These are breast cancer cells. I wear this necklace to celebrate that I no longer have them in my body. Though it has been over nine years since my breast cancer diagnosis, it is still an everyday reality for me. Lately it has become even more so. My mom has breast cancer. I am leavingContinue reading “An Update on Breast Cancer”
Category Archives: Cancer
Tamoxifen
As part of my treatment plan for breast cancer, my oncologist prescribed me Tamoxifen for ten years. Tamoxifen is an “old” drug, meaning that it has been well-studied, and it’s cheap! It is an estrogen suppressant. You can read a study about how being on it five years has fifteen year benefits here. I haveContinue reading “Tamoxifen”
Normalizing Callbacks on Mammograms
My first mammogram was an abnormal experience at 37. It was diagnostic, but instead of having a cyst aspirated, I learned I had cancer. Since I finished treatments, mammograms have been a yearly task to prove that I am still well. This year was a little different. I went in with my usual good attitude,Continue reading “Normalizing Callbacks on Mammograms”
Six
I don’t remember his name. His countenance is fuzzy. Yet I can still hear very clearly the sound of his stool wheeling across the floor. I had just asked, “so calcifications mean no cancer?” I was on a table having a needle biopsy on my right breast, waiting to make sure the sample was enough.Continue reading “Six”
Stolen October
Originally posted on running the dream living with boys:
I used to love October, maybe someday we can be friends again. But this year, October is my enemy. A thief mocking me into the holiday season. October is breast cancer awareness month. Oh my how I am deeply aware. Breast cancer stole my mother. And…
On Not Celebrating a Cancer-versary
November 5, 2020 was my five year cancer-versary. I thought that it would feel like a huge celebration if I made it to that benchmark without a recurrence. I believed I would feel relieved. However, that is not how I experienced it at all. Celebrating is something I am not good at, in general. EverythingContinue reading “On Not Celebrating a Cancer-versary”
faith+lead
The faith + leader at Luther Seminary published an article I wrote about my cancer journey. Click on the link above to read it.
May 5
Cancer – 1. a malignant tumor of potentially unlimited growth that expands locally by invasion and systemically by metastasis 2. an abnormal bodily state marked by such tumors I woke up on May 5, 2004 with a deep sense of dread. Though I knew something was wrong, I had no idea what it really was. IContinue reading “May 5”
Looking back
This is from my CaringBridge from September 18, 2016. I had completed chemo, surgery, and radiation and was in heart failure when I wrote this. I am still healing. The nagging questions Cancer – a disease in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and destroy body tissueCancer Recurrence – the same cancer coming back after aContinue reading “Looking back”
Redheadedrev 