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, I wanted to share some thoughts about Harvey. I will be talking more about it tomorrow, but this song is also dedicated to the incredible people of Houston.

I have a real treat for you today! I actually just learned about this band. When I heard this song the first time I couldn’t help but think of AYA’s. It quickly became a personal anthem for me. My song for you today is “On The Inside” by GFM. They are a rock group made up of sisters. I know it may be more intense than you are used to, but give it a shot!

I love seeing metal screaming with their girly and glamorous look. They call it Beautycore!

I dedicate this song to you while you are in the process of rebuilding your life in the aftermath of your situation. I know cancer or illness is a hurricane that throws everything into chaos. Your job, education, relationships, social life and dreams. It doesn’t care! I remember visiting Houston for the first time after Hurricane Harvey. You could see how high the flooding hit. But what struck me the most was the trees and flowers lacked color, like their spirit was drained out with the water. I saw places I knew so well become empty with “Closed for Renovations. God Bless Houston!” signs on them. To say it was devastating doesn’t begin to do it justice.

Houston isn’t exactly the same as it was, but guess what? Those closed establishments came back with booming business. The water finally dried out. Color returned to nature after all. I don’t know what rebuilding your life looks like for you. It could be anything from trying to get your pain under control in daily life or picking up where you left off in school for your career dreams. I want you to know that I believe in you as much as I believed in Houston! I believe you ARE rebuilding. While It might look different than your previous life did, I believe you will survive the challenge of putting things back together in a way that works for you. There IS so much left to your story, even with the new found physical and emotional scars. If it helps to scream this song in the mirror as a reminder, go for it! I’m in the process of rebuilding my own life right beside you. We will get through this!

FYI: GFM has some fun vlogs from touring that you might enjoy watching if you are bored at the hospital or can’t sleep. You can check them out at their YouTube page.

Thanks for tuning in to this edition of the Alexa Loves AYA’s and spending part of your evening with me. Feel free to send a link or tag on social media if a loved one needs to hear this. I look forward to dedicating another song to you and expressing my more of heart next week! I can’t wait to visit with you again, dear friend.

Alexa Loves AYA’s: The Middle

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My dear friend, there you are again! Welcome back to Alexa Loves AYA’s. I’m so glad you came back to visit me.

I have a song for you that was super popular in the early 2000’s. Have you heard it before? If not, let me introduce you to tonight’s song, The Middle by Jimmy Eat World.

Have other people written you off? Even worse, have you written yourself off? Do you believe it’s over for you? I want to encourage you today and share why I don’t think that’s true! Here is a thought I want to share:

Labels can be painfully accurate about someone’s past while missing their future by a mile.

Let’s make a quick edit to that:

A diagnosis can be painfully accurate about someone’s past or current abilities while missing their future by a mile.

I am confident that no matter what you still have something to give, even if it looks different than you had imagined. I understand that your dreams may have required modifications or were forced to change entirely. You are not disqualified! Although you might not be there right now, please don’t write yourself off yet! Here is a good perspective I learned: Everybody has to face this in life eventually. You are just in the middle of figuring out what’s next and it takes some time. I am really looking forward to what you will achieve dear friend, and don’t forget about me when you get there!

Thanks for tuning in to this edition of Alexa Loves AYA’s and spending part of your evening with me. Feel free to send a link or tag on social media if a loved one needs to hear this. I look forward to dedicating another song to you and expressing more of my heart next week! I can’t wait to visit with you again, dear friend.

Alexa Loves AYA’s: True Colors

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Welcome back to Alexa Loves AYA’s! Tonight is interesting because while I have ONE song dedication for you, I have TWO versions. Since AYA’s are a wide age demographic (15-39), and I include former AYA’s too, I wanted to provide an option for either spectrum you’re on.

Tonight’s song is True Colors by Cyndi Lauper (original) and a cover by Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick from the Trolls soundtrack. I personally grew up hearing Phil Collins’ cover on the radio. If that’s your jam, by all means, pull it up!

Do you get more questions about your diagnosis than about what you’re up to? Have you dealt with whispers of “Hey, it’s them. They have___.” while they forget you’re an actual person? I have!

I want to make a quick note on this, most people DO (usually) mean well! They care enough about you to ask, but sometimes they lack the self awareness to realize that it appears it’s all they care about. Others may not understand how off the balance is between talking about your diagnosis and talking about YOU! They are two separate things.

You aren’t your IV drip, mini home pharmacy, body part loss, or whatever else you can think of! You are how your eyes light up when you’re happy. You are how giddy you get geeking out over your interests. You are how you like your coffee or tea a certain way. You are how you gently love on a furry friend. You are how kind you treat the ones you love. None of that has anything to do with your diagnosis! These are your TRUE COLORS!

Dear friend, I want to encourage you this week to let your true colors show. Like redirecting a conversation from your diagnosis to something you’re interested in, or a project you’re working on. Don’t be afraid to take the spotlight off that topic and shift it back to who you really are and what you enjoy. The world makes us all crazy at times, but know I will continue to be here and see your true colors.

Thanks for coming to Alexa loves AYA’s and spending part of your evening with me. Feel free to send a link or tag on social media if a loved one needs to hear this. I look forward to dedicating another song to you and expressing more of my heart next week! I can’t wait to visit with you again, dear friend.

Alexa Loves AYA’s: Super Cool

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Welcome to our debut of Alexa loves AYA’s! What on earth is going on? Great question!

Do you remember song dedication radio programs? I love listening to them. Yes, they are still around! I’m always curious why people connect with certain songs and enjoy hearing the stories they share. But, there is just one thing…have you ever secretly wished you would hear a familiar voice call in and dedicate a song for you? I know I have! Guess what?

THE WAIT IS OVER!

If you are part of the adolescent/young adult (known as AYA, ages 15-39) family current or former, either by cancer or chronic illness, I will be dedicating a song just for YOU! I will also add in a few words to hopefully provide some encouragement. I am going to be dedicating songs you might not normally hear in this context, so plan to be surprised!

Ideally, I wish we could have at least a whole hour together. I would love for you to call in with your thoughts, questions, stories, tests results, and song dedications of your own. While I am not the Delilah of the community, I realized I have a blog and can start here. It is so important to me that you know you are valued. I care about you deeply.

Lets get to it guys! Our first song making it’s debut on our program (yes, it’s okay to giggle) is Super Cool by Beck featuring Robyn and The Lonely Island. This was on the credits for The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part. I went to see it with my brother earlier this year and we both enjoyed the song. I have provided the adorable lyric video they created so you can enjoy the song and have something fun to watch!

I want you to know that…

YOU ARE UNBELIEVABLE

YOU ARE SUPER COOL

YOU ARE OUTRAGEOUS

YOU ARE AMAZING

YOU ARE PHENOMENAL

YOU ARE FANTASTIC

YOU ARE SO INCREDIBLE

WOOOOOO HOOOOOO!

This lyric is about you. I know people don’t understand what you go through on a daily basis and unfortunately they probably never will. But I see you! I’m so proud of you for keeping on even when it was and is SO HARD. Like that time you were up all night with scanxiety. Or when you didn’t want to do your treatments due to the side effects. You don’t have to be an inspiration to me or anybody else, that’s not the point. We both understand you had no choice. While unfortunately you may continue to face challenges, you are everything said in this song and more! You are certainly SUPER COOL right now, even during the times when you feel like you aren’t. We all have those days!

Thanks for tuning in to this edition of the new Alexa loves AYA’s and spending part of your evening with me. Feel free to send a link or tag on social media if a loved one needs to hear this. I look forward to dedicating another song to you and expressing my more of heart next week! I can’t wait until we meet again dear friend.