When cancer strikes, life changes. You have to learn to live with a “new normal”… cancer’s new normal.

I get asked pretty regularly, "Do you ever feel like all of this is just not fair?". Mostly... no. I feel "changed", but not necessarily for the worse. I appreciate more of the little things that I used overlook in my busy day to day life. More importantly, I feel that I've been dealt an opportunity to better understand research and the complexities of cancers that go "unseen" by most. I'd like to help people understand how important science and research are, how "cancer" is NOT one disease, but how we can have similarities in our journeys, and how sometimes... good can arise from the bad.

As cancer patients and caregivers, you'll hear and read plenty of negative things. Sometimes the negativity is in the form of forced positivity! You don't have to be toxically positive. Cancer sucks. But it does help to see, hear, and understand, that people do make it through the rollercoaster ride. Some days you'll have to work harder than others to see the sunshine through the clouds, or find the good intent in a seemingly gruff well wish... but it's there. When life is upended, looking at it through new lenses... through cancer's new normal... you just might find, that you've got a lot more great little moments of joy than you used to see.

Looking for more info?

Whether you are seeking a place to learn more about your diagnosis, a place to find a comforting chat forum, or the latest in immunotherapy or medical news... you'll find a few sites here to seek helpful information and general overviews of the latest treatments, research and clinical trials.

Helpful Links

Niki’s Story

Hi! I’m Niki. I worked many years in radio as a morning dj. Along with regular fits of laughter, what I loved most about the job was the opportunity to meet so many people, and hopefully, impact lives in a positive way. As

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Healthy Living

A cancer diagnosis is incredibly stressful for patients and caregivers alike. You know what stress is horrible for? Your immune system. You know what makes cancer treatments more difficult? A weakened immune system. As patients we want to remain as

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  • Spring has officially sprung. Mr Buns is left unimpressed and chilly. #bunnyball 😍 #springshowers
  • If your skies are clear… go look up. Smooching planets 😘 #naturesbeauty #planets #clearskies
  • I’m not sayin everyone should try a chicken fried hamburger as pre-race fuel… buuuuuut… yesterday’s lunch did seem to be “right” for my miles today! 😬😳🤷🏼‍♀️ That said… the porto-potties being emptied as I tried to run uphill toward the end of mile 9… 🤮 I had to walk it out… blow my nose… I just couldn’t inhale anymore. 🫢😳 #100dollarchickenfriedhamburger 🤣 #family #flyingfun  #runfun #cancerthriver #melanoma
  • “Misty taste of moonshine… teardrops in my eyes… “ Yes, I do sing out loud when I run. 🤷🏼‍♀️😬 #70son7 #7miles  Couldn’t get through the “lake crossing” of the flooded path today. Yeeks. Need a kayak for this one. 😝
  • Yep… I was that fool out running “before the rain really starts” 🙄 🤦🏼‍♀️ Time for some hot chocolate. 😜
  • No unicorns or penguins. 🤔🤷🏼‍♀️ I’m disappointed in my neighbors. 🤣 Got in my holiday bingo run with @timeforbrunchpodcast ! Apologies to those in snow loaded regions… it’s… ummm… 63 degrees here. 😬🤷🏼‍♀️😎 But the holiday deco is plentiful for scoring my bingo card! 🎄🎅🏻😜 #tfb10k #seenonmyrun #centralcoastchristmas
  • Unintentional negative splits. 🤦🏼‍♀️ This was post strength training. A bit of the rubber legs going on. I was pooped out, but apparently also out of patience to keep the pace consistently down. How does one negative split with an uphill return, when “taking it easy”? 😬🤷🏼‍♀️ Whoopsie doodle. Must’ve been the bouncy fun podcast!  Thanks for the two days worth of run listening fun ladies! @funnyrunner26.2 … thanks for spilling your feelings about when training gets hard. It made me feel less “ugh” to know that even the elites have those points in training, when the mind begins to question and buckle. 🥰👏🏻🙌🏻😬🫣🏆 #timeforbrunch #tfb10k
  • When you’ve been standing up 14 hours straight to show your Christmas spirit, and someone finally turns off the lights. 🤣 Poor Snoopy… he was lit too long. 🫣😂🤪 #christmascheer
  • Getting back at it after CIM. I feel like that was more difficult than it should have been. 😳 #toomuchfood #toolittlesleep
Spring has officially sprung. Mr Buns is left unimpressed and chilly. #bunnyball 😍 #springshowers
Spring has officially sprung. Mr Buns is left unimpressed and chilly. #bunnyball 😍 #springshowers
2 days ago
View on Instagram |
1/9
If your skies are clear… go look up. Smooching planets 😘 #naturesbeauty #planets #clearskies
If your skies are clear… go look up. Smooching planets 😘 #naturesbeauty #planets #clearskies
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
2/9
I’m not sayin everyone should try a chicken fried hamburger as pre-race fuel… buuuuuut… yesterday’s lunch did seem to be “right” for my miles today! 😬😳🤷🏼‍♀️ That said… the porto-potties being emptied as I tried to run uphill toward the end of mile 9… 🤮 I had to walk it out… blow my nose… I just couldn’t inhale anymore. 🫢😳 #100dollarchickenfriedhamburger 🤣 #family #flyingfun  #runfun #cancerthriver #melanoma
I’m not sayin everyone should try a chicken fried hamburger as pre-race fuel… buuuuuut… yesterday’s lunch did seem to be “right” for my miles today! 😬😳🤷🏼‍♀️ That said… the porto-potties being emptied as I tried to run uphill toward the end of mile 9… 🤮 I had to walk it out… blow my nose… I just couldn’t inhale anymore. 🫢😳 #100dollarchickenfriedhamburger 🤣 #family #flyingfun  #runfun #cancerthriver #melanoma
I’m not sayin everyone should try a chicken fried hamburger as pre-race fuel… buuuuuut… yesterday’s lunch did seem to be “right” for my miles today! 😬😳🤷🏼‍♀️ That said… the porto-potties being emptied as I tried to run uphill toward the end of mile 9… 🤮 I had to walk it out… blow my nose… I just couldn’t inhale anymore. 🫢😳 #100dollarchickenfriedhamburger 🤣 #family #flyingfun  #runfun #cancerthriver #melanoma
I’m not sayin everyone should try a chicken fried hamburger as pre-race fuel… buuuuuut… yesterday’s lunch did seem to be “right” for my miles today! 😬😳🤷🏼‍♀️ That said… the porto-potties being emptied as I tried to run uphill toward the end of mile 9… 🤮 I had to walk it out… blow my nose… I just couldn’t inhale anymore. 🫢😳 #100dollarchickenfriedhamburger 🤣 #family #flyingfun  #runfun #cancerthriver #melanoma
I’m not sayin everyone should try a chicken fried hamburger as pre-race fuel… buuuuuut… yesterday’s lunch did seem to be “right” for my miles today! 😬😳🤷🏼‍♀️ That said… the porto-potties being emptied as I tried to run uphill toward the end of mile 9… 🤮 I had to walk it out… blow my nose… I just couldn’t inhale anymore. 🫢😳 #100dollarchickenfriedhamburger 🤣 #family #flyingfun  #runfun #cancerthriver #melanoma
I’m not sayin everyone should try a chicken fried hamburger as pre-race fuel… buuuuuut… yesterday’s lunch did seem to be “right” for my miles today! 😬😳🤷🏼‍♀️ That said… the porto-potties being emptied as I tried to run uphill toward the end of mile 9… 🤮 I had to walk it out… blow my nose… I just couldn’t inhale anymore. 🫢😳 #100dollarchickenfriedhamburger 🤣 #family #flyingfun  #runfun #cancerthriver #melanoma
I’m not sayin everyone should try a chicken fried hamburger as pre-race fuel… buuuuuut… yesterday’s lunch did seem to be “right” for my miles today! 😬😳🤷🏼‍♀️ That said… the porto-potties being emptied as I tried to run uphill toward the end of mile 9… 🤮 I had to walk it out… blow my nose… I just couldn’t inhale anymore. 🫢😳 #100dollarchickenfriedhamburger 🤣 #family #flyingfun  #runfun #cancerthriver #melanoma
I’m not sayin everyone should try a chicken fried hamburger as pre-race fuel… buuuuuut… yesterday’s lunch did seem to be “right” for my miles today! 😬😳🤷🏼‍♀️ That said… the porto-potties being emptied as I tried to run uphill toward the end of mile 9… 🤮 I had to walk it out… blow my nose… I just couldn’t inhale anymore. 🫢😳 #100dollarchickenfriedhamburger 🤣 #family #flyingfun  #runfun #cancerthriver #melanoma
I’m not sayin everyone should try a chicken fried hamburger as pre-race fuel… buuuuuut… yesterday’s lunch did seem to be “right” for my miles today! 😬😳🤷🏼‍♀️ That said… the porto-potties being emptied as I tried to run uphill toward the end of mile 9… 🤮 I had to walk it out… blow my nose… I just couldn’t inhale anymore. 🫢😳 #100dollarchickenfriedhamburger 🤣 #family #flyingfun  #runfun #cancerthriver #melanoma
I’m not sayin everyone should try a chicken fried hamburger as pre-race fuel… buuuuuut… yesterday’s lunch did seem to be “right” for my miles today! 😬😳🤷🏼‍♀️ That said… the porto-potties being emptied as I tried to run uphill toward the end of mile 9… 🤮 I had to walk it out… blow my nose… I just couldn’t inhale anymore. 🫢😳 #100dollarchickenfriedhamburger 🤣 #family #flyingfun  #runfun #cancerthriver #melanoma
I’m not sayin everyone should try a chicken fried hamburger as pre-race fuel… buuuuuut… yesterday’s lunch did seem to be “right” for my miles today! 😬😳🤷🏼‍♀️ That said… the porto-potties being emptied as I tried to run uphill toward the end of mile 9… 🤮 I had to walk it out… blow my nose… I just couldn’t inhale anymore. 🫢😳 #100dollarchickenfriedhamburger 🤣 #family #flyingfun #runfun #cancerthriver #melanoma
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
3/9
“Misty taste of moonshine… teardrops in my eyes… “ Yes, I do sing out loud when I run. 🤷🏼‍♀️😬 #70son7 #7miles  Couldn’t get through the “lake crossing” of the flooded path today. Yeeks. Need a kayak for this one. 😝
“Misty taste of moonshine… teardrops in my eyes… “ Yes, I do sing out loud when I run. 🤷🏼‍♀️😬 #70son7 #7miles  Couldn’t get through the “lake crossing” of the flooded path today. Yeeks. Need a kayak for this one. 😝
“Misty taste of moonshine… teardrops in my eyes… “ Yes, I do sing out loud when I run. 🤷🏼‍♀️😬 #70son7 #7miles  Couldn’t get through the “lake crossing” of the flooded path today. Yeeks. Need a kayak for this one. 😝
“Misty taste of moonshine… teardrops in my eyes… “ Yes, I do sing out loud when I run. 🤷🏼‍♀️😬 #70son7 #7miles  Couldn’t get through the “lake crossing” of the flooded path today. Yeeks. Need a kayak for this one. 😝
“Misty taste of moonshine… teardrops in my eyes… “ Yes, I do sing out loud when I run. 🤷🏼‍♀️😬 #70son7 #7miles  Couldn’t get through the “lake crossing” of the flooded path today. Yeeks. Need a kayak for this one. 😝
“Misty taste of moonshine… teardrops in my eyes… “ Yes, I do sing out loud when I run. 🤷🏼‍♀️😬 #70son7 #7miles Couldn’t get through the “lake crossing” of the flooded path today. Yeeks. Need a kayak for this one. 😝
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
4/9
Yep… I was that fool out running “before the rain really starts” 🙄 🤦🏼‍♀️ Time for some hot chocolate. 😜
Yep… I was that fool out running “before the rain really starts” 🙄 🤦🏼‍♀️ Time for some hot chocolate. 😜
Yep… I was that fool out running “before the rain really starts” 🙄 🤦🏼‍♀️ Time for some hot chocolate. 😜
Yep… I was that fool out running “before the rain really starts” 🙄 🤦🏼‍♀️ Time for some hot chocolate. 😜
3 months ago
View on Instagram |
5/9
No unicorns or penguins. 🤔🤷🏼‍♀️ I’m disappointed in my neighbors. 🤣 Got in my holiday bingo run with @timeforbrunchpodcast ! Apologies to those in snow loaded regions… it’s… ummm… 63 degrees here. 😬🤷🏼‍♀️😎 But the holiday deco is plentiful for scoring my bingo card! 🎄🎅🏻😜 #tfb10k #seenonmyrun #centralcoastchristmas
No unicorns or penguins. 🤔🤷🏼‍♀️ I’m disappointed in my neighbors. 🤣 Got in my holiday bingo run with @timeforbrunchpodcast ! Apologies to those in snow loaded regions… it’s… ummm… 63 degrees here. 😬🤷🏼‍♀️😎 But the holiday deco is plentiful for scoring my bingo card! 🎄🎅🏻😜 #tfb10k #seenonmyrun #centralcoastchristmas
No unicorns or penguins. 🤔🤷🏼‍♀️ I’m disappointed in my neighbors. 🤣 Got in my holiday bingo run with @timeforbrunchpodcast ! Apologies to those in snow loaded regions… it’s… ummm… 63 degrees here. 😬🤷🏼‍♀️😎 But the holiday deco is plentiful for scoring my bingo card! 🎄🎅🏻😜 #tfb10k #seenonmyrun #centralcoastchristmas
No unicorns or penguins. 🤔🤷🏼‍♀️ I’m disappointed in my neighbors. 🤣 Got in my holiday bingo run with @timeforbrunchpodcast ! Apologies to those in snow loaded regions… it’s… ummm… 63 degrees here. 😬🤷🏼‍♀️😎 But the holiday deco is plentiful for scoring my bingo card! 🎄🎅🏻😜 #tfb10k #seenonmyrun #centralcoastchristmas
No unicorns or penguins. 🤔🤷🏼‍♀️ I’m disappointed in my neighbors. 🤣 Got in my holiday bingo run with @timeforbrunchpodcast ! Apologies to those in snow loaded regions… it’s… ummm… 63 degrees here. 😬🤷🏼‍♀️😎 But the holiday deco is plentiful for scoring my bingo card! 🎄🎅🏻😜 #tfb10k #seenonmyrun #centralcoastchristmas
No unicorns or penguins. 🤔🤷🏼‍♀️ I’m disappointed in my neighbors. 🤣 Got in my holiday bingo run with @timeforbrunchpodcast ! Apologies to those in snow loaded regions… it’s… ummm… 63 degrees here. 😬🤷🏼‍♀️😎 But the holiday deco is plentiful for scoring my bingo card! 🎄🎅🏻😜 #tfb10k #seenonmyrun #centralcoastchristmas
No unicorns or penguins. 🤔🤷🏼‍♀️ I’m disappointed in my neighbors. 🤣 Got in my holiday bingo run with @timeforbrunchpodcast ! Apologies to those in snow loaded regions… it’s… ummm… 63 degrees here. 😬🤷🏼‍♀️😎 But the holiday deco is plentiful for scoring my bingo card! 🎄🎅🏻😜 #tfb10k #seenonmyrun #centralcoastchristmas
No unicorns or penguins. 🤔🤷🏼‍♀️ I’m disappointed in my neighbors. 🤣 Got in my holiday bingo run with @timeforbrunchpodcast ! Apologies to those in snow loaded regions… it’s… ummm… 63 degrees here. 😬🤷🏼‍♀️😎 But the holiday deco is plentiful for scoring my bingo card! 🎄🎅🏻😜 #tfb10k #seenonmyrun #centralcoastchristmas
No unicorns or penguins. 🤔🤷🏼‍♀️ I’m disappointed in my neighbors. 🤣 Got in my holiday bingo run with @timeforbrunchpodcast ! Apologies to those in snow loaded regions… it’s… ummm… 63 degrees here. 😬🤷🏼‍♀️😎 But the holiday deco is plentiful for scoring my bingo card! 🎄🎅🏻😜 #tfb10k #seenonmyrun #centralcoastchristmas
No unicorns or penguins. 🤔🤷🏼‍♀️ I’m disappointed in my neighbors. 🤣 Got in my holiday bingo run with @timeforbrunchpodcast ! Apologies to those in snow loaded regions… it’s… ummm… 63 degrees here. 😬🤷🏼‍♀️😎 But the holiday deco is plentiful for scoring my bingo card! 🎄🎅🏻😜 #tfb10k #seenonmyrun #centralcoastchristmas
No unicorns or penguins. 🤔🤷🏼‍♀️ I’m disappointed in my neighbors. 🤣 Got in my holiday bingo run with @timeforbrunchpodcast ! Apologies to those in snow loaded regions… it’s… ummm… 63 degrees here. 😬🤷🏼‍♀️😎 But the holiday deco is plentiful for scoring my bingo card! 🎄🎅🏻😜 #tfb10k #seenonmyrun #centralcoastchristmas
3 months ago
View on Instagram |
6/9
Unintentional negative splits. 🤦🏼‍♀️ This was post strength training. A bit of the rubber legs going on. I was pooped out, but apparently also out of patience to keep the pace consistently down. How does one negative split with an uphill return, when “taking it easy”? 😬🤷🏼‍♀️ Whoopsie doodle. Must’ve been the bouncy fun podcast!  Thanks for the two days worth of run listening fun ladies! @funnyrunner26.2 … thanks for spilling your feelings about when training gets hard. It made me feel less “ugh” to know that even the elites have those points in training, when the mind begins to question and buckle. 🥰👏🏻🙌🏻😬🫣🏆 #timeforbrunch #tfb10k
Unintentional negative splits. 🤦🏼‍♀️ This was post strength training. A bit of the rubber legs going on. I was pooped out, but apparently also out of patience to keep the pace consistently down. How does one negative split with an uphill return, when “taking it easy”? 😬🤷🏼‍♀️ Whoopsie doodle. Must’ve been the bouncy fun podcast!  Thanks for the two days worth of run listening fun ladies! @funnyrunner26.2 … thanks for spilling your feelings about when training gets hard. It made me feel less “ugh” to know that even the elites have those points in training, when the mind begins to question and buckle. 🥰👏🏻🙌🏻😬🫣🏆 #timeforbrunch #tfb10k
Unintentional negative splits. 🤦🏼‍♀️ This was post strength training. A bit of the rubber legs going on. I was pooped out, but apparently also out of patience to keep the pace consistently down. How does one negative split with an uphill return, when “taking it easy”? 😬🤷🏼‍♀️ Whoopsie doodle. Must’ve been the bouncy fun podcast!  Thanks for the two days worth of run listening fun ladies! @funnyrunner26.2 … thanks for spilling your feelings about when training gets hard. It made me feel less “ugh” to know that even the elites have those points in training, when the mind begins to question and buckle. 🥰👏🏻🙌🏻😬🫣🏆 #timeforbrunch #tfb10k
Unintentional negative splits. 🤦🏼‍♀️ This was post strength training. A bit of the rubber legs going on. I was pooped out, but apparently also out of patience to keep the pace consistently down. How does one negative split with an uphill return, when “taking it easy”? 😬🤷🏼‍♀️ Whoopsie doodle. Must’ve been the bouncy fun podcast! Thanks for the two days worth of run listening fun ladies! @funnyrunner26.2 … thanks for spilling your feelings about when training gets hard. It made me feel less “ugh” to know that even the elites have those points in training, when the mind begins to question and buckle. 🥰👏🏻🙌🏻😬🫣🏆 #timeforbrunch #tfb10k
3 months ago
View on Instagram |
7/9
When you’ve been standing up 14 hours straight to show your Christmas spirit, and someone finally turns off the lights. 🤣 Poor Snoopy… he was lit too long. 🫣😂🤪 #christmascheer
When you’ve been standing up 14 hours straight to show your Christmas spirit, and someone finally turns off the lights. 🤣 Poor Snoopy… he was lit too long. 🫣😂🤪 #christmascheer
3 months ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
Getting back at it after CIM. I feel like that was more difficult than it should have been. 😳 #toomuchfood #toolittlesleep
Getting back at it after CIM. I feel like that was more difficult than it should have been. 😳 #toomuchfood #toolittlesleep
Getting back at it after CIM. I feel like that was more difficult than it should have been. 😳 #toomuchfood #toolittlesleep
3 months ago
View on Instagram |
9/9

Niki News Update…

Closing out the year with a short and sweet update. Really, if there is no “Niki News”, it’s because things are going well enough for me to be busy with “normal people” life. For the quick snapshot, you can check

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