“Lord, help me be brave” This is what I prayed silently in my dentist’s chair several times over multiple visits as I had a root canal.  No matter how many shots of Novocaine he gave me, and despite the fact that I would consequently not feel my face for a week, I still felt pain… Continue reading Help Me Be Brave

As I changed into the very familiar eggplant colored ‘gown’, I thought, is this going to be another one of these ‘before – and – after’ moments?  And yet, I felt very calm. I had the same tech today for my mammogram that I had two weeks ago.  She remembered me, and there was something… Continue reading It’s Not “Real”

Today is the 2 year anniversary of getting my breast cancer diagnosis. There are days it seems like so long ago and yet others where it feels like it was just yesterday.  I will always remember that phone call from Dr. Kelly (who had done my biopsy) with such clarity. It’s been playing through my… Continue reading Anniversary Day

Monday  I headed into the Cancer Center for my survivorship appointment. I had absolutely no idea what to expect.  Would I meet a support group leader?  A counselor?  A nurse who works with my oncologist?  What would we talk about?  What exactly is “survivorship”? And there you have it.  The above, is survivorship. I met… Continue reading Survivorship

At this time every year, I begin filling out my new date book.  Yes, I’m old school. I don’t like to keep my calendar on my phone. I like to be able to hold my datebook and flip through the pages, using different writing utensils for various events. I begin by quickly jotting down contact… Continue reading Quick Look Back, Forward Focus

Hello readers! I have neglected my blog for too long!  Time to play a bit of catch-up. I know at some point in time I’ve mentioned on here that I was having pain in my left knee.  We (me and my doctor) had believed that I had a torn meniscus.  I went to an orthopedic… Continue reading Oi, My Aching Joints

In addition to yearly mammograms starting at age 40, we ladies are also all encouraged to do self exams at home. 20% of all breast cancer is discovered via physical exam rather than a mammogram; thus proving the importance of self-examination. Do you know how to do a self-exam? It involves both visual discernment as… Continue reading The Hands-On Approach

Awareness (noun): knowledge that something exists.. (Cambridge Dictionary) Its October. There is pink. There is lots and lots of pink. It is wonderful that people want to acknowledge the breast cancer epidemic. Its absolutely heartwarming when people wear it to support someone dear to them! But is awareness enough?  If all we do is acknowledge… Continue reading Is Awareness Enough?

Here I am 1 year into my 10 years of Tamoxifen, almost 6 months finished with Herceptin infusions, 1 year post-radiation, 14 months post-chemo, and 18 months post-lumpectomy and still I’m irritated every time I recall the ‘shoulds’. What are the ‘shoulds’ you may wonder.  They go a little something like this….. “You should forgo… Continue reading What Every Cancer Patient Wants You to Know

‘Why does Breast Cancer get so much attention?’ I’ve heard asked many times. I’m no expert, and can’t give one definitive answer, but I have some thoughts. Breast Cancer is the most common cancer in women after skin cancer.  1 in 8 American women will get breast cancer in their lifetime. 1 in 8 –… Continue reading October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month