I know that I, and most every cancer survivor and co-survivor friend that I have, have all had awkward experiences with friends, family members, co-workers, and other concerned people in the aftermath of their cancer fight who might have wanted to say something to us in support or just ask questions, but have been too afraid of saying the “wrong thing” and upsetting us. This is a great shame, and also a huge missed opportunity when those that are closest to us are too afraid to ask things, genuinely just trying to understand or know more about our experiences, especially when the protocol for asking such things has already long been established.

My cancer diagnosis at age 33 taught me just how fragile life is, and that each day really is a gift and something to appreciate. It was the fear of losing everything more times than I care to recall as I fought, recovered, and survived that helped me to realize just how much I have to be thankful for in this world. And so I bring to you, Five Days of Thankfulness from a Cancer Survivor.

The death of lovable actor Robin Williams was both untimely and tragic, and shocking to so many. What a great man and a great actor, probably one of the best in Hollywood, loved and adored by many millions of fans. His passing is a great loss, and to learn that he had been battling a very deep depression and that his death was an apparent suicide just made it hurt that much more. Although Mr. Williams was not known to be fighting cancer of any sort, depression is something that commonly finds its way to cancer fighters and survivors, and sadly neither of these topics are strangers to me.

Last week on July 16th, Stuart was awarded the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the ESPY Awards, ESPN’s annual awards show. I can’t even tell you much about any of these awards or their meanings or histories, but I can tell you all about Stuart’s acceptance speech because it blew this cancer survivor away.

I was never going to get cancer. It just doesn't happen to young guys like me (right?), especially not at 33 with two young kids that I had just brought into the world.

It was on this day three years ago, July 1st, 2011, that I finally got the call I had been waiting for. 

Those of you that have been following along with this Cancer Survivorship journey of mine know that I started off 2013 on a truly terrible note.

I've tried to avoid talking about it, but people know my story and what I've been through, and keep asking me what I think about Lance Armstrong.