{"id":90850,"date":"2026-06-11T14:25:37","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T20:25:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=90850"},"modified":"2026-06-11T14:25:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T20:25:37","slug":"coping-with-cancer-through-journaling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/coping-with-cancer-through-journaling\/","title":{"rendered":"How journaling helped Claudia cope with a tough cancer diagnosis"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
\"Claudia
Claudia Rivas, a cancer patient, uses a journaling app on her phone to document her battle against metastatic cancer. Writing helps her process her emotions and find strength. Here, she stands overlooking Lake Loveland from the south shore, a place where she writes and reflects on the beauty around her. Photo by Ana Gretchen Robleto, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Claudia Rivas will tell you that maintaining strength, determination and resilience after a cancer diagnosis is its own kind of work.<\/p>\n

Now 54, the retired schoolteacher living in Loveland, has adopted a new practice to nourish her mind, body and spirit. She uses an app on her phone to record her innermost thoughts, including the ups and downs of her battle with cancer.<\/p>\n

A mother and grandmother, she treasures time with family. Writing down her thoughts has helped to ground her. She\u2019s more attuned to the pleasure of birds chirping, the splendor of a morning cup of coffee and the rigors of basketball, a lifelong passion.<\/p>\n

Claudia, who has also engaged in integrative therapies, is reminded to push forward during moments of deep physical and emotional exhaustion by NBA legend Michael Jordan<\/a>, who once said:<\/p>\n

I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.<\/div><\/div><\/h4>\n

Claudia\u2019s cancer journey began at age 44 with a diagnosis of breast cancer. She had a double mastectomy, underwent treatment for a year, then took pills for five more years. She believed cancer was behind her.<\/p>\n

Then in 2023, she began to feel pain in one leg. What began as persistent discomfort led to a visit with an orthopedist. An X-ray was followed by an MRI, and the images showed that cancer had returned and metastasized to her hip, part of her liver, lung and lymph nodes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI began weekly chemotherapy, which has been the most difficult part for me,\u201d said Claudia. \u201cIt was during this challenging process that I started writing about my oncological journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some of that writing happens when she\u2019s in what feels like a personal basketball museum that she created. The space is filled with photographs of Michael Jordan and memories of her journey as an athlete. Her trophies, medals and photographs from her time as a basketball player are reminders of her desire to win.<\/p>\n

\"Claudia
Claudia Rivas proudly displays the jersey worn by CSU basketball player Caitlin Kramer during the Fight Like a Ram game. Photo by Ana Gretchen Robleto Lupiac, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She was recently honored as a cancer warrior in UCHealth\u2019s \u201cFight Like a Ram<\/a>\u201d initiative. The program partners Colorado State University women\u2019s basketball athletes with UCHealth cancer patients, like Claudia.<\/p>\n

The duality of being: Gathering strength during cancer treatments<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Claudia\u2019s greatest battle is physical, but also deeply internal \u2014 and requires a constant effort to steady her mind and emotions while remaining committed to treatment.<\/p>\n

In a society that often ignores struggle, maintaining mental and emotional resilience has been essential to Claudia. Strength is not the absence of hardship, she knows, but the choice to keep going, despite it.<\/p>\n

Writing has given her a place of refuge, a space where she can process fear, fatigue, and uncertainty.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe cannot achieve anything if we don\u2019t fail,\u201d Claudia said, reflecting on her journey. \u201cBut many people see failure as the end, instead of as a learning experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

On hard days, when getting out of bed feels impossible \u2014 when even the simple acts of showering and dressing require immense effort \u2014 Claudia gathers her strength and prepares herself to go to treatments at the UCHealth Cancer Care and Hematology Clinic \u2013 Loveland<\/a>, a place that serves as a refuge for her.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018I\u00b4m deeply grateful for a medical center that supports me, treats me, a place I can call my safe space.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

In her writing, Claudia explores ups and downs, the coexistence of strength and vulnerability \u2014 conflicting emotions.<\/p>\n

Mental health tools to navigate difficult diagnoses<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Journaling, according to UCHealth mental health experts Arnold Cant\u00fa<\/a>, a psychotherapist\u00a0at UCHealth Primary Care \u2013 Lake Street in Fort Collins<\/a>, and Anna Sihon<\/a>, a licensed clinical social worker at the Aspire UCHealth Primary Care Clinic,<\/a> is a reliable tool to help patients navigate a health journey.<\/p>\n

\u201cA cancer diagnosis or any life-threatening situation forces you to see life in a way you might not have before,\u201d Cant\u00fa said. \u201cWe tend to think we\u2019re invincible, that death is something far off in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

When confronted with that fragility, Claudia chose to face her condition with the best attitude she could.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes we have to adapt to new circumstances,\u201d Claudia said. \u201cI no longer work because of my condition, and I miss it. But I also know that before, I didn\u2019t enjoy many things because I didn\u2019t have the time. Now I do. I wake up later, have my coffee and enjoy the birds singing. In these small, quiet moments, life reveals its beauty \u2014 moments that often go unnoticed until they become essential.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Cant\u00fa has heard many patients speak of enjoying what once went unnoticed.<\/p>\n

\"Arnold
Arnold Cant\u00fa, psychotherapist, discusses journaling as a helpful mental health tool during a cancer diagnosis.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThere are usually two sides to the same coin,\u201d Cant\u00fa said. \u201cFor some people, dealing with a difficult diagnosis forces a confrontation with mortality, which can be terrifying \u2014 we all experienced that during the Covid-19 pandemic. But the other side is that people begin to appreciate life more.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Claudia, that shift in perspective has been profound. Time with her family \u2014watching her children grow, sharing moments with her grandchildren \u2014 has taken on a deeper meaning.<\/p>\n

Her eldest son, Kevin Corral, 33, serves in the Army and is currently on a mission in Mexico. Her youngest daughter, Kiara Delgado is 20, and in college. Claudia adores her two grandchildren and her daughter-in-law.<\/p>\n

In one of her writings, Claudia reflects on how \u201cchaos\u201d can enter our lives as a catalyst for growth:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe become so comfortable within the circles we inhabit. Then, when something disrupts that comfort, we feel fear and resist change. Stepping into the unknown can be deeply unsettling. But with the twists and turns of life, and whatever destiny \u2014 or God \u2014 has written for us, our lives can fall into chaos. In those moments, we can either remain in fear or choose to adapt and learn to live with what is new.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

For Claudia, adversity is complex \u2014 often painful \u2014 but it is also a force that brings transformation.<\/p>\n

\u201cGratitude should always live within us,\u201d she said. \u201cI will never say I am grateful for having cancer \u2014 I\u2019m not. But I am grateful for what it has taught me to appreciate: My health, and how fragile and short life can be. Even in the midst of this, I have found the courage to truly enjoy each moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Journaling: The art of preserving and processing experience<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cWriting can bring clarity, perspective, and emotional relief,\u201d Cant\u00fa said.<\/p>\n

By translating thoughts and feelings into words, journaling helps people make sense of their inner experiences and better understand their emotions, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt can be a tool to see circumstances and situations through a different lens,\u201d Cant\u00fa said. \u201cIt helps create a new perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n

A safe space to express emotions<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When done properly, journaling can lead to personal growth, according to the National Alliance on Mental Health: <\/a>\u2018\u2018Life is a cycle of events, ideas, stir of information, surprises and frustrations. And without a proper way to release negative emotions, accumulated thoughts and feelings can lead to emotional turmoil. Journaling may not solve the problem, but it does free up mental space, help understand triggers and patterns.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Journaling can also be a tool for recording experiences and tracking information that can later be shared with a therapist or doctor, Sihon said.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2019Journaling can be helpful in terms of the function for each person. Sometimes we need to express emotions we do not feel comfortable speaking aloud,\u2019\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n

Journaling can also have different formats.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018For some people, journaling is more creative. You could collage, you could draw, you could write poems, this is a space where you take what’s in your body and your brain, and put it on a page,\u2019\u2019 Sihon said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s like documenting your daily life,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor example: What did I do today? What was my pain level? How anxious did I feel? Did I take my medications? How did I eat? Did I take care of myself?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Anna
Anna Sihon, licensed clinical social worker.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sihon, who before joining UCHealth served as a Peace Corps<\/a> volunteer in Latin America, said that experience shaped her perspective by exposing her to diverse communities facing complex challenges.<\/p>\n

Documenting experiences and sharing them with medical providers can be a valuable tool for both patient care and self-awareness. The practice may also help with a deeper understanding of how daily routines and habits influence overall well-being, Sihon said.<\/p>\n

\u201cChanges in eating habits \u2014 whether someone is eating too little or too much \u2014 can be an important signal,\u201d she said. \u201cThe same goes for sleep patterns, whether a person is not sleeping at all or sleeping excessively.\u201d She emphasized the importance of observing and registering this daily functioning.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf someone is no longer maintaining personal hygiene \u2014 showering, getting dressed, or taking care of their living space in the way they used to \u2014 that can indicate that something deeper is going on,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Sometimes \u2014 she added \u2014 the signs are more subtle.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can often sense where someone is emotionally based on how they present themselves,\u201d Sihon said. \u201cIf a patient appears unkempt or there\u2019s a noticeable change, I might gently ask questions like, \u2018How have you been feeling? How is your sleep? How is your pain?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

These conversations help determine whether the underlying issue is related to mental health, physical health, or a combination of both, she said.<\/p>\n

A whole-person approach<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"\u201cAll
\u201cAll of a sudden, my life changed completely, but not my convictions or the way I choose to enjoy the moments that come my way,\u201d Claudia wrote in her journal. In the background, you can see Loveland Lake. Photo by Ana Gretchen Robleto, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cant\u00fa and Sihon emphasize the importance of a whole-person approach \u2014 one that considers not only a person\u2019s physical condition, but also their mental and emotional health, as well as the broader context in which they live.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important that we always keep in mind that there are context and circumstances behind any of our struggles,\u201d Cant\u00fa said. \u201cI try to think of the person as a whole \u2014 their support system, where they live, whether they have sufficient resources, and if they are financially stable.\u201d<\/p>\n

All these factors, he explained, play a critical role in overall well-being.<\/p>\n

This perspective echoes the words of Spanish philosopher Jos\u00e9 Ortega y Gasset<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Yo soy yo y mi circunstancia, y si no la salvo a ella, no me salvo yo. (<\/em>I am my circumstances, and if I do not save them, I cannot save myself.)<\/div><\/div><\/h4>\n

Making the most of every opportunity to live like there is a tomorrow <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Claudia also turns to music as a way to recharge and stay positive.<\/p>\n

In May of this year, she attended a concert by one of her favorite artists, Alejandro Fern\u00e1ndez<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started to feel sick during the concert, but even then, I still enjoyed it,\u201d Claudia said. \u201cI always try to keep the best attitude, even on the hardest days.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her journey has included surgeries, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy \u2014 each bringing its own physical and emotional challenges. Sometimes, even going to have blood drawn every three weeks can make her feel like crying, something she\u2019s documented in her journal.<\/p>\n

Through it all, she is committed to making it to her appointments and determined to do everything she can to live the best life she can.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we face a difficult diagnosis, it\u2019s normal to worry,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I try to approach it with the best attitude I can and to keep going, even if I fail. What truly matters is what we learn through the process,\u201d Claudia said.<\/p>\n

The power of emotional and mental support<\/strong><\/h2>\n

What other steps can help support emotional and mental well-being when facing a difficult health diagnosis?<\/p>\n

In Cant\u00fa\u2019s clinical experience, one of the most important steps is finding peace within oneself and with others.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we are faced with a cancer diagnosis or another life-threatening condition, we want to make sure we have as few regrets as possible,\u201d Cant\u00fa said.<\/p>\n

Part of that process often involves repairing and strengthening relationships with family and friends \u2014 an effort that can be healing.<\/p>\n

The importance of support systems<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Cancer may begin in the body, but its impact extends far beyond the physical. It touches every aspect of a person\u2019s life \u2014 relationships, sense of identity, and emotional well-being.<\/p>\n

This is why support systems, including cancer support groups and nurse navigators<\/a>, play a crucial role. These tools offer guidance, understanding, and practical support throughout patients\u2019 journeys.<\/p>\n

\"Diane
Diane Reider, medical oncology nurse practitioner.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For Claudia, her nurse, Diane Elizabeth Reider<\/a> \u2014 who works with patients at the UCHealth Cancer Care and Hematology Clinic – Harmony Campus<\/a> in Fort Collins \u2014 has been a vital part of that support system, offering both clinical guidance and emotional care.<\/p>\n

Claudia even shared a TikTok video of herself dancing with her nurse, celebrating one of the \u201cgood days\u201d at the clinic \u2014 a moment of joy amid the challenges.<\/p>\n

Reider is a medical oncology nurse practitioner who supports Dr. Chelsea Gawryletz, Claudia’s breast oncologist at Harmony Cancer Center in Fort Collins.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018Caring for Claudia embodies the best aspects of my job \u2014 building close relationships with patients, finding joy in the midst of hardship, treating the entire person \u2014 not simply the disease,\u2019\u2019 Reider said.<\/p>\n

She describes Claudia as a shining beacon of light.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018Every time I see her, I leave the room smiling, laughing, often dancing. Her positive attitude is contagious despite the physical hardships she faces from metastatic breast cancer. She meets adversity head-on and is determined to live life to its fullest.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Patient-centered care, a commitment to putting\u00a0patients first<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The words \u201cYou have cancer,” are heard every 15 seconds<\/a> by someone in the U.S., according to experts at the American Cancer Society. Cancer is a disruptive condition.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018Cancer is a life-changing diagnosis that impacts every aspect of the individual. This is why patient-centered care is so critical in oncologic treatment,\u2019\u2019 Reider said.<\/p>\n

Claudia has also participated in support programs for cancer patients, including oncology massage and acupuncture. These integrative therapies can help relieve stress and ease symptoms caused both by the disease and by the treatments required to fight it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need this kind of support because the mental aspect is fundamental,\u201d Claudia said, reflecting on the importance of integrative care.<\/p>\n

Oncology massage uses modified techniques tailored specifically for individuals living with cancer or in recovery, while acupuncture can help address a range of treatment side effects.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018Integrative medicine<\/a> can play a crucial role in this. Finding ways to treat the entire person with a focus on mental health, spirituality, social support, lifestyle changes, as well as traditional cancer treatments, embodies our team’s approach to cancer care. Claudia is a great example of this,\u2019\u2019 Reider said.<\/p>\n

Claudia\u2019s journey is defined not only by resilience but also by her ability to find meaning in an uncertain time. She has learned to embrace change, to hold on to what matters, and to move forward with intention and hope.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have adapted to this new stage of my life. I try to see all the goodness that life offers me \u2014 which, I assure you, is a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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