For those of you who didn't read my blog post about early stagers vs. metsters, suffice it to say, I have encountered some conflicts with labeling since I was diagnosed de novo metastatic in 2017. If anyone is interested in the details, the earlier blog post lays some of those out. There was an ongoing … Continue reading Why I don’t call myself a Survivor.
FOMO
I learned this new acronym recently from a dear friend and fellow metster, Emily Garnett, who has an amazing blog (Beyond the Pink Ribbon) and podcast (The Intersection of Cancer and Life) that all of you should follow if you aren't already. FOMO = Fear of Missing Out I had never really experienced this concept … Continue reading FOMO
Creating Lasting Memories
Ever since I knew that I have a terminal illness, I've been much more intentional about creating lasting memories with my boys. They are currently five (5) and three (3), so I am quite well aware that their actual memories of me may not be all that vivid if my life expectancy follows the median … Continue reading Creating Lasting Memories
Death
I realize that's not the most inspiring title; that's just want I'm thinking about right now and have been for quite a while. Last week, while I was experiencing a small version of my blog post going "viral," I learned that a friend of mine had died. I use that word a little tentatively since … Continue reading Death
2019 Blog Entries
As some of my readers (all 2 or 3 of you) have noticed, I've mostly been posting updates that were originally posted on my Caring Bridge site in 2017 and early 2018. While I do enjoy that platform, I think a more formal and more public blog is more my speed now. That wasn't the … Continue reading 2019 Blog Entries
Early Stagers vs. Metastatic Patients
I had no idea this is a thing, but it is! Before I was diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer, I honestly looked at breast cancer as one illness. Now, I understand that it is so much more complicated than that and the more I learn, the more I am amazed at how much … Continue reading Early Stagers vs. Metastatic Patients
Happy New Year, 2019
2019 is here. Each new season and calendar change means something very different to me now. When I was young, I felt the frustration and anticipation of yearning to be older and for time to pass more quickly. As I've gotten older, time seems to move too fast sometimes and not fast enough at other … Continue reading Happy New Year, 2019
New Year’s Eve, so long 2018
2017 was a doozy, probably the worst year of my life to date. 2018 has been quite a different animal. Yes, there have been some hard days and the adjustment to living life after the traditionally active treatment (i.e., IV chemo) has been rough at times; at the same time, we've finally figured a few … Continue reading New Year’s Eve, so long 2018
Compromised Immunity
I have understood for some time that I have a compromised immune system. It's hard to ignore when I go to the doctor's office at least monthly to have bloodwork done and the lab always calls my doctor's office right away to report the feeble amounts of white blood cells detected. Learning the medical terms … Continue reading Compromised Immunity
METup & Metavivor Trip October 2018
Redemption. That was my personal theme of the week my husband, Elliot, and I spent in Washington, DC in early October, 2018. October is generally a hard month for those of us dying of stage IV metastatic breast cancer. There’s a reason METup’s slogan is #dyingforacure. Being around all of the fluffy pink celebrations all … Continue reading METup & Metavivor Trip October 2018
No Half Measures 