breast cancer under 40
Thank You
If you haven’t already heard, we have some pretty awesome news: I just completed my treatment for breast cancer! I am so ready to get on with my life, but first I want to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who helped get me through the past 16 months since my diagnosis. […]
Wait. What?
a very crazy day in the life of a cancer patient – and thoughts on completing cancer treatment.
It’s Not the Same
Yesterday I spent the day manning the door at a wine-tasting representing 16 different local wineries. Every year, this event chooses a different charity to which the proceeds are donated. This year, the beneficiary was the Seattle affiliate of the Young Survival Coalition, which supports pre-menopausal women with breast cancer. Most people, as they came through the […]
My Chemo Buddy
My favorite chemo buddy, Gem, accompanied me to my Herceptin infusion on Friday. We also brought along a horse (of course), and some coloring materials. I made several attempts at taking a picture of us together where I didn’t look stoned or have my eyes closed no luck. but this picture just cracks me up […]
Walkthrough of Radiation Treatment for a Cancer Patient
Curious what radiation treatment is like for cancer patients? This post will walk you through one day of radiation treatment for a patient with breast cancer (me).
Three-Year-Old Beats Breast Cancer, Causes Me to Think
I spend a lot of time thinking about this diagnosis and how to manage the fear, particularly in reference to my daughter. How do I teach her to live her life at full speed, while still teaching her to take care. I don’t want to teach her to be fearful; I don’t want her to live a life of timidity and fear. On the other hand, I don’t want her to be dismissive of danger. Where do you find that balance?
Scarred
My attitude towards these scars is changing. Each scar tells a story, and since I’m still kicking, each scar represents a challenge I overcame. I’m learning to accept them as a kind of private little merit badge.
It Gets Real
She had warm eyes and the sweetest smile, but it was her wit that took my breath away. You had to pay attention because her comments were quiet, under-the-breath, but they would make you snort-laugh and shoot your champagne out your nose. To be honest, I didn’t know her very well, we only met a […]
Pinkwashing and Breast Cancer Awareness Month
As we wind down the end of October and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I’ve heard a number of complaints that go so far as to say we should just forget Breast Cancer Awareness Month altogether because of all the pinkwashing. What is pinkwashing? When corporate jerks slap a pink ribbon on a product or service […]
Cancer and Marriage
A marriage takes a lot of work; so does keeping a day job (or going to school), maintaining a home, and raising children. When you have cancer, there are times when the fight for your life takes more work than all of the above combined. Since my diagnosis, I have been reaching out to women […]