I've seen others living with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) talk about bonus birthdays, those birthdays after a serious diagnosis, and I've decided to adopt this terminology. I turned thirty-nine (39) a few months after my de novo diagnosis in 2017 and today, in 2022, I'm turning forty-four (44). It's not so much as … Continue reading 6th Bonus Birthday, 2022
During the recent San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), a comment was posted on a post that continued a picture of a few of us hamming it up for the camera with the person commenting lamenting how they weren't part of the "in crowd" in MBC advocacy. The same picture was posted in a few … Continue reading Breaking into Advocacy
Can you tell that things get overwhelming at a big scientific conference? My stamina is definitely different these days and I'm glad that things are starting to wind down. I've also learned a little about taking breaks and prioritizing the topics and activities that are the right fit rather than trying to take everything in. … Continue reading Day 4 in San Antonio (a day late)
After the marathon day yesterday, we got a slower start to the day today. A calm port in the storm of the conference activity is the Patient Advocacy Lounge sponsored by Eli Lilly, which gives those of us who need a break some down time and a place to connect with other patient advocates. Starting … Continue reading Day 3 in San Antonio, 2022
Checked in officially this morning for the conference and was pleasantly surprised that the physical book of information about the conference was included. Yes, I'm sure I'm dating myself and the ap does have a lot of great features, but I really do enjoy having something in my hands to hold and write on. There … Continue reading Day 2 in San Antonio 2022 (a day late)
My dear husband dropped me off at the airport this morning at 7:00 a.m. and I landed in San Antonio, TX just in time to take a cab to the orientation for the 2022 Advocate Scholar class of the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation (ABCF), which started at 4:00 p.m. (and I walked in about 20 … Continue reading Day 1 in San Antonio 2022
Every December, people from all over the world dedicated to the treatment of those of us with breast cancer gather in San Antonio, TX for the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. I've been attending in person or virtually since 2018 and have learned so much each time I've attended from the actual program, the new … Continue reading Off to San Antonio!!
Recently, I moderated a discussion with some dear friends about October and the experience of those of us with breast cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness/Action Month (BCAM). You can find that live discussion here: https://fb.watch/gvxHX_dG27/. We'd hosted a similar panel at the beginning of October last year and wanted to do something a little different … Continue reading Reflecting on October, 2022
When I was young, there were different factors that meant we didn't do traditional trick or treating. There was that scare in the 80s with people putting needles in apples or ground glass in other candy -- I'm still not sure why that happened and it certainly left a scar since I inspect everything very … Continue reading Happy Halloween
This post comes from a pop up writing workshop with Wildfire, "the only magazine and writing community for the women "too young" for breast cancer." I've written before about how I've been honored to have some of my writing published in various issues of Wildfire over the years (and will again in the upcoming MBC … Continue reading A Moment of Tenderness …
No Half Measures 