I Keep Forgetting To Blog
I mean to. It really helps me cope with life. I will say the road to hell is paved with good intentions.... so maybe I am on the way to hell in a handbasket.But anyway, there is a lot going on in my life right now but I am not ready to talk about it yet. I will, when I am ready. Its not my story to tell either. I will eventually get to it.My biggest distraction in life right now is that it is gardening season. My abilities to garden are very limited but its one of the things that I really enjoy. I can ' t did things up, move anything heavy or even garden for very long.This year, my husband built me a massive raised bed gar...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - May 23, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: blogging distractions gardening Source Type: blogs
New News on Lymphedema
Lymphedema has long been known as a life long complication from breast cancer surgery.I am not a doctor but here is my understanding of lymphedema: the lymph system is a second system in your body connecting hundreds of lymph nodes which help clean out your body and heal injuries or diseases. When you have surgery the lymph system is often impaired because it does not heal and reconnect after. If the lymph system is unconnected to the rest, you can end up with swollen body parts, or lymphedema.After breast cancer if a bunch of nodes are removed under your arm as with an axillary node dissection, you can end up with problem...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - May 20, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: lymph nodes lymphedema risks Source Type: blogs
Those Nasty Complications
I often wonder in cancer treatment, which is worse - treatment or complications? I think complications win that one. To me complications mean more doctor visits, more drugs, more expense, more whininess, and less happy results.In recent years, we have had the whats-her-name effect (this is what happens when you blog too early in the day) where women are getting bilateral and unilateral mastectomies at higher rates than in the past. There is no real proof that mastectomies are better than lumpectomies with radiation for early stage breast cancer but many women opt for them anyway.But there is a problem. New research (becaus...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - May 19, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: breast cancer treatment doctor appointments medical complications medical costs side effects Source Type: blogs
A Well Explained Reason for Ditching the S-Word
I hate the S-word. I am not an s-word. I am a person living with cancer. Its always just bugged me. A lot. I hate the fact that ACS designates anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer as an s-word.But finally I found someone who really explains it well as to why you should ditch the s-word. I was catching up and finally reading a copy of Readers Digest from last September and came across an article called "Don ' t Call me a Cancer Survivor" . The author is a hospital chaplain for the last three decades or so and was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005. With her diagnosis she learned a lot." One surprising thing I found w...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - May 17, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: cancer diagnosis labels quality of life s-word Source Type: blogs
Ignore the Statistics
Once again I have been faced with explaining that a 3% death rate does equal a 97% survival rate. Often cancer patients are given numbers which they do not understand and they focus on the bad part.First of all, you are not a number, you are a human being.Second, numbers are generalizations.Third, numbers should be ignored.Finally, if you must look at numbers look at the positive side of them. Its not a 5% death rate, its a 95% survival rate. That sounds much better.Sheesh.... (Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog)
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - May 16, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: cancer rates numbers Source Type: blogs
Declining Health Abilities
Yesterday, a friend and I went to the NH Sheep and Wool Festival. We are knitters,weavers, etc and bona fide yarn junkies so it was the perfect trip. However, we got exhausted. We even went and napped in the car in the afternoon so we could make it to the events we wanted to see.On the way up, we talked about our declining parent ' s health. Her father is in his early 90s, my parents are in their late 80s. All of them have physically declined over the years, as would be expected for their age, but mentally are going fine.This morning the two of us feel beat up and are exhausted after yesterday ' s walking and sitting. And ...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - May 14, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: aging health issues physical abilities unhealthiness Source Type: blogs
Losing Track of Time
I haven ' t worked really in a year and a half. I have no reason to watch the clock very much - except for doctor appointments. I never look at a calendar. I have to think to figure out what day of the week it is - and am often wrong.I completely lose track of time.I was talking to a friend yesterday and she said that her problem she couldn ' t remember anything. I never can remember anything either but I find losing time is more important. Priorities I guess.This also causes me to forget to blog.Maybe I should try wearing a watch again. But I can ' t because of lymphedema and RA. (Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog)
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - May 10, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: blogging memory time Source Type: blogs
Taking Charge of My Medical Crap - Again
I try to be in charge of my medical care. I really do. I take notes at appointments and I write little notes to myself in my calendar on things to ask my doctors at each visit. I am not sure if I am weird for doing this or not but I have no brain so I can ' t remember anything.In recent months, I have a new pain management doctor who has been very good at talking to me about different pain medications and what are options. I am very happy with this. Basically he is helping me switch to new medications to replace the ones that I have with ones that work better - fewer side effects, reducing the number of medications I am on...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - May 7, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: doctor questions health issues medical crap organization Source Type: blogs
A Rerun: Helping People With Cancer
I know this is a popular subject with people with cancer - how and how not to help them. Some people are idiots. I can tell you story after story about ones I have met along the way.You aren ' t going to get cancer by mentioning the word ' cancer ' . Seriously? Its an ugly word but its not an obscenity that will cause someone to pass out. You can ' t ignore the elephant in the room. Ask how their treatment is going, how they are feeling (but not that vague, polite ' how are you today? ' bullshit). Never tell them about your cousin ' s neighbor ' s dog walker ' s hair dresser ' s sister ' s cancer treatment. You are no...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - May 6, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: being a patient cancer death humor idiots Source Type: blogs
This is How Tired I Am
This morning I slept through my husband ' s alarm. I heard him shower and thought he was a taking a late night shower before bed. I did get out of bed for a minute and got a cup of coffee to sip while in bed. I woke up to a cold cup of coffee two hours later. It has taken me another two hours to get out of bed to my computer.The problem is I need to leave here in another two hours and be alive enough to go to the gym and then a doctor appointment before driving home in a torrential rainstorm. I can ' t wait.But I get to sleep late again tomorrow.This is fatigue for me. I get so tired that I can ' t function. The reason i g...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - May 5, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: fatigue lack of sleep Source Type: blogs
I Need A Nap
I am so tired these days. I haven ' t been getting enough sleep. I have been doing too much. Now that is not new but we did go away for the weekend and I have been busy all week with a bunch of things. These have involved getting up early in the morning which I am not good at any more.This fatigue reminds me why I no longer am working and trying to get SS Disability for the past year. But all I know right now is I need a nap but I need to cook dinner and tomorrow I get to pick up my father at 7 am, meaning I have to leave here at 630 - not my favorite time of the day. I think I will take a nap when I get home.Grrr.... (Sou...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - May 3, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: fatigue frustration naps Source Type: blogs
Finding Good Medical Resources
This always amazes me. People get diagnosed with a medical ailment and then don ' t use the good medical resources available. If you need medical information, you need to do a little research to find the resources.A good patient takes time to learn about any significant medical ailment so they better understand their health. If you are educated you will be less stressed and potentially handle your ailment better. You really do not want to just jump on the internet and google your ailment. That is the worst thing to do.A good first step is to ask your doctor who diagnosed you on where you can get good information. Its their...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - May 2, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: ailments medical research stress Source Type: blogs
Taking A Break
It was our anniversary - marriage, not cancer - so we went away for a long weekend to the beach. In Maine. In April. It was 70 something degrees on Saturday - which is a heat wave there. (One of the weather people on TV said it took him a while to adjust to 80 degrees.) The hotel filled up overnight as a result. This is where we were:We really needed a few days off to ourselves. Honestly I think its important to spend time together as a couple without distractions. For a good relationship, you need to work on it. You can ' t expect a happy relationship if you ignore it. We have another trip planned in about three months to...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - May 1, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: beach being healthy Source Type: blogs
Biting My Tongue (Or Letting Others Learn By Themselves)
At one ' s first cancer diagnosis, you arewelcomed shoved into Cancerland, where no one wants to be. You learn about your cancer and probably a fair bit about cancer in general. Eventually you go on to learn more about cancer than you ever cared to know.You get to the point where you can talk about cancer and its treatment and have a general idea of cancer treatment hell. You also understand staging and what different stages mean. You never wanted to know all this but you do and you can ' t deny it.Then someone else you know is diagnosed with cancer. Do you tell them everything you know about cancer? Or, do you bite your t...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - April 28, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: cancer diagnosis cancer support care giving learning Source Type: blogs
You Can't Put A Big Bow On A Cancer Diagnosis
When acancer treatment commercial airs, the people are happy and smiling. The drug or medical center promises they will cure you and you will be back to yourself soon. They want you to believe that they will make it all better.They are full of bullshit." Patients and families are bombarded with the news that the country is winning the war against cancer. The news media hypes research results to attract readers. Drug companies promise " a chance to live longer " to boost sales. Hospitals woo paying customers with ads that appeal to patients ' fears and hopes." I ' m starting to hear more and more t...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - April 27, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: advertising cancer treatment hype lies Source Type: blogs
