I had just one question for the doctor: Is this normal?
I’ve been cancer-free for two years, but I still go to The James every three months for a check-up. Yesterday was the day.
I sat in the white, sterile exam room in a chair eye-level with my medical oncologist. Everything in the room looked clinical and uncaring, except for her eyes.
Her ... Read More
What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you ... Read More
So a funny thing happened after I had breast cancer. My daughter’s little “Let’s help Mom” sewing project exploded into something that none of us could have ever asked for or imagined.
Let’s recap.
May 2015: Diagnosed with Stage 2 Lobular Invasive Carcinoma (breast cancer).
July 2015: Single mastectomy.
August 2015: Doctor declares me “Cancer free”; Puts me on Tamoxifen for ten years ... Read More
I’m sure this article has nothing to do with you. It’s about difficult people. You might want to keep reading though, because you probably know a few folks in your life who fit the description.
A difficult person is someone who constantly seems to give their opinion— loudly— even when you haven’t asked for it; someone who has to complain about ... Read More
2018. That’s the date (or at least year) set in my mind for the release of my new breast cancer book. This is the book that shows what the process of reconstruction looks like on a real woman’s body — my body.
But I am only one. One voice, one body, one choice of the many reconstruction options. That’s why I ... Read More
I would never take a stroll with an artist through his studio and start judging his work.
Can you imagine? Walking along and commenting to the one who created each canvas, saying, “Oh, that one is lovely… but that one really sucks… I love the colors you used in this one… but man that one is stupid.”
We wouldn’t do that, right?
And ... Read More
Apparently there is this thing in Southeastern Ohio where you leave an extremely large zucchini on someone’s porch or in their car.
I’m not sure if the vegetable is left because the mystery giver is a friend or foe. That’s still sort of unclear. It’s kind of like back in high school, when I was never quite certain if it was ... Read More
A car crashes into a crowd of people standing up against white nationalist protesters.
What’s your first reaction?
Do you lash out in a flurry of hateful words over social media, adding more negativity to the situation?
Do you hide under a blanket on your couch, binge-watching Netflix so you don’t have to risk seeing more bad news?
Do you go about your daily ... Read More
I’d like you to meet Ann. Ann is a professional photographer. She took all the photos of my bare chest during reconstruction for my upcoming breast cancer book. She’s used to seeing me naked. That’s why she has no problem walking into my house while I’m still in my pajamas, and I have no problem letting her.
Besides being a rockstar ... Read More
I’m a project starter. How about you?
A project starter is a person who gets all excited about cleaning her closet. She throws everything onto the bed and sorts through it by making three piles (give, save, toss).
She puts the “give” and “toss” into black garbage bags, then walks out of the room because she decides she is hungry.
Several hours later, ... Read More
