Happy Halloween!
Today is Halloween. But we will not have trick or treaters until Friday night. Significant portions of the town do not have power and there are still trees downed all over the place.We had a little storm on Sunday night with wind gusts here to around 50 mph but other places on the coast in the 80-90 mph. A little hurricane came up the east coast and joined up with another front moving east across the country. Their little party was slammed by a Canadian cold front which turned into a massive storm. We got 5 " (just think if that was snow) of rain. So no trick or treating for safety ' s sake for a few days. (But I think all...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - October 31, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: ailments appearances being a patient cancer awareness Halloween Source Type: blogs
Frustrated
I am very frustrated right now. I am incredibly limited by my health normally and now I add in my knee that I am not supposed to be fully weight bearing or bend more than 90 degrees and the fact that I can ' t drive. Yesterday I really overdid things with my knee.I am not supposed to bend my knee more than 90 degrees. I have a big (ugly, uncomfortable, awkward) brace to keep my leg straight that I no longer have to wear at home. I have smaller soft braces that are supposed to keep my knee straight but are much more comfortable to wear. It does make it easier on me. But doesn ' t protect my knee quite as much.Yesterday morn...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - October 30, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: frustration knee pain knee surgery Source Type: blogs
I Did It Again
Yes, I did it again. I over did things. I have to recover by spending a day in bed. I have lots of yarn to knit. I have an ice pack for my knee. I did some of my exercises. And I do plan to get up and take a shower eventually. But I have no plans to do much else today.We have a house guest again, one of my cousins. Yesterday we did what both of us consider to be fun. We went to an estate sale which had some craft materials and the New England Quilt Museum (worth a stop if you are near). My cousin quilts and I am a craft junkie who is about to add quilting to my repertoire. It was very nice to get out of the house and do so...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - October 28, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: aches foot pain knee pain knee surgery resting Source Type: blogs
Cautiously Optimistic
I have a bit of optimism today. Nearly two years ago I stopped working because it was too tiring for me. I fell asleep at my desk a couple of times and would frequently struggle to stay alert on the way home after a long four hour work day.Pain isn ' t my enemy. Pain can be controlled. Fatigue can not be controlled. Its not that I need to nap every day. But I need to rest every day. I can ' t stand for any length of time or my back hurts. I need my rest. Call me a wimp but that ' s what it is.I applied for Social Security Disability in the spring of 2016. I have been denied twice so I had a hearing in front of a judge yest...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - October 26, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: disability optimism Source Type: blogs
Is There Less Pinkification This Year
A week or so ago, I watched an NFL game and decided that something was wrong. It was october and players did not have pink shoes and pink towels. Then I have seen a lot fewer pink events. I haven ' t been out much because of my stupid knee, but I just feel like there is less pink around.This makes me happy. I would love to go back to the month formerly known as October and see orange and brown again, lots of carved pumpkins and zero pink ribbons. I don ' t need to have pink everything. And this is the first October in many years that it has not been covered in pink.What is wrong? Is the country burned out of pink stuff as ...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - October 24, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: pink washing pinkification pinktober Source Type: blogs
I Need A Day In Bed
I am exhausted. I have been too busy. I can ' t keep up with my last few days.My husband came home from his business trip on Thursday night late. I stayed up to wait for him so I didn ' t get enough sleep. Friday he took the day off and we went to the grocery store, the library, PT, and more. Friday night my brother and his girlfriend showed up - after I went to bed so I got up and talked to them for a bit. Saturday I had a craft show and we left the house at 7am. I wasn ' t home until 530 and then we went to my parents for dinner. Sunday I had a craft show and we left the house at 8am. I got home at 5pm. Then we went out ...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - October 23, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: fatigue guests naps resting Source Type: blogs
Being A Bad Patient Vs. Being A Rude Patient
There is a vast difference from being a bad patient as opposed to being a rude patient. Yes I know often when we go to the doctor we are not feeling are best and are probably prone to over reactions and stress. But there is no reason to be rude.So I was appalled when I readthis article on the amount of the abuse faced by doctors. Medical doctors have studied for many years. They know what they are doing. They are professionals who are trained to take care of people. They are human beings, just like you or me. So there is no reason to be rude to them." A wide-rangingsurvey of more than 800 U.S. physicians, conducted byWebMD...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - October 20, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: abuse discrimination doctors emotional toll patients Source Type: blogs
Self-Imposed Isolation
I have spent the past few days basically by myself as my husband has been on a business trip. Yesterday I didn ' t even talk on the phone all day. I did talk to my husband in the morning and the evening. I also chatted with my neighbor and her two little boys between my front steps and the street. The day before I talked to my parents, sister, neighbor, and husband on the phone. In between there I have cancelled and made doctor appointments and talked to my attorney about my disability claim. Otherwise, the TV has been on the background to provide some noise as I have stayed by myself.This is the most time I have spent by ...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - October 19, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: isolation knitting quiet time Source Type: blogs
A Sort of Medical Vacation
I can ' t drive for the next three weeks - until November 8. I was concerned about all the doctor appointments I booked for myself after this week ' s surgery follow up when I thought I would be given permission to drive again.Then I got a bright idea. I am going to take a ' medical vacation ' and not go to the doctor until after my next surgical follow up. I mean why not? A mental medical vacation is a great thing to do several times a year. I was talking to a friend who ' s husband had gone through colon cancer. She talked about having a week off as being a sorely wanted break. I want three weeks off. Because I am whiney...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - October 18, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: doctor appointments stress vacation Source Type: blogs
Eek! Hair Dye Causes Breast Cancer!
How many women color their hair? I think most of my friends do. I don ' t and I am unusual among the women I know.But, brace yourselves, the news is now going to be filled with the warning that coloring your hair with anything but natural dyes will cause breast cancer and you will die very quickly. Why?Because a researcher in the UK said so:" Frequently dying your hair has been linked to an increased risk of developing breast cancer.According to a study by London surgeon Kefah Mokbel, women who colour their hair have a 14 per cent rise in rates of breast cancer.Professor Mokbel, who works at the Princess Grace Hospital in ...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - October 17, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: breast cancer cancer cause hype scare Source Type: blogs
The Good Breast Cancer Charities
As you are asked to ' pink ' all through October, you are advised to give to the good charities and skip the pink crap.Charities are rated by Charity Navigator and Charity Watch. These two organizations list the following as the ' good ' ones to give to:Charity WatchBreast Cancer Research Foundation - a grade of A+, 90% of their funds go to programs (not overhead), and it costs them $7 to raise $100.National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund - A, 83%, $13Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (Formerly Breast Cancer Fund) - A-, 77%, $13Also recommended:Cancer Research InstituteMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterPrevent Cance...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - October 16, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: donating organization pinkification Source Type: blogs
Health Caused Limitatons
Over the years we all accumulate our health caused limitations. I have just a few. Due to thyroid cancer, I have no thyroid and am dependent on a daily pill for the rest of my life. And with any decongestant I have to ask the pharmacist if I can take them because they often say do not take if you have ' thyroid disease ' so I need to clarify.Breast cancer left with left arm lymphedema so no shots, blood pressure cuffs, IVs, or any pressure on my left arm. So when I had surgery last week, I had an IV on my right wrist and a blood pressure cuff above it.I also have two bad knees, a bad back, bursitis in my hips, etc that try...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - October 15, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: aggravation being a patient frustration limitations Source Type: blogs
Recuperating (Or Being A Bad Patient)
I am recuperating from my surgery. It has been 8 days now. I am starting to get to the annoyed stage. The seriously annoyed stage.First of all, I am stuck wearing this dumba$$ knee brace which does not fit. It is too big for me. I can ' t tighten the lowest strap to be useful. If I am wearing anything underneath it (including the TED compression stocking I am supposed to wear every day for the next three weeks - which is not happening), it just slides down my leg. So I am stuck wearing shorts. Today is a little chilly for shorts but that ' s why I have sweaters. I am supposed to wear it 24/7 except when showering.Second, I...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - October 13, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: behavior being a patient boring cooking knee surgery Source Type: blogs
The Importance of Learning About Your Health
Can you answer these three questions from the Brief Health Literacy Screen (BHLS): How confident are you in filling out medical forms on your own?; How often do you have someone help you read hospital materials?;How often do you have problems learning about your medical condition because of difficulty understanding written information?They appear simple. Many people I think would say Very, Never, and Never. But then if you add in the complication of not knowing English very well, a lower level of education, or just being sick and not clear headed at the time, those could change easily to: Not at all, Often, and F...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - October 12, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: education hospital knowledge learning medical care Source Type: blogs
Tumor Size Doesn't Matter
This study shows that it ' s not only tumor size that is important for breast cancer patients but also tumor biology. All tumors in the study were small - less than 1 cm - and the lymph nodes were free of cancer (node negative), which in principle should be a signal of good prognosis. But nearly one in four patients - those identified as genomic high risk - derived benefit from chemotherapy. " "" " Small node negative tumors can be very aggressive, even if they are classified as clinical low risk, " said de Azambuja. " Tumor biology needs to be taken into account when deciding adjuvant treatments in this patient population...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - October 11, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: breast cancer treatment cancer research tumor Source Type: blogs
