Help! How do I communicate with a loved one with cancer?
When I was 27 years old, I was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive, non-hormonal type of breast cancer: Triple Negative. As I had to come to terms with this life-changing diagnosis and go through all the treatment motions (surgery, chemo & radiation), I was surprised at how much energy I was spending on navigating the social waters. You could say I was getting a degree in psychology because I dealt with all types of people. Some gave me support, inspiration, and love, while others frustrated, triggered, or hurt me. And 99.9% of the time, the latter group just didn’t know...
From Heavy to Light: The 5 lb Weight Restriction
It seems like such a small thing – but one of the biggest challenges in my recovery has been lifting restrictions. Immediately surgery, my surgeon made it clear I should not attempt to lift anything over 5 lbs. This is a pretty common post-op instruction. After my single mastectomy surgery, I had limited use of my right arm thanks to the combination of drains, stiches, and swelling. But even after my drains came out, the weight restrictions persisted for a lot longer than I anticipated. Even now, 3 months post-surgery, I am still working back to my pre-op capabilities. As an...
You Look Great!
After 4 cancers over 8 years, I thought I was done. But apparently 5 is my new number….. because in December 2022 I learned I had a new breast cancer in the opposite breast from my first breast cancer in 2017. And this time there were more tumors, more widely distributed around the breast such that a lumpectomy wasn’t an option. I went to two different medical centers to get second and third opinions – I needed to be absolutely sure that I must have a mastectomy. While each medical center’s team had slightly different approaches to surgery and treatment,...
Gift Message Inspiration
Whether you are looking for a light and casual tone or intimate and emotional message, there is no wrong way to tell your friends or family that you care. We've shared some sample messages to help anyone suffering from gift-note-writers-block!
New Year's Resolutions for Cancer Patients
It’s a new year, and time to reflect on our goals and ambitions for the upcoming season… yet it feels like a bizarre and impossible task when doing so amid the mental and physical drain of cancer treatments. And yet… NOT making New Year’s resolutions when it feels like everyone in the world is listing their lofty goals for the year ahead feels like just one more way cancer patients might feel left out of an annual rite of passage. Of course, there’s absolutely no shame in ‘calling an audible’ and skipping resolution making this year for anyone! But if...
