I’ve been thinking a lot recently about celebrations. Milestones and the traditional ways of marking said milestones have changed in this time of COVID. The “normal” or expected elements of the 4th of July are simply ... missing. I don’t miss the traffic and fighting for a place to sit comfortably and watch the fireworks; … Continue reading Celebrations
Category: General
Palliative Care Project
Palliative care has to be one of the most misunderstood elements of care that I've encountered. I count myself amongst the people who knew next to nothing about it before I was diagnosed with a terminal illness. I'd always lumped palliative care in with hospice, frankly, and I've discovered that many other people think the … Continue reading Palliative Care Project
Legacy Project
What does it mean to leave a legacy? How does this change with a diagnosis of Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC)? I've been pondering these questions for most of the last three (3) years I've been living with Stage IV MBC and I don't know that I have THE answers; at the same … Continue reading Legacy Project
Reviews
I've written a bit lately about some popular or maybe not so popular TV shows and movies that I've been able to binge on during the pandemic and quarantine. I, as many do, have those guilty pleasures we don't talk about all the time and one of mine is watching HBO's Sex and the City. … Continue reading Reviews
Powerlessness
Some of you may remember the posts I've written about how I often feel dehumanized at the hands of the American Healthcare System. Looking back, I realize that I've long felt this way, but since my interaction with doctors and visits to the doctor were so few and far between, it became somewhat expected. Now … Continue reading Powerlessness
Missing Out
I've written before about the Fear of Missing out or "FOMO" as it pertains to parenting and the limitations of MBC that affects my ability to actively and physically participate in life with my children. Thanks to COVID-19 and the pandemic, we're definitely drowning in family time right now. At the same time, the lack … Continue reading Missing Out
Experimentation Update, June 2020
As some of you are aware, I embarked upon an oncologist directed experiment of one (1) person (me) about three (3) months ago when we added Kisquali (a/k/a ribociclib, a CDK4/6 inhibitor) to targeted therapy, Piqray (a/k/a Alpelisib), along with Faslodex (a/k/a Fulvestrant) and a rather lengthy list of medications to address side effects and … Continue reading Experimentation Update, June 2020
When a loved one gets it wrong
The impetus for this post came from a rather difficult conversation in one of my breast cancer support groups recently. I'm not referring to any one particular person in this post and some of it isn't even about me or my own experiences. This post is purely my own musings. At the same time, I've … Continue reading When a loved one gets it wrong
National Cancer Survivor’s Day
I started this post a little while ago and have been coming back to it over the last week or so trying to figure out what I want to say, what I feel about today and the purpose of today. If this post feels disjointed that’s because that’s the way I feel right now in … Continue reading National Cancer Survivor’s Day
Medical Update, ONJ
About three weeks ago, I started to feel pain in the lower left quadrant of my mouth, tooth #18 to be exact. I’m one of those weird people with more alkaline than acidic salvia and at age 41, I’ve still never had a cavity. (knock on wood). Braces, yes, twice, and I struggle with tarter … Continue reading Medical Update, ONJ
No Half Measures 