Cancer Services

Enhancing Health, Life & Survivorship

Empowered Living: Taking Charge of Your Health and Life

Survive and Thrive Articles for 2026

Each month brings a fresh opportunity to invest in you – one day at a time, on choice at a time. Participate in our 2026 Empowered Living Passport initiative, and be sure to check out our monthly articles, which will all be cataloged on this page!

Articles brought to you by Dara Kurtz. Dara Kurtz is a breast cancer survivor and provides Survivor Mentorship & Support at Cancer Services.

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September: Taking Charge of Your Connections

An article brought to you by Dara Kurtz. Dara Kurtz is a breast cancer survivor and provides Survivor Mentorship & Support at Cancer Services.

At our July breast cancer support group, I looked around the room and couldn’t help but smile. 

A group of women sat together, chatting, laughing, and sharing stories as they painted inspirational signs led by Betsy Messick from The Sawtooth. For some, this was their first time attending a monthly meeting. For others, they come regularly. On the surface, it looked like a simple evening of creativity, but what was happening around the table was more than art. We were creating something else too: connection… continue reading article

Choose One (or All) of our September Challenges!

  1. Read Dara’s NEW Empowered Living article about “Taking Charge of Your Mind: Finding Calm in the Midst of Uncertainty” DONE! Email us to request your sticker!
  2. Create a “Mixed Media Dream House” with Liz McEntee at Art and Wellness on Thursday, September 24th
  3. Breast Cancer Survivors: Join us for FUEL Your Wellness on September 17th!
  4. Breast Cancer Survivors: Join us for Pink Ribbon Talks on October 3rd. Visit our page for more information.
  5. Watch one of our expert interviews on a topic that interests you! Find them here: cancerservicesonline.org/expert

August: Taking Charge of Your Mind: Finding Calm in the Midst of Uncertainty

There has never been more health information at our fingertips than there is today. For a cancer patient or survivor, this can be tricky.

At any time, day or night, you can pick up your phone, type a few words into Google, and instantly find thousands of articles about your type of cancer, treatment options, survival statistics, side effects, and the latest research. It’s almost too much.

The problem isn’t finding the information.

The problem is knowing what to trust… continue reading article

Choose One (or All) of our August Challenges!

  1. Read Dara’s NEW Empowered Living article about “Taking Charge of Your Mind: Finding Calm in the Midst of Uncertainty“
  2. Create “Botanical Watercolors” with Rachel Frank at Art and Wellness on Thursday, August 27th.
  3. GYN Survivors: Join us for Living On The EDGE on September 1st. Visit our page for more information.
  4. Watch one of our expert interviews on a topic that interests you! Find them here: cancerservicesonline.org/expert
  5. Watch last month’s Nutrition Webinar HERE!

July: Take Charge of Your Mind

More than thirteen years after my breast cancer diagnosis, I still get triggered.  

It doesn’t happen as often as it used to, and time has definitely helped me trust that everything will continue to be OK… that I’ll stay healthy. But every now and then, I feel that familiar fear creep in. I’ll read about another woman whose cancer returned or see a Facebook post about an early-stage diagnosis that later became metastatic. In an instant, my mind can go from calm to fearful. Suddenly, I find myself asking, what if that happens to me? … Continue reading article

Choose One (or All) of our July Challenges!

  1. Read Dara’s April Empowered Living article about “Taking Charge of Your Mind After Cancer”
  2. Make America’s 250th Anniversary Pillow at the Art & Wellness workshop (virtual or in person at Cancer Services, Inc. office) on July 24th at 2pm.
  3. Join July’s Nourish and Thrive: Nutrition Webinar on Thursday, July 16 at 2pm
  4. Watch one of our expert interviews on a topic that interests you! Find them here: cancerservicesonline.org/expert
  5. Register for the Eat The Rainbow Challenge!

June: Take Charge of Your Time

Time feels different after a cancer diagnosis.  

Before, I didn’t think much about it. I assumed it would always be there. But hearing the words “You have cancer” has a way of shifting a person’s perspective. Now I understand time isn’t unlimited, and more than anything, I want to be intentional about how I spend it… Continue reading article

Choose One (or All) of our June Challenges!

  1. Read Dara’s April Empowered Living article about “Taking Charge of Your Time”
  2. Attend our Survivors Day Party, on Saturday, June 6th at 12pm at the Intergenerational Center of Arts and Wellness or any other Survivors-Day Weekend event!
  3. Create a Stitched Button Pouch with the June Art & Wellness workshop (virtual or in person at Cancer Services, Inc. office).
  4. Join Cook to Thrive with Julie, The Cancer Dietitian, and discover nourishing protein-rich recipes.
  5. Watch one of our expert interviews on a topic that interests you! Find them here: cancerservicesonline.org/expert
  6. Register and complete your assessment for the Get Real & Heel functional fitness program!

May: Take Charge of Your Joy

Let’s be honest: when we think of the word “cancer,” joy isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. In fact, I can think of a lot of other words… four-letter words, to be exact.

Whether you’re in active treatment, living with side effects from treatment, or adjusting to survivorship, joy can often feel out of reach. But what I’ve learned, both personally and from the wonderful people I get to work with, is that joy doesn’t disappear during the hard seasons of our lives… Continue reading article

Choose One (or All) of our May Challenges!

  1. Read Dara’s April Empowered Living article about “taking charge of your Joy”!
  2. Create a watercolor masterpiece with the May Art & Wellness workshop (virtual or in person at Cancer Services, Inc. office).
  3. Read The Cancer Dietitian’s nutrition myth busting article: You Don’t Need a High Protein Diet!
  4. Watch one of our expert interviews on a topic that interests you! Find them here: cancerservicesonline.org/expert
  5. Register and complete your assessment for the Get Real & Heel functional fitness program!

April: Take Charge of Your Movement

When the weather starts to warm up, and it stays lighter later into the evenings, for me, everything feels a little more manageable. We have more time to get our “To Do” list done, fit in some extra fun activities, and more opportunities to go outside, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

There’s also something about this time of year that makes many of us want to hit the reset button on our lives. 

We clean out our closets, open the windows, and maybe think about our daily routines and how we can take better care of ourselves. If you’ve found yourself thinking, I should exercise more, but it feels overwhelming, don’t worry. At Cancer Services, we’re here to help you!….Continue reading article

Choose One (or All) of our April Challenges!

  1. Read Dara’s April Empowered Living article about “taking charge of your movement”!
  2. Watch The Cancer Dietitian’s Webinar Recording – Nourish & Thrive: Eating Well After Cancer, with Confidence.
  3. Register for our Move More. Stress Less! Program. Register HERE!
  4. Try out a movement class you’ve never done before. Let us know what you try! (Click here for yoga options available to cancer survivors for free!).
  5. Pick your favorite walking trail, or hike, take a selfie and send it to Julie! We will compile a “survivors’ favorites” list of places to walk!

March: Take Charge of Your Nutrition

After a cancer diagnosis, it’s a good idea to take the time to review your diet and identify areas where you might be able to improve.

We know it can sometimes be confusing to figure out what you should and shouldn’t eat. Often, there’s conflicting advice, making it difficult to know which information is trustworthy and science-backed. Don’t worry, below, we’re going to clear the noise and answer the most common questions cancer patients and survivors often ask about what they should and shouldn’t eat. We want you to make choices that are best for you, from a place of confidence…. Continue reading article

Choose One (or All) of our March Challenges!

  1. Read Dara’s March Empowered Living article about “taking charge of your nutrition”!
  2. Read The Cancer Dietitian’s March Myth Busting article about Soy & Cancer.
  3. Attend (or watch the recording) our March Nutrition Webinar! RSVP here!
  4. Make an appointment for a survivorship nutrition consultation with Julie, the Cancer Dietitian!
  5. Track the fruits & veggies that you eat! Use this simple printable form or request a nutrition toolkit from Cancer Services, Inc. which includes 4 weeks of tracking forms along with educational information.

February: Take Charge of Your Heart

A cancer diagnosis can impact the way you feel about your body, your future, and even your sense of self. Through challenging treatments, recovery, and survivorship, a cancer patient goes through a lot. This can impact your heart, both physically and… Continue reading article

Choose One (or All) of our February Challenges!

  1. Read Dara’s January Empowered Living article and journal about what “taking charge” of your health means to you for this year. 
  2. Read The Cancer Dietitian’s nutrition myth busting February article: Carbs – A Common Sense Approach!
  3. Learn about nutritious treats by attending the Cook to Thrive! Survivorship Cooking Class on Feb 19th!
  4. Try out one of Novant’s free chair yoga classes! Click here for dates/times and links.

January : Taking Charge of Your New Beginning

After going through breast cancer over twelve years ago, my life has been broken down into two categories: “BC,” which stands for before cancer, and “AC,” which means after cancer. I had to begin to move forward and create my new normal, learn to live as a cancer survivor, and make intentional decisions. That doesn’t mean I had it all figured out… Continue reading article

Choose One (or All) of our January Challenges!

  1. Read Dara’s January Empowered Living article and journal about what “taking charge” of your health means to you for this year.
  2. Create your vision journal at the January Art & Wellness workshop (virtual or in person at Cancer Services, Inc. office).
  3. Read The Cancer Dietitian’s nutrition myth busting article: Does Sugar Feed Cancer?
  4. Watch one of our expert interviews on a topic that interests you! Find them here: cancerservicesonline.org/expert
  5. Register and complete your assessment for the Get Real & Heel functional fitness program!