I am a big — humongous — believer in getting second opinions. There is no better or more important time in your life to have as much data and experience contributing to your health care as there is NOW. No, you are NOT “cheating” on your primary doctor by getting a second opinion. Pinky promise.… Continue reading Second Opinions During F-Bomb Cancer
Cancer
The Nuts and Bolts of Breast Cancer Staging
Hearing a diagnosis of FBC (f-bomb breast cancer) is an earth shattering and mind blowing experience all wrapped up in a box of disbelief. Less than 5% of what is heard at a diagnosis meeting is retained. It’s all so confusing and overwhelming. Even as a nurse, I shut down, emotionally and cognitively when I… Continue reading The Nuts and Bolts of Breast Cancer Staging
The Funk Zone: Coping with Side Effects of Cancer Treatment
After my 4th round of chemotherapy, I went into what I now refer to as The Funk Zone. Right after that 4th dose, I bought myself a 2 1/2 day stay in the hospital thanks to an infection with which my nearly-non-existent immune system could contend. I remember feeling so beleaguered (not to mention haggard)… Continue reading The Funk Zone: Coping with Side Effects of Cancer Treatment
Coping with Grief During the Holidays
While there is a whole heckuvalot of “Joy to the World” going on during this holiday season, I must admit that there is also a whole lotta “getting through” the holiday season, what with the gift giving, party going/giving, over consumption, etc. To complicate things, milestone events (e.g., holidays, anniversaries, birthdays, etc.) are by their… Continue reading Coping with Grief During the Holidays
A Classic
Hope you all are having a beautiful holiday! We have been very Merry and had lots of Silver Linings! So much so that I have decided to take Christmas Day off to fully celebrate and disconnect. It is for this reason combined with the fact that I have a dear friend who in in the… Continue reading A Classic
Cancer is Not a Gift
As I was Christmas shopping today, I chuckled to myself when I thought about all of the people who have said (in different iterations) to me, “Cancer is a gift. Look at what you are doing now. You would never have done this if you hadn’t had cancer.” Yes, people have said this. When this… Continue reading Cancer is Not a Gift
Do You Remember Me?
Last weekend I was at a party – a big party – and a woman came up to me and said (the dreaded line), “Do you remember me?” That question has always caused me a great deal of anxiety, perhaps because I am paralyzed with fear when I cannot remember someone’s name and more often… Continue reading Do You Remember Me?
Brain Cleanse
By late November, I realized that I had already put my ice skates on and was on the verge of going down the slippery slope of holiday indulgence. I looked something like this: Bread? Yummy! Champagne? Why not? Dessert? Sure! Fortunately, I saw that indulgence train getting ready to leave and I stopped it before… Continue reading Brain Cleanse
When a Parent Has Cancer
For the past few days, I’ve felt a little under the weather. It’s funny (not in a “Ha Ha” kind of way) how sensitive I still am…how just feeling puny can take me back to my FBC (f-bomb breast cancer for new readers) days. When I was first diagnosed with FBC, my first thought wasn’t… Continue reading When a Parent Has Cancer
Tumor Markers
The tumor marker test sends an icy chill down my spine. Why? Well, just look at the name. It is as advertised. My girlfriend who is going through FC (f’ing cancer) treatments right now just had a tumor marker test and after, she called asking what it is. Why aren’t these tests explained more clearly?… Continue reading Tumor Markers