
Steven Petrow
Columnist at The Washington Post
Contributor at HuffPost
New book "The Joy You Make" on sale now! I write for @USAToday, @WashingtonPost, @NYTimes. Author of "Stupid Things I Won't Do When I Get Old."
Articles
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1 week ago |
washingtonpost.com | Steven Petrow
‘Toxic positivity’ denies real feelings. Here’s how to do better. (washingtonpost.com) ‘Toxic positivity’ denies real feelings. Here’s how to do better. By Steven Petrow 2025052412002200 I was recently texting with a friend when he paused for a moment before writing back: Him: "Full disclosure here. I'm having a biopsy next week for a growth on my bladder." Me: "Thanks for telling me. … You know I had testicular cancer?
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2 weeks ago |
usatoday.com | Steven Petrow
Earlier this week, former president Joe Biden announced that he’d been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. For the millions of us who’ve been told, “You have cancer,” this kind of diagnosis is a deeply personal and painful moment that takes time to absorb. Then, we’re faced with what seems like a zillion other questions, including whether to reveal the diagnosis and to whom. It was wrenching when I heard those three words when I was only 26.
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2 weeks ago |
estadao.com.br | Steven Petrow
Aos 26 anos de idade, um oncologista que eu tinha acabado de conhecer me disse que eu estava com câncer. Minha reação foi bem apropriada: vomitei. Fui a primeira pessoa do meu grupo de amigos a receber um diagnóstico de câncer. Ninguém sabia o que dizer ou o que fazer por mim. É por isso que manchetes como “Câncer está crescendo entre jovens” me abalam profundamente.
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4 weeks ago |
inquirer.com | Steven Petrow
When I was 26 years old, an oncologist I’d only just met told me I had cancer. My response was appropriate; I vomited. I was the first person among my peers to get a cancer diagnosis. No one knew what to say or do for me. That’s why news headlines like “Cancer Is on the Rise in Younger Adults” hit me hard. Worldwide, the incidence of early-onset cancers (those 18-49) has surged almost 80% between 1990 and 2019; deaths from these cancers increased almost 30% over that same time.
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1 month ago |
usatoday.com | Steven Petrow
Right after Labor Day, I started on my book tour for "The Joy You Make." In one way, it seemed like the wrong time to extoll the virtues of joy. Whether red, blue or purple, we were all facing the November elections, economic worries, the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, and for me, in western North Carolina, the devastation left by Hurricane Helene. To be honest, just writing that long sentence boosted my cortisol levels.
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My latest in the @washingtonpost about how my internalized ageism surprised me #ageism #reframingageism

Guest column by Steven Petrow: It took me time to understand that there are different ways to understand ageism, including what researchers call “internalized ageism,” or discriminating against oneself. https://t.co/BFzwK4Py1F

RT @NWS: Don’t forget to check out and bookmark our one-stop shop for #Helene information at https://t.co/ZNtl4xGiks https://t.co/rQaXwUBIhg

What a pleasure it was for me to return to the Five Points Center for Active Adults to present the documentary, Silent Pioneers, and led a conversation with an engaging group of LGBTQIA+ elders. Thanks to Jimmie Overton and Tawnie Gong. https://t.co/VRQZ3NeIDr