Coming Soon… Our 58th Issue
SURVIVORSHIP
Vol. 11, Issue No. 1
Feb / Mar 2026
“Because survival [alone] is insufficient.” - Emily St. John, Station Eleven
Have you had the experience of scrolling back through pictures and come across a picture of yourself taken in the months/weeks/days leading up to your breast cancer diagnosis? Does it break your heart a little to think of that more innocent version of yourself who doesn’t yet know what is coming their way?
For many, one of the hardest aspects of a cancer experience is discovering how far-reaching the aftermath is. It’s challenging learning to live alongside the physical and emotional effects of diagnosis and treatment that linger. This is survivorship, and it begins the next minute after hearing the words “you have cancer.”
This beautiful issue leans toward hope and lessons learned in survivorship while honoring the fear, uncertainty, and courage that often fuel or complicate the process of living beyond diagnosis.
Paper Copy Dimensions
110 full-color pages on premium paper
Book size: 4.25” x 5.5”
Available as a dynamic digital download starting February 21st, 2026.
“ Survivorship is one of those words that looks simple on paper but gets complicated the moment you try to live inside it. ”
Our unique storytelling and thoughtful design put us in a category of our own.
The Survivorship issue is for you if...
You’ve felt a disconnect between what your life beyond the bell, beyond the last infusion feels like and what people expect you to feel.
You feel uncomfortable by the word “survivor,” or feel you don’t identify as a survivor.
You are still living with the aftershocks of cancer in your body, your mind, your relationships, or your sense of self.
You are living alongside metastatic disease and need space & language for the truth of your experience.
Survivorship has brought grief — for your body, your former identity, your plans, your sense of safety — alongside gratitude and growth.
You’ve had to advocate for yourself in medical rooms, work spaces, or relationships.
Survivorship has felt lonely, misunderstood, or oversimplified by celebration narratives.
You’re rebuilding after diagnosis, looking for hope anywhere you can… and you need to find others doing the same.
Wildfire Journal is not your typical cancer magazine. Below you’ll find a sampling of real pages from within this beautiful book-ish issue.
“ I refuse to romanticize cancer because there is nothing beautiful about trauma dressed up in survival language… Cancer may have rearranged this house, but it does not own it. ”
Underwriter Support Provided by:
Amy Banocy | AnaOno | For the Breast of Us | iRise Above Foundation | Pink Warrior Angels | Resensation | The Busted Tank
Meet Guest Editor & Cover Star
Marissa Thomas
Diagnosed at 35. Stage II.
“Survivorship is one of those words that looks simple on paper but gets complicated the moment you try to live inside it. My organization, For the Breast of Us, was built by women who were trying to make sense of life after a genetic mutation, after diagnosis, after treatment, after the dust settles… and sometimes while the dust is still very much in the air. What I know now is survivorship doesn’t follow a straight line. It shifts with every scan, every conversation with our doctors, every new chapter in our lives. And for Women of Color, that journey comes with layers most people never see.
That is why this issue of Wildfire means so much to me. We’ve spent years carving out a space where Women of Color can tell the truth about survivorship: the messy parts, the joyful parts, the unknowns, all of it. Our community has taught me over and over again that survivorship isn’t a finish line. It’s an ongoing experience that deserves honesty, support, and space to evolve. It’s the part of the cancer conversation where Women of Color are still missing far too often.” ~ Marissa
The “Survivorship” Writers
The storytelling approach we take in each issue of Wildfire is deeply community-driven. Our contributors are young survivors, thrivers, and fighters, writing from inside the experience—not looking back from a comfortable distance. Each piece is curated to foster connection, validation, and a sense of belonging, ensuring that when you pick up Wildfire, you see reflections of your own fears, hopes, and transformations.
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Nicole Briant
Fine jewelry designer and goldsmith. Diagnosed in 2025 at 42. IDC, de novo Stage IV, Triple Negative.
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Asmita Chattopadhyay
Content marketer, problems navigator, survivor. Diagnosed in 2021 at 29. DCIS, Stage II, ER+, BRCA1+. Current Lines of Treatment: Tamoxifen.
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Nicole Close
Filmmaker and founder of the Saltwatercure Fund. Diagnosed at 43. DCIS, ER+, HER2+.
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Brianna DeWitt
Physio and Pilates instructor. Diagnosed in 2020 at 30. IDC, Stage I, Triple Negative.
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Kelley Franks
Medically retired school social worker. Diagnosed at 36 and 41. IDC, Stage IIb, ER+, PR+. Stage IV, now evolving to include HER2-low. Current Lines of Treatment: Trodelvy (2 weeks on, 1 week off), Zometa every 3 months.
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Bridget Godwin
Physician, coach, researcher. Diagnosed in 2024 at 40. IDC, Stage II, Triple Positive. Current Lines of Treatment: Lupron, Anastrazole, and Zometa.
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Cheri Henderson
Diagnosed in 2019 at 39, IDC, Stage IIIa, ER+, PR+. Diagnosed in 2021 at 41, Stage IV, ER+, PR+, HER2 low. Current Lines of Treatment: Enhertu every 5 weeks, and just completed a 35th cycle!
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Teckla King-O’Connor
Medically retired. Diagnosed in 2016 at 37. IDC, Stage IV, ER+, PR+. In 2024 tumor expression mutated, currently ER-, PR -, HER2-low. Current Lines of Treatment: Enhertu.
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Katherine Kubarski
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Keneene Lewis
Director of admissions and recruitment. Diagnosed in 2019 at 39. IDC, Stage III, ER+, PR+.
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Desireé Maldonado
Private university assistant director of procurement services. Diagnosed at 44. IDC, Stage III, Triple Negative. Current Lines of Treatment: Lifelong physical therapy for secondary lymphedema caused by sentinel lymph node biopsy.
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Lisa Mannina-Sulzer
Medically retired (and struggling) pilot. Diagnosed in 2020 at 38. IDC, Stage I, ER+, PR+. Diagnosed in 2024 at 42 with Stage IV. Current Lines of Treatment: Anastrazole (Arimidex), Zometa, Lupron.
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Kamilah “Meek” Marsh
Therapeutic residential foster parent, mother, and holistic wellness advocate. Diagnosed in 2019 at 30. IDC, Stage III, ER+, PR+. Diagnosed in 2025 with a new and separate breast cancer.
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Meghan McCallum
Freelance writer and French to English translator. Diagnosed in 2018 at 32. Stage III, IDC, Triple Negative.
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Shari Schindel, Psy.D
Clinical psychologist and entrepreneur. Diagnosed in 2014 at 45 and 54. DCIS, ILC, Stage IIIc, ER+, PR+, and then Stage IV. Current Lines of Treatment: Ibrance, Elacestrant, Xgeva.
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Magen Schoonover
Stay-at-home mom, wife, student, public health activist. Diagnosed in 2024 at 32. Stage IIIc, Triple Negative. Current Lines of Treatment: Xeloda.
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Cara Nash Snyder
Professional patient. Diagnosed at 39. IDC, Stage III, Triple Negative, and then Stage IV. Current Lines of Treatment: Keytruda and MVASI.
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Nikki Taylor, MD
Breast cancer survivor, radiology resident, and nationally emerging advocate for early detection and health equity. Diagnosed at 40 in 2025. DCIS, Stage I, ER+, PR+. Current Lines of Treatment: Tamoxifen.
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Marissa Thomas
Program coordinator, thriver, patient advocate. Diagnosed at 35. Stage II.
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Cassandra Umbriaco
Registered psychotherapist. Diagnosed in 2013 at 28. IDC, Stage II, Triple Negative. BRCA1+.
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Regina Velasco
Professor. Diagnosed at 43. DCIS, Stage 0.
“ Vulnerability is a superpower I didn’t know I had before cancer. ”
At Wildfire, we are challenging the sterile, pink-washed narratives of traditional breast cancer media.
Each issue is a beautifully designed, book-quality collection of raw, moving, and visually rich personal essays, reflecting the reality of survivorship in all its complexity. By elevating the stories of those who have been marginalized in mainstream cancer conversations, we foster connection, advocacy, and a lasting legacy of truth-telling.
Our design philosophy is artful, immersive, and editorially rich. We blend evocative photography, bold typography, and modern layout design to create a reading experience that is both literary and visually compelling. This attention to aesthetics elevates the deeply personal narratives, reinforcing that breast cancer stories deserve the same level of artistry and care as any major literary publication.
Happy reading (and writing!).
— April Stearns, Founder & Editor-in-Chief
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