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.

Expectations, Part I

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about expectations and particularly the expectations that have been unfulfilled in my life since I've been dealing with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC). For me, I often don't realize in the moment when something happens (or doesn't happen) that an expectation has been unfulfilled, it's usually once I … Continue reading Expectations, Part I →

Ordinary Love

One of the things we talk about regularly in our Stage IV cancer support groups is how often the media gets it wrong with the language that is used and when. We hear "She lost her battle" regularly and the commercials for various cancer medication are often nauseatingly upbeat with a lack of the miserable … Continue reading Ordinary Love →

Electronic Resources, Overview

I’ve often said that those of us in the breast cancer community are in the best position to know what would be helpful to the community. The men and women I’ve met in the last three years have more than impressed me with their creativity and commitment to helping others without asking anything in return. … Continue reading Electronic Resources, Overview →

Electronic Resources, LBBC

In this unprecedented time, many organizations are pivoting to provide the same or similar resources electronically. The organizations who are having to adjust range from government, to non-profits, to public health, to for profit companies. Frankly, I’ve been blown away and significantly impressed at how breast cancer organizations have been able to continue to do … Continue reading Electronic Resources, LBBC →

Reblog: Fibromyalgia Awareness Day: Quality of life impact

I’m sharing this blog, that I didn’t write, about an illness that several dear friends deal with. Read on ... May 12th is Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. The day I talk about Fibromyalgia More than usual to spread awareness and reduce stigma. A brief history of …Fibromyalgia Awareness Day: Quality of life impact

Compassion Fatigue

I was talking to a friend the other day about some frustrations with fundraising. She mentioned that it seems that some people are no longer exercised or stirred up about various issues in the world, particularly those of us who are continuing to die at a rate of 115-116 people every day in the United … Continue reading Compassion Fatigue →

Statistics

I'm not a statistician and I struggled in the one statistics class I had to take in college. This is not about how to calculate or how to understand statistics as I'm so not the person to hand out that information. This post is to explore the uneasy relationship those of us with Stage IV … Continue reading Statistics →

Experience applying for disability benefits

Disclaimer: I'm a lawyer in Florida only and this post is about my personal experiences applying for disability benefits. Nothing in this post or in any of my other posts should be considered legal advice. If you have legal questions, you should get in touch with a legal professional with experience in the issues you … Continue reading Experience applying for disability benefits →

Experimentation Update

I’ve now been on the experimental combination of Piqray (alpelisib) and Kisquali (ribociclib) for an entire 28 day cycle and a handful of days. I missed some doses in the first cycle of Kisquali when I was hospitalized and in my efforts to figure out the best time to take both. No PET yet to … Continue reading Experimentation Update →

Mental health and Metastatic Breast Cancer

Mental health and the ability to handle the emotional and psychological affects of living with a terminal disease is a tricky topic. There is still a general stigma in the community at large about mental health and seeking treatment for mental health struggles. I see this stigma far less within the metastatic breast cancer community … Continue reading Mental health and Metastatic Breast Cancer →