MedWorm: Cancer

Light a Candle

jill's Weblog — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:10:26 +0100

Please light a candle for Michele's family. She passed away yesterday. Michele's Memorial Page ... (Source: jill's Weblog)

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What’s in a placebo? Surprise, surprise…

Margaret's Corner — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:31:01 +0100

Placebos? In my wildest dreams, I never thought I’d write even a tenth of a post about placebos…I mean, what do I care about those “innocuous” sugar pills that cause no side effects? But then yesterday I read a recently-published, interesting “Science Daily” article on how placebos can reduce pain: http://goo.gl/OrVGq And, for some obscure reason, it [...] (Source: Margaret's Corner)

Statistics dont tell the whole story

Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:07:00 +0100

I have been very happy and comfortable with the quality of my health care. I live near Boston the home of many world class hospitals and the quality of care available in the area is very good. Or so I thought. HealthGrades.com just released their latest list of top cities for health care. So I wanted to see where Boston was on the list. Its not. Neither is New York City.I was surprised to say the least.Then I started thinking - a very dangerous proposition at times. This is a classic example of how statistics can be misleading. These numbers are looking at the level of care across an entire metropolitan area. While this includes the leading hospitals, it also includes small and large medical centers that may be underfunded or serving a sicker population who are going to have statistically ...

Bah! Tuesday books

Bah! to cancer — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:21:31 +0100

Here’s a little round-up of what I’ve been enjoying lately. I do love a good retelling of the Arthurian legends, and Kevin Crossley-Holland’s ‘Arthur and the Seeing Stone’ is just that. Written for young teens, this is a perfect book to romp through on a train journey. I’m looking forward to reading the next two in the series. And that book reminded me of one of my favourite grown-up versions of Camelot: ‘The Mists Of Avalon’ by Marion Zimmer Bradley. I can feel a re-read coming on. I loved this book first time around, the interwoven stories of Gwenhyfar, Vivaine and Morgaine whisking me away from my everyday world, which at the time was not an easy one. ‘The Psychopath Test’ by Jon Ronson made me properly laugh out loud an awfu...

Bringing Fashion and LIVESTRONG Together

LIVESTRONG Blog — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Read about the first-ever Dress 4 Yellow fashion show and luncheon is set for April 5 in Dallas. (Source: LIVESTRONG Blog)

The unknowable {a hearing update}

Turquoise Gates — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:44:00 +0100

The music rolls like thunder out of the Bosendorfer grand piano, a diminutive elderly woman with arthritic fingers that still fly to melodies memorized years long past. A woman with no legs is in a wheelchair on the marble floor under the streaming sunlight, and she raises one hand in praise as she makes that wheelchair dance and twirl with the other. It is the strains of "How Great Thou Art" filling this very secular space, and people stand against the railings 3 stories up, their harmonies cascading down in a sweet and singular moment when the broken people gathered here for treatment only found at a nationally renowned medical center rise up and claim this day, this moment, for the glory of God and delight in His presence.I am the walking wounded, shell-shocked, and I have to pause to c...

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Abdominal Muscle - Why Save It?

Breast Cancer Reconstruction Blog — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:13:39 +0100

Most women that have looked into breast reconstruction know about the TRAM flap. The TRAM uses lower abdominal skin, fat, and varying amounts of abdominal muscle to reconstruct a "natural", warm, soft breast after mastectomy. The TRAM used to be the gold standard in breast reconstruction, but not anymore. Over the years, the TRAM flap procedure has evolved into two more advanced procedures that decrease the risk of abdominal complications: the DIEP flap and the SIEA flap. Both use the same lower tummy skin and fat but unlike the TRAM, both SAVE all the abdominal muscle and leave it in place. The SIEA flap differs from the DIEP flap only in terms of the blood vessels that supply the tissue. While the surgical preparation is slightly different, both procedures spare the abdominal muscle c...

2-6-2012 update….

Carin' For Karen — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:37:34 +0100

How can a woman take so much? Karen has been thru “the fire” this week-end and God continues to watch over her…….we (friends and family) have been reading Karen’s journals or as I call life records with so much joy and laughter…..Karen’s walk with the Lord was so intense and so real…..we love reading about [...] (Source: Carin' For Karen)

safe place in you…

Especially Heather — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:05:07 +0100

The words of this song are my guidepost. It reminds me that even when the world wants to overtake me; I am safe with in His love. I am unreachable by the waves of despair, depression and most of all fear. They will not overtake me. {Enter The Worship Circle Vol.3 – Karla Adolphe} (Source: Especially Heather)

Hospitals making profits on their patients

Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:29:00 +0100

We assume the hospitals that treat us are primarily concerned with what is best for the patients. Um, yeah, sure. Federal Investigators are examining single night hospital stays from 2000-2005 at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston to see if Medicare was being billed for unnecessary stays.One side of the issue is that are patients being kept overnight for observation solely so that the hospital can reap additional income. We try to believe that hospitals are always looking at the patient's best interest but they are businesses with a bottom line. So maybe they do keep patients in when they shouldn't so they can get the additional income. Which I think is crazy - I mean nurses and doctors already rightly state they are often overworked - so why admit patients when they would do just as well at h...

Words from the wise

Bah! to cancer — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:16:38 +0100

There were such intelligent comments on yesterday’s post that I thought they deserved a post of their own. I wrote about things I need to be doing to support my health and recovery, rather than just pretending I’m OK and then falling apart at the slightest whiff of ill health. Caroline said: Exercise! Get out for a walk every day if you can. It doesn’t have to be fast, it doesn’t have to be far, but get moving. This is so important I can’t believe I didn’t mention it…! The danger of my writerly life is that, if I’m not careful, the furthest I walk outside the house in a day is the thirty or so paces to the studio and back. Fortunately, Joy has a dog. And we have beaches. So it’s not difficult to take a daily walk – in fact, Hope and I hav...

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Gearing Up in Davis

LIVESTRONG Blog — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

It was great to see so many supporters out in Davis on Saturday in celebration ... (Source: LIVESTRONG Blog)

Myth Busters: What’s Your Score?

LIVESTRONG Blog — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Help bust a few myths about cancer by taking our World Cancer Day quiz and sharing it with your family and friends. (Source: LIVESTRONG Blog)

Komen, Go Back to Your Roots

Donna Trussell — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:15:32 +0100

It seems the Komen Foundation folks were unprepared for the blowback — known in some circles as “Komen-tastrophe” — after their now apparently rescinded decision to halt funding to Nancy Brinker, founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Planned Parenthood. But they should have known. If Twitter and Facebook can bring down military dictators in North Africa, after all, even as established and connected a charity as Komen is relatively small potatoes. Does it even matter that Komen has no relationship to the pink gun that surfaced on the Internet? The fact that people had no trouble believing they were linked tells you how big their PR problem is. I’m an ovarian cancer survivor, and have never been a Komen fan. The whole “pinktober” phenomenon lost me at the pink buckets ...

Exercise, Schmexercise

Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:18:00 +0100

Go exercise they tell us. (Who are 'they' anyway?) We say we will but do we ever? Have you seen the commercial on TV about the couple who makes the lamest excuses not to go to the gym? I can't even remember what its for but I just remember some really lame excuses. I have used some myself - 'I don't feel like it', 'I have to clean the cat box', 'I went to the gym yesterday', and 'I need to catch up on my DVR watching'. If you want more, I'm happy to come up with them.Truth be told, I used to go for a daily walk but I wasn't deflabbing properly so I joined a gym which I never went to because the machines were complicated and they made my back hurt. So then I joined a fancy gym with trainers and many dilapidated people like me. They gave me an exercise plan which accounts for my dilapidation...

Plugging the holes

Bah! to cancer — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:03:32 +0100

After I wrote yesterday’s post I got to thinking. Yes, cancer treatment side-effects have had a big effect and yes, it’s quite depressing to realise how membrane-thin my good health is. But. In my cupboard, there are tubs of vitamin C, zinc, and cod liver oil tablets, all of which have been unopened since about 5 days after I bought them, months ago,resolving that I was going to start Looking After Myself Properly. I know that rinsing my mouth with hot salty water reduces the pain and the chance of ulcers, but I’ve got out of the habit about that too. Another week has gone by without booking the yoga and/or pilates classes that I have been claiming to be desperate to do for the last six months at least. So, yes, cancer did some damage. But I could be taking better care of...

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Finally! The truth is coming out about that Pink Ribbon

Sharing My Cancer Crapness — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:42:00 +0100

Saturday, February 4, 2012current mood: Elated!Please watch the above video. I am so Freakin' happy! Finally people are catching on and seeing what's really behind that pink ribbon.I know I've blogged about this before and always said there is NOTHING pretty about Breast Cancer so why do we dress it up with a pink ribbon?As a Breast Cancer Survivor, I hate October and the pink haze that hangs over the month. Everything pink!Pink products kill me and I remember telling my friends and family a long time ago, please do not buy me something pink. For example why would I want a pink toaster. So that every morning as I toast my morning bagel, I can be reminded of my Breast Cancer. Really? Like taking a shower every morning and seeing my mastectomy scars isn't enough. There is nothing pretty abou...

Fenugreek and its possible anti-myeloma potential…

Margaret's Corner — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:45:29 +0100

I have mentioned fenugreek here and there, especially in my “Random stuff” post published on January 20 2011 (http://margaret.healthblogs.org/2011/01/20/random-stuff/, scroll down the page). Until now, I thought it mostly had very strong antiviral activity and might help prevent getting a cold. But I didn’t really do any research on it… Then a few days ago, [...] (Source: Margaret's Corner)

Campaigning Is Child Neglect? Since When?

Donna Trussell — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:35:41 +0100

People criticize GOP candidate Rick Santorum for leaving his sick daughter’s side to campaign for the presidency. “She the People” writer Patricia Murphy wondered whether the criticism would be even harsher if Santorum’s wife was running for president instead. The old double standard: OK for a dad to work long hours, but not OK for a mom. Some have accused Santorum of hypocrisy for talking about putting family first while he’s out on the trail with an ill child at home. (His 3-year-old, Bella, has the genetic disorder trisomy 18 and was hospitalized with pneumonia recently.) Only, aren’t those critics people who would never vote for him anyway? Here’s something you’ll never hear from a social worker: “We had to put that little boy in protective...

#Snow chairs in #Boulder

white pebble — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:36:50 +0100

Snow chairs. Yes, the snow here in Boulder really is this deep. Related articles Boulder snow (white-pebble.net) Filed under: photographs Tagged: Boulder, Boulder Colorado, Boulder County Colorado, Colorado, snow (Source: white pebble)

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Why write? {on airing dirty laundry and authenticity in storytelling}

Turquoise Gates — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:10:00 +0100

I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation (Psalm 40:10)Where is your community? With whom do you have a megaphone with which to speak truth, to tell your stories, to reveal your redemption? Mine is my journal here. I try not to use it as a soapbox. I try to use it as my megaphone, my book, my story. For indeed, I've been delivered. Indeed, He has been faithful in his salvation. I do not wish to hide the light of my deliverance under a barrel. And so, I write.And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, while his heart gathers iniquity; when he goes out, he tells it abroad. All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine ...

Let's take the politics out of health care

Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:29:00 +0100

I know this is a novel idea but I really think we should take the politics out of health care. When we are worried about our health, we go to the doctor. Do we ask our doctor which political party they belong to? No because it is not relevant. Do health ailments discriminate against certain political stances? No. If I could become healthy by switching political parties, I would be happy to.So why has health and health care become a political issue? The recent Komen/Planned Parenthood brouhaha has brought this issue to the forefront. No health issue and access to health care should have its availability compromised based on politics. National health reform is also tainted by this as well. The purpose of national health care reform is to make health care accessible and affordable to all. Tha...

Full of holes

Bah! to cancer — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:26:02 +0100

At about 3 o’clock yesterday, I suddenly felt better. I left the house. I walked. I did some work. I made dinner. I stayed up until I felt like going to bed. I’m a little bit sniffy, but the throaty sneezes and grating coughs have stopped. I am relieved, although possibly not as relieved as Alan and Joy, who have had to listen to constant cries of ‘I’m not very well,’ ‘I hate being ill’, and ‘why aren’t I better yet’. (The frequent suggestions that I go and have a lie down may not just have been about my own health.) It’s been a long, lousy week. Partly because, well, illness wouldn’t be illness if it didn’t make you feel, well, ill…. but also because this bug has had the same effect as a rainstorm does on ...

Announcing a New World Cancer Day Survivor Support Initiative

LIVESTRONG Blog — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

To mark World Cancer Day, LIVESTRONG today announced a new initiative to help cancer survivors facing exceptional challenges. (Source: LIVESTRONG Blog)

white pebble — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:22:25 +0100

From now on, going on a two-day bender and then trying to make it up to everyone after will be called "pulling a Komen".— Jesse Taylor (@pandagon) February 03, 2012 Filed under: Ephemera (Source: white pebble)

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Snow.

white pebble — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:08:11 +0100

I love snow, and I love living in a city where people know how to drive in it. Yay #Boulder!— Patti Niehoff (@PattiN) February 03, 2012 Filed under: Ephemera (Source: white pebble)

Hearing update

Turquoise Gates — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:27:00 +0100

Praise be to God - the hearing in my left ear seems to be coming back! I can hear music again, although it is still muffled. My right ear continues to be the same, with very little hearing at all. If you would keep praying for me today, I would really appreciate it. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to tell me of the prayers lifted up!Be still, there is a healer His love is deeper than the sea His mercy, it is unfailing His arms are fortress for the weak Let faith arise Let faith arise I lift my hands to believe again You are my refuge, You are my strength As I pour out my heart These things, I remember You are faithful, God, forever~Let Faith Arise, Chris Tomlin~ (Source: Turquoise Gates)

I really needed this…

Especially Heather — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:51:23 +0100

This video was made by Easton on August 27th, 2010. I just found it again, and again it brought me to tears. I have such and amazingly wonderful family. I have such amazingly wonderful children. (Source: Especially Heather)

I have no inspiration this morning

Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:32:00 +0100

I have put myself in to a corner. I always blog every morning and feel if I don't blog people will wonder what happened to me. I very rarely skip a day - only when I am far, far away from internet access - which still can happen. Last time that happened I had to leave the country. But now I feel guilt if I miss a day - am I letting down my loyal readers - who ever you may be? I know people read my blog (because I can see statistics that tell me how many of you there are each day) but I am not sure I know who most of you are.I usually keep a mental list of topics to write about which is usually based on current tabs open in my browser. This monring I have three tabs waiting for me to write about - how the farm bill will affect consumers, the latest issue of Artemis from Johns Hopkins which ...

Cancer Free Friday: getting the hang of it

Bah! to cancer — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:57:41 +0100

(In the spirit of cancer-free Friday I won’t be talking abut my nasty, persistent, annoying, suck-a-whole-week-out-of-your-life virus either.) Well, I’m still spinning. I did quite well at not being disheartened when I wasn’t instantly good at it – this is a big step forward for me – and persevered with my tight, overtwisted, cat-sick-on-a-string yarns. Even though they were never going to be any use, I spun them, plied them, washed them, wound them…. because the experience of spinning, the meditative nature of it, meant that the results didn’t matter that much. (I posted about this, and my early progress to knitable stuff, here. I don’t see my Dad in the hat very often.) As I’ve got better I’ve realised that spinning is an exac...

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LIVESTRONG Joins Mayor Bloomberg with Donation to Planned Parenthood Cancer Services Fund

LIVESTRONG Blog — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

LIVESTRONG Joins Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Philanthropic Partners in Their Efforts to Preserve Access to Cancer Screening for Women with a $100,000 Donation to Planned Parenthood Cancer Services Fund. (Source: LIVESTRONG Blog)

You Have Breast Cancer? Say What??

Donna Trussell — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:47:27 +0100

Brilliant. Filed under: Cancer Tagged: breast cancer, girls say to girls, jenny saldana, video (Source: Donna Trussell)

It's Groundhog Day; So How Large Is Your Shadow ?

Dr. Len's Cancer Blog — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:10:00 +0100

It's Groundhog Day, and that means millions of people will focus their attention on a furry little creature in Punxsutawney PA to see whether or not the animal sees its shadow. Breaking news bulletins say that he did, so we have six more weeks of winter to look forward to. I--on the other hand--think there is a greater significance to Groundhog Day. It is the day when I check on my own shadow, and determine whether or not I have kept my commitment to keeping my weight steady during the past year, which has proven to be a difficult accomplishment. The answer this year is mostly yes, partly no. A brief history: A couple of years ago I took a look at my weight charts for the past decade (yes, Virginia, there are some of us who do that). What I saw disturbed me: for t...

Staying in touch…

Margaret's Corner — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:00:27 +0100

I’m working on a bit of a complicated post, which may not be ready until the weekend or next year. In the meantime, I thought I’d write and post a short story… Our youngest kitty, Pinga, the joy of our household (or terror, if you ask our three other female cats, especially Puzzola and Peekaboo [...] (Source: Margaret's Corner)

I am deaf, I've been mute (I'm blind but now I see)

Turquoise Gates — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:40:00 +0100

What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. (Psalm 56:3)Ah, the downward slope of the roller coaster! I was awakened at 5 a.m. to a silent world. An ear infection has destroyed my sense of hearing in one ear, and my good ear was no longer functioning. I can hear deep voices and shouts, but otherwise the world is completely still.I know only a few signs. One of them is "I love you". A comfort when the children flash it at me, chattering in their high pitched voices that I cannot hear. I lost my voice from surgery when I first was diagnosed with cancer. This seems eerily familiar: the inability to communicate with my children as I normally do. I fear for their safety - crossing a street, for instance, I won't be able to hear the oncoming car. I am afraid I will no longer be able to help the...

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Following a controversy

Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:39:00 +0100

I am always interested in controversies. Anything that is controversial makes news - which sometimes often gets over-hyped by the media and ends up boring us to death because there is too much. What I find most interesting about controversy is how the controversial behavior is handled by the two sides. There is always controversy - we can't escape it. If we do something wrong, do we apologize or do we run away? An apology or explanation is a good way to handle something, running away, avoiding the issue, or worse a bad apology is a bad way to handle it. This applies in every part of life - there is no getting around it.The latest controversy in the news is that the Komen foundation has announced they will no longer fund Planned Parenthood. Actually what they did is decide not to renew a gr...

2-1-2012 update

Carin' For Karen — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:35:58 +0100

Karen has slipped in and out of consciousness these last few days and has slept most of today she is not eating and has not since early morning hours of Friday…..a couple of pieces of apple and orange Sunday but not any food…..her water intake is limited to less than 20 or 30cc and she [...] (Source: Carin' For Karen)

That magical little word!

Turquoise Gates — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:52:00 +0100

I heard the magic words today! I'm in remission! My cancer scan came back completely clean (it always has) but the really awesome news is that my tumor markers have gone from 4.5 in 2010 to 3.5 in 2011 and now 1.1 in 1012!! This is virtually unheard of, as this number is supposed to go up, not down. However, with the advice of my doctor, I started an immune boosting, cancer deadly diet in 2010, and my tumor markers have consistently gone down since then. While I am not "cancer free" because my tumor markers are still positive, I am in remission and have received my green light to start work as a professor and even to adopt (although that is not in our immediate future, as far as we know).My doctor has never seen someone go all the way back to zero once tumor markers are positive. I will co...

So Long and Goodbye: My January Cancer Peep

I've Still Got Both My Nuts: A True Cancer Blog — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:30:00 +0100

Unlike past Cancer Calendars which mostly focused on famous people and poking fun at celebrities, the 2012 Cancer Calendar will be composed of Cancer People who impacted my life in some way, with personal anecdotes and their stories of triumph, or tragedy. Dan Turk Saturday, January 15, 2000 My friends and I played tackle football in Zeke’s yard, because PepperoniNip and I would have been incapable of just sitting around. The Washington Redskins’ NFC semifinals game was later that afternoon, following a six-year playoff drought. My excitement could not be bucked. We finished playing by 4:00 p.m., enough time for me to scamper through the woods back home and watch the Redskins play the Buccaneers for a spot in the NFC Championship. At age sixteen, my heart could handle my weekly Redsk...

Rest in Peace Anna

jill's Weblog — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:53:33 +0100

Please light a candle for Anna and her family. Her son Nick has updated us that she passed away about 2 weeks ago. We are thinking of you Nick and send a big hug to you and your family. We ... (Source: jill's Weblog)

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Thank you for making me feel insecure about my treatment

Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:49:00 +0100

I hate these articles. This one discusses the lack of guidelines for what kind of clean margins are needed for whether a re-excision is needed after a lumpectomy. First let me say, thank you for upsetting potentially hundreds of thousands of women who had a lumpectomy and may or may not have had a needed second surgery or had a second surgery unnecessarily. This isn't something that really can be undone. If a second surgery was needed and wasn't done, there is probably nothing that can be done now. If a second surgery wasn't needed but was done, you really can't undo surgery.Second, the general media is not the place to discuss undetermined medical guidelines. These should be discussed by the people who practice medicine, not by the patients. As a patient, we assume that we are given prope...

More to Bah! than blogging

Bah! to cancer — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:50:51 +0100

Today, some reminders about what else Bah! can do for you. I speak at events – everything from corporate keynotes to school assembles – about my dance with cancer. Have a look at this page for more information. I’m booking up to the end of 2012 at the moment. And, if you’re feeling a bit stuck in a rut, if your New Year Resolutions didn’t pan out, if you feel as though you could do with a little help with your thinking, take a look at Bah! coaching. It might be just the ticket. I’d love to work with you on either of these things, so please do get in touch, and we’ll see what we can make happen. (Today, it looks as though I will mostly be making wet, throaty sneezes and hot ginger and lemon drinks. Tomorrow will be better.) (Source: Bah! to cancer)

Please respond to cancer coping survey!!

At least its a good cancer — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

If you currently have breast cancer, or if you had it in the past, a student at USC would love to have you respond to an online survey regarding your experiences and coping style. This student is a senior conducting an honors thesis, and in the future she hopes to become a medical oncologist. Though she has already done research in a pathology lab on HER-2 treatments, this project is for her sociology major (she also double-majors in biology).Please help this student and science. Her study is at https://usccollege.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_72i5E5bhK3Fgdx2Thanks! (Source: At least its a good cancer)

I'm done with Komen

At least its a good cancer — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

No more Komen walks, Komen donations, or Komen-related advocacy for me.You may love or hate Planned Parenthood, but we can all agree that breast cancer screening and services are good, right? That's the PP program whose Komen funding was halted.Ideology doesn't help women with breast cancer. Science, research, screening, treatment, and funding help women with breast cancer. And there are lots of other advocacy groups that I can support instead.http://www.salon.com/2012/02/01/komen_for_the_cure_sells_out_women_again/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/us/cancer-group-halts-financing-to-planned-parenthood.html?hpw (Source: At least its a good cancer)

We Believe in Access to Free Cancer Screenings

LIVESTRONG Blog — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

At LIVESTRONG, we believe access for everyone – regardless of zip code, income, age or gender – to cancer screenings and diagnostic services is essential. (Source: LIVESTRONG Blog)

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Only 10 Days Left to Apply for the Community Impact Project

LIVESTRONG Blog — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Only Ten Days Left to Apply. Visit the links. Join our Conference Call. (Source: LIVESTRONG Blog)

Test results & snow in Florence!

Margaret's Corner — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:04:10 +0100

Yesterday I didn’t check our mailbox until late afternoon. Then, just as a friend arrived to pick me up, I had a quick look, and boom!!!, there it was: the familiar fat hospital envelope. My January 12 2012 results. Let me tell ya, I almost fainted on the spot. Ignoring all the alarm bells going off [...] (Source: Margaret's Corner)

Good!

The Adventures of Cancer Girl — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:48:00 +0100

It's just like when I'd get a smiley face on a paper in kindergarten. (Source: The Adventures of Cancer Girl)

Getting rid of toxins

Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:40:00 +0100

This has been a newer fad or rage or whatever you want to call it - getting rid of toxins in our lives and living happier and healthier. We now know to skip the aerosol containers, teflon isn't good for us, and nuclear waste is dangerous for a long time. There are the people who do a 'cleanse' where they eat healthy and drink weird things to purge their digestive system of toxins. (I'm not a fan of that one.)The latest media hype is the toxic relationship - get rid of the people or relationships which are unhealthy for you. I can understand this. Do you have a 'user'/toxic friend? You know what I mean - the one who takes and never gives? Or the one who always talks about themselves and never wants to hear what is going on in your life? Or the one who constantly makes everyone wait on them?...

Three points on which the medical profession and I differ

Bah! to cancer — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:15:28 +0100

I went to my GP yesterday, just to confirm that I have a nasty buggy virusy thing and not the sort of thing that, if left, would require 6 months of antibiotics and an ‘if only you’d seen about it sooner’ glare. And yes, it is a virus. Yay. Rest, fluid, finish knitting my sweater and wait it out, basically. (The doctor didn’t say the bit about knitting but I know she meant to.) Fair enough, I said, it’s just that, with the ongoing anti-cancer treatment and all, I feel a bit vulnerable. Remember, said my doctor, Tamoxifen aside, you are a young, fit adult. OK, I said. ‘Young, fit adult?’ My mind was tying itself in knots trying to figure that out. My inner child was hooting and rolling around with laughter at the very thought. It’s not that I ...

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Feb 4 – World Cancer Day: Celebrate with Team LIVESTRONG

LIVESTRONG Blog — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

by: Courtney Sommerville; Team LIVESTRONG “Together it is possible.” That is the theme for this year’s ... (Source: LIVESTRONG Blog)

3 truths

Not just about cancer — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:20:00 +0100

No one can understand hot flashes unless they have experienced one.It is so much easier to appreciate the beauty of one's own community when viewed through a visitor's eyes.This is the definition of good friends: You don't think twice about letting your kid go to their place for dinner wearing pajamas. And when you get there you discover that their kid is still in pajamas too!photo: M. SlavitchIf you are reading this post on a site other than Not Just About Cancer (besides Facebook or a feed reader), you are reading stolen content. (Source: Not just about cancer)

Thoughts on Stress and Breast Cancer

Life with Breast Cancer — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:59:31 +0100

A thoughtful friend recently gave me a notepad that says “Stressed is desserts spelled backwards.” If only eating cheesecake could eliminate stress, I would be a happy girl. Stress is a common theme among many of the women I have been talking to lately. Financial concerns, family problems, health issues, and work demands are sources of increased stress in my friends. This concerns me because as anyone who has read my blogs on stress in the past knows, I truly believe that stress is a factor in the development of disease and specifically cancer. Let me make this perfectly clear that this is my own personal belief; the studies done to date on linking cancer and stress are inconclusive and conflicting. Prior to being diagnosed with breast cancer, I experienced several years of int...

Comfortable in my nakedness

Turquoise Gates — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:39:00 +0100

Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. (Revelation 14:12)We are the tree shaken loose from the snow to feel the warmth with her branches. We meet another, hurting under her burden of the winter of discontent, torn from her moorings and grafted into this field of a loveless church. I see her pain, bathe in it, remember the cold she feels. It is hard work, to enter back through that crooked door, to open eyes to see the crooked roots that can't grow in the rocky soil. I shake her tree with truth, and the snow scatters. The first breath of winter air is painful, burning the lungs. For a moment, we both wish we were still insulated from this brutal air frozen by falsehood and stagnant with intrigue. But then we move thos...

Insurance costs

Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:42:00 +0100

Finally its about time is all I can say. By August 1, all employers must provide coverage for birth control for women at no extra cost. Religious employers such as churches had wanted an exception to the rule but the president has denied this. I support that decision. I realize that birth control may not agree with some religious beliefs but it is not up to the employer what medical decisions an employee makes. I am sure there are medical procedures out there that violate other beliefs. I am glad to see the end this bias. Viagra has been a covered medication since it was approved by the FDA, its about time birth control is as well.This year the requested health insurance rate increase in Massachusetts, is (are you sitting down?) 2.3%. That's not even double digits. That is an amazing chang...

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Guggulsterone also inhibits osteoclastogenesis in multiple myeloma and breast cancer cells…

Margaret's Corner — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:28:18 +0100

Yesterday I forgot to give proper mention to a 2006 “Clinical Cancer Research” study showing that guggulsterone also inhibits osteoclastogenesis, which is, in very simple terms, the process of bone destruction that has such terrible consequences in multiple myeloma…So the fact that guggulsterone inhibits this process could be super important… I wrote about this study [...] (Source: Margaret's Corner)

Sniff. Cough. Ginger. Gin.

Bah! to cancer — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:42:19 +0100

I am not very well. I have a sore throat, sore ears, an unpredictable-squeak-or-growl voice, and a runny nose. This was my ailment of choice during my youth – if memory serves, I pretty much took antibiotics from November to February every year until someone took pity on me and took my tonsils out, after which things got a little better – so I know the drill. Take It Easy And Drink Plenty. Which I am trying to do. But, despite all of the practice I’ve had over the last couple of years – maybe because of it – I’m doing it with a very bad grace. Yesterday, I told Alan and Joy that ‘I hate being ill’ so often that it’s a wonder I wasn’t sent to sleep in the studio. So. I am going to try to be a good girl today. I’m going to see...

Courage when it counts

Life is like a sandwich...enjoy the big bites. — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:49:00 +0100

Remembering an amazing man- my cousin Gary Giudice who died this past weekend.Gary with his son NickyThe universe brought our families back together after my Gramma died.And two short weeks later, he called me to tell me he needed advice...he had cancer.Pancreatic cancer.He asked me for any resources I could think of to help him start out on the right path. Luckily, in my line of work I knew a lot of places for him to go. I made a few calls...but the gnawing feeling hit me each time I picked up the receiver. Why now? Just when we were getting to know him and his family again.I can't tell you how my heart sank when hearing his voice catching on the phone. But his voice still had the lilt of optimism. He wasn't accepting no for an answer, he was going to give it 'his all' for his f...

Team LIVESTRONG: 40 Years of RAGBRAI

LIVESTRONG Blog — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

It’s seven days across Iowa, sometimes unbearably hot, sometimes rainy, sometimes cold, and should be ... (Source: LIVESTRONG Blog)

Rough week-end….

Carin' For Karen — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:08:09 +0100

Karen had a very difficult week-end but has ended up on a good note today…….she has struggled with security and feeling a sense of lostness….she had problems recognizing me and others……we went for a ride yesterday and this calmed her down…I took her to the Dunkin theater and the park were we went on our [...] (Source: Carin' For Karen)

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The Things I Do to Spread Love

I've Still Got Both My Nuts: A True Cancer Blog — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:40:00 +0100

Tomorrow I'm leaving my apartment at 6:00 a.m. to drive to Leesburg, an hour away, to be the model speaker in a Toastmasters evaluation contest. I spent much of the afternoon and evening preparing for tomorrow's speech. One side effect of my restricted-calorie diet is what I call "foggy-brain," when my mental capacity slows because of a lack of energy. I usually prevent this by eating fruit or nuts throughout the day. But while preparing for my last speech on January 11, foggy-brain consumed me. To prevent foggy-brain today, I carbo-loaded with a massive lunch consisting of half a Peruvian rotisserie chicken, rice, salad, and a 44-ounce Coke Zero. If this is my "cheat meal" as Tim Ferriss writes, then somebody please sign me up for more damn speeches. Another side effect of my restricted...

Its just a sunburn - hah!

Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:18:00 +0100

I am not sure why this article is so upsetting. Basically this woman in England was told for five months that she had a sunburn and it turned out she had inflammatory breast cancer - a very aggressive type of breast cancer with a 5 year survival rate of just 40%. I can't believe on how many levels this is so wrong. She had chemo and then a bilateral mastectomy and now it sounds like a recurrence has already happened.To the doctors I want to say, 'you were stupid'. If your initial diagnosis isn't right, then you need to think a little harder. I can understand thinking a rash is sunburn. That is logical but if it didn't go away in a few days, then the diagnosis is wrong. I can understand thinking that a woman in her mid 30's is not a prime candidate for breast cancer and inflammatory breast ...

Google Guggul!

Margaret's Corner — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:45:28 +0100

A few days ago I decided to check the expiration dates of all my supplements. At the top of the gonna-expire-soon list was gugulipid, which I began taking a few days ago. What is it? Well, I’ve written about it, so one thing you can do is do a search of my blog (using my [...] (Source: Margaret's Corner)

Check them out

Bah! to cancer — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:26:30 +0100

Kate Forsyth has written an honest and beautiful piece about being diagnosed with cancer, and told she had three weeks to live, while pregnant. What happened next, frankly, makes me dance with cancer look like a date with James Nesbitt. (Or George Clooney. Or Patrick Dempsey. Pick your favourite. All of whom, I realise, have played doctors…. hmmmmm, what does that say about me?) You can find Kate’s article here, and she blogs here. Yesterday, I met Emma Sutton of Light The Spark, who sent me a link to this rather wonderful animation. If you’re here, you’ve probably already got the message, but you might want to share it. (Source: Bah! to cancer)

Rest in Peace Pete

jill's Weblog — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:21:29 +0100

Please light a candle for Pete and his family. I am sad to say he passed away today. So sad. He will be greatly missed. Pete's Memorial Page ... (Source: jill's Weblog)

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We will be the salt-and-pepper shakers

Turquoise Gates — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:53:00 +0100

It grows in black and white, this wild hair I'm graced with. It's a surprise. I still picture myself somewhere between nutmeg and dark brown, not this "old lady" spike. My friends say they can't see it, the white flecks, but my family, they see it and say it - "your hair looks old, Mama". Little do they know that old is cool. Every birthday a special celebration since cancer hit in 2008. In the waiting hours as I look forward to news about my cancer scan and tumor markers on February 1st, I look in the mirror and I exalt. I've made it to old lady hair."A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Its loveliness increases; it will never/Pass into nothingness; but still will keepA bower quiet for us, and a sleep/Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing." (John Keats)My father in law runs...

Advice for consumers of all times, actually…

white pebble — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:59:19 +0100

via Advice for the modern consumer — A. King in Society. Filed under: Ephemera Tagged: advice, Consumer (Source: white pebble)

Numbers and research

Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:02:00 +0100

This report would not change how I counsel women, as multiple studies, including a randomized trial, have shown an increased risk of breast cancer from combination hormone therapy," Kathy Helzlsouer, MD, director of the prevention and research center at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore...'So where does this leave us? Somewhat doubting this one study but based on the findings of other studies and the drop in breast cancer diagnoses, we can still state it was correct. (Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog)

Morning haiku

Bah! to cancer — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:41:13 +0100

Lavender clouds on wedgewood sky make me anything but blue. (Source: Bah! to cancer)

Today

white pebble — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:17:19 +0100

New coffee-house to attend: Ozo which is where I am now Where to go to tonight: Leo Kottke concert, which is sold out What to read: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy What can I say? I was brought up on Rafael Sabatini and James Bond. Related articles Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – a tribute (jsrealitybites.wordpress.com) Filed under: Ephemera Tagged: Coffeehouse, George Smiley, James Bond, Leo Kottke, Rafael Sabatini, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Source: white pebble)

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tutorial: recycled magazine jewelry…

Especially Heather — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:10:45 +0100

(As you can see, my first attempt at making these was a real big fail! I adapted this tutorial to get my final result) Step 1: Tear out magazine pages.(make sure they are the brightness that you are looking for in your coil. Step 2 and 3: Fold them in half length wise, and then in half again (this is the part I adapted because I found that folding them in half created a bulkier strip than I desired) Step 4: Cut the page along the folds Step 5: Fold the strips in half length wise, and then in half again. (make sure your folds are tight. At this point you will need to heat up your glue gun) Step 6: Get a toothpick and begin to coil the end of the magazine around the toothpick tightly, just enough to start the coil. (This is the part that I adapte...

Remembering whose we are…

Especially Heather — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:09:36 +0100

I have written on this subject so many times, yet I still need to be reminded of it daily. I need to be reminded that God only has my best at heart, even when He seems so far away. I have been rereading a book (Stones of Remembrance) that I bought when I first found out that I had brain cancer. Upon reading the things that I wrote in the margins, I wonder to myself “where did that girl go?” The girl that had rock solid faith. The girl that did not doubt, because she relied whole heartily on her Father. The girl that trusted her God through the worst diagnosis and prognosis imaginable. (won’t you join me for the rest of my story at {in}courage?) (Source: Especially Heather)

and the winner is...

Not just about cancer — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:02:00 +0100

Nancy from Nancy's Point! I'll be sending her a copy of Not Done Yet early next week.Thanks so much to everyone who entered.I'm hoping to have an ebook version of my book out soon. This will make it so much easier to send out (and no more shipping costs!)If you are reading this post on a site other than Not Just About Cancer (besides Facebook or a feed reader), you are reading stolen content. (Source: Not just about cancer)

Workworkwork…

Margaret's Corner — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:29:20 +0100

Busy days. Lots of work…teaching, translating…which doesn’t leave much time for research. Too bad, because I have quite a number of fascinating studies lying on my desktop…hope to get to them tomorrow…yes… In the meantime, here is a photo I took just two days ago of Pinga, my baby, at play. She’s such a clown! [...] (Source: Margaret's Corner)

Breast Reconstruction ? a definite yes! – guest post

Being Cancer Network — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:23:14 +0100

Jen, who writes at The Dinoia Family, offers some strong personal arguments in favor of breast reconstruction. She argues effectively against those who might suggest that such surgery is arbitrary and needless I can’t describe it as anything other than sheer glee. Well, that might be a *wee* bit strong for now, but I honestly think it is what I have been feeling for the past week or so. In other words, that first post-surgical blog post was not just the meds talking. If you remember, I was a bit stressed about the surgery, so much so, that I took a ‘relaxation’ pill the night before. I kept the stiff upper lip and tried to be positive, but also allowed myself to think that the surgery could fail, the worst-case scenarios would happen and I would end up regret...

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Blah, blah, blah

Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:03:00 +0100

As we approach the end of the month, the media is full of advice on how to keep your resolution to lose weight.Blah, blah, blah. This clip tells you to write down what you eat, get exercise, eat right, and weigh yourself once a week. Here's my non-professional advice:1. Eat right. This means no ice cream, french fries, pie, cake, donuts, candy, chips, fried food, or anything snack with more than 5 g of fat or 200 calories except on special occasions. And special occasions do not happen every day. Also, eat a piece of fruit or a serving of vegetables with every meal. Have an apple as a snack, instead of a bag of chips. etc. If you must go to fast food, pay attention to those evil calorie count signs and get a healthy option and not a double bacon cheeseburger, large fries and a large soda. ...

Cancer Free Friday: Bah! Brownies

Bah! to cancer — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:35:39 +0100

(Cancer-free, but not calorie-free, this one. If you’re on a diet, diabetic, sugar-free, wheat-free or dairy-free, look away now.) I thought, it being Friday and all, you might fancy a chocolate brownie. As the internet is not yet sophisticated enough to let you help yourself, here’s the next best thing: the recipe. I promise you, they are the easiest thing in the world to make. Bah! Brownies You need: 200g dark chocolate (the better, the better. I like Green & Blacks, but doesn’t everyone?) 175g butter 325g golden caster sugar 125g plain flour 3 eggs - Cake tin, approx 24cm x 24cm - Baking parchment Preheat the oven to 170C/325F/Gas 3. In a pan, melt the chopped butter and broken-up chocolate over the lowest possible heat. It will take ages, and that’s fine, ...

Partnered Event Update: Ski 4 Yellow

LIVESTRONG Blog — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

We’re always looking for innovative ways to raise funds for the fight against cancer, and ... (Source: LIVESTRONG Blog)

Sometimes Science Is Not Convenient: Avastin® In The (Very) Early Treatment Of Breast Cancer

Dr. Len's Cancer Blog — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:18:00 +0100

Sometimes science is not as convenient as we would like it to be. We want answers, we want clarity, we want direction--especially when it comes to the treatment of patients with cancer. So when I read two articles and an editorial released Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, I was struck as to how studies seeking to answer similar questions could come to different conclusions. And, as I struggled to explain the research findings to reporters prior to their release to the general public, I found myself searching for words that would adequately explain the message of the research. Quite frankly, determining that message proved to be difficult. The studies were done by well-recognized and accomplished researchers, one group from Germany and one from a group based ...

Feeling after Him

Turquoise Gates — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:12:00 +0100

It has been well said that the true measure of any man's spirituality is the degree to which he can detect God in the most simple events around him. It is no mere spiritual phraseology when Scripture declares, "They should seek the Lord, if they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He is not far from every one of us; for in Him we live, and move, and have our being. (Acts 17:27-28) ~from Phillip Keller's A Layman's Look at the Lord's PrayerThe sun gleaming through the gray glimmers off their shiny winter jackets as they bend to build a man from the snow. Later that evening, the moon is setting golden over the snowy hills, the frost catching the last reflected spark of sunlight. The moon looks for all the world like a black coin dipped in gold, the sunlight reflecting all along it's r...

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That Avastin Debate

Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:40:00 +0100

This is now either 'the debate that will not die' or plot number 9,487, 321 to confuse the patients. Two new studies have shown that treatment of Avastin with chemotherapy reduces breast cancer tumors to the point that they are non-existent at surgery. How wonderful, how exciting, how confusing.Avastin is that drug that has been determined by the FDA not to be helpful in treating late stage breast cancer. But two new German studies have shown positive results for early stage breast cancer treatment. However, there are three big ifs here before anyone starts jumping up and down with excitement:1. Avastin has nasty side effects.2. The long term outcome of the women in the study is not yet seen so there is no guarantee the cancer won't return.3. Different types of chemotherapy were used in th...

Beside myself

Bah! to cancer — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:39:12 +0100

I’m reworking ‘Thrive: the Bah! guide to wellness after cancer’ at the moment. There are bits to tweak, bits to expand, bits to rethink before I Officially Submit The Manuscript To The Publisher in March. (That sounds proper glamorous, but actually, it’s quite like sending any other email. Except I will do a little dance afterwards, and give myself the rest of the day off.) Before I began, I asked Carolyn, my editor, for thoughts/tips/direction. Working with her on the first Bah! book was a real pleasure – she really gets what my approach is all about, and is very good at seeing what will make things better – and all of her thoughts on Thrive were really helpful too. One of the things she suggested was a section about anger. Which I’ve been trying to write, and failin...

1-25-2012 update

Carin' For Karen — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:38:17 +0100

Karen has had two restless nights with confusion and childhood memories flooding her mind……she is still pain free and doing quiet well……she has been calling out to friends and family with confusing references to past experiences…..we continue laugh with her and try to convince her when the stories stray a little from the truth….she is [...] (Source: Carin' For Karen)

Over a year later

Cancer does suck but it is a little funny. — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:50:00 +0100

, I am amending my blog- NOT because cancer came back because it hasn't. Actually, I am a year older and a year dumber, and I forget how I went about starting a new blog. So I am adding to the new one. It's kind of hard to start it up again, as I think I was funnier before. I think cancer makes you funny. I suppose it is better to be non-cancerous and non-funny, but it makes writing a blog harder. Hopefully, though, it was blog-writing, rather than cancer, that made me funny. Well maybe if you are reding this, and who will, because if you followed my blog a year ago- all 22 of you, plus you know who in Oakland that just reads it and doesn't sign up to follow it- you should smoke some weed before you read this and it will be a little bit funnier.Speaking of weed, that is something I do want...

Whoa!

The Adventures of Cancer Girl — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:18:00 +0100

Great news today! My M-spike is down to 1.5. I don't think it's been that low since ... well ... EVER. Let's pretend Bon Jovi is under there: (Source: The Adventures of Cancer Girl)

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Chamomile inhibits COX-2 and other pesky thingies…

Margaret's Corner — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:25:02 +0100

It’s really true that you learn something new every day. Until now, I thought that a cup of chamomile tea was useful only to help you relax. But it turns out that it might do much more than that. A few days ago I received an alert leading me to a 2009 (!) study on [...] (Source: Margaret's Corner)

As long as they don't nag

Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:03:00 +0100

In a new payment system in Massachusetts, doctors will be paid per patient and not per service. The better a patient does the higher the reimbursement for the doctors. Go read this article to explain the whole thing but here's the basics:This new system works like this:"Primary care doctors, specialists and hospitals typically have billed insurance companies and government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid for each individual service they provide to patients, including office exams, lab and imaging tests, emergency room visits, and hospital admissions - with few limits on the number of services.Critics say this system, called fee-for-service, encourages doctors to provide more treatment than is necessary and discourages coordination of a patient’s care among different providers.In t...

Bah! revisited: PHT

Bah! to cancer — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:58:57 +0100

You know I posted last week about the Mysteriously Tender Breasts? Well, not so mysterious, as it happens…. PMT. (I know. D’oh. In fairness to me, this is my second period since March 2009, and I’m not supposed to be having periods anyway, because I am simultaneously having a medical sodding menopause. I know. You couldn’t make it up.) Anyway, I was searching PMT on the blog, and I found this post from September 2009, which reminded me that It Could Be Worse. (I’d completely forgotten about being cold all the time. And the sinus thing.) * Herceptin isn’t cheap, as you probably know – in fact, as I’ve mentioned before, it comes in at around £3000 per dose. It’s made up for specific patients (calibrated to body weight) and has a short, s...

Team LIVESTRONG Profile: Shawna Cassick

LIVESTRONG Blog — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In 2008, while vacationing with our family in Bethany Beach, Delaware, my brother, Shane, received ... (Source: LIVESTRONG Blog)

LIVESTRONG Challenge Davis 2.0

LIVESTRONG Blog — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Northern California is synonymous with many thing – beautiful landscapes, wine country, the Bay area, ... (Source: LIVESTRONG Blog)

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Neighbor Battles Cancer – guest post

Being Cancer Network — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:17:20 +0100

Last summer my neighbor and good friend was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. She decided to be treated at the community hospital where I worked for 20 years. So I knew all of her doctors and many of the nurses and technicians caring for her. Chris does in home daycare. So I most often see her in the summer when my granddaughters are spending a lot of time at our house. We would always walk down when the kids were playing in the driveway. My girls would bring their bikes or scooters, toys, dolls, and cookies to share. We would sit in the driveway and watch the kids, exchanging news and neighborhood gossip. She and her husband are self-employed so they had less than optimal healthcare options, part of the forgotten America the healthcare reform bill was meant to ...

World's Cutest Elderly Person

The Adventures of Cancer Girl — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:04:00 +0100

Yesterday was the 100th day of school, so the first-graders celebrated with all kinds of 100-themed activities. They had to bring in 100 of some kind of snack (WCK took Goldfish crackers), and stick 100 items to a piece of posterboard. (WCK did stickers). It's hard to believe that I've taken WCK to first grade 100 times now, especially since she still seems genuinely shocked every morning when I say she needs to put on shoes. Anyway, as part of the 100th-day celebration, the kids had to draw pictures of what they imagine they'll look like when they're 100 years old. WCK has wanted to be a paleontologist ever since we took her to Dinosaur Park in South Dakota when she was two, so here she is at age 100, still digging bones:Wow, she looks good!I guess from this we can assume one of three thi...

Finding Love after Breast Cancer

Sharing My Cancer Crapness — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:21:00 +0100

Tuesday, January, 24, 2012Current Mood: LovestruckSo, I'm throwing this question out there to all my cancer survivor friends? After all the cancercrapness that we've gone through do you now look at love and relationships differently.I guess I'm asking this because it seemed so hard in the beginning. I know I had to be happy with myself first and had to learn and accept my scars and new body. And I knew I couldn't share this anyone until I was OK with it myself.Going out on those first few dates was scary! But I also knew what I wanted and what I didn't want. And I knew for sure, that I was not settling! Life is way too short to be happy and to just settle.I remember hearing in a cancer seminar for singles, that the success rate in marriage in survivors in much higher than ones that have no...

grief, guilt & redemption…

Especially Heather — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:40:15 +0100

Grief is a hard topic to tackle. It takes on many forms, and floods at any given moment. When we first let Emma go, I was numb. I do not remember much of anything from the week that followed her death (and the rest of the month fades in and out). I do remember waking up the next morning in my bed, instead of the hospital bed where I had spent the last 4 months. I remember thinking “she is really gone, that was really it.” I remember going to the funeral home and looking at little heart urns. I remember the uncontrollable crying and the looking for her every day. Every where I looked, I could see her. When I went to get in my car, I would stop and open the back door, the door where her car seat used to be. When I would pick up my house, I would find spoons (she loved spoons) in ...

Pink Ribbons Inc

Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:29:00 +0100

A Canadian movie, Pink Ribbons Inc', was a selection of the 2011 Toronto Film Festival and is opening in Canadian theaters next week. It is a movie I think I would like to see. Here are the trailer and the origins of the film to see.From what I understand of it, the controversy stems from a couple of levels - first of all the pink money making machine that has become breast cancer awareness and the fact that all this pinkification for a cure has not resulted in anything more than some medications and slightly longer life expectancies - not a cure as labeled.These are the problems I have with pinkification in the first place - breast cancer is a bad thing and it should not be an income stream for anyone.I think the Komen foundation has done a great deal to help raise awareness of cancer in ...

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Penance

Turquoise Gates — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:26:00 +0100

The key that fits the lock is always discovered in the least expected moment. I sat on the therapist's couch, sitting on my hands, huddled in my jacket, unable to name what I had been feeling last week. I knew it was a feeling, in the visceral way you recognize the rhythms of your soul, but I couldn't understand where it came from. It was the fist closing around my throat, the lump in my chest, the sweat beading up on my forehead. I felt my eyes widen, but I couldn't say why.It was fear. Admitting fear is so difficult for me. The recognition of that fear, especially when it is someone else who sees it in me, threatens to undo all the work I've done to hide my fear so that no one will know that something is wrong with me. And deep within, I am horribly afraid that there is something wrong w...

Bah! Tuesday Book: ‘Teach Us To Sit Still’ by Tim Parks

Bah! to cancer — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:26:17 +0100

‘Teach Us To Sit Still’ by Tim Parks is the story of a search. Tim wants to understand the cause of the pain in his pelvis, so that he can get it fixed. But the causes, as well as the cures, are not as simple as he would like them to be. This book takes the reader through Tim’s thoughts and actions as he explores, learns, understands, starts to relax, and strives to meditate. I bought this book as a prop for a writing workshop I was teaching: it was one of several I chose to illustrate that writing about your life isn’t necessarily about starting with when you were born and chronicling every sausage eaten, each bad kiss, all of the school bullies and holidays and broken bones since. And then I read it. And I liked it so much that I asked Tim Parks along to answer some questions.An...

Dear Cancer

LIVESTRONG Blog — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

According to Dr. Lawrence W. Green from University of California at San Francisco School of ... (Source: LIVESTRONG Blog)

not done yet: a giveaway

Not just about cancer — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:12:00 +0100

I'm feeling completely uninspired on the blogging front, so I've decided to run my first ever contest. Would you like to win a copy of my book, Not Done Yet: Living Through Breast Cancer? To enter, just tell me why you'd like to have the book (it can be serious or funny) in the comments section and I'll pick a winner at random, on Friday, January 27th. Contest closes Thursday, January 26th at midnight.There are only a few unsold copies left, so get one while you can.In other news, I'm reliably informed that my publisher is planning on re-releasing Not Done Yet as an ebook. No more shipping costs!If you are reading this post on a site other than Not Just About Cancer (besides Facebook or a feed reader), you are reading stolen content. (Source: Not just about cancer...

1-23-2012 update..

Carin' For Karen — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:56:18 +0100

Karen had another awesome week-end…..she had visitors from all over with Leesa (James) Lewis and her mother Martha coming the farthest from Tyler Texas……Leesa and Karen were child hood friends while her Dad Jack pastored FBC in late 60′s and early 70′s……..she had multiple church family visitors and the food well, it just keeps coming…….we [...] (Source: Carin' For Karen)

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Dragon For The Day

Bah! to cancer — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:16:21 +0100

Radio 4 is our station of choice in the kitchen. (And not only because I am not very good at tuning the radio.) In the morning, that means the Today programme, which generally gives me enough about what’s going on in the world to see me through until the 10pm TV headlines. The bit of Today that I always skip if I can, though, is Thought For The Day, a slot in which someone the BBC deems worthy drops a ponderous pearl of wisdom into our collective ear. The Thought is scrupulously shared out between the religions, but unless it’s Rabbi Lionel Blue, who I would cheerfully listen to even if he was reading out a list of the contents of his desk drawer, that’s the time for me to unload the dishwasher, nip out to the studio to put the radiator on, or do something else that gets ...

Home again, home again...

Turquoise Gates — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:33:00 +0100

Last year's homecomingAbsence truly makes the heart grow fonder! Last evening, the joyful reunion after five days of separation, the kids all piled on me, the sweetness of their caresses and lilt of their excited voices. Aaron's bass booming underneath. Today, a busy day of appointments for me and my cancer-ridden black lab. Thank you for all your prayers - another two weeks before I get results from my scan and blood test.Still counting...1457: peace in the afternoon sunlight after taking my radioactive iodine1460: riotous laughter1469: water soothes my throat1482: naps1486: bathroom trips done1497: night at my mama's1501: my aunt and uncle's home sweet home1506: children to cuddle again (Source: Turquoise Gates)

A little factoid - cancer changes your life especially for younger people.

Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:22:00 +0100

"Women younger than 50 who survive breast cancer face an array of quality of life challenges: psychological stress, weight gain and decline in physical activity....They also struggle with reproductive issues such as infertility and early-onset menopause.In studies that were published between January 1990 and July 2010, researchers ... found that overall quality of life was compromised in the younger survivors with both physical and mental health problems."And it took a bunch of researchers to figure this part out. Us cancer people knew this long before the researchers figured it out. (Maybe the researchers are a little slow?) "Young breast cancer survivors are cured but not okay" is the name of the article but they should really just delete the word breast and let it read 'y...

Afternoon tea in Arezzo, teardrops kill harmful bacteria, immune suppression in cancer, dexamethasone and MUC1, and the piano stairs (fun theory)…

Margaret's Corner — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:58:39 +0100

I actually don’t have a huge amount of free time today. But I’m on a break, so here’s a quick post. First, Arezzo: yesterday we spent a lovely relaxing day with friends (photo no. 1 is of Arezzo’s sloping and splendid Piazza Grande), which ended with a superb afternoon tea. Yes, I know, there is [...] (Source: Margaret's Corner)

Anne Morrow Lindbergh: She Married Adventure, and Grief

Donna Trussell — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:19:38 +0100

I just finished “Hour of Gold, Hour of Lead,” Anne Morrow Lindbergh‘s collection of diary entries and letters. Lindbergh was such a graceful writer, and yet today she’s remembered more for her marriage to aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh than for her books. I never hear writers talk about her work, but a more eloquent writer on the subject of grief, I’ve yet to find. (On March 1, 1932, her infant son was kidnapped and murdered.) Here’s her diary entry for September 13, 1932, a day when she’d flown from Long Island to Maine: “We are very high. There is Mount Desert, a cone above the mist, and Isle au Haut, and Monhegan behind now. Behind, all the islands running away, pulling in one direction like little boats in a harbor with the tide, al...

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Chris Sharland – A Grassroots Fundraiser Profile

LIVESTRONG Blog — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Chris Sharland is a grassroots fundraiser from Burlington, Ontario, Canada. To him, LIVESTRONG means, ” ... (Source: LIVESTRONG Blog)

2012 Community Impact Project Kicks Off

LIVESTRONG Blog — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Providing direct services to those affected by cancer is one of our primary missions here ... (Source: LIVESTRONG Blog)

Esme Barrera and the Womanly Art of Imaginary Self-Protection

Donna Trussell — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:25:02 +0100

When I read about the murder of a woman, I do what most women do. I ask: Where did it happen? Was it on the street? In a car? Her home? Did she have an abusive partner? Or was the victim chosen at random? Was there a break-in? Was the victim alone? Was she doing anything risky? Did she ever do anything risky? These questions have one purpose: To give me a false sense of security… Read the entire post at Washington Post: Esme Barrera and the Womanly Art of Imaginary Self-Protection Filed under: Women Tagged: austin, esme barrera, murder, she the people, washington post (Source: Donna Trussell)

Ovarian Cancer Drug Fail (and that’s the good news?)

Donna Trussell — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:13:27 +0100

How bad is ovarian cancer? Here’s how bad: A drug that fails to prolong the lives of ovarian cancer patients was just declared the biggest breakthrough in 15 years. According to results of two international clinical trials, published last week, the drug Avastin (aka bevacizumab) can interfere with blood vessel growth, and thereby slow disease progression in ovarian cancer patients. For three months. Three and a half, actually… Read the entire post at Washington Post: Ovarian cancer drug fail (and that’s the good news?) Filed under: Cancer Tagged: avastin, chemo, ovarian, she the people, steve buie, washington post (Source: Donna Trussell)

You won't know until you try it

Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:46:00 +0100

Do you remember the commercial for Life cereal? 'Mikey likes it!' As children we were encouraged to try new things - maybe we would really like lima beans if we would just try them. (And I knew the cat would eat them if I put butter on them.)We were also the daredevils who had not yet developed the fear of pain as we rode our bikes down the steep hills (without helmets as they were not yet invented).Some how as adults we remain skeptical of many things and have developed a healthy sense of self preservation and aversion to pain and ailments. I see this all the time as friends and people I know through online boards are not sure if they should try a medication because of fear of possible side effects. Maybe the years of seeing the single page of medical ad followed by the two pages of side ...

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But not of dying.

Bah! to cancer — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:01:08 +0100

(You might want to read yesterday’s post first.) Twitter makes me laugh sometimes. There are lots of people who use it as a way of soft marketing – tweet the word ‘fat’ and you’ll get a crop of new diet-promoting followers, tweet the word ’sex’ and the people who start following you will be offering delights that you, quite literally, couldn’t imagine – and I can see that sometimes, that works. If you tweet about your engagement, for example, and a couple of wedding planners then start to follow you, well, it makes sense, doesn’t it? So I was very amused yesterday to find I had a new follower – a funeral planner. Well, cancer = death, no? It really did make me chuckle, and I almost followed them back as a reward for the shee...

Updates and photos…

Margaret's Corner — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 19:48:52 +0100

Update on Lucy, the Canada goose: she’s going home where she belongs! Yaaaaay! Not sure exactly when that’s going to happen, but the important thing is that it’s going to happen!!! So happy about that! This bit of good news put a smile on my face first thing this morning… Thanks to everyone who signed the petition, by the [...] (Source: Margaret's Corner)

Urgent prayer request for a friend

Turquoise Gates — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:59:00 +0100

Her twins look all grown up, and I remember their baby blond curls and their nursing, and how their hair in knots glowed white in my camera viewfinder long years ago. This dear friend, their mother, sent a desperate text yesterday - a thirteen year old suddenly diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer, spread to his lungs. He spent all yesterday in surgery to remove the tumor and the kidney...bled, and now rests, and the world waits for news. Please keep the Glovers and their friends Emily and Mark and son Thomas close in prayer. (Source: Turquoise Gates)

Afraid

Bah! to cancer — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 13:30:55 +0100

This week I was on the Jonathan Miles Show on BBC Newcastle, chatting with Jonathan and the lovely Jerry of Echo 23 about the week’s news. Before we got on to talking about big families, asexuality, proposal planners, and how rude David Cameron is, we were both asked what we were afraid of. Jerry’s impressively terrifying answer was ‘being buried alive’ – something I’m now scared of too although I’d never much thought about it before. My answer didn’t need a moment’s thought: I’m most afraid, I said, of getting a cancer again, or of someone I love getting a cancer. Maybe that’s the answer that you’d expect from me, but I surprised myself. Firstly because I’m not a brave person. I don’t go up a ladder that w...

Positive Pets

Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 11:39:00 +0100

"Pets provide comfort and relieve stress from cancer." I can agree with this. Every day when I was in treatment I would hit the 'wall' and need to rest and gaze at the crappy day time tv shows (this was before the DVR) with glazed eyes, a cup of tea, and the cat sitting next to me. He would very patiently snuggle when I wasn't feeling well and absorbed tears and commiserated with me on the state of the world (if his food dish was empty). He is no longer a spring chicken at the ripe old age of 17. He is slowing down.In the vet's words at his annual check up a few weeks ago, his blood levels are mostly fine but he will probably sleep 97% of the time these days. He does. He greets us at the door each day when we come home (provided he has finished his latest nap) as if the world is coming to ...

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QOTD: Wendell Berry

white pebble — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:53:34 +0100

Even now, after centuries of reductionist propaganda, the world is still intricate and vast, as dark as it is light, a place of mystery, where we cannot do one thing without doing many things, or put two things together without putting many things together. Water quality, for example, cannot be improved without improving farming and forestry, but farming and forestry cannot be improved without improving the education of consumers — and so on. The proper business of a human economy is to make one whole thing of ourselves and this world. —Wendell Berry, from In Distrust of Movements via Even now, after centuries of reductionist… — A. King in Society. Filed under: books, qotd Tagged: Natural landscape, qotd, Sustainable agriculture, Wendell Berry (Source: white pebble)

In Memoriam: Singing legend Etta James dies at 73 – CNN.com

white pebble — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:52:46 +0100

Singing legend Etta James dies at 73 – CNN.com. Filed under: music (Source: white pebble)

She can talk about it on her own terms

Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:15:00 +0100

Oh, the scandal! Paula Deen has had diabetes for three years and didn't tell all of us until this week! She should have told us immediately. And now she must change her cooking style and switch to raw veganism so that she will lose weight and control her diabetes and prevent an early death! We should have been told!Who am I kidding? I completely support her decision not to go public until she was ready. In her own words she said I wanted to bring something to the table when I came forward.” She and her sons have started a foundation called Diabetes in a New Light and is now a spokesperson for Novo Nordisk which manufactures diabetes medications.What else is she supposed to do? Is she supposed to change the world, create global peace, and find the cure for diabetes? Isn't this enough? I t...

The waiting morning

Turquoise Gates — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:14:00 +0100

It's five o'clock, and I am restlessly awake. My full body scan is scheduled for 9 a.m. Even though I won't know the results for a week, the scan looms large. An hour of images taken, the slow slide underneath the counter, just inches from my nose. The gray little woman who always brings me back to the hot room where the equipment whirs and I must lie still for that whole hour.Just as He knows every hair on my aching head, knows the painful places sickened by the radiation and the shots that reverse my thyroid hormones, He knows the results already of this scan day. He knows whether I will get that magical pronouncement, "no visible metastasis". He knows. I can rest in the waiting, because He already knows....the exhortation was a vital part of a passage dealing with Christians who were su...

Cancer Free Friday: an exam tip

Bah! to cancer — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:16:57 +0100

Joy is in the thick of GCSEs at the moment. One lot of exams stops and the next lot starts. She’s working really hard, is doing very well, and I am very proud of her. This morning we were talking about luck and charms and talismans, and Joy told me something that she does when she goes into an exam. She uses the same pen in the exam as she did for revision, because “the pen has already written all the answers”. I don’t think that’s about luck. I think that’s a really clever idea. Any other exam tips? (Source: Bah! to cancer)

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Please sign this petition!

Margaret's Corner — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:13:08 +0100

Once again, I would like to go way off topic to ask for your help in bringing Lucy, the Canada goose, home to her human family (for more info, see my January 17 2012 post). You (and your neighbours and friends and colleagues and…well, everyone!) can now sign an online petition to help Lucy: http://goo.gl/ym3nN. [...] (Source: Margaret's Corner)

Join the Team

LIVESTRONG Blog — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

What was the best thing that you did in 2011? Our CFO, Greg, ran his first ... (Source: LIVESTRONG Blog)

Survivor Summit

LIVESTRONG Blog — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

I will never forget the words, “I am sorry, you have cancer.” It seems like ... (Source: LIVESTRONG Blog)

Fat Grafting in Breast Reconstruction - What's the Scoop?

Breast Cancer Reconstruction Blog — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:55:34 +0100

Fat grafting has been in the news a fair amount so I thought I'd give you a brief run-down of what's involved.... Fat grafting is a fairly new technique in breast surgery. Fat is liposuctioned from one part of the patient's body, purified and then injected into the breast. Fat grafting can be used to fill-in partial breast defects after lumpectomy. It is also frequently used after mastectomy, usually in conjunction with other reconstructive techniques, to optimize the breast contour and improve overall cosmetic results. There are several fat grafting techniques that are used by plastic surgeons. There is no "set way" that has been shown to be the best in terms of long-term results. However, studies have shown that regardless of the technique used, the collection, storage, and tran...

Dreadlocks for earbuds

Turquoise Gates — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:01:00 +0100

I recently joined Pinterest, and my favorite "pin" so far is this idea for a cord detangling solution for earbuds. There wasn't a tutorial online for the Chinese staircase, or spiral knot, technique - think friendships bracelets from junior high - so I'm posting one here. It does take an hour or so, and lots of embroidery floss, but it is well worth it to have snag-free cords every time you plug in to your device.You will need floss about 3 times as long as the cord (including headphones).Tie a simple knot with three strands of cord on the plug-in end of the cord.To make the first knot in your ladder, time a half-hitch knot.To begin, cross the thread under the cord and the other colored threads.Next, cross the thread over the cord.Next, cross the floss under the first loop.Pull the thread ...

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What If: The Beginning

I've Still Got Both My Nuts: A True Cancer Blog — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:34:00 +0100

“I believe everything happens for a reason,” TinyAppetite said. I then recalled cancer friends who have passed away, and millions of Jews slaughtered. I considered getting cancer twice myself. I thought of TinyAppetite’s mother with brain cancer and whether this entered her mind when she shared her belief. I hid my resentment, squashed my judgment, and appreciated her contrasting opinion. But what if TinyAppetite is right? What if… My hip pain shortened my sophomore tennis season because I would have become the world’s highest-ranked youth player and Rafael Nadal’s trainer would have had me assassinated. Patrick Ewing never having won an NBA championship led to additional attention paid to his surname, and subsequently the disease Ewing’s sarcoma, and if he had won then my...

Make the Call | Stop the Wall

white pebble — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:59:21 +0100

. Filed under: Current Affairs, electronic life, Link (Source: white pebble)

Cancer vaccine being tested on multiple myeloma patients…

Margaret's Corner — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:18:50 +0100

Back in mid November, a blog reader (thanks, J!) posted a link on my blog’s Facebook Page about the development of a cancer vaccine called ImMucin, which, and here’s the exciting part!, was being tested in clinical trials on patients with multiple myeloma. Very exciting news. Now, I’d known for a while that a vaccine [...] (Source: Margaret's Corner)

A picture paints a thousand words

Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:14:00 +0100

These pictures tell the story of what its like to be a cancer patient - The battle we didn't choose. This is not me, these pictures are from CNN. (Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog)

The best medicine…..

Bah! to cancer — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:20:52 +0100

….is not laughter after all. (Maybe laughter is the second best.) (Source: Bah! to cancer)

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And so it goes

Turquoise Gates — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:29:00 +0100

The little lead pot with the electric blue pill (this time a pretty cobalt instead of the usual neon) was delivered to me (finally) at noon today. They had forgotten to schedule my requisite pregnancy test prior to the dose, so I had to get that out of the way first. The photo above is the carrier on wheels that delivers the radioactive iodine to the dosing room. It is shielded with lead and has a geiger counter built in. Out of curiosity I googled geiger counters and lo and behold - you can own a portable model for just over $300 - less than an iPhone. Now if only Apple would come up with an "app for that"...Some "radioactive headphones" I just had to haveAfter lunch with my mom, I settled in to a friend's peaceful home for an evening of movies and, apparently, some serious exorcism of th...

CPRIT Combats Rising Economic and Human Impact of Cancer

LIVESTRONG Blog — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In 2007, LIVESTRONG campaigned for the largest state-level initiative for cancer research and prevention in ... (Source: LIVESTRONG Blog)

1-18-2012

Carin' For Karen — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 01:50:46 +0100

Karen had a great day and a group of church ladies (Heartsong) came out tonight to sing and she really enjoyed that…..She is sleeping all day and talking her self to sleep at night…..pain is under control …no nausea ….but has started having difficulty swallowing……pray for continued strength and perseverance…..she is doing awesome….. Dale continues [...] (Source: Carin' For Karen)

Update and Announcement!

Anastasia's Cancer Experience — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:19:00 +0100

Hi! I am sorry this update is not very timely. The great news is my scan came out clean and clear. It only lit up a little in the throat area and that is likely from talking. My onc is not worried. Sooo....woohoo! Yeah. I am super grateful and happy.~ My Lovely Sister ~The announcement I have to make is that my sister, Tiffany Spiecker, has signed up to do run a half marathon race in support of the Stupid Cancer foundation. She is fundraising right now. Please check out her page: http://www.crowdrise.com/tsc2012/fundraiser/TiffanySpiecker ! And, if you are able to, please donate to the fund.As an incentive, (oooooh), I am going to give away a copy of my CD, "Of the Resurrection," online to anyone who donates at least $25.00. Simply e-mail me at therealanastasia@bellsouth.net ...

#Wikipedia hates #SOPA

white pebble — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:03:11 +0100

Filed under: Ephemera (Source: white pebble)

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#Google hates #SOPA

white pebble — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:02:08 +0100

Filed under: Ephemera (Source: white pebble)

Strike Against SOPA & PIPA

white pebble — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:39:30 +0100

. Filed under: Current Affairs, electronic life, Link (Source: white pebble)

The Best Natural Way to Avoid Cancer

The Beast... — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:48:00 +0100

Increasing numbers of people would like to avoid most cancers normally. No more an illness from the seniors as well as from the middle-aged group, most cancers is actually turning up increasingly more often within kids right down to the actual child many years. The condition provides persistent, intolerable discomfort, bodily impairment, continuous exhaustion, wiped-out cost savings company accounts and frequently passing away.Nevertheless, stopping most cancers isn't just feasible, however some thing inside the achieve of each and every individual. This boils down in order to carrying out to a couple change in lifestyle, for example eliminating unhealthy foods as well as physical exercise.Because essential because these types of modifications tend to be in order to lowering your most canc...

Fight Disease with Exercise

The Beast... — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:42:00 +0100

The following is yet another benefit for an appropriate workouts, elimination involving ailment, which include melanoma. A newly released analyze that's posted inside United kingdom Record involving Athletics Remedies observed that will threat involving melanoma ended up being lower by 50 % for individuals that involved yourself throughout substantial power exercising, the more expensive your power the bottom danger.Your varieties of exercising that they talk about while substantial power will certainly not incorporate strolling as well as classic cardio exercise. That may be exercising at the additional modest perhaps tempo along with by no means involved while speaking about substantial power.Substantial power sort of exercising is possible using a number of pursuits the real key can be ...

Anxious thoughts

Turquoise Gates — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:48:00 +0100

If I take the wings of the morningand dwell in the farthest part of the seaEven there thy hand will guide me,and thy right hand will hold me.Image credit Horia VarlanSearch me, oh God, and know my heart,try me and know my anxious thoughts.See if there be any hurtful way in meand lead me in the everlasting way.Psalm 139:9Radioactive iodine to be swallowed at nine. I am worn out, but I feel ready. If nothing shows up on my Friday scan, this will be the last one for a while. After this, if there is no visible cancer, next year will bring Thyrogen injections (to reverse my thyroid hormone) and tumor marker labs every 6 months. I am praying this will happen - please join me! (Source: Turquoise Gates)

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Research

Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:19:00 +0100

Dr. Susan Love has established the Army of Women where they are trying to recruit 1,000,000 women to help in medical research focused on breast cancer. The point of this is to find more women to participate in surveys to validate other research.The Army of Women sends out emails periodically that describe the requirements for their latest survey and asks for volunteers who meet them to participate in the studies. They may just be answering questions online or they may be more in depth with direct contact with researchers. I joined this group a while ago and just participated in my first study. It is on Endocrine Therapy after Breast Cancer. You can participate in it if you are a woman, live in the US, have been diagnosed with breast cancer, and are currently taking or within the past 12 mo...

Tender

Bah! to cancer — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:46:07 +0100

OK, so I’m breast-obsessed these days. If my body was a school class, my breasts have stopped being the pretty twins who sit at the front of the room, doing whatever they’re told. They’ve become the kids at the back who you can’t take your eyes off for a second because if you do they’ll be setting fire to someone’s hair or swallowing the key to the filing cabinet. I run my fingers over the scar tissue when I’m anxious. I check for lumps in the shower. I notice every detail, every pore and pucker. Choosing a bra is a crucial part of the morning, and all of my bras are pretty these days – my post-operative grandma-bras and weight-gain scaffolding having been thrown away in a recent purge. Mostly, my breasts let me get on with it. They like the...

Run the Spartan with LIVESTRONG!

LIVESTRONG Blog — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Are you in or around the Austin, Texas, area and looking for a new physical ... (Source: LIVESTRONG Blog)

Run the NYC Half Marathon with Team LIVESTRONG!

LIVESTRONG Blog — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

When can you run 13.1 miles in NYC and have Times Square shut down just ... (Source: LIVESTRONG Blog)

Team LIVESTRONG Profile: Tom Hallberg

LIVESTRONG Blog — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

“Believe in yourself and make the best of your situation, no matter how difficult it ... (Source: LIVESTRONG Blog)

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Researchers use sugar to halt esophageal cancer in its tracks

white pebble — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:52:59 +0100

. Filed under: Cancer, Link (Source: white pebble)

you must watch this

Not just about cancer — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:17:00 +0100

I wish I could give a copy of Pink Ribbons Inc to anyone who has ever asked me why I'm down on the pink ribbon industry. The documentary summarizes all that is wrong with pinkwashing, in the most powerful terms possible: through interviews, images, facts and with women telling their own stories.My 13 year old son and my mother in law saw Pink Ribbons Inc when it opened at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. They were both blown away. My son is a film buff and he declared this one to be one of the best documentaries he'd every seen. Last week, I was invited to an advance screening of the film and - although I was already sympatico with the message - I was riveted, moved and angered. It's incredibly well done.The movie is based on the book by Dr. Samantha King (the author i...

Prevent Prostate Cancer and It's Recurring Effectively

The Beast... — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:28:00 +0100

Being overweight isn't just the danger element with regard to prostate most cancers, additionally, it may boost the danger associated with repeat. Physical exercise as well as exercise tend to be advantageous through helping weight reduction, improving pelvic blood circulation, enhancing defenses, as well as decreasing exhaustion.The very best most cancers diet plan is actually lower in red-colored beef as well as dairy products as well as full of vegetables and fruit. Broccoli particularly may be proven within medical tests in order to particularly assist in preventing prostate growth. The vegetarian diet plan may be proved to be efficient in some instances. There's inconsistant home elevators soy as well as soy isoflavones. Nutritional soy is actually of a reduce danger associated with b...

Exercise and Diet is Crucial to Prevent Cancer

The Beast... — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:26:00 +0100

Based on information gathered through the World Health Organization, higher earnings nations tend to be overweight, tend to be higher customers associated with alcoholic beverages, perform a smaller amount physical exercise usually and also have the higher danger associated with most cancers compared to additional lower-income nations, in comparison.Denmark is actually ranked the main nation with regard to greatest most cancers danger, using the UNITED KINGDOM from quantity twenty two. This particular would go to display which most cancers is actually carefully associated with way of life elements and it is that there's consequently some thing that you can do to reduce the actual dangers and stop numerous cancer through building, such as cancer from the breasts, lung, mouth area, intestina...

MedWorm: Cancer

Light a Candle

What’s in a placebo? Surprise, surprise…

Statistics dont tell the whole story

Bah! Tuesday books

Bringing Fashion and LIVESTRONG Together

The unknowable {a hearing update}

Abdominal Muscle - Why Save It?

2-6-2012 update….

safe place in you…

Hospitals making profits on their patients

Words from the wise

Gearing Up in Davis

Myth Busters: What’s Your Score?

Komen, Go Back to Your Roots

Exercise, Schmexercise

Plugging the holes

Finally! The truth is coming out about that Pink Ribbon

Fenugreek and its possible anti-myeloma potential…

Campaigning Is Child Neglect? Since When?

Top 11 posts for 2011

#Snow chairs in #Boulder

Why write? {on airing dirty laundry and authenticity in storytelling}

Let's take the politics out of health care

Full of holes

Announcing a New World Cancer Day Survivor Support Initiative

Next Post

Snow.

Hearing update

I really needed this…

I have no inspiration this morning

Cancer Free Friday: getting the hang of it

LIVESTRONG Joins Mayor Bloomberg with Donation to Planned Parenthood Cancer Services Fund

You Have Breast Cancer? Say What??

It's Groundhog Day; So How Large Is Your Shadow ?

Staying in touch…

I am deaf, I've been mute (I'm blind but now I see)

Following a controversy

2-1-2012 update

That magical little word!

So Long and Goodbye: My January Cancer Peep

Rest in Peace Anna

Thank you for making me feel insecure about my treatment

More to Bah! than blogging

Please respond to cancer coping survey!!

I'm done with Komen

We Believe in Access to Free Cancer Screenings

Only 10 Days Left to Apply for the Community Impact Project

Test results & snow in Florence!

Good!

Getting rid of toxins

Three points on which the medical profession and I differ

Feb 4 – World Cancer Day: Celebrate with Team LIVESTRONG

3 truths

Thoughts on Stress and Breast Cancer

Comfortable in my nakedness

Insurance costs

Guggulsterone also inhibits osteoclastogenesis in multiple myeloma and breast cancer cells…

Sniff. Cough. Ginger. Gin.

Courage when it counts

Team LIVESTRONG: 40 Years of RAGBRAI

Rough week-end….

The Things I Do to Spread Love

Its just a sunburn - hah!

Google Guggul!

Check them out

Rest in Peace Pete

We will be the salt-and-pepper shakers

Advice for consumers of all times, actually…

Numbers and research

Morning haiku

Today

tutorial: recycled magazine jewelry…

Remembering whose we are…

and the winner is...

Workworkwork…

Breast Reconstruction ? a definite yes! – guest post

Blah, blah, blah

Cancer Free Friday: Bah! Brownies

Partnered Event Update: Ski 4 Yellow