Even before I went to graduate school to get an actual education degree, I've spent a lot of time in my life teaching. This role was given to me early on in life as the eldest of six and continued as we were all homeschooled, most of us through middle school. While we didn't have … Continue reading Presentations
Category: Advocacy
Different types of courage
I've written before about courage in the face of Adversity and how it takes a special kind of courage to keep going while living with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC). As I've been learning more about myself and my own personality, I realize that I tend to gravitate towards more concrete parts of courage … Continue reading Different types of courage
Wire Localization
Sounds a bit medieval, right? When I showed up for my pre-surgical appointment, I was told for the first time that a radiologist would be inserted wires in my breast tissue to guide the surgeon in ensuring that she cut precisely and removed both tumors and then weird space in between that looked like it … Continue reading Wire Localization
Cancer and COVID
Every now and again, I'm asked to participate in discussions about Cancer online. I suppose a byproduct of being open and vocal on social media means that other notice! Fazla Seker, MD is the CEO of Molli Surgical, which is involved in developing medical devices that makes surgery and other medical procedures easier on doctors … Continue reading Cancer and COVID
Why is Cancer Fatigue so debilitating?
When I was diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) in 2017, I thought I knew what fatigue was. I've powered through many nights of none or little sleep in my life, through graduate school, through starting a business that occupied every waking moment, through two pregnancies, and two children while managing said business. … Continue reading Why is Cancer Fatigue so debilitating?
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 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
No Half Measures 