Returning to Work After Cancer Treatment A dear reader wrote to me recently telling me that returning to work was a challenge not for reasons that you would think. It was challenging because colleagues treated her differently based on her changed appearance. Further, assumptions were made about her ability to perform her job, so much… Continue reading Returning to Work after Cancer Treatment: Co-Worker Adjustment
Breast Cancer Recovery & Remission
Tig Notaro: Life After Cancer
In the past week, I have heard about Tig Notaro and her life after breast cancer no less than three times, most recently via an interview on Refinery 29. I’m of the belief that when a story or person keeps entering your universe that I ought to pay attention. So I am. And thought that you might like… Continue reading Tig Notaro: Life After Cancer
Anxiety and Depression after Breast Cancer
The After period of FBC (f-bomb breast cancer for new readers) presents its own unique set of challenges. The anxiety and depression that sneaked in AFTER my breast cancer treatment was a real shocker. Once I was done with treatment, I thought I was done. However, yet again, FBC laughed right in my face! The fantastic… Continue reading Anxiety and Depression after Breast Cancer
Life After: Making Plans After Cancer
Making Plans After Cancer The other day, I had a long talk with one of my dearest friends who is nearing the end of her seemingly interminable year of treatment for (a different kind of) f-bomb cancer. Our conversation centered around the topic of life after cancer treatment, specifically the difficulty of making plans. We… Continue reading Life After: Making Plans After Cancer
Reverse Dodge Ball
In last week’s Girls Inc speech, I used a dodge ball analogy. Lots of people have been responding to it, so I thought I’d share it with you, dear readers. Let me begin by asking you a question: How many of you have ever played dodge ball? In elementary school, I loved it! In fact –… Continue reading Reverse Dodge Ball
Bone Scan After Chemotherapy
Last week, I went for a post-chemotherapy bone density scan. At 42, active, regaining stamina, and dutifully taking my vitamins, why would I need to worry about my bones, especially after surviving breast cancer and chemotherapy, you ask? Well, please allow me to explain. As you may recall, my form of FBC (f-bomb breast cancer)… Continue reading Bone Scan After Chemotherapy
Crazy Town
After having had f-bomb cancer, the thought of a potential of a recurrence is never far from my mind. A recurrence occurs when cancer comes back after treatment. It can come back in the same place as the original cancer or elsewhere in the body. While I don’t dwell on it (I really don’t!), I am… Continue reading Crazy Town
Silver Lining Lifelines
This month finds me in a very challenging period. I am working on a project that is all-consuming and full of blood, sweat and tears…literally. What I learned from my clinical work and now from my personal experience is that grief is reactivated. This process has triggered memories of my outrageously awful experiences during treatment. As… Continue reading Silver Lining Lifelines
Illness and Weather: The Great Equalizers
Today, I was supposed to be in Salt Lake City for the Alt Summit blogging conference. I was really excited about the learning and mingling opportunities. The morning started off really well with an on time departure from Santa Barbara at 5:30 am (yes, 5:30 AM…the Silver Lining is that I am a morning person) and another… Continue reading Illness and Weather: The Great Equalizers
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