Blogs

A breast cancer diagnosis is life-altering, and no doubt you’ll want and need a ton of traditional medicines and treatments. However, alongside conventional treatments, there's a fragrant friend called aromatherapy that's making waves in the world of breast cancer support. In this blog post, we'll explore how aromatherapy can be a comforting ally for breast cancer patients, with insights from some pretty cool studies. Easing Anxiety with Aromatherapy Imagine being in the hot seat for a breast biopsy – you’re staring down at a rather large needle pointed at your boob; anxiety levels can skyrocket. But here's a game-changer: a...

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...

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...

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,...

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!