the latest
I wrote this in the form of a letter a few days ago. Doing so has been a huge relief to me. I know that it's not the same for everyone but expressing myself in this way has been both calming and freeing.I have sent it already to family and to friends with whom I have been speaking. It helps a lot because we can start the discussion from here and I don't need to explain from the beginning each time. Or not talk about this stuff at all, in the knowledge that they know. It works for me.You should also know that I learned all this on March 4th (and suspected before because of the symptoms I was having). The news was worse...
Source: Not just about cancer - March 23, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: brain metastasis breast cancer cancer blog chronic illness cyber knife radiation travel Source Type: blogs
good things
Time for another one! What would yours be?In random order, the things that make me happy these days:Lynn Miles.Billy Bragg.Tea.Thinking about Canadian travel.Colours.Massage and reflexology.My friends and chosen family (and that includes lots of real family).My sister (because that bears repeating).Dark humour.Dog faces.Tim (for 25 years this month. Over half my life).My brain (ironically, I know).Spring.If you are reading this post on a site other than Not Just About Cancer (besides Facebook or a feed reader), you are reading stolen content. (Source: Not just about cancer)
Source: Not just about cancer - March 21, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: community complementary treatment good stuff my friends my love Source Type: blogs
Cyber Knife is radiation (and other news)
First of all, thanks to you all for giving me all this space. It has meant a lot to me.I'm ready for questions now and to talk about it but first I have to have lunch and then go to Cyber Knife radiation.The name is confusing but it's radiation that can be done differently than whole brain (which is generally only done once). Each new tumour can be targeted directly in one to a few days and you can keep going for quite a while. It's newish technology so no one is certain what that means.My first brain tumour (in November 2012) was treated with conventional surgery, followed two months later with radiation. We did the same ...
Source: Not just about cancer - March 15, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: blogs
at least i know what to expect on the table
I have a new tumour.I will be doing Cyber Knife some time soon. I don't have a date yet but I'm not worried about that. They are on it.Both my oncologists (radiation and medical) are not just good and smart but they really care what happens to me.I have had a few days to take this in but have had some other (non blog related and not my story to tell) things on my mind. I have been feeling bad that I haven't explained here but I am letting that go.Know that I am doing OK. We are doing OK. I just need a few days to rest, sleep (which I have not been doing for more than a couple of hours a night) and take care of myself.Pleas...
Source: Not just about cancer - March 7, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: brain metastasis breast cancer cancer blog cyber knife Source Type: blogs
inconclusive
Today's appointment did not work out as I had hoped, in that there weren't a lot of answers.I was kind of hoping that I'd go in today, get the results from my test and talk about a plan of action for whatever is coming next.It didn't work out that way.I first saw a doctor who works with the oncologists. It wasn't my usual doctor and he had to be brought up to speed on where things are at with me. He was very thorough and very nice but I really wanted to feel like they were on top of things.He had my CT scan and the attached report. There is still a spot on my liver and it's possible that it's a tiny bit bigger but they rea...
Source: Not just about cancer - February 17, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: BlogDay2007 brain metastasis breast cancer cancer blog CT scan cyber knife metastatic pissed off travel Source Type: blogs
seriously.
If you are reading this post on a site other than Not Just About Cancer (besides Facebook or a feed reader), you are reading stolen content. (Source: Not just about cancer)
Source: Not just about cancer - February 10, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: blogs
Be. Here. Now. (an update)
I just had a bath to help me relax. I plopped a bath cube in the water and immediately started to worry that it was the last one and that I needed to make time to get more."Be. Here. Now."Then my phone alarm went off to remind me to take the supplements that I have been forgetting. I had to get Tim to come and switch it off, so that I didn't have to climb out of the hot water. He took the phone right out of the bathroom when he left."Be. Here. Now."There is a lot of uncertainty in my life right now. I still haven't had the MRI that will tell me if the Cyber Knife radiation I had in December got rid of the tumours. Mea...
Source: Not just about cancer - February 8, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: blogs
patience
I am being taught a lesson in patience. I finished the last of my radiation on December 7. They told me it would be two to three weeks before I feel like myself again. It's only been 11 days but I feel so frustrated that I still can't do much, especially at a time of year when so much is happening and there is so much to be done.I am definitely on the mend and have felt that way for the last few days. It's nice to have a bit of energy but I have learned that it goes suddenly. I can go out to do an errand and before I am done, I can barely make it back to the car. I need to be more patient with myself.The ear ache and ...
Source: Not just about cancer - December 18, 2015 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: brain metastasis breast cancer cancer blog chronic illness cyber knife fear metastatic radiation show and tell Source Type: blogs
the wisdom of my therapist
I've been seeing a therapist for a couple of years and, at this point, she knows me really well. I honestly don't know how I would have lived through the last couple of years without her and only wish I had started working with her sooner.I've been thinking of some of the things that I have learned from her.Patients who advocate for themselves have better outcomes. My therapist used to work in a hospital and this is something she learned then. I find it very comforting, especially as I make call after call to make sure I get the information I need to know how I am being treated and why. I feel so much better when I know wh...
Source: Not just about cancer - November 30, 2015 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: conversations good stuff show and tell things i do for my health Source Type: blogs
the latest developments in the brain of Laurie K
I have been planning for ages to return to writing in this space and feeling a bit guilty about it. I've just been really busy with other writing, volunteering, having fun and getting healthy.Ironically, what brings me back is a return of the cancer in my brain. The letter below is an edited version of one I sent out via email earlier this week. I am happy to have this blog. I just wish I had different news to share at this time.Dear friends and family,My last MRI revealed two new tumours in my brain. Both are the same area as before - the cerebellum. One is in my inner auditory canal and the other is in the cerebellu...
Source: Not just about cancer - November 27, 2015 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: brain metastasis breast cancer cancer blog chemotherapy chronic illness community conversations cyber knife metastatic my friends my kids my love news pissed off remission Source Type: blogs
i'm aware. are you?
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Source: Not just about cancer - October 14, 2015 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: activism breast cancer cancer blog chronic illness community don ' t buy pink crap herceptin lucky metastatic pissed off rants show and tell Source Type: blogs
i'm aware. are you?
Circulating on Facebook, posted by the late Lisa Bonchek AdamsYesterday was Metastic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. This is official in the United States but not in Canada. I should have written about this yesterday but I was busy getting treatment, which I do every 4 weeks and will continue to do until it stops working. Despite a liver that once had "more tumours than you can count" and two brain malignant brain tumours, I have been very, very lucky. As per the graphic above, the median survival of someone with a diagnoses of metastasis is three years. It has been almost 10 years since my original diagnoses and 9 ...
Source: Not just about cancer - October 14, 2015 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: activism breast cancer cancer blog chronic illness community don ' t buy pink crap herceptin lucky metastatic pissed off rants show and tell Source Type: blogs
the myth of early detection
This article does it well. The greatest myth serving the early detection belief system is that breast cancer is a single, homogeneous disease that always behaves in the same way, progressing from early to late to lethal (stage 0, 1, 2, 3, 4). From this linear perspective, catching breast cancer "early" suggests that the cancer can be nipped in the bud, stopped in its tracks, prevented from progressing to a lethal stage. A cancer stage, however, is not a point in a definite progression.If you are reading this post on a site other than Not Just About Cancer (besides Facebook or a feed reader), you are reading ...
Source: Not just about cancer - October 8, 2015 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: activism breast cancer cancer blog chronic illness conversations don ' t buy pink crap good stuff health care metastatic pissed off rants show and tell Source Type: blogs
it's october!
< span style= " font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; " > I ' m fine and I know I owe an update but I could ' t let this month pass without sharing some the best that ' s out there when it comes to writing about pink ribbons. < /span > < br / > < span style= " font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; " > < br / > < /span > < span style= " font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; " > To begin, < a href= " http://thinkbeforeyoupink.org/2015/09/member-perspective-a-call-to-think-before-you-pink/ " target= " _blank " > here ' s one from Breast Cancer Action < /a > (thanks to < a href= " http://katebreastcancer.blog...
Source: Not just about cancer - October 1, 2015 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: activism breast cancer don ' t buy pink crap good stuff Source Type: blogs
it's october!
I'm fine and I know I owe an update but I could't let this month pass without sharing some the best that's out there when it comes to writing about pink ribbons.To begin, here's one from Breast Cancer Action (thanks to Kate for drawing my attention to this one).The post is by Jeanette Koncikowski. Here's an excerpt. "When I start talking about my concerns about the pink ribbon, people often ask me what my problem is (not in that seriously inquisitive kinda way, but in the seriously, you are taking issue with THIS?! kinda way). They equate questioning this symbol with a lack of support for women living with a...
Source: Not just about cancer - October 1, 2015 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: activism breast cancer don ' t buy pink crap good stuff Source Type: blogs
