Nearly all of us know someone whose life has been devastated by cancer. But, as most who’ve had the disease will say, it’s difficult to comprehend cancer’s toll without firsthand experience.

Today’s interview with Julie Cowdin is the second in a series about people coping with cancer.

Breast cancer ranks second to lung cancer as a killer of women. Some 2,000 new cases of breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in Kansas this year and nearly 330 will die from the disease.

Julie was one of a dozen women along with one man who met on Wednesdays at Lawrence Memorial Hospital to write about their cancer experiences. The workshop was designed to benefit those recovering from cancer and their loved ones. Some participants spoke with us.

The next free workshop, sponsored by LMH, begins Feb. 22 and runs through April 5. “Your Life is Your Life: Writing for Hope and Healing” is run by Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, an author, cancer survivor and Lawrence resident.

To register, contact ConnectCare at 749-5800.