Technically, this is my second Breast Cancer Awareness Month as a breast cancer survivor. Last year I was still sick, bald and awaiting reconstruction so it didn’t feel like much of anything. I wasn’t able to pull the focus away from the micro of my situation to see the macro that is PINKTOBER. Guys, wow….
Tag: #breastcancer
One Person’s Trash is Another Person’s Treasure
A few days ago, 2 very mean people screamed at me that I was ‘the biggest piece of white trash they’d ever seen’ and that ‘I need to be medicated.’ Couple of things: These people know of my cancer odyssey My kids were with me when this occurred I am so medicated it is ridiculous….
Summer
We all get asked the same questions over and over: ‘How is your summer?’, ‘Are you traveling this summer?’, ‘Any exciting plans for the summer?’. My answers to these questions are: ‘Boring’, ‘Nope’ and ‘Nope,’ respectively. And you know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way. Recall if you will… last summer was spent…
When Stress Turns into Palpable Fear
*Cover Artwork by Bowen Kline* Today was an eventful day. I went with 5 kids and 3 adults to multiple tourist sites around Chicago. It really was fun, but also stressful. At any given moment, someone was either peeing in their pants or crying. I may or may not have done both, but I’ll never…
The DL on the DL
Mom, please stop reading right now. My father-in-law, I’m serious, this is not for your eyes. Anyone at all who doesn’t want to hear details about the goings on in my still functioning (barely) lady bits, this where where you exit the blog, stage left. BYE!!!! Here goes- A couple of technical things you should…
An Open Letter to Cancer
Dear Cancer, Four years ago today, you took my father from me. 8 months before that, he was just my dad, a seemingly very healthy 64 year old college professor. In the blink of an eye, he was living with Stage IV metastatic esophageal cancer. Within weeks of his diagnosis he was no longer able…
Things I Learned About My Post-Cancer Body on a Beach Vacation
I just returned from the vacation of a lifetime. My husband and I went to, wait for it… Bora Bora for 8 days! The best way I can describe Bora Bora, Tahiti and French Polynesia, in general, is that I truly can’t believe that it exists on the same planet on which the rest of…
36, Again
My birthday is this week. My 36th birthday last year was somber. I was 2 weeks out from diagnosis and 2 weeks away from my bi-lateral mastectomy. Though I was in somewhat of an ‘ignorance is bliss’ phase, it was still a sobering birthday. We all know how my 36th year went down. It was…
Hocus Pocus Diagnosis
The Magic Trick Set up: Seemingly healthy 35 year old woman Slight of hand: Random bi-lateral lactation leading to mammogram and biopsy Show of cards: Cancer One year ago today I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the breast. I didn’t see it coming. I had had a biopsy, as a mammogram had shown…
A Hair Day
I am already laughing at the really bad joke I am about to tell. I really do entertain myself. I think I could be okay in a locked, padded room for a few days. It might feel like a vacation. Anyway, here goes. I am having a hair day! Not a good hair day, not…
Statistics Schmatistics
Statistics are stupid. Seriously, what do statistics even mean if you are the unlucky sucker in the minority? Example: When I had my mammogram at 35 years old last year, here is what the radiologist said: “I see something, but it is probably nothing. I am going to say that there is an 80% chance…
grancerblog 