Author: Abigail Johnston

I'm a daughter, a wife, a mother, and I've been living with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer since March, 2017. All of the words I publish are my own.

BCAM: A Wrap Up

Still hanging in there? I get tunnel vision at times and focus on one issue or one thing to the exclusion of most everything else. This can be useful at times, like preparing for a trial or a surgery or getting a project done; at the same time, it can be problematic as well. For … Continue reading BCAM: A Wrap Up →

BCAM: October 31st

It's been quite the month, right? If you have stuck with me this whole month of facts and information about Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC), you deserve a medal! Go ahead and pat yourself on the back for getting to the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) 2020 a/k/a Pinktober a/k/a Stinktober. And now remember … Continue reading BCAM: October 31st →

BCAM: October 30th

Labels. Labels are fraught with meaning and can be difficult for a variety of meanings. Adiba tackles the label survivor in this way ... Breast Cancer Survivor. What does that actually mean? Should I that live with metastatic breast cancer ever be called a survivor? I say no! Please don't call me that!You hear breast … Continue reading BCAM: October 30th →

BCAM: October 29th

Depression. Mental Illness. Anxiety. Struggle. I'm not ok. These are all words and phrases that are incredibly powerful, important, and necessary at times. Yet, there is a stigma. Many people who struggle, do so in silence, do so under the radar, do so without talking about it. I'm sure there are many reasons why someone … Continue reading BCAM: October 29th →

BCAM: October 28th

Pain. It's my constant companion. Adiba and I share the status of having bone only metastases. While having bone only metastases is associated with a statistically longer life expectancy (approximately 10 years rather than the overall 2-3 year median life expectancy), the constant and chronic pain can really wear on a person. Here's how Adiba … Continue reading BCAM: October 28th →

BCAM: October 27th

Estrogen. It's a hormone that I never really paid attention to until I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Because my subtype is hormone positive, that means my subtype is fueled by hormones. The hormones that fuel my cancer are estrogen and progesterone. So, as soon as possible after I began treatment, my doctor … Continue reading BCAM: October 27th →

BCAM: October 26th

Every time a person shares they have cancer, there are a variety of questions from a variety of people, family, friends and strangers alike. Some of them go along these lines ... "Did you take birth control?" .... "Do you smoke?" .... "Are you overweight?" .... "How much alcohol do you drink?" ... "Is there … Continue reading BCAM: October 26th →

BCAM: October 25th

I've mentioned the SEER program a few times this month and promised to share more. Well, here it is! SEER stands for "Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program." and can be accessed here. The bill that created it was signed by President Nixon, so it's been around for a long time. Any database that has … Continue reading BCAM: October 25th →

BCAM: October 24th

Medication--those of us with Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC), we take a LOT of medication, every day. Sometimes, we have no choice as to the modality or location the medication is taken. Some examples of the modality are: 1) pill; 2) injection; or 3) infusion. Some examples of location are: 1) home; 2) doctor's office; 3) … Continue reading BCAM: October 24th →

BCAM: October 23rd

Advocacy. What is advocacy? Adiba demonstrates one element of advocacy, testifying before elected officials here ... Does this seem daunting? Not everyone will testify before Congress in Washington, D.C., although I have to say I that's one of my goals! Each and every person can advocate in their own ways; the quiet, unacknowledged, and ongoing … Continue reading BCAM: October 23rd →