First I want to say ‘thanks for the hugs’. I received several emails and virtual hugs after my post yesterday. I really appreciate the support – and often when I get into one of my down moods, I just need a little encouragement. I know that I tend to ‘catastrophize’ – that is, to imagine…
I have given myself permission to go into surgery kicking and screaming. I’m OK with not being calm and collected when I get rolled into surgery. It is natural to not want to deal with it. But, what has got me scared today? I went for a bike ride and the exercise seem to make…
[Update: Several people recommend the following website for a list of Environmentally friendly / chemical friendly sunscreens: http://www.ewg.org/2014sunscreen/best-sunscreens/best-beach-sport-sunscreens/] So, I have a question. The folks as Breast Cancer Fund have indicated that some of the chemicals used in sunscreens are endocrine disruptors and are therefore bad. The article on harmful chemicals is here: Sunscreens (UV Filters).…
So this morning I found myself busy. My brain is in overdrive from a thinking perspective, but I do not have the time to get everything done that I want to do. I cannot keep up with everything on my to do list. Part of this is trying to get all of the errands I…
[Free Webinar Wednesday, Sept 17, 9am PDT, noon EDT on chemo brain – http://www.lbbc.org/Events/2014-09-17-Chemobrain] A great blog post by Anne Boyer crossed my twitter stream today. In it she talks about her experience with chemo brain after her first cycle of AC chemo. I encourage you to read her post before continuing with this one, as…
Today was a busy day up at Stanford. I had an oncology appointment, chemo infusion, and then a workshop on make-up (sponsored by Look good feel better). I’ll talk about the first two here, and the latter in a separate blog post. The good news from the oncology appointment is that the thing my oncologist felt…
When I don’t blog, please don’t worry. Take a look at rjh.goingeast.ca to see if I’m blogging over there (I have been writing about patient engagement more generically on my academic blog). I am touched that so many people are reading my blog – and that they worry when I don’t write. Writing everyday is…
It is with mixed feelings that I read about breast cancer prevention. It is not that I want anyone to get breast cancer, I would not wish that on anyone. It is just that when I read about prevention, I enter that world of regret. I start running through the if onlys… …if only I had…
I found it interesting the other day, walking with new friends, that they had never heard of Terry Fox. As a Canadian, we are taught about Terry Fox’s worldwide legacy, so I somehow expected that those affected by Breast Cancer (and activists within the breast cancer community) would have at least heard of him. Terry…
I was fine this morning. I woke up feeling pretty good, but have since experienced a cognitive decline. I did get out to run a few errands, which involved driving. I was fine when I first set out, but not doing too well by the time I got home about 90-minutes later. After my bike…
