Health update

Ever since I blogged on here about having HPV, I have been paying closer attention to my health and how I am taking care of myself. Or, rather, actually NOT. That whole experience was just an eye-opener for me. It made me realize that now, at age 40, I REALLY do need to start taking better care of myself.

Unfortunately, I fell behind on my workout regime. I just got too busy with a bunch of other things and never made time to exercise. That combined with a poor diet meant I gained a few pounds, right after I had lost a few! So I am going to work on getting back on track with working out. In fact, I have spent time this week looking into where and when I can do so. This new program will start next week.

That doesn’t take care of the diet thing, though. I have been seriously thinking of changing my diet. I have researched several and I am considering one in particular.

I hope these changes will get me to eat healthier and live healthier. Weight loss is my goal, but ultimately, I just want to be healthy.

I recently got some good news in other areas, though. I recently had my first mammogram. My maternal aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer some time ago (she is currently cancer-free, thank God), so I felt it was time for me to go through with a mammogram. I got good results back. No problems at all. Yay!

I also have had a couple of tests where my doctor was checking my progress since the LEEP procedure. She has been telling me that, so far, everything looks good and I am healing well. She also had some good news for me: No more HPV! I am totally HPV-free now. Woo-hoo! I was so thrilled by this news. The LEEP was a nightmare but it meant getting rid of pre-cancerous cells and ultimately getting rid of HPV. So it was worth it! I did talk with a nurse recently and she said she herself had it 4 times. Each time, she had to have the LEEP to get rid of it. She doesn’t miss it! I so hope I don’t have to go through that again but I have heard of that happening to other women.

So now that those worries are not an issue anymore. I can go back to focusing on reinstating a workout regime into my daily schedule as well as eating a healthier diet. Those two things – working out and eating a healthy diet – are important to me and I am going to make them a more stronger focus in my life. Things have been hard for a while there but they are improving and I am definitely planning to make some changes and have these two things become a more permanent mainstay.

A songwriter’s Struggle with Blindness, Breast Cancer & More

Donna Hill, blind songwriter/recording artist and avid knitter, presents pink afghan with “Buddy Check” in Braille to Lyndall Stout at WYOU’s studios in Wilkes-Barre.
Photo by Rich Hill

Hunter in Donna's lap. Photo by Rich Hill.

Read Donna's inspirational story, "Butterflies & Me, the healing touch: a breast cancer survival story"



Contact:

Donna Hill, Head of Media Relations,
Performing Arts Division, National Federation of the Blind,
(570) 833-2708
dwhill@epix.net
www.padnfb.org
Photos/Interviews/Info upon request



Overcoming Adversity, a Matter of Perseverance

A songwriter’s Struggle with Blindness, Breast Cancer & More



Donna Hill (58, Auburn Township, PA) has been through it all and come out smiling. Legally blind from birth and a two-time breast cancer survivor, Donna, who has three albums of original music, writes, sings and speaks about success, perseverance, the importance of monthly breast self exams and the realities of being blind in America. Her volunteer efforts are now helping young blind performers.

When she talks to young people about overcoming adversity, Hill tells them about those who said she would never graduate from college, live independently or marry. She then asks them if they think that she knew all along that those people were wrong. Invariably they say, “Yes.”

“Actually,” she says, “I was afraid they were probably right; the difference was that I did not want them to be right.”

“Unfortunately,” Donna continues,”Many of us are programmed to believe that the people who overcome obstacles are those who never doubt that they will and are never afraid. Most of us, however, stumble, fall and pick ourselves up again and again on our journey through life’s road-blocks.”

“Teachers would either assume I was faking my vision problem, or they wouldn’t let me try anything,” says Donna, who was mainstreamed in public school in the fifties, where she received little help and was subjected to bullying. After graduating from college, she taught herself Braille and received her first of four guide dogs from the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind (Smithtown, NY).

After working as a welfare caseworker in Philadelphia, Donna began pursuing her childhood dreams of supporting herself as a musician. Hill, who taught herself to play guitar, had been writing songs since she was fourteen. . A regular street performer and her own agent, Donna became a popular Philadelphia area motivational speaker/singer. Her albums include: “Rainbow Colors” (1983) and “Harvest (1988) as Donna Weiss and “The Last Straw” (1992) as Donna Hill (http://cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill).

As for breast cancer– both times, she found it herself, despite negative mammograms. The first diagnosis came while recording her third album. The second came after finishing it, as she planned to move to Nashville.

“The second cancer was less complicated,” she says, “But, my dreams were blowing up in my face. I didn’t know how to go on without them.”

Though the financial and energy drain delayed her, Donna is back stronger than ever. After moving to rural Susquehanna County – something she and husband Rich planned to do anyway, she mastered the use of a computer with a screen reader.

In 2007, President Dennis Holston of the nonprofit Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind (PAD,NFB) asked Hill to donate her song “The Edge of the Line” with its hard-hitting, social commentary to the “Sound in Sight” CD (www.padnfb.org). “Sound in Sight” is an interracial, multi-genre compilation of original songs and covers by promising blind recording artists from across the nation. Proceeds fund the Mary Ann Parks Performing Arts Scholarship.

Like many of the artists on “Sound in Sight” Donna has gone on to take a leadership role in PAD. She was recently appointed Head of Media Relations, a volunteer post.

Hill is motivated by the continued struggles of blind Americans to gain acceptance and opportunity -- problems that persist despite legislative change, advances in technology and the extraordinary achievements of some blind individuals. Two thirds of working age, blind Americans are “un”employed. Many live in poverty. Only ten percent of blind kids are taught Braille, despite strong Braille literacy/success links.

“There hasn’t been a new, blind American superstar in decades, says Hill, “And, Helen Keller, who died over fifty years ago, is still the only blind woman most people can name. I’m hoping our work at PAD will elevate a new generation of blind performers to the national stage.”

Issues affecting blind Americans rarely make mainstream news. Hill, who enjoys long walks, knitting and camping, knows that strong media presence helps other minorities. She believes helping blind entertainers gain the national spotlight will improve public acceptance and opportunity for all blind Americans.

###

About the National Federation of the Blind: With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people’s lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence.

It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the

Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind.

Guest blog post: Christina Koenig shares information about the Breast Cancer Network of Strength

Breast Cancer Network of Strength

“You have breast cancer” may be among the most frightening words a patient can hear a doctor utter. Yet in the United States more than 194,000 men and women hear them each year. A diagnosis may leave someone feeling alone, afraid and hopeless. But having information and knowing where to turn for support can help patients regain a sense of hope and control.

“Am I going to die?”
“My wife was just diagnosed with breast cancer. What do we do?”
“How can I make decisions about my treatment when I’m so upset?”

These are common questions among the 47,000 calls and e-mails that Breast Cancer Network of Strength’s 24/7 YourShoes™ Breast Cancer Support Center receives each year.

When breast cancer is the diagnosis, patients, families and friends want to know everything possible about the disease and how it will affect their lives. They need emotional support and crave information about treatment options and details about the disease, but they also need deeper knowledge.

For the newly diagnosed, support is crucial and it helps to talk to someone who has been through the same experience, a “peer.” Peer support is the cornerstone of Breast Cancer Network of Strength® (formerly known as Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization®).

Callers feel immediate emotional relief when they talk to someone who has walked in their shoes--one of our peer counselors--because, as breast cancer survivors, they truly understand what someone may be going through. Since this is such a meaningful concept, we named our peer support services YourShoes™.

“Even though my family is a great support system, I needed to talk to someone who had been in my shoes.”

YourShoes includes the 24/7 breast cancer support center staffed by peer counselors who are breast cancer survivors. Calls are handled in more than 150 languages through real-time interpreters.

It also includes e-mail-based support, match programs, and survivor-facilitated support groups. All questions are answered by peer counselors who are rigorously screened, trained and certified to help callers by giving emotional support and information about breast cancer procedures and treatment options.

Here are actual comments from callers:

“I didn’t know who to call, I needed to talk, I was frightened and I needed information. Thank you for being there for me.”

“I was feeling very vulnerable, sad and in shock. It was late at night and I found support through your service.”

“Your counselor was most helpful—compassionate, soft spoke and got me through a difficult night.”

“You are wonderful. You have been there from the first day I was diagnosed ‘til now.”

Peer counselors coach callers on how to communicate effectively with their doctors, and encourage them to be the key players on their health care teams. In addition, callers can be paired with match peer counselors who share similar diagnoses, ages or experiences.

Breast Cancer Network of Strength does not endorse specific treatment options or protocols and peer counselors do not give medical advice. They do, however, replace fear with facts and help patients understand how to weigh their options to make more personalized treatment decisions.

Since breast cancer affects not just the patient but the whole family and circle of friends, anyone touched by breast cancer or who is concerned about breast health can use the Network of Strength’s confidential and free services.

For breast cancer support or information including publications and newsletters, visit Breast Cancer Network of Strength or call 1-800-221-2141 (English, with interpreters available in 150 languages).

Breast Cancer Myths, Scares and Survivals

Breast Cancer Myths, Scares and Survivals

One woman’s story that inspires the survival, not the scare, of breast cancer

This past October, 2009, during breast cancer awareness month


(Pinellas Park, Fla.) – There is something even scarier than Halloween this past October and it affects nearly 200,000 women per year in the U.S. Every year, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the U.S. other than skin cancer and is the second leading cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer, according to research done by the American Cancer Society. But beyond the doom and gloom there is hope and survival aside from the scare. One woman shares her survival story from her first thoughts when diagnosed (the myths and truths about cancer prevention), to breaking the news to her children, to now having a clean bill of health and offering inspiration to her fellow breast cancer fighters.

Gwen Novak is a single mother of two. She was recently sitting in a waiting room at a cancer center while watching as a fellow breast cancer patient sits terrified awaiting the news or more information on her situation. A year ago, Novak felt the same petrified, devastated feeling that she says left her sick to her stomach, “I have two little kids. What’s going to happen?”

Novak had to make some quick choices. What was she going to tell the children? How would she get through yet another life obstacle thrown in her path? How is it even possible that she could be given such a horrific diagnosis since she had been raised on nothing but healthy, organic foods? “I thought, maybe I should have eaten more vegetables! I never drank pop; I ate my mother’s fresh, ground peanut butter. My kids don’t even know what SpaghettiO’s® are! Although, if I hadn’t been so healthy, I could have been dead,” she said. Novak is a strong believer that your environment, along with your lifestyle choices and genetic disposition, is a huge player when it comes to a diagnosis.

Some common myths on breast cancer diagnosis involve drinking caffeine, eating dairy and, yes, eating your vegetables or not. According to a study published this year from Annals of Epidemiology, there is in fact no link between caffeine consumption and breast cancer.

Regarding dairy causing breast cancer: several studies (including a Norwegian study published in The International Journal of Cancer) show that women who drank more than three glasses of milk every day had a lower incidence of breast cancer.

As for those vegetables, research at the Strang Cancer Prevention Center in New York discovered that a daily diet including cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts and cauliflower significantly reduce estrogenic compounds believed to cause breast cancer. The chemicals in these vegetables, called indoles, induce the body to burn-off the form of estrogen that promotes breast cancer. Raw or cooked at least two to three times a day is recommended for these vegetables.

Breast Cancer myth statistics and studies were provided by Hallie Levine, Redbook, MSN.com.

Novak said the beginning was tough and she really didn’t know what she was up against. Novak received two lumpectomies. She received her radiation treatment from WellSpring Oncology. “You have to take each thing one step at a time – that is how they [the physicians] give you the information,” she said. Novak said the medical professionals on her case would give her a little bit of information each time so she could handle the process one step at a time rather than to, “blow through it all.” She said, “They piece it out to you so you can handle it and get through it one stage at a time.”

Speaking of her children, 10-year-old daughter, Chloe and 9-year-old son, Winston, she said she pulled them out of their private school and began a home-school program. “I was too sick to get them ready and drive back and forth two hours to the school, and it was the best thing I could have ever done for them,” said Novak, “having them close to me through this made it less difficult for them.”

Novak said she was honest and upfront with her children from the start. “A single-parent relationship is a little different,” she said. Chloe stood-up to the plate, “She ran the show around the house, taking care of her brother,” said Novak, “I wouldn’t wish this on anybody, though.”

To lighten the stress of it all, Novak recently attended a prostate cancer awareness fundraiser for WellSpring Oncology’s WellSpring Giving Tree (Catch for a Cure). She plans to get involved with walks and events like the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides - in the future once she has built-up her physical strength and former athletic-build again. “I am dying to get back out and get in shape,” she said.

Her advice to women out there going through the same “scare and survival” is to, “Keep a positive attitude. Dig deep for your inner strength to face the fear, other people cannot do it for you. Have fun along the way.” Novak had fun along the way by attending each treatment appointment as a different character – once as Malibu Barbie, adorning a flamboyant wig and all.

Novak’s Survival Kit:

1. Get your facts

2. Don’t regret

3. Take one step at a time

4. When you’re tired, lay down

Novak plans to live her life and move forward, not worrying if the cancer will come back. “I am a tough cookie, but I am going to eat more vegetables.”

Sales of Invicibelle Spirit raises funds for fight against breast cancer

Spring Meadow Nursery has partnered with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation to raise $1 million for breast cancer research. To reach our goal, we developed the first ever pink anabelle hydrangea called Invincibelle® Spirit, which donates $1 to the BCRF for every plant sold. This hardy and heat tolerant hydrangea blooms reliably each year, and is named in honor of the brave women fighting breast cancer. Like these women, it is strong and will survive and thrive for years to come.

For more information on our campaign, please visit http://www.invincibellespirit.net/

Invincibelle® Spirit is included on the pink products page of the BCRF web site pink products & programs page.


Contact:

Kathy Garfield
Marketing Specialist
Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc.
12601 120th Ave.
Grand Haven, MI 49417
(616) 846-4729, ext 1204
www.invincibellespirit.net

Organization spotlight: Living Beyond Breast Cancer

NOTE: I did not write this article. The author of this article is not known. It was sent to me by E-mail.

(NAPS)—Thanks to medical advances, more women are surviving a breast cancer diagnosis than ever before. That’s one reason it’s important to support the emotional healing process by addressing a spectrum of “survivorship” concerns.

Every woman deals with a diagnosis of breast cancer in her own way. You may have concerns about your long-term health or your emotional well-being. You may fear breast cancer could return. You are finding a “new normal”—integrating a history with breast cancer into your life experience. For those who are making the transition into that “new normal” and starting to return to a regular routine, here are some tips from Living Beyond Breast Cancer, a national nonprofit organization for coping with the medical, emotional and practical concerns when treatment ends and the rest of life begins.

• Speak with your doctor to create a long-term followup plan. Whether you’re one year or 10 years out from your diagnosis, as a breast cancer survivor, it’s important to speak with your doctor to determine your
schedule for ongoing medical checkups to monitor your health. It may also be beneficial to ask your doctor about how to manage lingering side effects, such as fatigue, bone loss, hot flashes, weight gain or lymphedema.
• Keep your medical records and appointments organized. Request a printed copy and organize your medical reports so they will be easier to reference during your follow-up care. And keep a calendar updated with your upcoming checkups and any tests you may have. While you are in follow-up care, it’s very important to follow through with the medical visits your doctor has recommended for you.
• Understand that you may need to create a new “normal.” Breast cancer can be a defining experience. You may want your life to return to the way it was before your diagnosis. While that may be the case for some women, for many others, breast cancer changes their outlook and perspective. Take the time to sort out your emotions and priorities. Don’t feel pressured to “bounce back” immediately after treatment ends.
• Take care of your emotional health. Breast cancer survivors may experience various feelings and stages of anxiety, depression, anger or loneliness. For some women, the shock of diagnosis doesn’t take full affect until after treatment ends. First and foremost, you need to know that these emotions are normal. One way to ease your emotions is by staying connected to those who make you feel most comfortable sharing your feelings. You can reach out to breast cancer organizations, such as Living Beyond Breast Cancer, that offer telephone-matching services and can connect you to another woman in similar circumstances. Also, remember that trained therapists can help you along your journey. Regular exercise can be very helpful in improving your mood and outlook on life.
• Live beyond your breast cancer. Don’t let breast cancer define you or hinder future possibilities. Remember to live each day with hope and take time to enjoy the simple pleasures in life. You may be physically and emotionally drained but remember, you have done everything you can to fight the cancer. Feel proud of your hard work and now take time to recapture and enjoy your life. At every stage of your breast cancer journey, Living Beyond Breast Cancer can help. For more information, visit www.lbbc.org to download or order free education resources that provide emotional comfort and support. Founded in 1991, Living Beyond Breast Cancer is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering all women affected by breast cancer to live as long as possible with the best quality of life. For more information, visit www.lbbc.org or call the organization’s toll-free Survivors’ Helpline at (888) 753-LBBC (5222).

Living Beyond Breast Cancer
Healthy Ideas
Living Beyond Breast Cancer, a national nonprofit organization, has resources for coping with the medical, emotional and practical concerns of breast cancer at every stage of your journey. For more information, visit
www.lbbc.org or call (888) 753-5222.

You can put cancer into context and learn how to move forward and live beyond your diagnosis. Thanks to medical advances, more women are surviving a breast cancer diagnosis than ever before. /// Living Beyond Breast Cancer

Personal note from Dawn: LBBC has started a blog here: LBBC's Blog

Breast Reconstruction Procedure Reaches New Heights

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Victory Public Relations
Andrea Samacicia
Andrea[at]victorypublicity[dot]com
July 23, 2009



Breast Reconstruction Procedures Reach New Heights

New York City Plastic Surgeon Dr. Thomas Sterry demystifies breast reconstruction

According to the American Cancer Society a staggering 70 percent of women eligible for breast reconstruction forgo it simply because they are unaware of their options. This glaring oversight leaves the roughly 250,000 American women who each year battle breast cancer uninformed about what’s often considered the finishing touch of a treatment plan.

New York City board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Thomas Sterry says that even though women feel scared after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis and overwhelmed by the treatment that lies ahead, neglecting to discuss reconstruction options serves only to limit her.

“Nearly all the breast cancer patients I work with for reconstruction tell me they were concerned early on about how their treatment would impact their physical appearance, but that those concerns weren’t addressed,” says Dr. Sterry. “The trauma of her battle with breast cancer will be with her always and so will some of the scars, but there is great technology today that makes it possible for pretty much every patient to expect a pleasing aesthetic result after breast reconstruction and it’s important that every patient be educated about it.”

Breast Advice

There are many options for breast reconstruction. Because multiple factors - including the method of treatment, the style of mastectomy, and certain characteristics of each individual patient -determine which option is best, the most successful outcome results when a plastic surgeon is included on the treatment team from the beginning.

“Most breast cancer patients tell me they feel deformed by their treatment, sometimes even comparing themselves to Humpty Dumpty,” says Dr. Sterry, “They feel that after this traumatic ordeal they’re left in pieces and are relieved to learn how they can restore their body to a shape they associate with femininity and health.”

According to Dr. Sterry there are some basic terms associated with breast reconstruction that all patients should be aware of including expanders and autologous reconstruction. Dr. Sterry advises all women to also learn about up-and-coming procedures, including those that use tissue matrices and alternatives to mastectomies also known as oncoplastic surgery, which he believes will eventually dominate the field.

Not your mother’s breast reconstruction: One of the most common complaints about reconstructed breasts is that they more closely resemble “mounds” rather than natural breasts. It has long been accepted that reconstructed breasts are meant to allow women to better wear clothing, including bathing suits, after mastectomy but exciting advances have made it possible for plastic surgeons to more closely replicate a true breast.

* Tissue Matrices like AlloDerm and Strattice have proven vital in enabling surgeons to recreate the most natural looking breasts during reconstruction, says Dr. Sterry. “Essentially what they’ve done is provide patients with an additional layer of tissue, helping us overcome many challenges typically associated with breast reconstruction,” he explains, going on to say the use of tissue matrices grants the surgeon more control over the placement and shape of the breast. “With the assistance of a tissue matrix, which functions essentially as an ‘inner bra,’ the surgeon can better control and predict the long term position of the implant and the shape of the breast.”
* Alternatives to mastectomy comprise a burgeoning field known as oncoplastic surgery, which in some cases can preserve much of the original breast while also removing cancerous tissue. One example of oncoplastic surgery is the growing number of women Dr. Sterry has seen opting for a breast lift procedure instead of a mastectomy. “In the past it wasn’t uncommon for a woman to opt for a mastectomy out of fear, but thankfully we’ve benefited from some advances that allow us to successfully remove the cancer without necessarily eliminating the entire breast. Because of that, breast conservation surgery like lumpectomies and breast lift in place of a mastectomy are increasingly being used and seem to be just as effective,” Dr. Sterry explains. The trick, he says, is to discuss at length with your breast surgeon and plastic surgeon the pros and cons of traditional mastectomy versus oncoplastic surgery.


Oldies but goodies - breast reconstruction for the ages: The standards for breast reconstruction are autologous reconstruction (using tissue from another part of the patient’s body such as in TRAM flap or latissimus dorsi reconstruction), and tissue expansion, where a device resembling a water balloon is inserted under the skin and muscle in the area of the breast and inflated slowly over a few months. Eventually, the expander is removed and a permanent implant is put in its place.

Associated with each of these procedures are complications such as decreased function of the donor site when tissue from another part of the body is used and unnaturally shaped breasts due to the lack of tissue when an expander and implant are used. If the implant is fully shielded by muscle, high-riding, poorly defined breasts often result but when there’s only partial coverage, the risk for “bottoming out,” exposure of the implant, a “uni-boob” and visibility of the implant increases.

In the past women and their medical teams accepted these risks because there wasn’t much else to choose from. Today, Dr. Sterry believes these procedures can be dramatically improved upon by incorporating new technology such as tissue matrices and oncoplastic surgery.

While the number of people diagnosed with breast cancer steadily rises, the rate of death due to breast cancer is on the decline thanks to early detection and improved treatment options, making it more important than ever to consider “after cancer” plans before surgical treatment.

About Dr. Thomas P. Sterry, M.D.

Thomas P. Sterry, M.D. is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Dr. Sterry’s extensive training includes a medical degree with distinction in research from Stony Brook University School of Medicine as well as three-year residencies in both plastic surgery and general surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. He holds a masters of Science degree in exercise physiology from Queens College of the City University of New York and a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal arts from Stony Brook University. Dr. Sterry is a clinical assistant professor of plastic surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, and has presented his research to the American Society of Plastic Surgery, the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery and the New York Academy of Medicine. His research has also been published in the Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery and the Annals of Plastic Surgery. A member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Sterry has been in practice in New York City since 2001 is currently in solo practice at his posh Park Avenue office. Please visit www.drsterry.com to learn more.



For more information please contact:

Andrea Samacicia

Andrea[at]victorypublicity[dot]com

(o) 646-351-6703 / (m) 631-759-1512

Allison and her Nana

When I learned that family member, Allison, had a story to share about breast cancer, I put together the following questions. Her grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer when Allison was at a young age. Her story helped me to see how her parents handled the situation with her being so young and what kinds of feelings and concerns she must have felt at such an age.

Like Allison, I was young when I heard that a relative was diagnosed with breast cancer, and the updates on this relative's progress were filtered by my mother as she talked with the relative's mother on the phone. I remember being scared and wishing I knew more about what was going on. My mother did not go into detail about my relative's treatment. Thankfully, this relative survived.

As a parent, I understand the need to be careful with how much is told to a child when a close relative is battling such a life-threatening disease. A lot of breast cancer information spread around can imply that it is not a disease many survive and this can be scary to a child. This can cause the child to be fearful of the outcome when someone they love is diagnosed.

Fortunately, Allison's story has a happy ending. Her grandmother survived breast cancer. She and her grandmother are closer because of this experience. Not only was it an educational experience for the both of them, but also a life-changing one.

Below are Allison's answers to my questions.


1. How old were you when you learned of your grandmother's diagnosis of breast cancer? How did you handle the news?

I was about 8 years old when I got the call and found everything out.
I was very educated and mature for that age, so I knew what it meant.


2. What do you know about the kind of treatment she received? Either during the early stages or later stages.

The treatment that I know about was that she qualified for the removal
of her whole left breast because the cancer hadn't spread anywhere
else. Back then, the new law hadn't passed yet about breast
reconstruction being something doctors were obligated to offer and
fulfill if the patient desired. What I know that she was offered was a
prosthetic breast which she did take. I just know that it was very
heavy and she moved on to a cloth prosthetic.


3. How were you able to support her and be there for her while she was receiving treatment?

At first, I didn't support her. I was so young and I was instantly
afraid of her possible death, because to me hearing that someone had
cancer, it meant they were dying. It was all over shortly, and she had
recovered fine, so I was just happy for her that she survived.


4. In what way did you and your family connect on an emotional level while your grandmother was battling breast cancer? In what ways did you cope?

I wasn't told much because I was too young, and though I am sure my parents were afraid, they wanted to protect me and didn't tell me when she was going in for surgery. It wasn't until she had her second cancer (in her chin) that I knew when she was going in for surgery, and we all took it as "she'll be fine, it won't kill her, she's too strong." Plus, the doctor had already made her feel assured, so she assured us.


5. On what other levels (spiritual, intellectual, etc.) did you
experience growth and/or empowerment during this difficult time?

I've grown in my ways of viewing cancer as something that IS beatable, and you DON'T have to go through chemo and all these horrible things in all cancer cases. It's made me feel confident that if I one day got cancer, I would probably be able to beat it.


6. What was your biggest source of support in trying to cope with this experience? Is it still a source of support in other ways?

Her words of assurance that she would be fine, and that if anything DID happen to her, she's lived a happy life. She is such an amazing person, and when she's not scared, it makes me feel like I don't have to be scared.


7. In what ways was your grandmother inspiring to you during her fight with breast cancer?

Her light-hearted humor about her prosthetic, and about how she didn't have a left breast anymore. She poked fun at herself, and it made it all very easy to deal with. She inspired me to laugh at life's challenges when you beat them, and just smile.


8. What is one memory that stands out from this time?

When she showed me her scar tissue on her chest, and her explanation of what it feels like and how she felt about it. And probably...me wearing her prosthetic breasts around the house because she thought it was funny.


9. Is there a major or national charity that really made a difference for your grandmother during this time? Please explain.

Not that I know of, actually.


10. How has your relationship with your grandmother improved or been changed ever since she became a breast cancer survivor?

We've always been close and had a very special connection. I know that I admire her more knowing she's battled cancer twice, and she has such a positive outlook about it all. She's so inspiring and such an amazing person. I think anyone who is suffering with cancer would benefit from her company.

Organization spotlight: Ruta Pink

Today's blog post will feature a breast cancer prevention organization in Puerto Rico called Ruta Pink. Here is some info:

Last year, Doral Bank in Puerto Rico teamed up with Susan G Komen for the Cure and launched “Ruta Pink” (or Pink Route). Ruta Pink consists of a pink mobile mammogram clinic that stops through various towns in Puerto Rico, offering women (and men) free mammograms, biopsies and referrals – with or without health insurance.

Since launching in June of 2008, Ruta Pink’s medical team has performed over 2,200 mammograms. In addition to offering mammograms, the Ruta Pink program also offers free cancer prevention seminars to the general public, and offers contributions to the Susan G Komen foundation.

You can read more about Ruta Pink at Ruta Pink (click English in upper right corner), or visit their new youtube page at www.youtube.com/rutapink

They’ve also recently been written about in Everyday Health, FastCompany, Brandweek, and more!

Breast cancer survivor poetry

The act of writing poetry can have an enormously profound sense of healing and empowerment. For some, it is the best way, maybe even the only way, for them to cope with the struggles they face in life.

For a breast cancer fighter and/or survivor, writing poetry can have an extra special bonus. Not only is the writing of poetry itself good for their spirit, but it it also an inspiration for others who read their words.

Here are some links to where you can find poems written by breast cancer survivors:

Pink Ribbon Poetry

Breast Cancer Poetry

Breast Cancer DIY Poetry

Breast Cancer poems

There are also books of poetry related to breast cancer:

Her Soul beneath the Bone: WOMEN'S POETRY ON BREAST CANCER

Smiling Thru the Tears: A Cancer Survivor's Odyssey by Pamela deLeon-Lewis

The Cancer Poetry Project: Poems by Cancer Patients and Those Who Love Them

Fighting My Way Through Breast Cancer With Poetry by Diana Ballinger

Five facts about breast cancer in men

While women most commonly acquire breast cancer, the breast tissue in men can become cancerous. It is extremely rare for men to develop breast cancer, yet it has been known to happen. Because breast cancer in men is so rarely discussed and little is understood about it, the following facts about breast cancer in men have been gathered to inform readers.

Fact: Men between the ages of 60-70 are most commonly diagnosed with breast cancer.

Fact: Symptoms of breast cancer in men include a nipple discharge, lump under the nipple, discoloration of the breast skin and dimpling of the skin in that area.

Fact: Risks of men developing breast cancer include genetic factors, exposure to radiation, high levels of estrogen (which commonly occurs in men diagnosed with Klinefelter's syndrome -- having an extra female chromosome, resulting in XXY rather than the normal XY), and liver disease.

Fact: The most common type of breast cancer to occur in men is infiltrating ductal carcinoma, which is cancer with origins in the ducts (tubular structures) of the breast. It is referred to as "infiltrating" because this means that the cancer cells have spread beyond the ducts.

Fact: Once a lump is detected, a biopsy is the most common method used to determine if there is cancer.

Breast cancer and the mobility impaired

Any woman who is used to walking and standing may understand the rigors of trying to get a mammogram, or even what's involved in receiving chemotherapy during treatment. However, if you are bound to a wheelchair, then being able to stand to receive a mammogram or move into a recliner for chemotherapy can be a struggle. Being helped to stand as well as carried around can be humiliating for someone already burdened with the stress of a possible breast cancer diagnosis. The problem is that there are not many handicap-accessible machines to accommodate the mobility impaired patients who must use them.

The good news is, more medical establishments and health care professionals are finally paying attention to the needs of the mobility impaired. Physicians and staff are being trained to accommodate the physical limitations of patients who require a mammogram or chemotherapy.

The first step is to discuss these limitations with your doctor. More and more medical facilities are becoming handicap-accessible and steps are being taken to include this accessibility inside of the buildings. If the arms of your wheelchair can be lowered, this will make it easier to receive a mammogram while in your wheelchair. If you are not able to sit up for the duration of your mammogram, a Velcro apparatus will be used to help you.

It's a good idea to ask someone to come with you to your appointments. A friend, sibling or caregiver is likely willing to assist you if needed so that you can receive your mammogram or be comfortable while receiving chemotherapy treatments.

Before your visit, ask if you can see the imaging center first. Ask questions about what sort of accommodations are in place for patients who are mobility impaired. If this is not provided, then talk to your doctor about finding a facility which is more helpful to the needs of disabled patients.

The MayoClinic understands the rights and needs of a patient who is stuck in a wheelchair. They have created three facilities specially equipped to assist such patients:

The Breast Clinic in Arizona

The Breast Center in Florida

The Breast Diagnostic Clinic in Minnesota

Finally, a free guide for disabled women is available for review on the Internet:

Breast Self-Examination: A Handbook for Women with disAbilities

If you are mobility-challenged and must have a mammogram or chemotherapy treatment, don't resign yourself to the delusion that all disabled patients must "put up" with using equipment not accessible to the disabled or being discriminated against by physicians. Ask questions, speak up. Talk to a medical professional you trust. If you feel your medical needs are not being sufficiently met or that you are being discriminated against, find another physician. Don't accept discrimination from a physician, who is obligated to treat ALL patients regardless of race, ethnicity, social stature, religion, financial situation AND disability. Know your rights but, more importantly, know what kind of accommodations and services are available to you as a patient. Every person, disabled and abled, has the right to receive competent and thorough care for breast cancer and it's important to make sure that care is given to you. Medical treatment of breast cancer is important. Receiving proper medical care for breast cancer could mean the difference between life or death.

Organization spotlight: Bright Pink

Bright Pink is a national nonprofit organization devoted to helping women who are fighting both breast and ovarian cancer. Their goal in offering education and support is to "arm young women with knowledge, options and a great attitude, and offer companionship and empathy during their journey. We empower them to take control of their breast and ovarian health and in turn, grant them the freedom and peace of mind to live a beautiful and fulfilling life."

Part of the work they do is partnering with companies to create products that promote breast cancer awareness, mainly during September and October. As an example, the specially-created pink Bubblemint Orbit White Gum means 10% of sales of this gum will go towards supporting this organization.

Their Little Bright Book series, which medical professionals can obtain for free from the site, provides information about breast and ovarian cancer. Titles include "A Young Woman’s Guide to Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk and How to Be Proactive with Your Health” and the breast/ovarian cancer fighter/survivor's edition “For Our Mothers and the Women We Love: A Guide to Being Proactive and Protecting Your Family’s Health."

The site also provides a wealth of information about breast and ovarian cancer, all written by a team of medical professionals who understand the needs and concerns of those who are at risk of either cancer.

Also, anyone looking to connect with another cancer fighter/survivor can check out the PinkPals program. This will pair you with someone similar to your own situation who you can talk with and turn to for support via phone or email. You may even be able to meet your PinkPal in person.

The organization also emails or texts monthly reminders to "make time for the girls," offer information about a physical outreach group in your area, and visitors may even submit questions to genetic counselors ready to answer your questions and address your concerns.

They also offer educational workshops and conferences.

For more information: Bright Pink

10 Cost-Free Ways to Participate in National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

You don't have to break the bank to participate in National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. While there are organizations out there who will definitely benefit from any and all fundraising efforts, people who just can't financially help can still do something special in honor of this month. Below are ten no-cost things you can do to participate and still be a part of breast cancer awareness.

1. Volunteer at a cancer support group or center.

2. Join a network of breast cancer survivors and befriend someone and just talk.

3. Wear pink! Even better, something with a pink ribbon on it. Or wear a pink ribbon in your hair.

4. Read a book about breast cancer. Stay informed!

5. Create a sign, card or collage that honors someone you know who has lost their battle with or survived breast cancer.

6. Write a blog series on breast cancer awareness!

7. Encourage your friends and family to learn about breast cancer.

8. Write something that shows why you are glad we have a "breast cancer awareness month."

9. Spread the word about charities who are helping people struggling with breast cancer or a survivors network.

10. Decorate your Web site or page with pink and/or add something which reminds visitors that it's National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Add links to charities and foundations or videos of breast cancer survivors sharing their stories, if you'd like.


Personal message from Dawn: Happy Birthday, Jesse! Hard to believe you are now 2 years old! The years go by so fast! We all love you so much and I feel so blessed you are in my life, sweet baby.

Pink Ribbon Breakfast

The next time you eat breakfast, why not do so for a worthy cause? National Pink Ribbon Day is on Monday, October 26th, and this is also the day hundreds will be holding a "Pink Ribbon Breakfast."

The National Breast Cancer Foundation has come up with the Pink Ribbon Breakfast. The Pink Ribbon Breakfast is just one more way to raise funds for and promote breast cancer awareness. It was started in Australia but anyone overseas can participate.

Find out more about it here:
Pink Ribbon Breakfast

Susan G. Komen for the Cure gets Passionately Pink for the Cure

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, which is recognized as one of the largest nonprofit organizations devoted to breast cancer research and awareness, has developed a new program called Passionately Pink for the Cure.

Passionately Pink for the Cure allows participants to organize a "passionately pink" event with accessories and items to promote their event and the cause. Proceeds raised from such events can be sent to the foundation as the event's donation.

Details: Passionately Pink for the Cure

Warning signs of breast cancer

The following are signs and symptoms of breast cancer:

* A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm that persists through the menstrual cycle.
* A mass or lump, which may feel as small as a pea.
* A change in the size, shape, or contour of the breast.
* A blood-stained or clear fluid discharge from the nipple.
* A change in the feel or appearance of the skin on the breast or nipple (dimpled, puckered, scaly, or inflamed).
* Redness of the skin on the breast or nipple.
* An area that is distinctly different from any other area on either breast.
* A marble-like hardened area under the skin.

Source: The Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer

Five Myths and Misconceptions about Breast Cancer

1. Only women get breast cancer.

This is probably the most common misconception about breast cancer. Surprise! Men can be diagnosed with breast cancer, as well. Men have breast tissue and their breast duct cells are just as vulnerable to developing cancer as a woman's. However, because women have many more breast duct cells and hormones attacking those cells than men do, breast cancer is more prevalent in women.

2. Breastfeeding will prevent a woman from developing breast cancer.

While various medical reports and physicians will attest that women who breastfeed have indeed a decreased chance of developing breast cancer, it is not the "cure" for breast cancer. Some women who breastfed their babies have developed breast cancer later in life. While breastfeeding is a good preventative measure against developing breast cancer, it won't guarantee a block against it.

3. Mammograms are dangerous because of radiation exposure.

In the 1970's, the risk of harmful radiation exposure from mammograms was a growing concern in the medical community. This debate over radiation exposure from a mammogram, however, remains very strong and rampant. Still, mammograms are definitely useful in detecting tumors which might otherwise go undetected. Today's technology has improved the performance and safety of equipment used during a mammogram.

4. The breast-self-exam (BSE) is sufficient in detecting a tumor.

There are two things wrong with this myth. One is that not every female knows how to perform the BSE correctly. A young woman should consult with her doctor about the proper way to perform a BSE. The second thing is that relying on BSE to detect any tumors or suspicious lumps is not the best way for finding any. A tumor or lump on the breast can be undetected and hard to locate. By the time a tumor is detected, it is very large and has been festering in that area for some time. As a measure of caution, a yearly mammogram or yearly breast exam performed by a physician is advisable.

5. If I have no family history of breast cancer, I can't get it.

This is also another popular myth about breast cancer. Anyone with a first-degree family member (such as parent or sibling) with breast cancer has the highest risk of obtaining the disease. The next highest risk is anyone with a second-degree family member (such as anyone on the mother or father's side) who has had the disease. However, people with no known family history of breast cancer have also developed the disease. According to the book, Mammography and Breast Imaging: Just the Facts by Olive Peart, "Over 90 percent of women who develop breast cancer have no family history of the disease."

Understanding Early Stage Breast Cancer

Once a tumor is detected in the breast, it is advisable to seek medical assistance as early as possible. The soonest medical intervention occurs, the greater the chances of having the cancer removed from the area and for the patient to start recovering or obtain further medical assistance. The moment the tumor is detected is known as the early stage of breast cancer. Understanding the early stage of breast cancer can help a patient to feel more at ease about receiving treatment.

Early stage breast cancer has four stages: Stage I, II (A or B), III (A, B, or C) or IV. The size of the tumor and whether or not the cancer has spread is what determines the category of the cancer. Not all stages of the tumor are considered "early-stage." The only ones which are "early-stage" are Stages I, IIA, IIB and IIIA.

There are no other unique characteristics associated with the tumor which will designate which stage it is. Only the size and its capacity for spreading are what result in the type of stage it is classified as.

Treatment for early-stage breast cancer usually involves surgery. The surgical procedures used for early-stage breast cancer are as follows:

The first type of surgery is called "breast-sparing surgery." In other words, a surgical procedure in which all or most of the breast is spared from removal. The surgeon will either remove the tumor and surrounding tissue involved (perform a "lumpectomy") or remove a part of the breast that includes the tumor (perform a "partial mastectomy"). Usually, with this type of surgery, some lymph nodes from under the arm will also be removed. This type of surgery is also known as "breast-conserving surgery." The affected breast may look exactly the same or mostly the same following this type of surgery. After breast-sparing surgery, the patient normally undergoes radiation therapy.

The second type of surgery is called a "mastectomy." There are two types of mastectomies: "Simple" or "total" mastectomy, and "modified radical mastectomy." The simple or total mastectomy involves removing the entire breast and possibly some lymph nodes located under the arm. With modified radical mastectomy, the entire breast is removed as well as some lymph nodes under the arm, the lining over the chest muscles and possibly part of the chest wall muscles.

The reason for removal of lymph nodes is to help the treating doctors detect if the cancer is spreading. If they detect cancer in the removed lymph nodes, they may need to remove more in order to prevent the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body (to metastasize). From here, the patient may or may not be advised to receive adjuvant therapy, depending on the results.


Reference: Early Stage Breast Cancer Frequently Asked Questions

Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser and drawing

The Web site Temptalia.com is holding a Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser for October. Last year, they were able to raise $1,180 to go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. This year, they hope to raise $2,000, which will go to The Breast Cancer Research Fund.

To encourage donations from visitors, for every $5 donated, you will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a variety of make-up and beauty products. There will be eight winners total.

To find out more, visit their site:
Breast Cancer Awareness 2009 Fundraiser