In the Spring of 2017, while I was in the process of getting diagnosed and beginning treatment for Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer, both of my boys had a birthday. My eldest turned four (4) and my youngest turned two (2). Some of my most vivid memories of that time period (so much of it … Continue reading Celebrating Holidays with MBC
Category: Advocacy
Unseen and Unheard, Part II
If you didn't get a chance to read part I, you can access that here for context. I started with the negatives, the struggles of living with an invisible illness and it was heart wrenching to write and then to read it over. Sometimes I think I'm so focused on just getting through the day, … Continue reading Unseen and Unheard, Part II
A Worthy Cause
I wanted to share a post from a dear friend of mine who sells Colorstreet nail covers, Sheila. Check out the link and consider ordering these nail covers for yourself or someone you love. I placed mine and am really happy to support a company who is putting their money where their mouths are!! Speechless. … Continue reading A Worthy Cause
To Pink or Not to Pink, that is the question
Recently, in a metastatic breast cancer support group, a member asked that we discuss how each of us were reacting to the annual pink saturation that is coming up in October. The member who brought up the issue expressed some struggles with the fact that so many of the fundraisers involve bras or other sexualized … Continue reading To Pink or Not to Pink, that is the question
To Boost or Not To Boost, that is the question …
There is so much information in the news, in print, discussed online and seemingly everywhere else about the COVID vaccines, how many doses and when and now the possibility of a booster. The needle seems to move daily on what we know and what we don't know since much of the monitoring of the efficacy … Continue reading To Boost or Not To Boost, that is the question …
Extravasation
Ok, the first time I heard this word, I confess that I was confused. Extra, what? And then I learned more and I knew that I needed to share. The formal definition of "Extravasation" from the National Institute of Cancer is: "The leakage of blood, lymph, or other fluid, such as an anticancer drug, from … Continue reading Extravasation
Doctors and patients
Before my Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) diagnosis, I went to the doctor once a year for my well-woman visit with my OB-GYN. My husband prodded me to get a Primary Care Physician (PCP) many times over the years, but since I rarely got sick, I never saw the need. I'd head to urgent … Continue reading Doctors and patients
Younger
Over the past several months, as the pain in my jaw increased and I had to take more and more pain medication to manage it, I ended up spending a lot of time in bed, reading or watching shows on Netflix or other subscriptions. One such show I found myself binge watching recently is the … Continue reading Younger
The Pros and Cons of Community
I've written before about the benefits of the Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) Community as well as the cons that we often experience due to the cliques and other struggles. I just wrote again about how often those of us who are hurting then hurt others. The weekend of July 17th, I traveled to New York … Continue reading The Pros and Cons of Community
JOMO IRL
I heard this term recently somewhere (and I totally forget where) and it stands for: THE JOY OF MISSING OUT ON/IN REAL LIFE What?!? Sounds totally counter-intuitive but bear with me ... As we come out of some of the significant restrictions from COVID and so many things begin to re-open, I am struck by … Continue reading JOMO IRL
No Half Measures 