Zach Sobiech was someone many of you never heard of a few months ago.. At the tender age of 14, Zach was stricken with an absolutely vicious cancer called osteosarcoma. After his last round, he went in for his check-up... expecting to hear good news. What he got was something out of a nightmare.

Little did my husband and I know that a mere four years after reciting our vows, we would be asked to live up to them. That was when we discovered that Alex had advanced testicular cancer, and his surgery and chemotherapy treatment would begin right away.

We all know that cancer changes a person forever. It clearly changes us physically. It also changes us emotionally. Now here's the part no one really tells you: Cancer really does a number on your sexuality, especially us women.

Nobody ever really expects to be diagnosed with cancer, but as a 20-year-old college student, I definitely wasn't prepared.

We have two choices about how we handle painful life experiences: from a place of fear or optimism. When I was sick I chose (and it was a very active, decisive choice) optimism in the form of Silver Linings.

Having been a former outpatient at a pediatric health center, it was a unique experience for me to be on the other side of the fence talking about the experience of pediatric patients transitioning from pediatric to adult health care. I had the opportunity to catch up with Mike Lang last week to ask him about his adventure therapy organization, Survive & Thrive Expeditions.

Mom and I have reacted very differently to the news of my stage IV cancer. I was online within days writing posts about the steps I was taking. As my readers know, I'm very open about this part of my life. My mother, on the other hand, is much more private.

Angelina Jolie's openness about her decision to undergo mastectomies because of the BRCA1 mutation can help inspire countless women to face this difficult decision. Yet several obstacles exist that deserve attention, concerning doctors and costs of testing.

Perspective is important. We should all keep in mind that our problems could be worse, and that all suffering is relative. This can help us feel less overwhelmed by our own challenges, more grateful for our many blessings, and more compelled to empathize with and help others.

The fact that she made the announcement at all is significant. She could have kept her health issues private, just as she had done for the past several months. If and when the media learned of her surgery, she could have refused to comment.