The holidays are an exciting time of year. However, between the parties, stress and baked goods, it’s also a time when people tend to gain weight.

The holiday season can be challenging for cancer patients. From the stress of cooking, shopping and entertaining, to the emotional toll of trying to find joy during a difficult time, it’s okay to acknowledge that holidays with cancer may not be the cheerful season you are used to.

Life has a funny way of leading you down the right path, despite the plans you have for yourself. That path led me to a very special friendship.

Across the Roswell Park campus, waste of all kinds is collected for recycling. From fluorescent light bulbs and cell phones to refrigeration gases and wooden pallets, virtually every item is converted into something new or passed along for reuse.

I was diagnosed with an aggressive, stage IV breast cancer in 2013, after finding a lump. The cancer had already spread to five organs, including my brain. I was therefore immediately considered a terminal case.

Thanksgiving is the time when we try to be thankful for what we have, to enjoy the company of our friends and family over a nice meal, and for many of us, it's the official start to the holidays.