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”
Category Archives: Cancer
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 