Tag Archives: breast cancer

“Questions to Ask the Doctor About Breast Cancer”

4 Sep

Source: KomenPhoenix.com

“People often overlook health care providers as an important source of social support. From patient navigators and social workers, to surgeons and oncology nurses, health care providers can offer a wealth of information, hope and advice.

These sources are often left untapped due to problems with patient-provider communication. People may feel too embarrassed or rushed to ask questions, or they simply may not know which questions to ask. And, sometimes, providers may seem too busy to help. Fortunately, there are resources to help you improve communication with your health care team.”

This “Talking with Your Doctor” fact sheet outlines a series of steps to help you communicate more effectively with your providers.

Guest post by Tonya @WisdomWhispers

 

 

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Best Medicine

15 Jan

Pink Ink…

What do we do when we are faced with life crises?  We all have them at some point in our lives.  At a certain age, people begin to expect these life tests.  A parent’s passing.  Divorce.  Health issues.  The loss of a job.  But often, a life test or crisis is not what we expect it to be.  It hits you when you least “expect” it.  What do you?  How do you wade through the deep waters?

My “life test” came when I was diagnosed with terminal metastatic in my lung in November.  I mentioned before, that it was just 5 months after finishing treatment for breast cancer.  Within the week, my play “big sis”, who happens to be a doctor in great shape, learned she had a life changing illness. A bit later, another close friend faced an unforeseen crisis with her beloved child.  We were all grounded for several weeks, shocked at these life-altering events, mourning our previous existence.  At some point, we each sat with our hands in our heads, crying, and asking God, how do we go on. Eventually, you do.  Eventually, you must.  You find your fuel and get moving.

Today, I was fueled in my fight by four different sources.

  • Breast Cancer Survivor, Hoda Kotb was on TV promoting her new book about six people who each faced a life crisis and subsequently transformed their lives.  While the stories were certainly moving, the thing that stuck with me was Hoda’s advice. “Don’t miss your magic moment”. 

Good advice.

  • Next, I learned that Stuart Scott revealed his cancer is back, and he is again in chemo. One of his tweets this morning read: “Here’s what I do right aftr chemo.  Leave the infusion center and go STRAIGHT to either do a p90x wkout or train MMA.  That’s how you #LIVESTRONG”

Again, good advice and great attitude. (I’m slacking!)

  • Robin Roberts announced she is coming back to TV in February.

Need I say more?  Her energy, focus, and faith are inspiring.

  • Finally, a friend I met on Twitter moved me.  Stylist to the stars, June Ambrose, connected us almost a year ago. Both “M” and I had tweeted about being bald and wearing turbans. June connected our tweets, and a long distance friendship developed.  A fellow Survivor, I was moved by “M’s” tweet: “I woke up today on one! It’s clear to me that, in spite of, I have been given everything, EVERYTHING, that I have prayed for. #Perspective”

No truer words could have been written.

The next time you are faced with a life crisis, and are looking for the road out of pain and darkness perhaps this will help fuel you.

  • Remember it’s ok to have a brief pity party.  Acknowledge the pain. Don’t hide from it. It will slow you down.  After the pity party, GET UP!  If you can’t…
  • Ask for help. You are never alone.
  • Push through the sadness and remember there are people who love you and will help you live through the journey.
  • Find your fuel, then…FIGHT!

Everyday, I pull fuel from different places.   As Dr. Tierona Dogi says…

Life is your…best medicine!

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I am back

8 Jan

Editors note:

In late November I was diagnosed with Metastatic Cancer in the Lung.  It hit my family like an anvil, as I was only 5 months out of treatment for my original breast cancer.  I shut down for the last weeks of 2012.  I had to wrap my mind around this diagnosis, and how it would inevitably change my life and those around me.  Fortunately my “anchors” stepped up, held my hand, and guided me through the numbing pain and sadness.  For that I am grateful because now, I am back.  Sometimes, we need the time to grieve, plan…and move forward.  Thank you for your patience!

 

Pink Ink…

“Even when we can’t see, we know how to feed ourselves.  Even when the way isn’t clear, the heart still pumps.  Even when afraid, the air of everything enters and leaves the lungs.  Even when clouds grow thick, the sun still pours its light earthward.” -Mark Nepo

During my darkest days, one of my closest friends sent me The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo.  It is a book of daily affirmations, and lessons on how to be present in your life.  For about five minutes I was skeptical.  But I quickly realized that this was the time that I needed to be open and needed to live…in the present.  Today’s lesson reminded me that “we have inner reflexes that keep us alive, deep impulses of being and aliveness that work beneath the hardships we are struggling with.”  It reminded me that even through this current struggle, my natural instinct is to live!

I have forced myself over these last few weeks to live everyday.  There have been times that have been tough.  But finally, there have been days that I have forgotten that I have cancer…again.

I laugh. I love. I live.

 

My friends…I am back!

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Do Something

23 Oct

Pink Ink…

Day 2 of Chemo Beauty Week!

There is nothing worse than a person who has raggedy nails!  Ok, not really.  But who doesn’t want their hands and feet to look nice?  Even before I started chemo, I struggled to keep a nice manicure.  I blame 15 years of piano lessons! Over the years I have learned to tolerate my short nails, but I make sure my toes are always done.  Always!  So imagine my chagrin when my nails were destroyed by chemo.

Nails are attacked by chemo in the same way that hair is attacked.  It’s the destruction of the cells!  So nails dry out. They become discolored, or black. They become ridged or can even fall off!  They even become a nesting place for bacteria! So what do to do?

Tip #2 Take care of your nails!

This is the time to pay particular attention to your nails.

  • Keep your hands CLEAN!
  • Cut your nails short.
  • Moisturize your nail bed to prevent drying or peeling of your cuticle. BUT…
  • DON’T cut your cuticles!  Use cuticle cream to GENTLY push back the nail.
  • Bring your own tools to the salon!  This is a must!
  • Forgo the callous remover! The skin is too sensitive, dry and thin! Try lathering up in lotion or vaseline,  and sleeping in socks.
  • Say NO to acetone polish remover! It also dries out the nail ad makes them brittle.
  • Time to say goodbye to the acrylic nails or gel nails!  They are a breeding ground for bacteria.
  • Wear gloves while doing chores or washing dishes.

The good news is that you can still wear polish! In fact, try to keep your nails polished because it can help make them stronger and protect the nails from splitting and germs. 

I preferred darker polishes as my toe nails got darker.  I kept my hand nails simple with just a pale pink.  Fortunately they didn’t get too dark, just covered with lines and deep ridges.  By the way, it can take months after chemo to grow out the darker pigmentation and ridges.  I ‘m still at it six months later!

If you get nauseous and are worried about the smells of a salon, ask a friend to come do your nails!  So many people say they “don’t know what to do” for someone who’s getting chemo.  Well here’s your answer!

At the end of the day, getting a manicure or pedicure may seem frivolous or too much work when you are fighting for your life!  That’s ok.  I never felt that way.  It helped me feel “normal”.  It helped me feel pretty.  I saw women who had designs on their nails, and others who just wore clear.  Going through chemo is tough, so it’s up to you to decide what makes you feel good.

Just remember to…do something!

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Refresher of the world

22 Oct

Pink Ink…

It’s Chemo Beauty week!

Newsflash!  Chemo stinks!  It wreaks havoc on your body mentally and physically!  But are there things that can be done to help you feel or look better?  Of course there are!  So check back each day for a new chemo beauty tip!

Tip #1: MOISTURIZE AND HYDRATE!

This is probably the most important tip to those going through chemotherapy treatment!  Water is your friend!  Drink as much water as possible to help flush the drugs through your system.  The recommended amount is 2 quarts a day.  I drank a bottle on the way to the hospital to get me going.  Then I forced a bottle down on the way home.  After that, I tried to drink a bottle every couple of hours, making sure I did a full bottle before bed.  There were times when the nausea really made it difficult.  But this was one tip all the doctors agreed on.  Hydrate from the inside out!

Don’t forget to also MOISTURIZE the skin!  Chemo skin tends to dry out, which could lead to itchiness or peeling.  Using a mild, unscented, non-alcoholic moisturizer or cream can work wonders.  Look for lanolin in the list of ingredients, as it “locks in” moisture.  Baby oil is another good suggestion.

Don’t forget sun block! Chemo can affect the skin’s sensitivity to the sun. Try to avoid lengthy exposure to the sun!

Finally, try cool showers.  Chemo is not the time for long hot baths or showers!

Water is the 1st step in looking and feeling better during chemo! Try it!

Remember.  “Water is the mother of the vine…the adorner and…refresher of the world.” -McKay

 

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