Breast Cancer
I wasn't expecting my 42nd birthday present to be a breast cancer diagnosis. My abnormal mammogram turned out to be early stage Breast Cancer. I was diagnosed with Stage 0 DCIS in the fall of 2019. Here are my posts about my journey with Breast Cancer from diagnosis, treatment, surgery, and recovery.
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My Two Favorite Lumpectomy Recovery Bras
After my lumpectomies, I wore a bra all day and night for the first few weeks of my recovery. I needed comfortable bras that were easy to put on. I tried many bras and am excited to share my two favorites in this post.
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DIEP Flap Insurance Coverage at Risk: Urgent Advocacy Issue
Insurance coverage for DIEP flap reconstruction is in danger because of a CMS coding change. Take action today to advocate for our options. Together we can make a difference.
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My Dirty Shower Was Yelling at Me- So I Fired (Promoted) Myself and Shut It Up
Every time I got in the shower, it yelled at me. The scum on the tiles, the grime in the grout lines, and the water spots on the door spoke words of worthlessness. “You’re not good enough. You don’t deserve to have a clean shower. You’re a terrible housecleaner.” I would close my eyes, breathe in the rose-scented soap, and…
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How to Create a Comfortable, Cozy, and Chic Surgery Recovery Wardrobe
Before my surgery, I spent some time creating a comfortable, cozy, and chic recovery wardrobe. I wanted options that would be soft, easy to put on, and loose-fitting for extra comfort. I thought I’d share my recovery wardrobe choices here with you, and perhaps they can inspire you to create your own collection.
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HealthGrades Post – Breast Cancer: The Size of Our Cancer Doesn’t Equal the Size of Our Support Needs
My breast cancer was caught early, while it was still non-invasive. It was so small that I initially thought it wouldn’t affect my life too significantly. Read more and get the full link to HealthGrades in the post
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HealthGrades Post: Breast Cancer- A Life Pivot I Wasn’t Expecting
I sat in the exam room with a flimsy paper gown on, swinging my legs in nervous anticipation. Today was the day I would get my results. After an abnormal mammogram, more imaging, and then a biopsy, the wait was over. Did I have cancer? #sponsored
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From An Inconclusive Biopsy to a Lumpectomy
After an inconclusive biopsy result, it was time to meet with my surgeon to discuss the pending lumpectomy. Surgery is soon!
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An Inconclusive Biopsy: More In-Between Ahead
I’ve had many biopsies over the years. They have all been able to definitively tell whether the finding is cancer or not. I was expecting that same clarity after this latest biopsy. I was completely unprepared to hear that the results were inconclusive.
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Cancer Survivorship: Living in the In-Between
When I finished breast cancer treatment, I eagerly awaited the time that I could move back into the normal phase of my life. Treatment was done, and now everything could fall back into place. But, it turns out, there isn’t a back to normal. Cancer survivorship, for me, means learning to live in the in-between.
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Recovery is a Process, Not an Event
Recovery from cancer or a significant injury isn’t an event. We don’t wake up one day and feel completely recovered. Recovery is a process, not an event.