Cancerversary #3

O.K. I am actually a day late on this which is perhaps some sort of progress, I actually mixed up what day my cancerversary falls on.

Just for laughs here is my post from the first year.

http://www.breastcancerloop.org/2010/09/happy-cancerversary-to-me.html

This time of year is such a time of transition, back to school, summer to fall, political conventions, hurricanes, the US Open, even the Zydeco festival in Opeselousas, Louisana.

So here is what I remember.

Somehow in my first two weeks as a cancer patient I made it to Louisiana, California, and the US Open in Queens.

I came back from the national SPJ Convention in Indy on Sunday, took a day to recover on Monday, and went for my follow-up mammogram on Tuesday, which turned out to also be an ultrasound and the "area of concer" bomb.

Biopsy Wednesday. Ouch!


Thursday I decided it was now or never on Louisana, booked a ticket, Flew to Louisiana  Friday, Danced my rear off and ate everything in sight Saturday, got home Sunday, no memories of Monday, cancer call first thing Tuesday.

Some poor radiologist, comes back from Labor Day weekend and gets the job of calling women to tell them they have cancer. That's gotta suck. How many times a day does he have to make that call?

Sorry, cancer cells in biopsy, you'll need a PET scan and MRI ASAP. Talk about upselling!

Somehow I made it out to the US Open that next week and I set off the nuclear radiation detectors following my PET scan.

I was running on adrenaline.

I went to a wedding in California that weekend, and due to rain delays even made it to the final to see Juan Martin del Potro win the men's championship over Roger Federer the next day.

It was a crazy, improbable victory, and at the time that is what I needed to see at the time. I remember a group of Argentines dancing for joy.

I realize this is sounding more like a moldy version of Tennis Magazine than a breast cancer blog, but here is the thing, I never go to the finals, too rich for my blood, but that year I went because I thought I might never have another chance.

Fortunately I did.

New York now has a breast density law

The radiologist didn't recognize my face, but I knew what would trigger her memory.

"Remember me, really dense breast tissue lady?"

She lit up with recognition.

Apparently I had some of the densest breast tissue this side of the Mississippi. Getting a wire in me was an exceptional ordeal.

I believe my surgeon said dealing with my breasts was like "sawing into concrete."

New York State now has a new law requiring mammogram patients to be told if they have dense tissue. The density can make mammograms less conclusive and indicate higher risk.

I know women who fought for this bill, one who believes she might not have metastatic disease had she  been warned.

It's a done deal.

http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/07/gov_cuomo_signs_legislation_to.html

Give Komen (or me) credit

Way back in April of '10 I wrote a post about the Komen/KFC kerfuffle.

http://www.breastcancerloop.org/2010/04/which-came-first-chicken-or-cure.html

I suggested the charity start looking for some partners who would get them positive PR, and create some good will with health-conscious survivors.

Specifically I mentioned getting busy on some cute pink ribbon wrappers for fresh produce.

Then today I saw this!

Good job. Were they reading this blog? I doubt it, but it's the right idea. Promotions that encourage healthy habits.

Transitions

I feel kind of ashamed I have not posted in more than a month.

I spent a remarkable evening with some of my favorite support group alums that I will talk about later.

One thing that came up is the shift in care as we begin to rack up the years post-diagnosis.

My radiation oncologist says she does not need to really see me any more.

A friend has been told she will be transitioned into the "survivor" program at her cancer center.

It's odd, just as we get used to the system, good at dealing with it, it's time for the next step.

For the past two years nearly all my vacation days have been for or surrounding medical appointments.

It was just the way it had to be, parts of our lives get pushed aside by cancer, now we have to find our way back.

This disease, if you are lucky, starts as a physical game, but shifts to a mental one.

When I am out in the civilian world sometimes I feel a little out of place, this experience has shaped how I see my life, there is so much we go through that is hard to explain.

Cancer took a huge bite out of my identity, now it's time to start getting it back.

What were your transitions like? Did you get back to being your "old self" or become someone new?

Post and discuss!

Breast Cancer Survivors Tweet About Sex Issues Tuesday 4/25

  Breast Cancer Answers ( http://www.breastcanceranswers.com ), the first ever social media show, is hosting a LIVE Twitter discussion, or "TweetUp," on April 25, 2012 at 6 p.m PDT/9 p.m. EDT. Attendees will have a chance to ask questions to a sexual health medical expert and network with other breast cancer patients, survivors, and advocates.

Wednesday's TweetUp discussion will feature Dr. Michael Krychman, who will lead the discussion on, "Breaking the Conspiracy of Sexual Silence After Breast Cancer: How can I effectively discuss my sexual concerns with my partner & health care provider?"

"Many of my patients are so relieved to know that their breast cancer sexual side effects are common and often easily resolved," said Michael Krychman, MD, clinical sexual counselor and board certified obstetrician and gynecologist . "It's very rewarding to team up with BreastCancerAnswers.com to help women regain wellness and enjoyment of life's many pleasures."

Attendees of the TweetUp are encouraged to ask questions for themselves and other women all over the world who may be silently suffering from the sexual side effects of breast cancer. Dr. Krychman and Breast Cancer Answers have created a downloadable PDF that summarizes the topic and can be shared with patients in need.

"It's very common for breast cancer patients to feel like their sexual health concerns are being overlooked or swept under the rug," said Jay K. Harness, MD, FACS, the medical director for Breast Cancer Answers and a past president of The American Society of Breast Surgeons. "That's why it was vital for us to help women effectively communicate their sexual concerns with their health care provider and partner."

To access the TweetUp, search the hashtag #BCATU on Twitter or visit the official BreastCancerAnswers.com Twitter page at http://twitter.com/ #!/BreastCancerDr. Event attendees will have a chance to have their questions answered and win a $50.00 iTunes gift card.

ABOUT BREAST CANCER ANSWERS

Breast Cancer Answers, the first ever social media show, enables breast cancer patients across the dominant eight social networks to submit their questions and receive a video response back from medical experts. Each time a patient submits a new question, they receive an email with a video answering their question. These short Q & A responses, or episodes, are then published every week day across the Internet and into the show's growing Q & A video library. Patient questions can also be submitted at http://www.breastcanceranswers.com .

ABOUT DR. KRYCHMAN

Michael Krychman, MD, is the Executive Director at The Southern California Center for Sexual Health and Survivorship, Newport Beach CA. As a board certified obstetrician and gynecologist, clinical sexual counselor and author, Dr. Krychman has devoted his career to helping patients and their partners overcome sexual health challenges and experience a higher quality of physical intimacy. He is also a specialist in survivorship medicine and provides life coaching and care plans to optimize the health and wellness of patients with chronic diseases or cancer. Learn more about Dr. Krychman by visiting http://www.thesexualhealthcenter.com .

Lucky Hubby?

I don't post a whole lot about my relationship with my husband, but we had kind of a fight about something sort of breast cancer related.

We were watching a story about a car that hit some people on a street in New York City.

Someone in the story said the victims were lucky to be alive. It rubbed me the wrong way.

Having dealt with cancer, and pain, I understand how even a minor injury can totally impact a person's quality of life.

I would never say that someone who got hit by a car while walking down the street was lucky.

I wonder if they will have scars, back pain, medical bills.

When people say I am lucky my cancer wasn't worse, it really frustrates me.

Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for the positive aspects of my prognosis. I am happy I have good doctors. I am so glad to have insurance. Most of all I am amazingly fortunate to have my wonderful, supportive spouse.

A spouse who feels lucky I am still around. But I still struggle with the word.

I save lucky for the people walking around on the street who don't have cancer and didn't get hit by a car.

Anyhow, on a husband related note, this article really hits home.

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/04/23/wifes-breast-cancer-can-hurt-husbands-health-too-study

J.C. Hayward Keeps it Real

I always worry this blog will somehow end up skewed to news-anchors-with-breast-cancer.

But I am in awe of the mighty J.C. Haward.

I am no spring chicken in my profession, but I watched J.C. when I was a little girl growing up in Maryland. Her work is burned into my DNA.

I really skipped a breath when I heard she was diagnosed.

Now plenty of news-anchors-with-breast-cancer will do a story on their journey. But I have never seen a public figure be as open and revealing as JC is in these photos.

http://jchayward.com/2012/04/11/photos-jc-has-surgery/img_0044/

Yes, it is hard in a way to see a woman who symbolized news desk style in surgery, but I give her a great amount of credit.

Get well soon J.C.

Love,

Suzanne

Study Show Gaps in Breast Cancer Rehab

 So glad someone noticed!!!!

 http://www.upenn.edu/pennnews/news/breast-cancer-patients-suffer-treatment-related-side-effects-long-after-completing-care-penn-st

http://www.sciencecodex.com/report_outlines_innovative_breast_cancer_rehabilitation_model-89472