Category Archives: Women's Health

Something I Find Interesting

I was doing some research today trying to think what I wanted to write about and found the most interesting things about cancer, the ages of diagnosis, and the rates of occurrence and death broken down by the types of cancer. I found all this information on the Center for Disease Controls website. I am totally surprised when I looked at the map of the United States and see that the New England and both coasts of the US have a higher rate of breast cancer and the southern states have a lower rate of breast cancer. I grew up … Continue reading →

Growth Hormones

Do you think Breast Cancer is on the rise for younger women? When I was younger I thought it was an older person’s disease. Anytime you heard about it, and you really did not too often, it was with an older person. Now since I got the diagnosis I have found that I am hearing more and more about women my age developing breast cancer. Now either when I was younger I thought 40 was way old or this awful disease is affecting more and more people at a younger and younger age. There are many thoughts as to why … Continue reading →

Who To Tell

When you hear that you have cancer one of the things that go through your head is how do I tell my family and friends? I was really hesitant to tell some friends that I knew way back when about the big c because I did not want their attitude and feelings towards me to change. Is that weird? Like if I take a trip back to where I grew up will my old friends look at me different or treat me different because I had cancer? Will people who were not my friends be nice to me now just … Continue reading →

Do I Have A Scarlet C?

I have noticed that since I got the cancer diagnosis that people see the cancer diagnosis and not just plain me. Unless I have my shirt off you can’t see the changes that cancer has done to me so what is it about me that has changed so much that people change how they treat me? How can I convince people that I am much more than a cancer diagnosis, a source for cancer information? How do I get people to see beyond the diagnosis and just see me? Don’t get me wrong if I find out about people that … Continue reading →

I Got My Spirit Back

There is something that cancer definitely did for me; well ok there are a few. One is it gave me my voice back and it gave me courage to stand up for myself. For many years since I moved to Texas and married my husband I allowed certain people in my extended family to treat me in a way that I never would have before. I was always the kind of girl to confront things head on. For example when I was a lot younger there was a guy I liked and when we parted ways because he went back … Continue reading →

Just Because I Have Breast Cancer Does Not Mean I Like Pink

Before I got the diagnosis of breast cancer I do not think I owned anything pink. Since my diagnosis 5 years and 8 months ago; not that I am counting I have been given so much pink. Honestly I can say I hate pink! I was looking through a box I have of all things pink, it is basically a box of items that I have been given through the last few years. In this box I have pink scarves, socks, earrings, necklaces, nail polish, watches, hair bows (I am 40 I don’t wear hair bows), key chains, wallets, purses, … Continue reading →

The Big Reveal

Well it is now week 10 on crutches and I am not coordinated for crutches. A friend of mine has a thing where you put your knee on and use your other leg to walk. It feels almost like a skateboard but it is so much easier to use than crutches. Today is the day that I can remove the bandages and see how well they did with the tattoos. I am a little nervous I really hope that they look ok. I carefully took the bandages off and jumped in a shower to get rid of any extra ink. … Continue reading →

Tattoo Day

Well I have made the decision to get the tattooing done. I am a little nervous I am a very squeamish person so I am not looking forward to the process. I have the appointment set for a few days from now. My husband is going to come with me for support I am lucky to have a hubby who has supported everything I have done so far. Did you know that when you have chemotherapy it can weaken your bones? That is why they do a bone density test on you every year. Well I mention this because I … Continue reading →

Oncology Follow Up

Time again for my oncology appointment, this is only a checkup but even today the stress of going to these appointments stresses me out. Today I will be getting the results of my newest blood work. When the oncologist orders the lab work she does a complete CBC but she also does a tumor marker test. The tumor marker test is a wonderful test that checks my blood for certain antigens that show in the blood. There is always some in the blood but the purpose is to keep checking them to be sure they don’t reach a certain level … Continue reading →

To Tattoo Or Not

I am going to tell you all a little secret when my bandages came off after my nipple reconstruction surgery I may have cried a little looking down. No not a bad cry it was a good one. I guess I never realized how much I missed having them. I know it is silly but looking down for a minute they almost looked like the original ones but they still needed some color they are just skin toned now. The doctor said I need to wait 6 months before I can get them tattooed. Now when he said they would … Continue reading →