Our annual “BODY” issue is back for the seventh year! As always, this incredibly popular and poignant issue will cover all the body-related concerns and preoccupations that a breast cancer diagnosis brings. From breast changes to hair to body image issues to the physical symptoms of early menopause and treatment or surgery. Do you have a story to tell about your body and the changing landscape wrought by breast cancer?

Learn more about our submission guidelines here.

Desi Maldonado was diagnosed at 44 with Stage III triple negative breast cancer. She is an assistant director of procurement services, an artist, wife and grandmother. In this episode Desi reads her essay “Lymphedema” from the 2023 “New Normal” issue of Wildfire. Desi’s story is about living alongside secondary lymphedema -- a topic not discussed enough in the cancer space. April will explain what lymphedema is as she dives into Desi’s experience with it. April and Desi will talk about what set off Desi’s lymphedema, how lymphedema awareness and preventive measures get lost in the chaos of a cancer diagnosis, and occupying the complicated space of survivor’s guilt blended with a lymphedema struggle. They will also discuss the importance of sharing truths to help shoulder the load of our stories and reveal hope.

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We’re headed to San Francisco for the fourth stop on our book tour where we hear the authors from Igniting the Fire Within read their stories live. Stay tuned for more details.

They say when one person gets cancer, the whole family gets cancer. For this issue, “FAMILY: GENETIC LEGACY, PARENTING & (IN)FERTILITY,” we are exploring this idea. We are turning our focus to the home – how cancer affects our closest relationships. Think: fertility, infertility, parenting, family legacy of genetic predisposition for breast cancer, love and intimacy ... everything within your four walls.

The issue will officially be in the world and in your VIP Subscriber Library on April 20th. 

Shop individual issues in our Shop and view our complete archives here.

Chiara Riga of Santa Cruz, California, returns to The Burn for a second time. She is a marketing operations manager who was diagnosed at 27 with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. In this episode Chiara reads her essay “I Thought All Love Was Off the Table” from the 2023 “Love & Intimacy” issue of Wildfire.

Chiara’s story is about finding love after a breast cancer diagnosis, and putting hope back on the table. April and Chiara will talk about what it was like shifting from living with her caregiver mom and moving in with her partner, how to manage a container for cancer in a relationship, and the challenge of explaining cancer to her future in-laws with language and cultural barriers. They will also discuss planning life around cancer and share travel planning tips while living with MBC.

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Has cancer affected your relationship with your body?

We are diving into this question at our free April Pop-Up Writing Workshop. ⁠ ⁠⁠Think all things breast surgery, of course, but also the other body-related issues that a breast cancer diagnosis brings. From hair to body image issues, to the physical symptoms of early menopause to weight gain. To finding an identity within yourself only uncovered by chest surgery. ⁠⁠

Do you have a story to tell about your body and the changing landscape wrought by breast cancer? ⁠⁠Find your stories and meet others on the same path.⁠ Join me on April 16th and write to start to feel at home in your body again.

When: Tuesday, April 16, at 12:30pm PST / 3:30pm EST⁠

Where/How: Live via Zoom

Cost: FREE

This is a prompt-style expressive writing workshop to help you write and process your cancer story in a new way and connect with others who get it.⁠ We will write together and start to heal via connection at the same time.

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, Igniting the Fire Within, we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you. Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within. Enjoy!

This episode features Rebecca Hall reading her essay “Hair.”

Rebecca Hall. Writer, Certified Yoga Instructor, MBC Advocate (when not busy surviving, which is most of the time!) Diagnosed at 25. IDC, Stage III, Triple Positive. Diagnosed at 29, Stage IV. Santa Cruz, CA.

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Brittany Johnston was diagnosed at 33 with breast cancer just barely two years ago. In this episode Brittany reads her essay “Reintroduction” from the 2023 “New Normal” issue of Wildfire.

Brittany’s story is about navigating the new normal after a cancer diagnosis with its profound mental health components. April and Brittany will talk about the intersection of cancer and depression, taking the positives of cancer while simultaneously realizing the negatives, and the mental health gaps in oncology care. They will also discuss treating ourselves with compassion.

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Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, Igniting the Fire Within, we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you. Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within.

This episode features April Stearns reading AnnMarie’s essay “Just Hold Me.”

AnnMarie Giannino. Director of Communities at Lyfebulb. Diagnosed at 40. Stage I, IDC, ER+, PR+. Upstate NY.

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Deb Ontiveros is a Los Angeles native currently residing in Southern Utah. She is an interpreter, community health worker, and social justice activist for over 20 years. After being diagnosed with triple positive metastatic breast cancer at age 37, she has shifted her focus to breast cancer advocacy. Deb reads her essay “We Can Do Hard Things ” from the 2023 “MBC: Lessons Learned” issue of Wildfire. It’s a piece about what was learned living in the glare of uncertainty.

April and Deb will discuss the timing of and finding of your place in the breast cancer community, living by the words “what doesn’t kill me, nourishes me,” and reflections on losing people within the breast cancer community. They will also talk about feeling like an outsider when diagnosed young, and how Deb found connections with and became an ambassador for people of color within the breast cancer community. This episode includes explicit language, references to drugs and domestic violence.

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Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, Igniting the Fire Within, we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you. Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within.

This episode features April Stearns reading Cathy's essay “Unbreakable Bonds: Lifelines for a Lifetime.”

In memory of Cathy Parker. Real Estate Developer and Investor. Diagnosed at 35. IBC, Stage III, Triple Positive. Crewe, VA.

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This week we are sharing a favorite episode from the archives as we take a break from our regular podcast schedule for spring break. Wildfire production assistant Monica Haro selected this episode from February 2023 to reshare. Enjoy!

Holly Taylor was a sergeant in the US Army National Guard, and then became a kindergarten teacher. She was diagnosed at 37 with Stage IV breast cancer after earlier breast health concerns were dismissed. She is now a stay-at-home mom. In this episode Holly reads her stirring piece “I Want” from Wildfire Magazine’s 2022 “MBC: Legacy Stories” issue where she expresses all her wants that she desires for her young daughter. April and Holly will talk about what it was like for Holly to write and read this essay to her daughter, getting your wishes out of your body through writing, and how Holly keeps a memory legacy box for her daughter while living with metastatic disease. They will also discuss teaching breast health and self-advocacy to your children.

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Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, Igniting the Fire Within, we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you. Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within.

This episode features Vesna Zic-Côté reading her essay “SOS.”

Vesna Zic-Côté. Registered Nurse (retired class). Diagnosed at 38. IDC, Stage II. Diagnosed at 42. Stage IV, ER+, PR+. Ottowa, ON.

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Join April and the writers of the “Queer in Cancerland” issue live on the Zoom stage where their stories will come to life!

We need to continue to disrupt the notion of what “normal” is in a breast cancer experience. Storytelling is healing for many reasons, and high on the list is the power to spread awareness and empathy. There are hundreds of experiences, including many different queer experiences, and by making it safe for varied stories such as these to be shared, we are changing cancer.

RSVP to receive the Zoom link. Learn more.

Carrie Kreiswirth was diagnosed at 36 with triple negative breast cancer. Carrie helps encourage and empower others who have been on a similar cancer journey to her own. In this episode Carrie reads her essay “Ready for Love” from the 2019 “Love & Intimacy” issue of Wildfire. Carrie’s story is not only about dating after cancer, but the sucker punches that come out of nowhere in long term survivorship.

April and Carrie will talk about what it was like for Carrie to revisit this piece written five years prior, the challenges of being vulnerable with intimacy, and advice for those feeling closed off. They will also discuss Carrie’s reflections on motherhood and fertility, and what is coming up for her emotionally around that now. April and Carrie will share the why behind finding your place in the breast cancer community as a long-term survivor.

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Did you get your cancer diagnosis and immediately think, “Again?! But I’ve already done this!”? Our free March pop-up writing workshop is for you! We are focusing on those of you with a SECONDARY CANCER DIAGNOSIS.

This workshop is for you if:
- Your breast cancer diagnosis was not your first rodeo/brush with cancer
- You’ve been diagnosed with a localized breast cancer recurrence
- You experienced a metastatic recurrence
- You’ve now been diagnosed with a completely new type of cancer after your initial breast cancer diagnosis

This is a prompt-style expressive writing workshop to help you write and process your cancer story in a new way and connect with others who get it.⁠ If this is you, please join me on March 19th for a free pop-up writing workshop. We will write together and start to heal via connection at the same time.

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, Igniting the Fire Within, we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you. Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within.

This episode features April Stearns reading Kara’s essay “Fighting Pretty Again.”

Kara Frazier. Founder of Fighting Pretty, Marketing at OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. Diagnosed at 26. Stage III, ER+, HER2+. Portland, OR.

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Wang Shein in a program manager, advocate and serves on the advisory committee for the Advanced Breast Cancer Clinic at MD Anderson. In this episode Wang reads his essay “Let the Mirror Shatter” from the the 2023 “MBC: Lessons Learned” issue of Wildfire. Wang’s piece is a caretaker’s view of living life with no regrets alongside his metastatic thriver wife Janice Choe’s cancer diagnosis for 10 years. Janice was diagnosed at 33, and Wang was a wing mate to his best friend and partner since high school for 25 years until her passing in May 2022. April and Wang will talk about what it was like writing about losing his wife not long after she passed, turning wounds into scars, and his loving advice for patients from the caretaker perspective. They will also discuss Wang’s decision to stay working in Cancer Land, and finding glimmers in life.

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Private expressive writing workshop for the members of BAYS-MITC.

To attend or for more information contact Bay Area Young Survivors.

If you'd like to learn more about having April nurture your organization members with a writing workshop, email us at editor@wildfirecommunity.org.

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, Igniting the Fire Within, we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you. Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within.

This episode features April Stearns reading Christi’s essay “Privilege.”

Christi Salcedo. BSN, RN. Diagnosed at 30. IDC, Stage IIb, ER+. Sacramento, CA.

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Tuesday, March 5th, is the anniversary of the first issue of Wildfire Magazine launching into the world in 2016 - NINE YEARS ago! Join us on IG to chat about this Wildfire milestone live on Thursday, Mar 7 at 12p PT / 3p ET.

This episode is a tropical postcard coming from our guest Tara Coyote who recorded with us from her yurt in Hawaii. The soothing cacophony of sounds surrounding her island space compliment the reading of her essay “Mermaid” from the 2023 “Travel” issue of Wildfire. It’s a piece about finding a mermaid life and living large while living with metastatic breast cancer. Tara was diagnosed at 46 with cancer. She is the founder of Wind Horse Sanctuary, an author and a dancer. April and Tara will discuss Tara’s decision to go to mermaid school, finding joy to live fully, and Tara’s philosophy to live large and push out of comfort zones. They will also talk about the physical and emotional medicine of being in water. Tara will also share what she learned about herself on a trip to swim with whales, as well as her future live large adventure plans.

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Wildfire is turning 9 years old - that's 9 years of storytelling on the front lines of the younger breast cancer experience to change the landscape of survivorship. 
To celebrate, we are having a huge sale! 20% savings applied automatically at checkout. 

Save on individual magazine issues you don't yet have in your print collection, the Wildfire book, and notebook. And it's a great time to sign up for a spring writing workshop: Sparks or Fire Starters!

Limited sale & limited supplies. Check it out now!

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, Igniting the Fire Within, we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you. Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within.

This episode features Diana Mae Vega reading her essay “I Call Her Mother.”

Diana Mae Vega. RN, BSN, PCCN. Diagnosed at 29. Stage II, Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma, ER+. Orange, California.

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Tasha Carlson is physician who was diagnosed at 40 with DCIS at her very first mammogram. In this episode Tasha reads her essay “Learning from Regrets” from the 2023 “Body” issue of WILDFIRE. Tasha’s story is about going from physician to patient and the incredible pressure to make decisions quickly in cancer treatment that you could be living with – hopefully living with – for a very long time. April will ask Tasha about coming to a place where she felt like she could give herself permission for more research, additional opinions, and finding a soft landing spot of community. April and Tasha will also discuss the changes for the better that have happened after cancer and cancer’s influence on Tasha’s career.

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They say when one person gets cancer, the whole family gets cancer. For this issue, “FAMILY: GENETIC LEGACY, PARENTING & (IN)FERTILITY,” we are exploring this idea. We are turning our focus to the home – how cancer affects our closest relationships. Think: fertility, infertility, parenting, family legacy of genetic predisposition for breast cancer, love and intimacy ... everything within your four walls. We want to know how your diagnosis has impacted your life together.

Submission Deadline: February 25, 2024

Learn more about our submission guidelines here.

Ripped from the pages of the popular Wildfire Magazine anthology, Igniting the Fire Within, we’ve curated this special mini podcast for you. Each Friday, hear a new bite-sized episode. Featuring “just the stories” from the book read by the authors. Think of this as your dynamic audiobook version of Igniting the Fire Within.

This episode features April Stearns reading “The Lemonade Date” by Danielle Thurston.

In memory of Danielle Thurston. Mother, Teacher. Diagnosed at 33. Stage II. Diagnosed at 35. Stage IV.

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Anna Wassman-Cox is a wife, dog mom, and dancer who has faced cancer twice. Anna was diagnosed at 25 with Stage II Triple Positive breast cancer and then a local recurrence at 29. In this episode Anna reads her essay “My Body is a Changing Landscape” from the 2023 “Body” issue of Wildfire. Anna’s story is about striving for a better relationship with her body after so much change. April and Anna will talk about navigating cancer a second time with prior knowledge of what to expect after having been there before, what drinking has looked like, and getting back in touch with your body through dance. April and Anna will also discuss the incredible healing work Anna is doing with ballet for oncology patients because ballet movement is for every body.

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Our free February pop-up writing workshop is here! This time we are focusing on those of you diagnosed with genetic mutations that predispose you to a breast cancer diagnosis (as well as other cancers). We want to help you find your people.⁠ This is a prompt-style expressive writing workshop to help you write and process your breast cancer story in a new way — and connect with others who share your same genetic diagnosis.⁠

If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer under 50 and a genetic mutation (including a variant of unknown significance) OR have a strong family lineage of breast cancer, join me on February 20th for a free pop-up writing workshop. We will write together and start to heal at the same time.