My Ride on the Hodgkin’s Bus is down to earth, and spends time discussing the emotions that cancer patients and survivors go through, such as anger and fear. The blogger, a 31 year old woman with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, is refreshingly honest about her thoughts and feelings. For example, she writes that there are a lot of rare side effects and outcomes of treatment, but she’s not going to write about them “because they happen to Someone Else.” I think that’s what everyone thought before the word cancer was applied to them. The blogger is also a swimmer, and it’s great to see that she was able to return to her athletic activities, albeit with a bit of soreness.

The Adventures and Misadventures of One Miss Kelly Bergin is about the life of Kelly, who unfortunately has several medical issues, including lupus and thyroid cancer. She also has one brilliant sense of humor. She’s in her early twenties, and her writing is a breath of fresh air, when you’re not giggling incoherently at her posts. Kelly writes plainly about the ups and downs of cancer – a vacation to St. Maarten is definitely an advantage, but the cancer zits aren’t so funny. They seem funny, though, when Kelly writes about them. This is a can’t miss blog, with sharp humor, and Kelly’s unflinching look at herself, her talents and her shortcomings.

This is Freddy’s Cancer Blog - Freddy is a graduate student who was diagnosed with sarcoma and has recently experienced a recurrence. Freddy’s blog is unique for his appreciation of the simpler things in life, like baseball and spending time watching television and visiting with family. His blog has a very comforting tone that is easygoing and heartwarming. Freddy has some counseling background, and it’s interesting to see that even he has difficulty staying optimistic during hard times. I think the reason why that is comforting is because it’s so real.

Miss Melanoma was diagnosed with nodular malignant melanoma in May of 2005 and began to write Miss Melanoma: The Official Site for the Fun Side of Cancer. She currently is showing no evidence of disease. Miss Melanoma’s forte is her perfectly crafted inspirational posts. She writes about being in the moment, and simply noting your emotions and going with them. Some really cool and cute photos accompany these posts, as well as cancer comics that are almost guaranteed to make you giggle. Overall, a well-written blog that is fun and easy to read.

In My Blood Hates Me, Matt details his struggles and life with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. Matt has recently gone into remission, but also blogs about his experience with skydiving, and a recent trip to El Salvador. One of the really nice things about Matt’s blog is his photo and video clips of these events. The photos are beautiful, and make me wish that I could step into them. Not only is Matt bravely fighting cancer, he and his wife have also been trying to have a baby. Hopefully one of his next posts will have some happy news.

Heidi Adams, breast cancer survivor, blogs on the Planet Cancer blog. Heidi’s Hot Flashes is another blog geared towards young adults who have been stricken with cancer. These young men and women are absolutely amazing. Not only are they dealing with an extremely difficult disease, they are joining forces and taking action against cancer. They are also discussing how cancer will affect their choice of Halloween costume this year. The blog pokes fun at the cute way cancer is portrayed on television and in the movies, making fun of Mandy Moore’s impassioned performance in “A Walk to Remember.”

Lemon Margaritas: Musings of a Cancer Survivor Extraordinaire is a witty blog of a breast cancer survivor who recently became an adopted mother. Her writing style is carefree and charming. Lemon Margaritas has some wonderful information about bra-buying and foobs (the blogger’s term for fake boobs) presented in a humorous manner. One especially interesting entry is the top ten list about foobs, including the fact that it opens up new career opportunities, such as a position at Hooter’s. This blog had me hooked from the first entry. It’s an easy funny read.

The Stupid Cancer Blog is filled to the gills with fascinating tidbits of information and humorous comments. It is a blog written by several young adult contributors, all of whom are suffering from cancer. The one statement that sums up this blog is Matthew Zachary’s statement that “You have cancer. Blows doesn’t it.” You can also find articles on the website questioning why charitable foundations won’t take donations from exotic dancers, expressing glee over the fact that experts were wrong about the working condition of Lance Armstrong’s equipment, and striving to become a kitchen diva. An enjoyable blog written by brave and talented young adults, The Stupid Cancer Blog says it like it is.

What’s On My Mind is a well-written blog of a religious woman who was treated for brain cancer. Krista was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2005, and underwent surgery to remove the tumor. She is active in the Mormon church, and her blog is filled with information about church activities and her family. The blog also mentions Krista’s book, “Fertile in Our Faith,” which focuses on infertility and adoption. Krista’s blog is interesting and inspiring, demonstrating her courage and ability to seize and enjoy life. It’s also stuffed with fascinating tidbits about her religious faith and thought-provoking questions about topics like “tumor freeze.”