#c4yw Page Above!

I put links from some of last years articles all on one page...if you want to take a look!

The good kind of pressure

I still remember how crazy tired I was during rads. This article talks about a study that says acupressure could be helpful.

http://news.msu.edu/story/8968/

Former beauty queen puts breast cancer in focus

Here is an interesting story out of Venezuela. A former beauty queen and news anchor and her photographer husband have written a book chronicling her breast cancer journey. Apparently it's a hit and has really increased the number of women who are seeking screening.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/02/21/venezuelan-beauty-queen-shocks-nation-bald-truth-cancer-battle/ 

"Coronation Street" actress fights cancer along with her character

Can you imagine having to play the role of a breast cancer patient while you are one?

http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2011/02/20/coronation-street-star-sally-dynevor-on-beating-cancer-and-ditching-her-wig-115875-22935030/

Pain management in breast cancer patients or "My dark night of the soul"

Another great post from Hollye.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hollye-harrington-jacobs/breast-cancer-and-surgery_b_823821.html

I too had terrible pain management in the hospital. In the AM when the surgeons made rounds I was on the drip. It was all good.

Then after having the IV removed it all went to hell. I called and pushed buttons. No help.

I called my surgeon's office sobbing. I waited agonizing hours for the doctor who had more important cases. Exciting surgeries. Why worry about some boring breast cancer patient.

I suspect they felt...oh it's just her breasts, no big deal.

So here is the only magic word I know.
Supervisor.
Page the supervisor.
In fact ask for the supervisor's name before you need it.

My worst memory is the first night at home.

I remember waiting all night, wondering if I would go to shock before 5 AM. I wondered if I would live.  I didn't want to wake up a surgeon in the middle of the night who would be operating the next day. Miraculously I fell asleep at 4 A.M. and woke, still alive at 7 A.M.

Why our pain is so disregarded I will never know. Ask your surgeon how your pain will be managed. Who to contact if the nurses do not do their job. Anne, the author of http://www.butdoctorihatepink.blogspot.com 
had a similar experience.

Enough is enough.

Image from maryvancenc.com

Study:lack of help for sex problems after breast cancer

http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/649939.html

Donna's Day

Today is the running of the 26.2 with Donna National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer.

I feel a personal connection to the event. Like myself, Donna Deegan is a news anchor, and ironically in the hours before my diagnosis I was even applying to work at her station.

I'm no marathoner, but the Jacksonville, Florida race does remind me that just one survivor can give hope to others.

This is an especially nice story from the local newspaper in Florida.

http://jacksonville.com/sports/local-sports/local-running/2011-02-12/story/hard-road-was-made-easier-262-donna

Image from Jacksonville.com

Tooth loss linked to breast cancer?

Interesting study from Europe links tooth loss to BC.
Any dentists out there in cyberland want to weigh in?
http://www.dentistry.co.uk/news/3671--Oral-health-Tooth-loss-link-to-breast-cancer#http://www.dentistry.co.uk/news/3671--Oral-health-Tooth-loss-link-to-breast-cancer#

The node knows

I knew this information was out there, but something about the front page of the NYT makes it real. It's hard not to look back and wonder how things might have been different for me.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/09/health/research/09breast.html

A bra that can detect breast cancer?

This sounds like something from the Bionic Woman!

According to a story from the Medill School of Journalism, researchers are trying to develop a bra that would use thermography to detect tumors or even tell how well chemotherapy would be working.

http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=177679

New chemo-brain study needs patients and control group

http://www.thehoya.com/news/chemo-brain-study-kicks-off-at-georgetown-s-cancer-center-1.1962610

Ouch!

Looks like some BC survivors could be at high risk for hip fracture.
Bummer!
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-02/nu-phf020111.php

Meet Hollye

There are all types of breast cancer bloggers out there, but every so often someone's voice just grabs me. It's usually a writer that I could enjoy on any topic, but they are in this darn cancer boat with me.
I loved this blog post by Hollye Harrington Jacobs. Enjoy!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hollye-harrington-jacobs/my-world-stopped-diagnosi_b_814507.html