MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'cancer awareness'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:56:58 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182218&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F09%2F01%2Fu-s-president-barack-obama-proclaims-september-2011-as-national-ovarian-cancer-awareness-month-what-should-you-know%2F Today, U.S. President Barack Obama designated September 2010 as National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. During National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Libby’s H*O*P*E*™ will honor the women who have lost their lives to the disease, support those who are currently battling the disease, and celebrate with those who have beaten the disease.  Today, U.S. President Barack [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182218 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 23:03:15 +0100 5182218 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182219&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F31%2Fnocc-to-host-annual-walk-to-break-the-silence-on-ovarian-cancer-in-the-greater-washington-d-c-area%2F The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) Central Maryland Chapter announces its annual “Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer” to be held on Sunday, September 18, 2011 at Quiet Waters Park, located in Annapolis, Maryland. The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) Central Maryland Chapter announces its 2nd Annual “Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer” to be [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182219 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 23:16:36 +0100 5182219 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174824&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fdreaming-about-cancer%2F I sleep with a dog. Well, actually, I sleep with two dogs and a husband. So you would think that when Sister and I spent several days at her cottage this past week, just the two of us, I would relish the opportunity to sleep sprawled out and alone on a comfy queen-size bed. I will admit that I was kind of looking forward to it, so I was deeply disappointed when I found it difficult to fall asleep. Sleep is my thing, so it was surprising that sleeping without my companions didn’t provide the enjoyment I was expecting, especially in the peaceful atmosphere of Northern Ontario cottage country. The fact that I tossed and turned for long periods of time before falling asleep all three nights and had a horrible dream about cancer was very perplexing. I haven’t dreamed about having cancer ev... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174824 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:34:38 +0100 5174824 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130989&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fsupport-a-cure-send-your-bra-to-washington%2F The media coverage of the economic woes of the United States and the recent congressional battle over the deficit has been ad nauseam recently. Most of us have really had enough — and may even have become desensitized to the issues. This concerns me. The implication for women and especially breast cancer survivors is significant. If budget cuts for education, research, and health care continue, I worry that it will adversely affect any momentum gained over the past years in working towards a cure for breast cancer. Government’s involvement in finding a cure is paramount. Each of us needs to make an effort to keep breast cancer front and center, and I have a simple way that we can do it. I have sent e-mails to my representatives and senators about health care and breast cancer. Of... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130989 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:46:28 +0100 5130989 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4709356&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbeating-breast-cancer-is-like-taking-on-a-pitbull-you-dont-know-you-can-do-it-until-you-do%2F The other night my dog Dixie and I went for our usual walk around the neighborhood. We look ridiculous, since Dixie generally walks me while I hold on to her with all my might. To say she’s not well trained on a leash — after 10 years — is an understatement; however, she has me well-trained. Generally, we feel quite safe and arrive home without incident. This night was the exception. Half way through our trek, we were confronted by a pit bull loose in the neighborhood and obviously without an owner. My reaction was not what I would have expected. I quickly swooped up my little Dixie — a Jack Russell terrier — in my arms and yelled at the pit bull to go home while lunging at it aggressively. Initially, the pit bull repeatedly turned away and turned back — at least until Dixie de... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4709356 Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:22:02 +0100 4709356 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4566298&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fkeep-copies-of-your-medical-records%2F I have a huge file with all the test results and pathology reports that pertain to my breast cancer. It was helpful for a while, especially when I met with the genetics counselor and the surgeons who did my reconstructive surgery. I even had my bone scans and x-rays for a while, when I carried them with me to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore to discuss prophylactic mastectomy and DIEP flap surgery. It was my oncologist’s secretary who carefully copied every test and made sure to give it to me as I left each office visit. She suggested I keep it nearby since it could prove helpful to have. Now it is just a huge file taking up room in my file cabinet. I seldom if ever look at it anymore, and it seems almost obsolete since losing both of my breasts. Truthfully though, just knowing that I have acc... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4566298 Wed, 09 Mar 2011 17:26:17 +0100 4566298 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4549905&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fthinking-about-breast-cancer-at-dollywood%2F I had a great week vacationing in the mountains of Tennessee. It was the first time I had been to this state, and I am in love with it. When we left for Tennessee, there was still snow in the mountains and our hope was to get some skiing in. By the time we arrived, rainstorms had washed away much of that snow, along with our goal to ski in the Smoky Mountains. But it turned out that not being able to ski didn’t detract from a wonderful time and one of our best vacations. We stayed in Gatlinburg and the surrounding area. Much of our time was spent in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, which not only provided some of the most beautiful mountaintop views, but housed some wonderful historical sites. We were really close to Dollywood, too — that’s Dolly Parton’s theme park. The... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4549905 Fri, 04 Mar 2011 19:39:29 +0100 4549905 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4517316&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fhaving-a-baby-is-the-ultimate-victory-over-breast-cancer%2F The weekends start out for me with the usual shopping trips to grocery stores and markets to stock up for the week. While my husband and I were standing in various checkout lines, it was hard not to notice the magazine covers with pictures of the actress Christina Applegate and her baby. It was also hard for me not to feel emotionally affected by her serene expression while holding her beautiful baby. This young woman battled breast cancer at an early age and survived to become a mother. I was overwhelmed by her story and her victory. Those of us who are diagnosed when our children are young worry about surviving breast cancer to be there for them. I can’t imagine what it feels like for younger women diagnosed with the disease who wonder if they will even be able to have children. Storie... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4517316 Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:32:59 +0100 4517316 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489923&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fpink-wristbands-to-remember-a-life%2F My son, the Big Guy, has a new girlfriend. She is adorable and not just because she only comes up to his waist. She is beautiful with big dark eyes and is refreshingly direct and witty. We had the opportunity to meet her at Christmas when the Big Guy brought her by for a visit. Since then we’ve got to know her a little bit and are as taken with her as he is. When I met her, the one thing I noticed right away was the pink band she wore around her wrist. She explained that it was in memory of her dance teacher. A woman who had been a big part of her life had not only been diagnosed with breast cancer, but had died from it. It had impacted this special young woman and gave her a reason to become part of the fight against the disease. I am always surprised by people’s connection to breast... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489923 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 21:04:37 +0100 4489923 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4455438&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fmy-new-challenge-thanks-to-breast-cancer%2F My blog has been neglected by the fact that I am in over my head. Here I am in the middle of my pursuit of a second bachelor’s degree in nursing, wondering if I can weather it through. This is tough stuff. It helps to remind myself, though, that if it was easy there wouldn’t be a nursing shortage. There is a lot of stuff to learn, but I think a nurse needs to know all of it. So I am stuck in the middle of the program feeling a little bit challenged. I felt in over my head during breast cancer treatment too. Starting with two surgeries and then 6 months of chemotherapy, there were times I wondered if I could tough it out. The truth is we have no choice, we have to go on. One thing that we must do after we have been diagnosed with breast cancer is to resolve that we will get through it. ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4455438 Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:03:55 +0100 4455438 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419375&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbe-tough-enough-to-take-care-of-yourself-through-breast-cancer%2F There was a lot of hoopla about Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler last week. During the NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers, Cutler hurt his knee. This game was to determine which team was going to the Super Bowl, and when Cutler seemed to check out, the victory ultimately went to Green Bay. The uproar that erupted was caused by sportswriters, fans, and even Cutler’s own teammates, who questioned his toughness and commitment to the team and wondered whether he even had an injury. Ultimately, an MRI showed that indeed Cutler had suffered a serious knee injury. This weekend, instead of apologizing, the accusers seemed to think he should have been tough enough to play the duration of the game with an injury. You are probably wondering what this story has to do with br... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419375 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 22:08:56 +0100 4419375 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4394658&cid=t_151274_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FnVV2s7wFtMA%2F You’ve probably heard that the Susan G. Komen Foundation doesn’t mess around when it comes to fiercely protecting its trademarked name (and its hundreds of other registered trademarks) related to the behemoth’s breast cancer fundraising efforts. When much smaller, less powerful charitable nonprofits unknowingly (or, in the naive spirit of “we’re all in this fight together”) use the color pink to promote their cancer fundraiser or tack on the phrase “for the Cure” to the name of their mom-and-pop charity (“Kites for the Cure,” “Surfing for the Cure,” “Par for the Cure,” “Cupcakes for the Cure, etc.), the Susan G. Komen Foundation comes after them with all the mighty power of a huge, global juggernaut l... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4394658 Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:10:27 +0100 4394658 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4275552&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbreast-cancer-chemo-brain-and-post-traumatic-stress%2F I have posted tons of blogs over the past few years and one of my favorite still remains the one I did about chemo brain entitled, “You know you have chemo brain when.” The comments are actually hilarious — well, if you are a breast cancer survivor. I doubt if anyone else would find it as funny. I have written about chemo brain in other blogs since then, and I still wrestle with the idea that I am suffering — slowly, hopefully recovering some of my brain functioning affected by what I still call chemo brain. Lately I have had another idea about it. I think a component of the whole chemo brain condition could actually be attributed to post-traumatic stress. Post-traumatic stress has gained a lot of attention lately, especially as we see more and more war veterans returning home with... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4275552 Mon, 20 Dec 2010 18:29:40 +0100 4275552 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4225572&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fmy-deep-dark-femara-secret%2F Last January, my oncologist gave me a prescription for Femara because my five-year course with tamoxifen had finished. Research shows maximum benefits from hormonal treatment if tamoxifen is followed by an aromatase inhibitor like Arimidex or Femara for five years. I tried Arimidex in 2006 and wrote about how I had to stop because the side effects were so debilitating. So I initially put off taking it and then later blogged about the prescription still stuck to my fridge. Comments from many of you tried to ease my concerns and encouraged me to take it. So I agreed I would. I need to come clean. Until I had the bone cancer scare that I wrote about last week in my blog about pain and breast cancer, I wasn’t taking Femara. I had good intentions — really I did — mostly because of concern... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4225572 Fri, 03 Dec 2010 20:24:16 +0100 4225572 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4163027&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbreast-cancer-you-either-get-it-or-you-dont%2F I can’t remember what it felt like to have real breasts. Even though I am thrilled with the results of my recent breast reconstruction revisions, I am questioning if I will ever be truly a whole woman again. I just don’t feel normal — I feel like a breast cancer survivor — and putting a new set of breasts on my chest doesn’t make me feel like I used to. If anything, I feel even less normal. To be honest, I don’t usually think this way. These sentiments are all coming out of an experience I had a couple of days ago. I made the mistake of explaining the DIEP flap surgery I had to reconstruct my breasts to a woman that had never been through breast cancer. I have always been excited about the procedure and the results from the surgery that took my excess tummy fat and made a pair ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4163027 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:48:52 +0100 4163027 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4152157&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fdo-breast-cancer-survivors-really-want-another-fight%2F The big midterm elections are over. With the economy here in Michigan in distress — as in so many other states — we all had big expectations. But one outcome I wasn’t counting on was the vengeance with which the Republican Party steamed into power targeting the recent health-care reform bill. I for one am completely blindsided. Weren’t they all running on the issue of creating jobs and rebuilding the economy? Are we now going to have the debate about health care all over again — why didn’t they participate when they had the chance? In my household we have two cancer survivors and a 22-year-old son. The new law would really make a difference in easing our fears about health care. Now we find out that the only thing this new Congress wants to achieve will affect my family in the ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4152157 Mon, 08 Nov 2010 20:02:45 +0100 4152157 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4134144&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fcan-we-really-wait-10-years-for-a-breast-cancer-cure%2F I have been struggling with mixed emotions. The National Breast Cancer Coalition came out last month with a new initiative — to cure breast cancer by January 1, 2020. As exciting as it may seem to set a deadline for a cure, I am so terribly disappointed to think it may take another 10 years. That means that over two million more women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and a number of them will die from the disease. This to me is unacceptable. Millions and millions of dollars have been raised toward breast cancer awareness, treatment, and research just since I was diagnosed seven years ago. There has been real progress in finding better treatments and making inroads in new directions such as genetic testing. Yet, if we are prepared to wait 10 more years for a cure we can’t honestly ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4134144 Wed, 03 Nov 2010 20:02:07 +0100 4134144 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4125225&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbreast-cancer-makes-family-memories%2F Last week I had the opportunity to spend time with my son — the Big Guy — when I drove him and a friend to pick up his car from the repair shop. Halfway into our trip, I told him to get my wallet from my purse so he could take some money from it. When the Big Guy opened the wallet, his eyes fell on my driver’s license photo, which was taken when I had breast cancer. He took the license out of my wallet and handed it behind him to his friend in the backseat. The Big Guy then asked his friend if he remembered that he told him that his mom had breast cancer. It was interesting that my son wanted to show his friend a picture of me taken during the year I battled the disease. These are two big football linemen and I have to admit it took me off guard. The fact that the Big Guy discussed t... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4125225 Mon, 01 Nov 2010 20:05:22 +0100 4125225 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119530&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fmen-fight-in-the-pink-too%2F I want to use this blog entry to wholeheartedly thank all the men who have taken up the cause against breast cancer. It is no surprise that more and more men are getting in the fight — breasts are not only beautiful, they belong to the women men love. From small local groups who participate in the various breast cancer walks to large national organizations, these guys are often motivated by a breast cancer diagnosis that hit close to home. Many of their stories are about their loved ones who battled the disease. When over 200,000 women are diagnosed yearly, you know a lot of men are waking up to the ravages and heartache breast cancer causes. The NFL is perhaps the biggest organization of men against breast cancer. For the past few years we have seen the players don pink cleats, gloves, ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119530 Wed, 27 Oct 2010 21:40:15 +0100 4119530 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4105998&cid=t_151274_147_f&fid=39266&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCreationInteractive%2F%7E3%2FMlWwBpbP1ZM%2F October is international “Breast Cancer Awareness Month”; or “Octobre Rose” (“Pink October”) in France. This is an opportunity for patient groups, charities or states to raise awareness about breast cancer and reiterate the importance of screening. In France, more than 52,000 new breast cancer cases are estimated in 2010, making it the most common cancer amongst women. Thus, the “Octobre Rose” campaign aims to overcome the reluctance of women to take part in breast cancer screening. Among the many initiatives and digital strategies that are emerging throughout Europe is the digital engagement campaign “La Chaine Rose” from pharmaceutical company Roche in France. Social media to engage a community against breast cancer Pharmaceutical marketers and co... Creation Interactive blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4105998 Tue, 26 Oct 2010 09:00:30 +0100 4105998 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4105941&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fyou-dont-have-a-good-reason-to-avoid-a-mammogram%2F What’s your reason for not getting a mammogram? Well, whatever it is, it’s not a good one. There is no good reason to avoid regular mammograms or annual breast screening. I am hearing a lot of reasons why women have not been getting their breasts screened annually after the age of 40, and I can absolutely confirm that I haven’t heard a good one yet. Most, if not all, breast experts and cancer organizations are sticking to the original guidelines of annual mammograms after age 40. Dr. Kristi Funk confirmed this when I spoke to her recently, and the American Cancer Society, among others, continues to recommend these guidelines. Mammograms save lives: They provide the best tool for early detection, and we don’t have a better method as yet. An MRI might actually provide better insight... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4105941 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:12:42 +0100 4105941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4098492&cid=t_151274_160_f&fid=36193&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aloha-dermatology.com%2Faloha-dermatology-blog%2Fmaui-county-37th-annual-senior-citizens-health-fair%2F Doctor Micki Ly MD, her staff, and her kids and friends man the Aloha Dermatology and Laser Center "Skin Cancer Awareness Booth" at the 2010 Maui County Senior Fair. (Source: aloha-dermatology.com) aloha-dermatology.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4098492 Sun, 24 Oct 2010 04:04:53 +0100 4098492 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4086460&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbe-the-manager-of-your-breast-cancer-treatment%2F Taking charge of our care after a breast cancer diagnosis is not something most people do with any great confidence. Most of us are reluctant to challenge or question our doctors’ directives. Ultimately, though, we need to get grounded and find a way to get involved. The doctors have the knowledge and experience, but we have the intuition and ultimate responsibility for our life. Becoming a manager of your health care doesn’t mean you have to have all the expertise of a physician; it simply means that you take the initiative to learn about the disease, its treatment options, and the best services available to you. It might include asking your doctor for more explicit information or seeking second opinions from other providers. It definitely means that you put some focus on learning... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4086460 Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:35:13 +0100 4086460 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4082277&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fthe-warriors-become-champions-for-the-cause%2F This past Saturday, the Wayne State Warriors football team came blazing through a gigantic inflated “W” onto Adams Field in Detroit, to the cheers and ovation of the crowd. Along with their brilliant green-and-gold helmets and green home jerseys, their cleats were tied with pink laces resembling the pink ribbons for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This was a big game for the Warriors. Their support and solidarity for breast cancer awareness may not have meant much to the collegiate fans hoping for another win, but it mattered to the 200,000 women that will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and it mattered to the millions of survivors in this nation hoping for a cure. Football is big, really big. But there are a few things that are bigger than beating an opponent, and beating br... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4082277 Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:11:01 +0100 4082277 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4065554&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fback-to-basics-with-dr-kristi-funk%2F This week I had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Kristi Funk again. I previously interviewed Dr. Funk during last year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Dr. Funk has been active in breast cancer awareness, surgery, and treatment since she was Director of Patient Education at Cedars-Sinai Breast Center in Los Angeles. In 2009, she left to open the Pink Lotus Breast Center. She is truly a treasure trove of knowledge and a dedicated warrior in the fight against breast cancer. I will include some of the great things I learned from talking with Dr. Funk over the next few blog entries. One of the important things we discussed was the role of diet and exercise in reducing the risk of breast cancer. More evidence continues to emerge to support findings that breast cancer is affected by a woma... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4065554 Wed, 13 Oct 2010 17:52:21 +0100 4065554 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4061032&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fthe-stink-over-pink%2F Although I am elated by the pink hue around the world this October, there are some who don’t see everything through the same rose-colored glasses. There is a lot of opposition and even anger over the fact that breast cancer is receiving more attention than other cancers. While I don’t believe for a moment that it is more important to cure breast cancer than other cancers, I do think it affects more people than any other cancer. In the United States, lung cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer annually in both sexes, followed by breast cancer for women and prostate cancer for men. But think about the number of people affected by breast cancer. When a woman gets cancer, her family gets cancer. Her children, husband, mother, and father are affected because she is the caregiver. It... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4061032 Tue, 12 Oct 2010 14:41:54 +0100 4061032 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4045291&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fis-your-life-worth-the-cost-of-an-annual-mammogram%2F Driving home tonight I heard a radio ad for a local clinic that will provide mammograms for 85 dollars. Apparently, as the ad puts it, if you don’t have insurance a mammogram can cost you hundreds of dollars. The significance of a mammogram in the effort to detect breast cancer early and save lives is enormous. That makes 85 bucks a real bargain — who wouldn’t pay that amount to save their life? The sad thing is that millions of women in America don’t have insurance, and many of them can’t afford 85 dollars either. There are clinics and organizations nationwide, however, that will provide mammograms for free to women who don’t have insurance and can’t afford to pay for one. I urge anyone in this situation to call their local American Cancer Society office to inquire about fre... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4045291 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 15:57:12 +0100 4045291 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4045345&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2010%2F10%2F07%2Ffacebook-wants-to-know-where-i-like-my-purse-heres-where-they-can-put-it%2F My new post on Politics Daily / Woman Up. Facebook Wants to Know Where I Like My Purse. Here’s Where They Can Put It. It’s meme season again. Last year about this time, lots of women found this message in their Facebook mailboxes: “Help spread the wings of breast cancer awareness by putting the color of your bra as your status. Just the color, nothing else. It will be fun to see how long it takes before the men will wonder why all the girls have a color in their status.” My colleague Frances Tobin was not amused. Neither was I. In “My Bra? Color Me Furious,” I objected “not for myself, but for friends I’ve watched face this beast. Many of them aren’t wearing bras of any color because their breasts are long gone. Instead they might be we... Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4045345 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 04:31:55 +0100 4045345 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4031441&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fpink-is-the-color-of-hope%2F Once again the world is ablaze in pink. I love this time of year. I love walking into the stores and seeing pink signs and merchandise front and center. It reminds me that we are all in this together — that there are companies and people and organizations united for one month to promote breast cancer awareness and raise money for breast cancer treatment and research. This year there are banks promoting credit cards decorated with pink ribbons, as well as other merchandise I never would have thought could push pink. One interesting new campaign comes from Sutter Home, a vineyard that provides an overlay of their wine cap wound in a pink ribbon. If you add this overlay to your Facebook profile picture, Sutter Home for Hope (their organization) will donate a dollar to breast cancer treatmen... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4031441 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 22:06:01 +0100 4031441 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4031196&cid=t_151274_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fthe-story-of-a-triple-negative-breast-cancer-survivor%2F photo via AOL Health Check out this post from Michelle Burford at AOL Health. Nine years ago, 36-year-old pediatrician Dr. Kimberly Bates, pictured left, was like any other successful 27-year-old: She had just finished medical school and had settled into her residency. She and husband were dreaming of the day when they’d have a child when she was hit with an unthinkable diagnosis — breast cancer. As if that weren’t challenging enough, Bates also discovered that she had triple negative breast cancer, a particularly pernicious form of the disease that disproportionately strikes young black women, resists most treatments and offers bleak survival rates. With a single sentence from her oncologist — “you have triple negative breast cancer” — the life B... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4031196 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 16:57:27 +0100 4031196 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4023092&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Freal-men-face-their-breast-cancer-risk%2F Breast Cancer Awareness Month always reminds me of my responsibility to promote awareness and early detection to my girlfriends and the women that I know. I seldom consider the possibility of breast cancer affecting the men in my life, although I should, because it is very real. My boys and their cousin (Sister’s son) are at risk for breast cancer for the same reason as my nieces — their mothers are carriers of the breast cancer gene. Breast cancer in men is rare, but it does happen, and there are men at risk who may never get tested. It generally occurs in older men (between the ages of 60 and 70), and it can be due to abnormal estrogen levels or a family genetic predisposition. Breast cancer can also develop in men who have been exposed to radiation. Male breast cancer also comes... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4023092 Fri, 01 Oct 2010 19:48:09 +0100 4023092 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4018141&cid=t_151274_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fshow-breast-cancer-whos-boss-with-a-sassy-new-card%2F October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, so you’ll be hearing about a lot of cool ways to support the cause over the next 31 days. This one comes to you a day early, but definitely not a dollar short. It’s this spunky greeting card, designed by card company Foxy Blunt, that reads: Thinking of you…as you bitch-slap cancer. We’re all about injecting humor into serious health issues, and this card is right up our alley. 50% of all proceeds will benefit the Young Survival Coalition, an organization that promotes awareness about breast cancer in young women. You can buy the card for $4.95 at FoxyBlunt.com now. via Betty Confidential Post from: BlissTree Show Breast Cancer Who's Boss With a Sassy New Card (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4018141 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 17:31:15 +0100 4018141 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4003392&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fsurgical-solutions-for-lymphedema%2F I am so happy with the results of my recent DIEP flap revision. Dr. Studinger is detailed and very attentive, and I am so fortunate to have found her. She does other plastic surgery and reconstructive procedures as well. I had the opportunity to discuss lymph node surgery with her when I had my follow-up appointment last week. Until I read her brochure, I didn’t even know that there was relief for lymphedema through surgery. Dr. Studinger is one of only a few doctors worldwide who perform successful surgery for lymph node reconstruction in the treatment of lymphedema. Every now and then I sense a little numbness in my right arm. Generally it is around the elbow and radiates to the upper arm. I know that it is because I had lymph nodes removed when I had a mastectomy of the right breast. ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4003392 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:13:16 +0100 4003392 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3994241&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbreast-cancer-made-me-a-better-person%2F I guess I have to give some credit to breast cancer for making me a better person. Honestly, I am more compassionate, more patient, and more considerate of people’s feelings. I know that is a lot of credit to give to a horrible disease, but if I hadn’t been diagnosed I really doubt if I would have had such a deep connection and concern for others. Working for 12 years in Christian ministry, I was truly sincere about reaching out to other people suffering and struggling in their lives. But now I just have a much deeper perspective and understanding of what they are going through and what their needs are. I can’t say if it is just a new maturity in my life or if it is all due to battling breast cancer, but I know in great part it is because of many of the people that inspired me while ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3994241 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 19:06:47 +0100 3994241 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3980976&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fcelebrate-the-story-of-your-breast-cancer-warrior%2F When I got my breast cancer diagnosis, my biggest fear was dying from cancer and not getting an opportunity to make an impact in this world. I didn’t suddenly want to be rich or famous, but I wanted to make sure that I had touched lives. What would be my legacy? How would people remember me? I thought about the shoeboxes of collected memories under my bed, and the neatly stacked file folders with interesting projects I wanted to start — would there be time, and would those memories matter to anyone else? Six years later, I have had time to put my memories on the wall and share them with my family and friends. I have been able to put my projects in perspective, and I am embarking on a new mission to get a second bachelor’s degree, this one in nursing, so I can truly be of some val... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3980976 Fri, 17 Sep 2010 14:45:07 +0100 3980976 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3965368&cid=t_151274_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fcollege-cancer-and-a-double-mastectomy-all-before-my-22nd-birthday%2F photo via AOL Health We thought you might be interested in this post from our site partner, AOL Health. Colleen Cappon was 21 years old and had just started her senior year at State University of New York Cortland in Cortland, N.Y., when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Three years after FoxNews.com originally told her story, Cappon, now 24, is showing no signs of cancer and working at the Fox News Channel. Here, she tells her story. This time three years ago I was in the middle of four months of chemotherapy treatments. I was bald as an egg and was planning a double mastectomy. My how things have changed. Now I have a college diploma, a clean report from my doctors, and my very own desk at Fox News Channel in New York. I recently got engaged to my boyfriend Chris who supported me... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3965368 Mon, 13 Sep 2010 22:04:19 +0100 3965368 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3957882&cid=t_151274_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F10-things-we-want-to-do-this-weekend-15%2F It’s the weekend! Well, basically. Here’s what we’re going to do over the next two days: Evalute our lives. Okay, no. We aren’t actually going to get that heavy. But we will check out which areas of our life could use some shaping up. Drink some cider. We don’t care if it’s too early. We’re craving it, and we’d like a glass now. Please. Sleep in. We know this is a goal of ours every weekend. But tomorrow morning will literally be spent snoozing and doing crosswords in our robes. Go shopping. It’s getting chillier out, and we need a new sweater. Plus, it’s New York Fashion Week — we have to buy something, right? Buy a planner. We still think the start of fall feels like back to school. We’re going to indulge ourselve... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3957882 Fri, 10 Sep 2010 22:21:08 +0100 3957882 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3957888&cid=t_151274_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Ffk-cancer-donate-your-twitter-and-facebook-statuses-this-month%2F F**k Cancer, a nonprofit foundation, has begun a cancer awareness campaign for the next month. The F-Tember campaign is asking people to donate their Facebook and Twitter statuses to fighting cancer. All you have to do is visit the F**k Cancer Facebook page, head to the F-Tember tab and then hit “Donate Your Status.” That will install an app which will automatically update your Facebook or Twitter status daily, bi-weekly, weekly or just once with cancer facts and figures. Fair warning, though — the updates aren’t censored, which means that your niece and nephew will be seeing a full-on F-bomb when they check your Facebook page. While we’re a little tired of shock-factor campaigns, we’re all about cancer prevention and awareness. Would you donate your status?... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3957888 Fri, 10 Sep 2010 18:44:24 +0100 3957888 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3924869&cid=t_151274_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fwe-all-love-boobies-but-are-these-bracelets-inappropriate%2F photo via ABC News Bracelets sold by the Keep a Breast Foundation are causing a stir in schools around the country. The bracelets have the phrase, “I love boobies,” on them. No — not boobies! Keep a Breast, a nonprofit that supports breast cancer prevention and early detection among young people, is selling the bracelets online and in stores across the country for around $4 each. School officials claim that the bracelets are in poor taste, and some schools have banned them. We have to admit we like them — if you’re going to encourage teenagers to touch their breasts every month, they’re going to be giggling no matter what. And every first grader in America knows what boobies are, anyway. So do you think the bracelets are inappropriate? Let us know in the comment... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3924869 Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:11:30 +0100 3924869 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3925055&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F09%2F01%2Fu-s-president-barack-obama-proclaims-september-2010-as-national-ovarian-cancer-awareness-month%2F Yesterday, U.S. President Barack Obama designated September 2010 as National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.  During National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, we honor all those lost to and living with ovarian cancer, and we renew our commitment to developing effective screening methods, improving treatments, and ultimately defeating this disease. The White House Office of the Press [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3925055 Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:36:36 +0100 3925055 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3903099&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fdoes-tanned-and-wrinkled-mean-healthy-and-cancer-free%2F Recently my husband commented on how tan my feet are. I have been in love with flip-flops (also known as thongs) all summer long, so my feet are constantly exposed to the sun. I have been pretty careful about sun exposure since my early twenties. My skin has benefited from my caution, but with all the new information about vitamin D and its effects on cancer prevention, I wonder if this has been a good practice or not. I have written a little about the importance of vitamin D supplementation before, especially for women needing calcium or for those on hormonal drugs like aromatase inhibitors. Vitamin D may protect against bone loss in women taking Arimidex, a type of aromatase inhibitor, and lessen the bone, muscle, and joint pain that are known side effects of this drug. Now the effect of... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3903099 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:29:13 +0100 3903099 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3889278&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=39025&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Feverythingchangesbook%2F%7E3%2FRCq7mA4zsbA%2Fetsy-crafts-cancer I’m a dreamer, not a crafter. I’ve got material for four baby blankets floating around my apartment. But, these newborns may be in middle school before they get their blankies from Aunt Kairol. (Some of it is nifty Amy Butler fabric to boot.) If you have crafty visions AND the follow through to match, or if your friends and family are itching to do something productive for you while you are down and out with cancer or other chronic illnesses, feast your eyes upon these free pattern downloads for crafty patient projects: *  Want a leopard print, tangerine silk, pink taffeta, or camo hospital gown? Try this pattern from Lazy Girl Designs. *  If you are tired of visitors spying your pee-bag, this is an extremely simple pattern for a catheter bag cover. *  In four steps you can cran... Everything Changes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3889278 Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:45:00 +0100 3889278 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3865408&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F08%2F13%2Fnocc-to-host-6th-annual-walk-to-break-the-silence-on-ovarian-cancer-in-washington-d-c-area%2F The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) Central Maryland Chapter announces its 6th Annual “Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer” to be held on Sunday, September 12, 2010 at Quiet Waters Park, located in Annapolis, Maryland. The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) Central Maryland Chapter announces its 6th Annual “Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer” to [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3865408 Sat, 14 Aug 2010 02:04:05 +0100 3865408 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3831526&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fyou-cant-tell-that-i-am-a-breast-cancer-survivor%2F With the huge debate in the United States right now about illegal immigration, the question comes down to: What does an immigrant look like? Some people come from different ethnic backgrounds, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they weren’t born here. Others, like me and my son The Big Guy, have no distinct difference in appearance from many natural-born Americans. Just to clarify, both the Big Guy and I are legal residents of the United States, and we don’t take that privilege lightly. Most of the time, however, we don’t even talk about being immigrants to this country and I doubt anyone (unless you hear me talk for a while) could tell. Just as I am not identifiable as an immigrant, it is not apparent either that I am a breast cancer survivor. Once we get through breast cancer, no ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3831526 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:38:35 +0100 3831526 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3813161&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbreast-cancer-treatment-and-recovery-are-rights-for-all-women%2F Although breast cancer can develop in men, it is a disease that strikes at the heart of women’s rights. In my previous blog entry, I wrote about the law that protects a woman’s right to reconstruction after a mastectomy — the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998. I was new to America and still navigating the complex world of insurance companies with co-pays and deductibles when my mother-in-law brought me the pamphlet following my mastectomy. I was so relieved to learn that there was a law that would ensure I could feel whole again. The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act covers women who have lost a breast or breasts because of cancer or non-cancerous diseases. The law requires all group health insurance plans to cover: All stages of reconstruction of the breast on whi... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3813161 Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:41:58 +0100 3813161 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3714394&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbreast-obsessed-after-breast-cancer%2F I have become a boob person. I am obsessed with breasts! I catch myself staring at women’s chests all the time. It is easy to find a pair to look at these days, with all the skimpy summer tops and t-shirts exposing cleavage. I wasn’t always like this. Before I had breast cancer, boobs weren’t a big deal. After my mastectomy, my interest began to grow, and I became fully obsessed while I was deciding on reconstruction. The only other time I developed a minor obsession was when I was 13 years old and my first set wasn’t growing as fast as those of my classmates. This is also similar to when I was bald during chemotherapy and I became obsessed with hair, especially blonde hair. Fortunately, I have more to do in my life than stare at women’s bodies, but when the opportunity arise... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3714394 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:54:49 +0100 3714394 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3699665&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fwhy-does-god-allow-breast-cancer%2F As a little girl, somehow I got the impression that God was watching everything I did and would clobber me for any bad behavior. I am sure this came from a mother who wanted to instill the fear of God in me — and it worked. But in my early twenties, I developed my own relationship and understanding of God that has only grown deeper as I get older. For me, now, He is a loving father. Like many people who are diagnosed with cancer, I turned to God with questions and prayers after my breast cancer diagnosis. I didn’t think God gave me cancer, but I knew He somehow had allowed it in my life. I was comforted knowing that He would be with me through my battle against the disease. I was also convinced that He had a plan and a purpose for me to go through this trial. I know there are many who ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3699665 Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:32:33 +0100 3699665 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3691053&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fdid-god-give-you-breast-cancer-2%2F As a little girl, somehow I got the impression that God was watching everything I did and would clobber me for any bad behavior. I am sure this came from a mother who wanted to instill the fear of God in me — and it worked. But in my early twenties, I developed my own relationship and understanding of God that has only grown deeper as I get older. For me, now, He is a loving father. Like many people who are diagnosed with cancer, I turned to God with questions and prayers after my breast cancer diagnosis. I didn’t think God gave me cancer, but I knew He somehow had allowed it in my life. I was comforted knowing that He would be with me through my battle against the disease. I was also convinced that He had a plan and a purpose for me to go through this trial. I know there are many who ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3691053 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:36:40 +0100 3691053 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3683820&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fis-your-breast-cancer-survivor-a-pink-power-mom%2F I have a friend who is experiencing some challenges in her life right now. She told me she just can’t feel sorry for herself because she knows that there are women who are dealing with so much worse than she is. This is typical of many women — we tend to feel greater compassion for others than we do for ourselves. Truthfully though, I am often inspired in my own personal battles by watching other women deal with larger issues and keep on shining. This is especially true of breast cancer survivors. I often meet women who have later-stage cancer, more debilitating side effects, or other overwhelming obstacles to managing their disease, family, and work. In hearing their stories, I find the strength within me to emulate them in their determination to overcome adversity and continue living... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3683820 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:37:44 +0100 3683820 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3671969&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fsupport-for-the-breast-cancer-survivors-who-inspire-us%2F When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, it affects her home, her family, and her community. I am so grateful when I hear of organizations that benefit and support women in their fight against breast cancer. Often it is survivors themselves who start these groups that support breast cancer awareness and the needs of patients. In addition, I am inspired by the survivors in our communities and workplaces — by their tenacity and indomitable spirit — but mostly by their concern for others who also battle the disease. Today, I am grateful for a corporate initiative through Bright Starts to reward and support these inspirational survivors. Each year, Bright Starts honors and rewards eight women for their inspirational fight against breast cancer. Not only have these women persevered, th... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3671969 Thu, 17 Jun 2010 23:26:51 +0100 3671969 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3659119&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fcancer-is-a-big-fear-of-breast-cancer-survivors%2F Last week I experienced a bit of an upset stomach that lasted for a few days. It was a flu-like symptom, but I had no fever, aches, or other telltale signs. By the third day I had no explanation for the continued discomfort, so I was convinced I had cancer. My mind always gravitates to the conclusion that I have cancer. This was never the case before I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Since that battle, however, I find cancer at every turn. I have been doing a lot of yard work which has put some strain on my right hip. One night I awoke with excruciating pain in the hip joint — immediately I thought that I needed an MRI to find the bone cancer. It took a few minutes to convince myself that sleeping on that hip after a whole day of hard work was the cause. Fear of a new cancer or cancer ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3659119 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:18:40 +0100 3659119 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3655758&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fmedical-bills-mean-bittersweet-victory-over-breast-cancer%2F The most heartbreaking stories I hear are from those who found a lump or have been diagnosed with breast cancer and don’t have insurance. Fear grips us the moment we notice a lump in our breasts; fear can overwhelm us when we are told it is breast cancer. There are no words, however, to describe the horror of realizing that you can’t afford treatment. I had good insurance when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, but I shared in previous entries the horror of finding we were without health insurance when my husband’s employment changed and his company didn’t offer us COBRA right away. The battle with breast cancer was bad enough, but knowing we had to pay over 1,100 dollars a month to continue coverage once we were given COBRA was like fighting the enemy on two fronts. Add in th... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3655758 Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:17:50 +0100 3655758 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3635983&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbeing-proactive-about-a-healthier-environment%2F As part of my healthy life makeover, I am learning about potentially harmful toxins and chemicals in my home and my environment. I watched Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s special report Toxic America on CNN and was surprised to learn that there are over 80,000 chemicals in use in America, but only 200 have been tested. I was further shocked to hear that carcinogenic chemicals in mascara, nail polish, and other cosmetics that have banned from use in Europe are still being used in cosmetics sold in this country. Having the BRCA gene mutation means that the gene that stabilizes DNA and prevents cells from growing out of control is not functioning properly. Without this mechanism, there is a greater chance of developing a breast cancer tumor. This started me thinking that maybe there is something externa... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3635983 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:14:47 +0100 3635983 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3610477&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fcelebrating-breast-cancer-survival-on-memorial-day%2F This Memorial Day weekend is a good time to celebrate surviving breast cancer. It marks the start of another great summer season that usually involves holidays and fun, and it is already a day off from work and the daily routine. Why Memorial Day? My thought was that since I may not be successful if I launch a campaign to create a national holiday to celebrate cancer survival, maybe I should just claim a ready-made national holiday. This led me to conclude that Memorial Day is probably the best choice. It isn’t a stressful holiday where you have to wrap presents or entertain for days, family often gathers, and there is plenty of food and fun — not to mention fireworks. In fact, it is the fireworks that have me sold on Memorial Day as the best choice for a national day to celeb... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3610477 Fri, 28 May 2010 16:17:49 +0100 3610477 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3603824&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fmotivated-by-breast-cancer%2F Over the past few weeks, I have been writing about my need to step up and make better choices for my lifestyle. This week I am seeing some success in implementing these changes. I am in a whole new mode. I am eating better, exercising, and wearing deodorant. I am committed to keeping all three of these as part of my new improved life. The deodorant thing (which I elaborated on in my last blog) is necessary because I am exercising and it is still really hot in Michigan. The personal trainer I met with to design my gym program said the only thing that I was doing that was good was walking my dog. I came home and told this to my Jack Russell terrier, Dixie, and she has been pretty smug about it. I would like to think that at age 50 I would have eventually made the choice to be that woman who ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3603824 Wed, 26 May 2010 19:12:32 +0100 3603824 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3595550&cid=t_151274_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fwin-win-save-25-on-eboost-pink-lemonade-and-fight-breast-cancer-with-susan-g-komen-for-the-cure%2F Do you know anyone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer? Or maybe you’ve received that diagnosis yourself. If so, EBOOST and Blisstree understand the long road and challenges ahead. That’s why for every box of pink lemonade that EBOOST sells, they’ll donate a full $10 of the proceeds to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Together, we can give hope to millions of women and their families – and help wipe out this terrible disease once and for all. The EBOOST Healthy Energy Drink contains a special blend of vitamins and minerals that activate the four vital elements of performance: ENERGY, IMMUNITY, RECOVERY, and FOCUS, delivering sustained energy that lasts. EBOOST has teamed up with Susan G. Komen for the Cure® to raise money for breast cancer awarenes... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3595550 Tue, 25 May 2010 14:00:42 +0100 3595550 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3595840&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fwhat%25e2%2580%2599s-all-the-stink-about-breast-cancer%2F We are blessed with the best weather this year in Michigan. We had a great winter, an early spring, and now amazing summer weather. This isn’t typical, that’s for sure — and it brings up a new breast cancer-related issue for me. With all the hot weather, a girl needs anti-perspirant. Up until now, it hasn’t really been an issue for me — in fact, for most of my adult life, I haven’t really needed any. I don’t really sweat much, what can I say? Even with hot flashes, the perspiration is mostly limited to my face, and I probably don’t run around enough to work up a sweat otherwise. But I usually just claim that I am too much of a lady to sweat. I do use a natural deodorant called Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal every now and then. The pink ribbon next to the logo caused me t... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3595840 Mon, 24 May 2010 20:01:39 +0100 3595840 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3573894&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fa-resource-to-help-understand-health-care-reform%2F With the final outcome of health-care reform being signed into law by President Obama a few months ago, many believe the deed is done. But many others, like me, think the journey for more accessible health care for Americans has just begun. Either way, most of us are still trying to understand just what has been gained through reform that did make it into law. As breast cancer patients and survivors, we especially know how important it is to understand our health care and what is available to us and our families. I have been perusing several resources to clarify the changes to health care and the benefits to the American people. The ones that have helped me the most are the April 5, 2010 issue of Time, the May 2010 issue of Money, and a new book written by the staff of the Washington Post:... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3573894 Mon, 17 May 2010 16:39:38 +0100 3573894 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3566781&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Freducing-my-breast-cancer-risk-through-exercise%2F The American Cancer Society recommends that adults get at least 30 minutes of exercise five times a week to reduce the risk of developing cancer. They also tout the benefits of exercise to survivors of estrogen-positive breast cancer. Exercise is known to lower estrogen production, and it works for both post- and premenopausal women. With this in mind, I try to achieve the 30-minute goal each day by walking my Jack Russell terrier, Dixie. She is 9 years old and loves to sleep in, but boy does she love her walks. I also call it strength conditioning — she pulls so strongly on the leash that it is a real workout for me. Lately I have been considering adding a quick workout at the gym three times a week to my schedule. This will help me with the cancer risk, but I have to admit it is all ab... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3566781 Fri, 14 May 2010 19:22:08 +0100 3566781 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3560443&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fsomething-is-missing-from-my-reconstructed-breasts%2F A breast without a nipple is like a car without an engine — it is beautiful to look at but you can’t turn it on! I miss my real nipples. Talking to several women at the BRCA conference I attended in Toronto, many of them had the same lament. Regardless of the reconstructive procedure, we all miss the sensation we used to get from our nipples. I can’t conjure up that same feeling, and I have to honestly say sex is not the same. It is still great, don’t get me wrong, but that special effect that came from sensitive breasts is — well, regretfully gone. I have tried to view all the new changes to my body and psyche that came from breast cancer with curiosity. It compels me to research and study the effects of surgery and the drugs on my body and mind. I find it interesting ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3560443 Wed, 12 May 2010 19:14:34 +0100 3560443 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3552507&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fcancer-and-the-environment%2F My editor sent me an article titled: “Americans are bombarded with cancer sources.” Now there is a good wake-up call. The article, which talks about a new report issued by the President’s Cancer Panel, explains that while most researchers believe that two-thirds of cancers are caused by lifestyle (not my contention of course), other factors like radon from the ground, medical imaging, and pollution play a significant role in increasing cancer incidence in the United States. This means the environment we live in. It was President Nixon who declared a war against cancer nearly 40 years ago, and we have not won it yet. The two “soldiers” in this war who released this report, Dr. LaSalle Leffall and Margaret Kripke, were appointed by George W. Bush and have been investigating carcino... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3552507 Mon, 10 May 2010 18:27:32 +0100 3552507 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3545592&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Ffight-like-a-girl%2F At the BRCA conference I attended in Toronto this week, a young woman was sporting a great t-shirt with the pink-ribbon symbol and the words “fight like a girl.” Girls really are the best fighters. I don’t mean the kind of fighting with fists or weapons, nor do I mean the kind of bullying that sadly goes on in school playgrounds. I mean the kind of fighting that changes lives. Girls will stand their ground for their rights, go to war for their children, and fight for their lives when faced with breast cancer. This kind of fighting takes tenacity, willpower, and courage. This t-shirt brought to mind the times I advocated for loved ones and especially how I became a warrior for myself. I can honestly say breast cancer brought out the warrior in me. While the conference itself was beyon... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3545592 Fri, 07 May 2010 21:11:09 +0100 3545592 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3538357&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbreast-cancer-claims-georgy-girl-lynn-redgrave%2F This winter I wore a helmet while skiing. I was encouraged to do this because of the death last year of the beautiful actress Natasha Richardson. While taking ski lessons with her son at a resort in Montreal, she fell on the bunny hill and bumped her head; she died later from the effects of that bump. Richardson seemed so trim and in shape — I figured that it was just as easy for me to have a ski accident, since I am not so trim and in shape, and I’m a relatively new skier to boot. I thought of her a few times when I wore my helmet. My husband said I had the jazziest helmet on the hill, but that was probably because kids were the only other ones who were wearing helmets. Natasha Richardson was a member of the famous Redgrave family of actors, which included her mother Vanessa and ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3538357 Wed, 05 May 2010 19:58:55 +0100 3538357 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3529967&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbreast-cancer-across-the-border%2F I am in Canada visiting with family this week while waiting to attend the breast cancer conference with Sister on Wednesday in Toronto. While lounging at Sister’s this weekend, I picked up a magazine from the stack under her coffee table. It was one of Canada’s premier women’s magazines, Chatelaine. I love this magazine — my mother used to buy me a subscription every year when I lived here. As far back as I remember, Chatelaine addressed breast cancer. They would have a supplemental section a couple of times a year for Look Good, Feel Better, the Canadian Cancer Society’s self-esteem program for women going through breast cancer treatment. Actually, when I was in my twenties I questioned why they would keep reminding women that they could get breast cancer — now I applaud t... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3529967 Mon, 03 May 2010 19:59:12 +0100 3529967 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3515578&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fstaying-abreast-of-better-health-practices%2F Steven Narod, MD, is a foremost authority on BRCA cancers. I met him after my genetics team at the University of Michigan referred Sister to him in Canada. Dr. Narod is affiliated with the Women’s College Research Institute in Toronto and is what you would expect from a passionate researcher — quirky and optimistic. Sister has been proactive about her diagnosis and is involved in a study in Canada where she is tested twice yearly; she receives a mammogram in January and an MRI in May. Her goal is to keep her breasts, and aggressive monitoring will identify any sign of a breast tumor early. She also stays abreast (pun intended) of continuing research and findings regarding genetic breast cancers. A hysterectomy two years ago reduced Sister’s risk of both breast cancer and ovarian canc... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3515578 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:35:30 +0100 3515578 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3508394&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fwhos-really-controlling-your-health-care%2F For the past year I have been debating health-care reform on the national front at Washingtonpost.com. People in America have been so concerned about big government takeover of health care that their fears have played right into the hands of big business. The practice of targeting and cancelling policies of people diagnosed with serious and chronic illness is well documented. Last week the news agency Reuters reported that WellPoint, the country’s largest insurance agency with nearly 34 million policyholders, had cancelled the policies of at least two women diagnosed with breast cancer [Editor’s note: WellPoint has issued a statement denying these allegations]. This isn’t new — breast cancer is expensive to treat and easy to profile, so insurers know what groups of people are most ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3508394 Mon, 26 Apr 2010 18:30:19 +0100 3508394 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3494506&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fmy-hair-is-back-and-so-is-my-vanity%2F Finally! After five years, my hair is back to where it was before I was diagnosed with breast cancer. When my hair first started growing back after chemotherapy, it was completely different than what I was expecting. It was dark and curly, and the texture was thicker than my ”real” hair. I didn’t mind it much, mostly because I was so grateful not to be bald anymore. It was also a novelty to have short, dark, curly hair when most of my adult life I had shoulder-length, blond, straight shiny hair. As my hair continued to grow, it lost the curliness and I had long wavy brown hair — this was a novelty for me too. I actually felt like a sexy, sultry brunette. What I didn’t feel was like myself. For a few years, I struggled with my appearance. I liked how I looked as a brunette, bu... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3494506 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:06:34 +0100 3494506 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3479862&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fhousewives-behaving-badly%2F I met a woman this week from New Jersey. She told me that she lived near one of the women on a reality show called Real Housewives of New Jersey. She was a little taken aback when I told her that I had seen the show and thought this woman behaved badly. There is no other way to describe it. There are also spinoff shows about housewives in California, Atlanta, and New York — seems there are plenty of housewives wanting to get on TV. Recently I caught a bit of an episode about the New York housewives. Although it must be good for ratings, these women also behaved abhorrently — like self-centered bullies. With all the news about girls bullying each other in high school to the point of real injury and even death, I think this kind of behavior from American mothers is truly troubli... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3479862 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:32:07 +0100 3479862 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3472068&cid=t_151274_167_f&fid=36988&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.happynutritionistsnuggets.com%2F2010%2F04%2Fcancer-screening-tests-for-women.html It's Cancer Control Month, and one way to control cancer is to avoid it, prevent it, in any way possible. This can be achieved through nutrition as well as practical screening tests, whether you are a man or woman. In this post, the focus is on tests for women...this is the time of year when I have my physical and get the tests done that are recommended. Cancer screening tests women should have include the following:Mammogram - Have them done as often as your doctor suggests to prevent Breast Cancer, or catch it in it's early stages.  I have one every other year.  I am scheduled for one in about 2 weeks.  In my case, I'm thankful that my insurance covers this, without dipping into my deductible.  You should also learn to examine your own breasts between Mammograms, do s... Happy Nutritionist's Nuggets blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3472068 Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:55:00 +0100 3472068 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3472003&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Ffiber-does-good-things-for-my-family%2F Fiber is big news in nutrition. Every time I look into eating better and ways to improve my health or lose weight, I find another article on fiber — and I’ve gotten a lot of great information right here on EverydayHealth.com. Lately I have been looking into claims that increasing fiber in your diet can reduce the risk of colon cancer and even other cancers, including breast cancer. I can’t confirm these claims with what I have learned so far, but I can’t imagine that it would hurt. The one thing that I can tell you for sure is that fiber has done great things for my family. My boys have grown up with whole-wheat bread in our house, and in the past few years, I have bought only cereal, crackers, and baked goods made from 100% whole-wheat flour. My husband got on the fiber b... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3472003 Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:34:23 +0100 3472003 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3463795&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbreast-cancer-is-the-winning-story-at-the-masters-tournament%2F In May 2009, Amy Mickelson was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has been battling the disease for the past 11 months and has been bedridden for much of that time. Amy is a mother of three children and the wife of Phil Mickelson, the winner of the 2010 Masters golf tournament. Like many people, I tuned in to watch the Masters this past weekend because Tiger Woods was playing. I am not a huge fan of Tiger’s, but like a lot of people I was disappointed when I learned of his lapse in character and integrity over the past years. I am hoping for his family’s sake that Tiger can get his career and personal commitments back on track, so I tuned in hoping to see him do well. I can relate to his wife, Elin Nordegren, since I was betrayed by my first husband in a similar way. For obvious reasons... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3463795 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:56:58 +0100 3463795 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3456849&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fno-one-owns-the-breast-cancer-gene-anymore%2F About 10 years ago, a cousin of mine introduced me to the Human Genome Project. He was very excited about the science and process of identifying all the human genes and their sequences. The potential for scientific and medical breakthroughs was staggering. As I got interested in the research and began to follow the project, I was appalled by the business interests involved. Specific business groups began the process of patenting some of the genetic components and findings. It would be like you owning your home and property only to find that someone else owned and had the rights to all the earth on your lot. Although companies argued that by being able to profit from their findings they could continue research and development, it is pretty obvious that individuals and stock holders would b... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3456849 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:23:55 +0100 3456849 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3449091&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fmartina-navratilova-faces-a-new-opponent-in-breast-cancer%2F The tennis champ Martina Navratilova announced just recently that she was diagnosed with breast cancer. It is DCIS, ductal carcinoma in situ, which is the earliest form of the disease. Ms. Navratilova has elected to have a lumpectomy followed by several weeks of radiation, which is pretty standard treatment for DCIS. But that aside, we breast cancer survivors know all too well the shock and fear Martina has had to deal with after getting this diagnosis. So much for diet and exercise preventing breast cancer, as suggested by researchers at a conference in Spain recently. Martina Navratilova has to be one of the most fit women I know of. I truly admire all her accomplishments. Like Martina, so many women really do take care of their bodies and health in every way and still get hit with this... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3449091 Wed, 07 Apr 2010 18:31:09 +0100 3449091 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3429404&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fnot-just-happy-to-be-alive-after-breast-cancer%2F Every time I reach for chocolate or order french fries, I am reminded that I need to be more vigilant about my health. When I do give in to temptation (which is pretty often), I feel guilty. Which brings up my next thought: Why do we feel guilty about doing something for ourselves that makes us feel good? I know the answer is that we should feel more compelled to make the best choices for ourselves, even if they don’t make us feel great at the time. But let’s face it — the occasional indulgence is good for the soul. Last week’s report from Europe on breast cancer being avoidable through diet and exercise does not help my case. It reawakens all the guilt many of us feel over getting breast cancer in the first place and all the questions we ask ourselves about what we may ha... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3429404 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:56:22 +0100 3429404 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3420717&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbreast-cancer-and-my-unique-security-problem%2F I travel across the border between Canada and Michigan almost once a month to visit my family in Ontario. Thanks to breast cancer, I have an interesting problem — I have three pieces of ID that I use, each with a picture of me sporting a different hairdo and hair color. In this age of increased scrutiny and tighter border security, having this distinction is not a good thing. Several times I have had border officers look at my passport, then my permanent resident card (”green card”), and after noticing that I am blonde in one and brunette in another, ask for a third piece of ID. It doesn’t help that I then give them my driver’s license, which shows me with a third hair color. This happened because I got my driver’s license when I was wearing a wig during treatment for b... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3420717 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 20:39:52 +0100 3420717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3404094&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbreasts-get-good-ratings-and-an-uncomfortable-viewer%2F Like a lot of people in America, I tuned in to watch Dancing with the Stars Monday night. It was the premiere for the new season and a new celebrity cast. It’s really fun to watch actually. Every season I notice the outfits become more risqué and the show becomes a little less family oriented. This new season is no exception. One thing that is pretty obvious, well a lot of things actually, is the women’s breasts. I don’t know if it is intentional to show the jiggle, or if it is just because breasts get good ratings. All I know is you can’t miss them.  Maybe America’ fascination with breasts is what makes losing one to breast cancer especially difficult. I don’t want to suggest that losing a body part and battling a terrifying disease as not difficult, but losing a breast real... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3404094 Wed, 24 Mar 2010 21:19:08 +0100 3404094 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3346653&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fhappiness-and-breast-cancer%2F Are you happy? I don’t mean happy with your life, or happy with your job or happy with your mate. I mean are you happy despite everything that might not be great in your life right now? I guess I should ask instead; are you a happy person? When I was thinking about what makes me happy I realized that I don’t need anything to make me happy. I am happy a lot of the time. Not the silly superficial happy, or the happy that comes with always finding people to party with, but really happy. In people who are happy there is just a sense of cheerfulness and optimism. These people have the ability to bounce back from sad and tragic places and move on. We can find the cancer in a body and the lump in a breast, but no one has found where happy resides. Is it in the heart or the head? I do ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3346653 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:35:12 +0100 3346653 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3322585&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fnot-on-the-run-to-beat-breast-cancer%2F Today I saw a woman jogging through the snow. She made it look like a walk in the park. I took up skiing just last year and love it, I went back to school and aced some college courses but I just can’t jog further than my mail box! I remember with triumph a time when I ran around the block at my parent’s house. That was 15 years ago and I could only do it once. Truly this is a dream of mine; to be able to lace up my Nikes and run for at least 15 minutes straight. All I can say is that when I battled breast cancer, it’s a good thing I didn’t have to out run it. Sometimes in my mind I feel like superwoman. I went a round with cancer and surgery and chemotherapy and I’m still standing, shouldn’t that mean I could at least run a 15 minute a mile? Seriously, this woman looked great.... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3322585 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:39:51 +0100 3322585 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3314773&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Feveryone-deserves-a-lifetime%2F I am starting to hear ads in Michigan for the 3-day walk to end breast cancer. Many of you have written to me about your participation in this event and how rewarding it is. The one thing that I love about this year’s ad is the line at the end when the announcer says that “everybody deserves a lifetime.” I am sure that I have heard this line before, but it really hit me this week. The whole medical community, all the research and info sites like everydayhealth.com are dedicated to the premise that everyone deserves a lifetime. No one’s life should be cut short because a tumor began to grow in their breasts. The United States has a 5- year survival rate of over 90%. This is so exciting when you think about it. People are surviving the disease. My concern is how well we recover after... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3314773 Sat, 27 Feb 2010 03:36:43 +0100 3314773 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262847&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fwhy-am-i-keeping-this-wig-after-i-survived-cancer%2F Like a lot of women I know I have fat pants in my closet. You know, the ones you kept from when you were at your heaviest so you can remind yourself how much weight you lost. They are usually one or two sizes bigger than you are now. Only some of us keep them because every now and then our weight creeps back up and we actually need a pair of bigger pants. We refuse to pay for fat clothes because we are convinced the weight will come off again. Some of us never even tell anyone but sisters and close girlfriends about our fat pants. Certainly my husband doesn’t know. When he comes with me to doctor’s offices I don’t even let my husband see the nurse weigh me or check my height; I don’t want to ruin his image of me as tall and thin, which isn’t easy to accomplish... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262847 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:29:19 +0100 3262847 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3105248&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fmemorials-to-the-battle-with-breast-cancer%2F Almost all breast cancer survivors can remember where they were, the day and the time when they heard the words “you have breast cancer.” Lately I haven’t thought about this very much, but the other day I drove by the building that housed the clinic where my doctor was, and where I was the day she told me I had breast cancer. But, this is Michigan and now that building like many others here is empty and for lease. That morning, (the one when I heard “those” words) I dropped my husband off at the airport which is only about three miles from the doctor’s office. He had to take a flight at 11:00 and my doctor’s appointment was at the same time. He had to be away for work and though he wanted to be at my appointment I made it clear he needed to go and that I would be ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3105248 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:52:13 +0100 3105248 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3075728&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Flosing-health-care-in-the-middle-of-chemo%2F Those of us that have been through treatment for breast cancer know how complicated it can be to have to deal with insurance companies to make sure you are covered for tests, surgery and office visits, it can be a nightmare to navigate through. My personal nightmare is all about losing health insurance coverage in the middle of chemo. When I was in my third month of chemotherapy, my husband’s job situation changed. That meant that after 30 days we would have to choose COBRA or be without health insurance. I still had several more chemotherapy sessions scheduled. So we chose COBRA. I have told this story before, but it helps people understand why I am so committed to health care reform. It is because in the middle of chemotherapy I had to find an additional 1200.00 dollars a month to ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3075728 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:23:54 +0100 3075728 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3004116&cid=t_151274_167_f&fid=36988&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.happynutritionistsnuggets.com%2F2009%2F11%2Frant-about-change-in-breast-mammogram.html We were told CHANGE would come when the present administration was elected into office, and we've seen a lot of it. Today the big news is the CHANGE that the Federal government is looking to make in Mammogram guidelines, and if those changes come, you can be sure it's going to affect what is and isn't covered by your insurance company....and not for the better. I believe this is all part of what we have to look forward to with the present administration's "health care reform", it's just the beginning. According to new guidelines woman from the age of 40-50 no longer need mammograms. How many of you know woman who are in their 40's, even in their late 30's that have had breast cancer? I can rattle off names in my head, and I'm sure you can too, some have survived thanks to early interventio... Happy Nutritionist's Nuggets blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3004116 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:29:00 +0100 3004116 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2963288&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fenvious-of-breast-cancer-awareness-month-dont-be%2F This time of year people get breast cancer envy. I agree that sounds a little startling, so let me tell you what I mean. Cancer touches so many lives and there are so many different types of cancer. All of them are insidious. With Breast Cancer Awareness month it is pretty evident that breast cancer gets a lot of attention. I think for many who battle other types of cancer or have watched their loved ones battle colon or lung or brain cancer the question becomes, “Why does breast cancer get all the attention?” This is something that I wonder about as well. Since my niece had childhood leukemia and my dad battled non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma I think more effort needs to be placed on addressing these types of cancers. My mother also battled lung cancer and I know how egregious that disease i... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2963288 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:11:55 +0100 2963288 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2939509&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fmy-favorite-breast-cancer-program%2F One of my all time favorite programs for Breast Cancer Awareness month is Yoplait’s Save Lids to Save Lives. Just after I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I came upon the pink lidded Yoplait yogurt in my super market and took a few home. I loved the yogurt so it became a staple in our home. As I finished each container I rinsed the lid and placed it on the window sill. As the little pile of pink lids accumulated, my two boys, 11 and 14 at the time began to ask about them. I explained that I was saving the lids so other women wouldn’t have to go through breast cancer treatment like I did. That the more lids I saved the more money could go towards research to cure breast cancer. A few days later I noticed that my little pile of pink lids had grown and that I was running out of Yoplait y... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2939509 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:03:18 +0100 2939509 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2927526&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fconnecting-women-to-breast-cancer-trials%2F I am continually amazed at the power people have – regular people like you and me – to affect the battle against breast cancer. Recently a wonderful organization and Web site was brought to my attention. BreastCancerTrials.org is a non-profit organization that was started by two women just like us that had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Joan Schreiner experienced how difficult it was to find a trial that could help her battle with the disease and envisioned a service that could help others find trials and research studies that could benefit them. Joanne Tyler shared her vision and together these women found sponsors to help them build an organization and develop the Web site. They came up with a wonderful Web site that is interactive and user friendly. It allows you to post your in... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2927526 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:18:06 +0100 2927526 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2920446&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fdr-kristi-funk-on-breast-cancer-and-genetic-testing%2F I was so blessed to get some time to talk with Dr. Kristi Funk in a phone interview. In my last blog I shared the first part of our interview when I asked her about choosing a lumpectomy over a mastectomy. While she was willing to put forth her thoughts on my questions, Dr. Funk is very supportive of her profession as a whole, indicating that a woman needs to discuss all her options with her own surgeon. Genetic testing for the BRCA gene mutation is one of the biggest advancements recently that we have made in the battle against breast cancer in my mind. So this was definitely an issue I wanted to explore further with Dr. Funk. I know that genetic testing is now being examined by oncologists to help determine the types of treatment to prescribe for a patient with breast cancer, but I wante... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2920446 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:49:29 +0100 2920446 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2916351&cid=t_151274_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F2h6n0yZFQOw%2F When I asked Genetics and Health readers to send a greetings to people they know who have survived or going through breast cancer, I knew I would hear from quite a few of you. And I was so touched by your prayers, greetings and short stories of triumph in behalf of your loved ones. Thank you to everyone who responded. Your family and friends are blessed to have people who care for them like you do. And thank you for participating in the Melange Perfume give-away as part of the “Think Pink Campaign” and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Here are the three winners, randomly chosen from 63 responses: Christine, who salutes her mom “she fought and won” Bridget Combs whose friend is a former Dallas Cowboy cheerleader, who had BC several years ago at the same time that her daughter was... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2916351 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:42:57 +0100 2916351 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2901809&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fdr-kristi-funk-a-true-soldier-in-the-war-against-breast-cancer%2F There are a lot of commendable efforts and a number of special people involved in making a difference in the war against breast cancer. This October I wanted to highlight some of those efforts and at least one of those special people. When I heard about Dr. Funk, I knew I had to get to know more about her. You can’t help but notice that Dr. Kristi Funk is a beautiful woman. You only notice that for an instant though because the moment she starts talking you realize she is a brilliant doctor passionate about battling breast cancer. She is someone I want in my army! Fortunately, Dr. Funk has placed herself in the front lines of the army against breast cancer for all of us. She founded Pink Lotus Medical Center in Beverly Hills which has the distinction of being a women’s medical ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2901809 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:26:34 +0100 2901809 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891025&cid=t_151274_167_f&fid=36988&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.happynutritionistsnuggets.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fstem-cells-and-breast-cancer.html October is breast cancer awareness month, and I'm pleased to have the opportunity to share with you two organizations that are partnering to move us in the direction proper treatment of this disease. There are few of us if any who do not know someone who has been affected by breast cancer, maybe you are reading this and are dealing with it yourself.Cryo-Cell International, Inc., a company that I have been reading and occasionally writing about over the past year or two, is now partnering with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in an effort to study the possibilities of using menstrual stem cells in the treatment of breast cancer. I never was made aware of how rich menstrual blood is in stem cells until reading information on Cryo-Cell's site, for this "baby boomer" it is too late to h... Happy Nutritionist's Nuggets blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891025 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:00:00 +0100 2891025 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2879758&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbig-pink-bus-battles-breast-cancer%2F Because of my blog a lot of people contact me to tell me about their efforts to promote breast cancer awareness or other initiatives to battle breast cancer. Actually most of them are worthwhile. I am always amazed by the devotion and dedication people have in helping others. I am even more amazed when I hear about a story like the one that was on my local news today. A woman in her 40’s was diagnosed with breast cancer just after leaving her job. She had no health care and no income. She actually did some research to look for a place she could go to die; there was no way that she was going to be able to afford treatment. With a little help from her local cancer society, she found a program that treated women with cervical or breast cancer that had no health insurance, it saved her l... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2879758 Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:39:52 +0100 2879758 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2876252&cid=t_151274_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FrjGAhr4M6Hk%2F Over 90% of deaths from breast cancer are caused by metastasis, when the cancer has returned and spread to other parts of the body, including the chest wall, lymph nodes, bones, lungs, liver or brain. But Breastcancer.org says that metastatic breast cancer is more treatable compared to a cancer that starts in the bones or liver so that’s good news. Well, researchers from The Wistar Institute has uncovered another good news – they identified the gene that can suppress the spread of tumor cells in the body! The gene, KLF17, is called a “metastasis-suppressor gene” which prevents the spread of cancer cells from the breast to the lungs (as in the study) when it is turned on, and promotes metastasis when it is knocked down, damaged or absent. The protein from KLF17 attaches itself t... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2876252 Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:10:35 +0100 2876252 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2865882&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fthe-nfl-goes-pink-for-breast-cancer-awareness-month%2F Number 10 on the Pittsberg Steelers football team wore pink cleats during Sunday night Football so did the quarterback, Ben Rothlesberger. Some of the players on other teams wore pink shoes today too. Coaches on the sidelines had baseball caps with pink beaks. Many players in the NFL wore pink gloves and pink arm bands and used pink towels on the bench. A couple of players even had pink socks on, but they all had a pink ribbon on their helmet. NBC went as far as to post tag lines on the television screen in pink while commentators of most networks broadcasting games wore pink ties. The NFL went pink this weekend for Breast Cancer Awareness month. Big bruising basher football players looking mighty pretty in pink. Some of them did it for their moms, some for their girlfriends or wives but a... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2865882 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:22:02 +0100 2865882 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2859057&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=39025&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Feverythingchangesbook%2F%7E3%2FjcUV7Jmqer4%2Frethink-breast-cancer If my sexual history came with a transcript, you could read that I am anything but a prude.  So in my interview today with Newsweek, why am I so down on the ‘Save the Boobs’ ad campaign that consists exclusively of Canadian MTV host Aliya-Jasmine Sovani (a non-breast cancer patient) strutting her bouncy stuff in a string bikini with the message ‘you know you love them, now save them’? Supporters of the ad say that being snarky, rebellious, and over the top is how we stake out the territory of the young adult cancer message. But what happens when there is actually no message?  This ad is about breasts.  Not about cancer.  So, are we reverting back to avoiding the C-word because we think it’s too grim to sell our own cause?  Is my cancer just too un-hip, un-revolutiona... Everything Changes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2859057 Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:01:44 +0100 2859057 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2857563&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbra-shopping-after-breast-cancer-isnt-the-same%2F My favorite bra is black. It’s not my favorite because it’s black or because it has lace or anything like that, it is because I like the way it makes my breasts feel and look in my sweaters. I couldn’t find that bra in another color, so my favorite bra is black. I got my first bra when I was 12 years old, long before I needed one, and ever since I thought bras were so pretty. I loved shopping for lingerie and especially looking at the varieties of colors and styles of bras. Buying intimate apparel used to be a real favorite excursion. Now shopping for lingerie and especially bras is something I avoid. I didn’t realize that until I thought about the fact that my favorite bra is black and that I should look for another one. Then it occurred to me that I wasn’t t... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2857563 Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:07:39 +0100 2857563 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2852016&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fwhen-young-women-have-to-alter-family-planning-because-of-breast-cancer%2F Along with genetic counseling comes the discussion for young women about having children. If someone tests positive for a genetic mutation that makes them predisposed to breast cancer, thoughts immediately turn to treatment and prevention. For women who are younger and have never been pregnant, those thoughts also include how to reduce risks of breast cancer while protecting fertility. I mentioned last week that my niece Nicole is expecting her first child. A couple of years ago she tested positive for the BRCA II mutation, putting an added burden on this childhood survivor of leukemia. While we wait with joy for her baby, we also think about all that that young woman has endured to have this life. She is married to a wonderful, incredibly intuitive and talented young man. They are a beaut... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2852016 Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:53:12 +0100 2852016 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2842705&cid=t_151274_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FUS_IdeKN2io%2F In 2009 alone, over 190,000 females and 1,900 males have been diagnosed with breast cancer. But over the years, there have already been more than 10 million cancer survivors. With new research, early screening and treatment, the number of survivors grow. But there is much more work ahead to totally eradicate cancer of the breast and all the other types. In support of Breast Cancer Awareness this October, several companies are running the Think Pink Campaign and donating their proceeds towards breast cancer foundations and research. One of these is Melange Perfume, which will donate 30% of all sales of their portable Pink Solid Perfumes in floral fragrances to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.. Mélange’s Solid Perfumes are a combination of fragrance notes and essential oils fo... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2842705 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:12:55 +0100 2842705 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2834445&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fseventeenth-century-women-and-breast-cancer%2F Several years ago I visited the Detroit Art Institute. It was a date with my husband when he was still my boyfriend, even before he was my fiancee. My husband made a great boyfriend. This visit to the museum made a real impact on me for a number of reasons, for one it was the first time I saw an original Van Gogh. I’ll never forget however the group of teenage girls touring the institute with an older woman whom I assumed was their teacher. They were in the room of renaissance paintings which had a beautiful almost life size portrait of a nude woman reclining on a chaise. The portrait was stunning and so was the woman. Women of that time, in paintings anyway, were usually depicted, like her, full figured with round tummies and full firm breasts. The teacher of the group of girls ruin... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2834445 Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:25:39 +0100 2834445 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2828432&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fgenetic-testing-for-cancer-could-save-your-life%2F I think it is great that there are Web sites and organizations dedicated to making everyone aware of the genetic risk for breast cancer. Being aware is not enough though. People need access to the test. Unfortunately many insurance companies have stringent rules as to who gets tested. At over $3,000.00 a pop I’m sure they’re just trying to save a little money; they are a business after all. And, at over $3,000.00 a pop, most people who are denied the test by their insurance carrier or don’t have insurance coverage can’t afford it. This is sad, this test can save lives, in fact, this test can save a whole family. It made the difference for my family. I tested positive, which got Sister to get the test, when she tested positive her oldest daughter Nicole got the test.... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2828432 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:14:17 +0100 2828432 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2778655&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbreast-cancer-wall-of-honor-post-your-thoughts-and-memorials-here%2F Beneath every breast cancer diagnosis is a beating courageous heart. Breast cancer has proven it does not discriminate based on race, class, intelligence, beauty or even gender. It strikes at our home, our community and doesn’t spare our loved ones. Whether ourselves, a friend, a colleague or family member, we feel the heartache and pain that comes with the disease. As often as breast cancer wields its hideous reality in someone’s life, just as often that person rises to the challenge and inspires us beyond the heartache. There are over 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in America. Women who have fought the good fight and have won. There are precious souls too who have fought the battle and have lost but they are no less special in the memories of those who loved them. In tru... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2778655 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:08:21 +0100 2778655 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2778510&cid=t_151274_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FxCJXCNCZQPM%2F As you might know, September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Today, we are giving you an opportunity to win a pretty piece of jewelry from the Angela Moore Ovarian Cancer Awareness Collection. Angela Moore creates beautiful bracelets, pendants, earrings, necklaces and more. Since 2004, Angela Moore has partnered with the Ovarian Cancer research Fund to raise awareness of ovarian cancer by creating a special collection of jewelry that symbolizes new beginnings. With the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Collection, 15% of the net proceeds are donated to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund all year long. The OCRF funds research to find a method of early detection and ultimately a cure for ovarian cancer. To learn more about ovarian cancer, please visit OCRF.org. Image: Angela Moore This beaded jewelr... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2778510 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:32:48 +0100 2778510 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2770272&cid=t_151274_167_f&fid=36988&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.happynutritionistsnuggets.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fbreasts-bras-health-care-reform.html Now that I have you're attention, I wanted to share something important.We are hearing a lot about health care reform, and many are concerned that changes in the way things are done will mean less care, well let me tell you that this is already happening - insurance companies themselves are changing what they will cover, Medicaid discourages covering certain things for people over a certain age (remind me to tell you the story about my father-in-law sometime), and here's just another example...this is part of an email I received from a friend:From a nurse: I'll never forget the look in my patients' eyes when I had to tell them they had to go home with the drains, new exercises and no breast.I remember begging the Doctors to keep these women in the hospital longer, only to hear that they wo... Happy Nutritionist's Nuggets blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2770272 Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:58:00 +0100 2770272 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2758068&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F09%2F01%2Fbarack-obama-proclaims-september-2009-as-national-ovarian-cancer-awareness-month%2F Yesterday, U.S. President Barack Obama designated September 2009 as National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.  National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month helps educate women and men about the importance of knowing the early warning signs and symptoms of the disease, scheduling routine doctor visits, and continuing robust scientific research. Yesterday, U.S. President Barack Obama designated September [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2758068 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:06:22 +0100 2758068 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2737980&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fa-cure-for-breast-cancer-in-two-years%2F So here I am sitting and listening to the late night local news. The newscaster suddenly announces that a potential cure for cancer may be only two years away. At first I am stunned as he explains how researchers in Britain have isolated molecules that allow cancer cells to spread which could lead to drugs to turn off the process. Then I realize that he used the word “cure” and not “treatment.” This makes me cry, bawl in fact. A real cure for breast cancer could be imminent and I had no idea how emotional I would be about this possibility becoming a reality. I have been watching TV for most of the night and I should consider the night wasted, but instead I am elated. I was caught up with the show “America’s Got Talent” because of a young woman named Barbara Padilla. This ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2737980 Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:03:52 +0100 2737980 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2653980&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Four-life-is-forever-changed-by-breast-cancer%2F Up until 5 years ago I didn’t have a cell phone and I guess I didn’t need one. Last week my cell phone just stopped working and it disrupted my life. The day and a half that I was without it left me feeling disconnected and almost like I was disabled. I know many people that have never had a cell phone and their lives seem just fine. My life was just as fine without one, so I find it bizarre that I am so affected by it. Being a breast cancer survivor is something like that. You know that there was a time in your life when you didn’t even think about breast cancer but after having been diagnosed and going through treatment it is a huge part of your life. Breast cancer leaves an indelible impression on your life that cannot be erased. Oh, I go through days and even weeks wh... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2653980 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:06:44 +0100 2653980 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2630337&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fexplaining-hereditary-cancer-to-your-children%2F Yesterday my youngest son, “The Big Guy,” asked me if the cancer I had ran in the family. He is only 18 so we have not alarmed him about the possibility that he could test positive for the BRCA 2 gene mutation for breast cancer. Since Sister and I inherited it from my Dad, there is the possibility that my future grandchildren can inherit it from my sons. My niece Nicole tested positive and is expecting her first child, her younger sister refuses to get tested. I hadn’t expected the question, so I answered as best I could telling him that as he gets older we will get him tested and I would like to start him on a vitamin regime to ensure he has a strong immune system. He could develop prostate or breast cancer if he is predisposed with the gene mutation. It reminds me why w... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2630337 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:16:34 +0100 2630337 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2584364&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fdepression-and-tamoxifen-what-you-need-to-know%2F Depression is a condition that many women develop either during or after treatment for breast cancer. It is often serious and usually cannot be ignored or told to go away. It is something you need to discuss with your doctor if it is prolonged and/or interfering with the quality of your life. In past years there also has been some concern about women who take antidepressants and the effect these drugs might have on breast cancer recurrence. I wrote about this in 2007 after a study indicated that women on antidepressants had an increased risk for breast cancer and that there were some findings that antidepressants might interfere with the efficacy of tamoxifen, a highly prescribed drug designed to lower estrogen levels and reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence. According to Dr. Ed Zim... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2584364 Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:57:39 +0100 2584364 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2556324&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fwhen-do-you-quit-the-fight-against-cancer%2F “You are not finished when you lose, you are finished when you quit.” That is a quote that has stuck with me for years, but I can’t tell you where it comes from. It is timely as I think about the death of Farrah Fawcett. Farrah may have lost her battle with cancer, but she never quit. During high school, all the girls wanted to look like Farrah. Some of the girls succeeded in copying her tousled locks, and some of them - like me - didn’t no matter how hard we worked at it. Then at college, almost 4 out of 5 guys had her poster on their wall. She was an icon for my generation and so it is disturbing to lose her to a horrible bout with cancer. Her battle with anal cancer is well known and also well documented by Farrah herself in a documentary she worked on during h... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2556324 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:24:20 +0100 2556324 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512828&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Freaching-milestones-after-breast-cancer%2F Another significant milestone in my life has been reached. Last Friday I had my 50th birthday! I share my birthday with my husband, who is a couple of years older, but having been born on the same day assures me that he won’t ever forget it. For breast cancer survivors decade birthdays like this one really do mean something, we cherish each year after our diagnosis and generally don’t take them for granted. To mark my new decade I have finally decided on staying blonde and will soon have a new picture on my blog to show the new (and older) me. My updated photo I don’t feel any different than I did last year and last year I didn’t feel like I was as old as 49. Women have come a long way and I think we age a lot different than our mothers did. I do have to admit though that my mom h... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512828 Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:50:32 +0100 2512828 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441814&cid=t_151274_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F4mF6ZX-wb_0%2F Just like she protected you from bumps and scratches as a kid, you’ll always want to protect your mother from anything harmful. Unfortunately, you can’t save her from everything out there, but you can support those who work constantly towards a cure. Win this gold-plated breast cancer awareness bangle from Janna Conner designs and let her proudly showcase her support in keeping all mothers of the world safe and healthy. This gold-plated bangle with pink enamel and gold plated awareness ribbon charms retails for $75. But right now, you have a chance to win one for free. All you need to do to enter the giveaway is write a quick comment and fill out the form below this post. One winner will be drawn at random after 2 days, so don’t delay! Enter only once to be eligible. (Y... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441814 Sat, 30 May 2009 09:00:36 +0100 2441814 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2442582&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Freactions-to-cancer-and-focusing-on-a-cure%2F Cancer grows in healthy bodies. That is why it sometimes takes a long time before it is found. Cancer cells can be hiding and waiting to blossom and we don’t even know it. I didn’t smoke or drink and I got plenty of sleep and tried to eat healthy. I buckled my seat belt when I was in a car as a passenger or driver and took vitamins. Cancer had no right choosing my body.  Some of us feel that way and others berate themselves for not being more mindful of how they were treating their bodies. Either way, cancer is like a terrorist working its insidious devious plan while we go about our lives unaware. We know that keeping our weight down helps reduce the risk for breast cancer. We know that eating less meat and avoiding alcohol also helps reduce our risk. Outside of that, we don’t know... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2442582 Wed, 20 May 2009 18:53:09 +0100 2442582 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2382769&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fmeditation-for-stress-and-breast-cancer-treatment%2F Years ago I discovered meditation as a method to reduce stress. I always thought there was some secret to it involving Far Eastern chants and pretzel poses. I actually fell into a method of meditation that worked for me and now describe it as a place in your mind to retreat to for peace and calm. It started by realizing that I needed to get away but didn’t have the means or resources to do that.   So I took a few moments one morning to imagine a place that would provide complete calm away from my world. See, it doesn’t sound eerie or bizarre in any way! The place that came to me was a room overlooking the ocean with two balcony doors wide open to the outside with gauze curtain panels blowing in the breeze.  The best part about my envisioned room was that the only furniture in the roo... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2382769 Fri, 01 May 2009 17:52:10 +0100 2382769 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2349545&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Ftrue-recovery-begins-after-breast-cancer-treatment%2F You completed your surgery or treatment, the surgical wounds have begun to fade and chemotherapy is a bad memory. Perhaps reconstruction is behind you and your hair is back on your head where it belongs. By all outward appearances you have begun to heal, or may even think you are fully healed from breast cancer. I’m sure your doctor, like mine is careful not to say that you are cured. My husband was told he was cured after his prostate cancer treatment and other cancers can be cured, but for breast cancer the word cured is not used. So we heal and we go on. Some of us can leave it behind and some of us carry the scars and overshadowing of cancer with us throughout our life.  Most of us I have discovered have fought breast cancer and won, but we haven’t healed. Healing is a process. Wh... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2349545 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:11:17 +0100 2349545 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2326676&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Ffighting-for-the-breasts-of-the-future%2F We celebrated a family wedding this weekend. It was so wonderful to see my oldest niece Nicole marry a terrific young man. This is especially joyous for us as Nicole survived childhood leukemia and was recently diagnosed with the BRCA II gene mutation. This is the beginning of a new life for her and cancer can’t stop it. Her plan is to have her children before the age of thirty as recommended by her doctors so that she can then review her options to reduce her risk of breast cancer. It is a huge burden for this young woman to carry as she begins her new life. I wrote last week about Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz who at 42 battled breast cancer and is now putting her efforts towards educating younger women about their risk of breast cancer. Our own Suzette Lipscomb battled breast cancer... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2326676 Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:48:04 +0100 2326676 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2299174&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fkeeping-breast-cancer-a-secret%2F I was diagnosed with breast cancer in August of 2003 and started a new job the end of September, only five days after having a mastectomy. I told my manager about the breast cancer when I was offered the job as I knew that my first six months of work would also be the same six months of grueling chemotherapy.  When chemotherapy started in October and I showed up with a wig to cover my bald head, my coworkers applauded me on the new look. At that time none of them knew about the breast cancer and I asked my manager not to tell. Perhaps it was too big a secret for her; I discovered that she had told many of my coworkers one at a time. Why I wanted to hide the fact that I had breast cancer is something I can’t say for sure. I think it made me feel empowered over the disease. I was also for... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2299174 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:04:20 +0100 2299174 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2277205&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fa-breast-cancer-diagnosis-always-means-a-chance%2F The other day, we suffered a huge tragedy in our area of Michigan. Four teens aged 16 to 19 were in a car waiting at red light when they were plowed into by a speeding car. The drunk driver behind the wheel of the car that hit them escaped with mild injuries while all four teens were killed. Being a mother of a 17 year old and a 20 year old, I have to say that this has really affected me. Frankly it has affected most everyone in Metro Detroit.  These kids were on their way to a Pizza Hut at eight o’clock at night, following all the rules of the road as well as the ones laid out by their parents. In a sense they were sitting ducks with no warning of what was headed their way. It would be easy to equate this somehow with being hit with a cancer diagnosis out of the blue. The truth is ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2277205 Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:32:16 +0100 2277205 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2290614&cid=t_151274_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fpreventing-and-detecting-colon-cancer%2F March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month and as it’s such an important issue I’d like to bring it up today.  I’ve written on this topic several times before but according to the American Cancer Society it is the third most common cancer found in men and women, and the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States so I think it warrants attention. If you are over the age of 50 (or over 40 with risk factors), you should be screened for colon cancer on a regular basis. The schedule for the various screening methods is shown here (discuss this with your physician and decide which one is best for you): Tests that find pre-cancer and cancer: • Colonoscopy every 10 years • Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years • Virtual colonoscopy every 5 years • Double-contra... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2290614 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:57:27 +0100 2290614 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2260470&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fget-a-mammogram-or-tell-someone-else-to%2F What are you doing today? Sitting at a desk at work? Hanging out with the kids? Meeting a friend for lunch? I had a dear friend that I would meet to have coffee with every couple of weeks and inevitably we would discuss the importance of women having routine mammograms. This was in Toronto before I moved to the States, so it was in everybody’s lifestyle to have routine check ups and mammograms – but that’s another blog topic altogether. So, ironically both of us have been diagnosed with and battled breast cancer since our coffee chats. Vigilance doesn’t keep breast cancer away; it just lets you know it’s around. I’m thinking about this as I am celebrating the wonderful women in my life. I love all my friends and some I haven’t even met face to face yet, we’re just cyber and... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2260470 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:02:11 +0100 2260470 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2260473&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Ffear-of-breast-cancer-and-the-courage-to-fight-it%2F I was in Virginia this past week on a ski vacation and somehow ended up at the top of the longest and most difficult hill for my first run. The bright orange signs lining the entrance to the ski lift that said “experts only” should have been my first clue. I am not an overconfident skier, I am a beginner. My husband however who has extensive experience skiing thought that my overcautious approach and slower pace would allow me to handle this ski hill just fine. Once I got to the top of the hill, I learned quickly the difference between being fearless and being courageous. I had to get to the bottom of the hill, but it wasn’t going to be without great fear and trepidation. I was courageous enough however to suck it up and show great spirit in taking the initiative to get down. I later... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2260473 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:10:09 +0100 2260473 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2260485&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer-welcome-to-my-new-home%2F Breast cancer is a point of transformation and change for most of us that have been diagnosed with it. Someone sent me a quote with an e-mail last week and it had a profound effect on me. “The caterpillar thought her life was over; Then she turned into a butterfly” -Unknown There is something wonderful about change and the newness it brings. Even those of us that resist change are often pleasantly surprised by the outcome. I am not one that likes change, but I have had huge changes in my life and have learned to embrace them all and eventually relish my new direction. Our world is upset and redirected as we battle breast cancer and then try to get our lives back. That quote affected me for that reason. A breast cancer diagnosis doesn’t speak about starting a new life; it threatens to... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2260485 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:22:11 +0100 2260485 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2095170&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fhow-do-you-tell-friends-and-family-that-you-have-breast-cancer%2F When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, there were very few people that I told right away. Mostly this was because I needed to know what I was dealing with so that I could give them the whole story and the prospect of a happy ending. My boys were 15 and 12, and I told them weeks later than everyone else, and I told them casually. We all have our own way of dealing with hard times and issues in our lives; some of us want everyone involved and some of us want to handle it by ourselves. I don’t believe there is any one right way. The best way really is to tell your family and loved ones in a way that you can handle. Breast cancer isn’t about them, it happened to you. It’s about you. We would all like to believe that there is an expert for everything. Most of us that have be... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2095170 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:26:23 +0100 2095170 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2047802&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fwishing-you-peace-and-contentment-in-a-stressful-world%2F In my life, it seems like breast cancer opened a Pandora’s box of trouble and turmoil. The thing is that most of it is unrelated to breast cancer, I just use the diagnosis as a marker for the start of an even more difficult journey then the one that lead me to that point in my life. Breast cancer itself is a remarkable and terrifying opponent. It is greater than ourselves yet challenges us to grow and toughen up. Although I had personal strife with finances and family, when I was diagnosed and begun battling the disease, the world was not falling apart. I think of women now who are being told that they have breast cancer, I know exactly the feelings and questions that come to them with that blow. What I can’t imagine is how much more scary it is to wonder if you can deal with t... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2047802 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:58:50 +0100 2047802 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1953347&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2008%2F11%2F12%2Fthink-purple%2F November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. Walk a mile in their shoes: Your doctor says you have a 25 percent chance of living one year. One, not five. One year. And even then, it’s just a one in four chance. Most pancreatic cancer patients die six to nine months after diagnosis. Pancreatic cancer research is where breast cancer research was in the 1930s. Why is this tolerated? And where are the purple fountains? I haven’t seen a single one in my town. Posted in Cancer   Tagged: awareness, pancreatic, randy pausch    (Source: Donna Trussell) Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1953347 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:02:57 +0100 1953347 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1930482&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fdenial-a-natural-response-to-a-breast-cancer-diagnosis%2F On Friday we packed up the car, and headed out to the east coast. The trip was designed to get our son out to a college to meet with the football coach. We decided to drive because of the time of year and the fall vista that would greet us along the way. It also would allow us to travel on to visit with my husband’s sister in New Hampshire. The drive was spectacular. It was a very long trip, but with little traffic and great weather we arrived feeling rested and delighted with the New England states. Along the way my husband and I had plenty of time to talk, dream and plan. My son gets to sleep and watch movies in the back, so typical of a teenage son we didn’t hear from him much. I asked my husband if he remembered how he felt when I told him I had breast cancer. The morning I... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1930482 Tue, 04 Nov 2008 01:40:02 +0100 1930482 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1906465&cid=t_151274_167_f&fid=36988&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.happynutritionistsnuggets.com%2F2008%2F10%2Fbreast-cancer-breast-health-food-pt-1.html October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and I realized the month is slipping by without a post on the topic of healthy breasts. I'd like to focus on the topic from the perspective of food on this blog, and leave the natural remedy part for my HerBulletin blog.Most of you know, or should know that avoiding caffeine is the #1 food/drink to avoid when you have a condition called fibrocystic breasts, breasts that feel generally lumpy when you do a self-exam of the breast, and for some, but not all, can feel quite painful. This condition can make it difficult for you to determine whether you are feeling a lump that you should be concerned about, or it can mask smaller lumps so that you do not feel them as early. You should be doing breast exams very regularly so that you know your breasts wel... Happy Nutritionist's Nuggets blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1906465 Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:06:00 +0100 1906465 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1902232&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fpink-ribbons-breast-cancer-and-big-guys%2F In my quest for merchandise with pink ribbons, I came across a case of Propel Fit Water with a new label on each bottle showing the pink ribbon in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I buy this flavored bottled water for my youngest son who I call the “Big Guy.” As I have mentioned in past blog posts, he has earned this title along with the nickname “Moose” for being a 6′3″ 295-pound offensive tackle. So I am planning to send this big football player to school each day with bottled water adorned with pink ribbons. Frankly, as much as he avoids all things pink for obvious reasons, I don’t think this high school senior will mind. Kathy-Ellen and the “Big Guy” T.J, (his real acronym) has made an effort to be open and honest about his ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1902232 Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:43:53 +0100 1902232 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1859823&cid=t_151274_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FBreastfeeding123%2F%7E3%2FVhrZBfv17GE%2F In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) I bring you some important information on breast cancer: ~ If you are breastfeeding and scheduled for a breast biopsy, you could participate in a groundbreaking research study. Tanya at the Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog explains how “when you make milk, cells from your milk ducts are exfoliated off in the process. These are called epithelial cells, and they’re detectable in your milk. Past research has demonstrated that long before we notice a lump, those epithelial cells start changing in ways that are precursors to the development of breast cancer.” If you participate in the study at no cost to you, your milk sample could help in the development of a non-invasive means of determining breast cancer risk through breast mil... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1859823 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:21:39 +0100 1859823 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1854149&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2008%2F10%2F05%2Fteal-we-hardly-knew-ye%2F Journalist Gwen Ifill It’s October. Also known as Pink Nausea to Matthew Zachary and his merry band of upstarts at I’m Too Young for This and The Stupid Cancer Blog. Breast Cancer Action says Think Before you Pink!  But don’t think before clicking on Greetings from Cancerland columns by poet and breast-cancer survivor Alysa Cummings. Specifically In the Name of Pinkness. PINK PINK PINK PINK PINK PINK PINK What happened to teal? Ovarian? The only teal I saw in September was the Caribbean shoreline in my glossy, unsolicited, can’t-be-cancelled magazine Islands. At least we had Gwen Ifill’s knock-out jacket during the veep debate. Posted in Cancer, Poets, Writing   Tagged: alysa cummings, breast cancer, breast cancer action, breast cancer a... Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1854149 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:11:56 +0100 1854149 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1856139&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=35300&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.metastaticlivercancer.org%2F2008-10-07-cancer-treatment%2Fbreast-cancer-survivor-stories%2F We got a pessimistic sounding comment of Anne at Can chemotherapy cure metastatic liver cancer?. Therefore we call on all breast cancer survivors to share their stories with Anne on our special breast cancer stories pages:   Breast Cancer Stories from women who had breast cancer radiation treatment Breast Cancer Stories to help you discover the early breast cancer signs and symptoms   We started these 2 breast cancer sites because breast cancer treatments have some things in common that you won’t find with metastatic liver cancer patients.   But when it comes to pain, stress, emotional drain and loved ones, all cancers boil down to similar feelings and questions like "why me".   You need to know that you are not alone. Lot’s of other pe... Metastatic liver cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1856139 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:00:21 +0100 1856139 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1841124&cid=t_151274_137_f&fid=35357&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAlzheimersNotes%2F%7E3%2FuG2zwGksm74%2F AlzheimersNotes.com Breast cancer is no respective of persons or conditions, so Alzheimer’s patients and family members can be victims.  Learn about Lee National Denim Day at Pink Ribbon Review and wear denim this Friday to raise awareness of breast cancer.  It’s also a way to raise funds. You also can be part of the Pink Ribbon Review Team. It’s coordinated by b5 blogger, Karen Lynch. (Amazon image) (c)2008 Mary Emma Allen Tags: Alzheimer's Notes, Alzheimers, breast cancer, breast cancer awareness, health, Mary Emma Allen, Pink Ribbon Review, women's healthShare This (Source: Alzheimer's Notes) Alzheimer's Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1841124 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1841124 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1833515&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fthink-pink-toilet-paper-streamers-cheerleaders-my-son-and-breast-cancer%2F Last night our house was toilet papered; every tree draped with streams of white. A huge sign was posted on our window highlighting the fact that a “Rocket” lives here. The Rocket is my son; he is a member of the Rocket Football team and the toilet-papering and sign-posting is the work of cheerleaders. It is all in fun for homecoming, with the big game being tonight and the homecoming dance tomorrow. As I watch the games every Friday night, under the lights, I get especially entertained by the enthusiasm of the great bunch of beautiful young women leading the cheers. They are exuberant, healthy and loud! They are also young, with enormous futures ahead of them. I am not a mother of girls, but my boys have had enough friends who are girls and attended enough dances for me to get... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1833515 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:34:35 +0100 1833515 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1829115&cid=t_151274_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2008%2F09%2F25%2Fpink-ribbon-review-does-breast-cancer-awareness-month-right-with-lots-of-give-aways%2F Start spreading the news… Breast Cancer Awareness month is coming up soon (beginning October 1) and to celebrate, our fabulous sister blog, Pink Ribbon Review, is giving away a prize a day! There are some amazing things donated by some amazing companies, who will also support the cause with a percentage of sales donated to Breast Cancer Awareness. Outstanding. Be sure to subscribe to Pink Ribbon Review so you don’t miss a single day of give-aways. Tell your friends. Spread the word, spread the awareness. For a current list of items to be given away, check here. Share This (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1829115 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:51:03 +0100 1829115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1826525&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36469&url=http%3A%2F%2Fespeciallyheather.com%2Fmusic%2F04%2520Let%2520It%2520Go.mp3 The Lord is my light and my salvation–whom shall I fear? (Psalm 27:1) When I am afraid, I will trust in you. (Psalm 56:3) I sought the Lord, and he answered me, he delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4) Don’t be afraid; just believe. (Mark 5:36) Stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of [...] (Source: Especially Heather) Especially Heather blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1826525 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:56:51 +0100 1826525 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1812845&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=35300&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.metastaticlivercancer.org%2F2008-09-22-cancer-treatment%2Fpeople-without-cancer-dont-have-a-clue%2F Oprah tries to suck out of Cynthia Nixon why she loves a woman after a 15 year relationship with a man and having 2 children with him…   The same Oprah announces Cynthia Nixon survived breast cancer, the audience goes clap-clap-clap and Oprah can’t stop digging for more juicy details about Cynthia’s new relationship…   If you don’t have cancer, you don’t know what you are talking about   It’s as simple as that. Only cancer patients and cancer care givers know what is going on.   Just like I don’t have a clue how Oprah was sexually abused and what effect it had on her. I can only see she has a "weight" problem, so I can only imagine what happened to her in the past still has a deep impact on her today.   The ... Metastatic liver cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1812845 Mon, 22 Sep 2008 03:29:04 +0100 1812845 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1811690&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2008%2F09%2F20%2Fthe-oncologist-and-her-ghosts%2F                     The Oncologist and Her Ghosts by Donna Trussell Her nightmares are blizzards. Wind swallows words, and faces freeze beneath ice and snow. She wakes with a start. She rises, lies down, comforts herself with memories of another time before cities, before textbooks before patients who smiled and joked and died. No matter what she did, they died. She recalls a night on her father’s farm. Southern gusts swayed the moon-tipped trees and above her were the only gods she knew. She made a pact: The stars would protect her and she would save lives. She was just a child then, and even in Nebraska summer seemed endless and full of promise. First published in Chance of a Ghost Included in What’s Right About What’s Wrong   Note: My poems are often just as... Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1811690 Sat, 20 Sep 2008 18:54:41 +0100 1811690 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1775775&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fhealing-words-writing-about-your-breast-cancer%2F If you have never tuned into a Webcast on HealthTalk, you are missing out! I was invited to participate in a Health Now Webcast last week and had such a great time with Judy Forman, the host of Health Now. The topic was on journaling and how it can help people deal with disease, pain and other conditions. Judy is really terrific; I have enjoyed her webcasts in the past, but having the opportunity to talk to her directly was really special. Her guest was Dr. Pennybaker, who has done extensive research into the effects of writing down your thoughts and feelings to deal with medical conditions. Dr. Pennybaker’s wife is a breast cancer survivor so he could really relate to my story; thankfully she is doing well and has also written extensively about her battle and the disease. Judy was a... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1775775 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:51:14 +0100 1775775 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1764337&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fchristina-applegate-ups-the-ante-in-the-fight-against-breast-cancer%2F Last week when the young actress Christina Applegate announced that she had battled breast cancer by having her breasts removed, I was elated that she turned her battle into a crusade to promote MRI screenings and genetic counseling. I was saddened more so by the fact that such a young woman has to be struck with it in the first place. She has been diagnosed as a BRCA II carrier with a genetic predisposition to breast cancer. I can write a blog post every day about it, but you know that if a young Hollywood actress is talking about it millions of people are listening. This makes me ecstatic about the possibilities that this may open up, now that Hollywood is taking a stand against cancer. A while back, two Hollywood producers were introduced to each other through their oncologist while eac... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1764337 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:30:18 +0100 1764337 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1742885&cid=t_151274_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2FZQ4Sqpmb2kU%2F I am mentioning this on all of my blogs as I feel it is important! This is big here in the States. Please mark your calendars for next Friday night… Stand up to Cancer. This is a great event for a great cause. Karen- our Pink Ribbon Review blogger, has a complete list of all the stars that are taking part. Will you? Next Friday night, September 5, 2008, at 8:00 PM (EST), stars from film, television, sports, journalism and music will come together in an unprecedented evening of philanthropy… NBC, ABC and CBS are each donating one hour of simultaneous, commercial-free prime-time for Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) — a nationally televised fundraising event. Let me know hat you thought of it after it airs! Tags: cancer awareness, philanthropy, stand up to cancer, televisionShare This... Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1742885 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:23:13 +0100 1742885 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1742863&cid=t_151274_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FiKkZpSnXHPs%2F This is big here in the States. Please mark your calendars for next Friday night… Stand up to Cancer. This is a great event for a great cause. Karen- our Pink Ribbon Review blogger, has a complete list of all the stars that are taking part. Will you? Next Friday night, September 5, 2008, at 8:00 PM (EST), stars from film, television, sports, journalism and music will come together in an unprecedented evening of philanthropy… NBC, ABC and CBS are each donating one hour of simultaneous, commercial-free prime-time for Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) — a nationally televised fundraising event. Let me know hat you thought of it after it airs! Tags: cancer awareness, philanthropy, stand up to cancer, televisionShare This (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1742863 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:22:13 +0100 1742863 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1740472&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F08%2F28%2Fpresidential-proclamation-begins-national-ovarian-cancer-awareness-month-september-2008%2F “During National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, we remember those whose lives have been affected by this deadly disease, and we underscore our commitment to battling ovarian cancer for the sake of women around the world. …” “For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary August 26, 2008 National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, 2008 A Proclamation by the President of the [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1740472 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:00:58 +0100 1740472 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1709804&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Ffinding-lumps-after-breast-reconstruction%2F For the most part, my reconstructed breasts are smooth and natural. Pressing in on them, however, reveals to me small, hard masses. I only have a couple that I can find, but it did cause some alarm initially. The surgeon assured me that they were fat tissue that had hardened as a result of the transplanted tissue and were completely unrelated to any breast cancer issues. I sometimes wonder if I am completely safe though. Last week the other breast cancer blogger on HealthTalk, Suzette, wrote about her recent experience in finding a lump and undergoing a biopsy only months after breast reconstruction. The thing I admire about Suzette is her knowledge of her body and her vigilance against recurring breast cancer. I learn a lot from reading her blog posts. Thankfully, the results were negativ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1709804 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:56:25 +0100 1709804 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1686620&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fthere-are-worse-things-than-breast-cancer%2F A vibrant, happy, responsible 18-year-old boy was killed in an unlikely boating accident late yesterday. He was a friend of my son’s and my husband, and I know his father. We watched him play football with my son the past two seasons, and he had just graduated from high school with all the excitement and optimism all 18-year-olds have. It is hard to think of anything worse than a cancer diagnosis when you are faced with it, but this is worse, much worse. Just last week I wrote a blog about another teen who suffered from the tragedy of a motorcycle accident. It is getting to the point where I want to lock up my own teens for a decade. We are still having challenges with my older son who took a lot of the emphasis off of my treatment four years ago with his issues and behavior. I found tha... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1686620 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 06:08:19 +0100 1686620 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1646467&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fwe-will-beat-cancer%2F On Saturday, I had the privilege of standing in front of a couple hundred people that attended an American Cancer Society sponsored Relay for Life event. After speaking for a few minutes, I then got to hold the banner with three other survivors and walk the lap around the track leading the group of survivors. What an awesome time for me. These people were giving up 24 hours of their time to show their dedication to finding a cure for cancer. As I related my relationship with cancer, I realized how this disease has ravaged my family and that I can’t afford a moment of complacency in dealing with it. My story reveals a family history of battling this insidious disease. I know we’ve been together on this blog for over two years now, but maybe a quick overview of my story is warranted. In ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1646467 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:24:19 +0100 1646467 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1488839&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Ftell-us-about-your-breast-cancer-event%2F This week in Detroit they had the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The American Cancer Society has been hosting their community events as well. All these efforts are to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. One thing that my sister and I would love to do is the three day walk. They are also having a Race for the Cure in Detroit this fall. This event is a little steep though, with participants having to raise over $2,000 in personal donations. Planning for this may take me to 2009.Our cure is coming and it is events like these that are fueling the battle. When you get close to a victory it is not time to relax, but time to press on with even greater efforts. Each year I like to give a forum for people that are participating in something for breast cancer to let us know all about it.... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1488839 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:42:05 +0100 1488839 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1475464&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fthe-finishing-touches-of-breast-reconstruction%2F With summer weather approaching, not having nipples is actually pretty convenient. It is easier to throw on a bathing suit or tank top and not concern myself with what may be poking through. However, I have decided to continue with this part of the reconstruction of my breasts, and have nipples created and the areola tattooed. Reconstruction for me has been a journey, and not a short one. Many women know the length of the process involved in getting implants and taking the time to inflate the original pouch before replacing it with the final implant. DIEP flap, although a major surgery, does not take as much time to get to the final results; perhaps just the follow-up surgery to create the cosmetic nipples and any touchups. Part of the reason it has taken so long with me is that I have bee... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1475464 Wed, 28 May 2008 21:11:30 +0100 1475464 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1472856&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36469&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fespeciallyheather%2FEH%2F%7E3%2F299115978%2F The House of Representatives passed this bill last week: H. Res. 1124 In the House of Representatives, U. S., May 21, 2008. Whereas brain tumors are the leading cause of death from solid tumors in children under the age of 20, and are the third leading cause of death from cancer in young adults ages 20-39; Whereas more [...] (Source: Especially Heather) Especially Heather blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1472856 Tue, 27 May 2008 14:10:27 +0100 1472856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1454343&cid=t_151274_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2008%2F05%2F19%2Fmay-is-skin-cancer-awareness-month%2F Did you know May is Skin Cancer Awareness month? It surely is. And to draw even more awareness to what has become an increasingly pertinent issue, the Beauty & Style channel here at b5media (where I also write) will be hosting a Theme Day centered around this very issue. Tuesday, May 20, will see links from many of the wonderful blogs over at Beauty and Style, each offering up creative ways on how to protect your skin and raise awareness. Once the collaborative list is posted on the main b5 blog, I will come back here and add the link. Until then, enjoy this post focusing on two celebrities who have made skin cancer awareness a mission of theirs. And we hope to see you milling around Theme Day tomorrow for some great ideas to care for your skin in style. *** It’s true, sk... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1454343 Tue, 20 May 2008 02:11:40 +0100 1454343 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1383787&cid=t_151274_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Faccess-to-brca-testing%2F Without any plan or treatment, a BRCA carrier can have a risk of developing breast cancer as high as 80%. Your risk does not become lower because you haven’t been tested or don’t know about it. In my case and sister’s case, we were offered mammograms at the age of 40 because my mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Had she not developed breast cancer no one would have suggested that I be tested for the BRCA genetic predisposition to the disease. I was a carrier regardless and after we discovered that it came from my father’s side of the family, it became clear how important genetic testing actually is. My sister subsequently got tested and now because of her positive results was able to take steps to minimize her risks. When I met with a gynecology oncologist at University ... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1383787 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 22:28:03 +0100 1383787