Here it is—the MAMM article I told you about in my April 2 post, the article featuring me and a bunch of other breast cancer bloggers. It's now online for all eyes to read. Just click here and you'll land at the story.
Happy Reading.
Archive for April, 2008
MAMM online
Sunday, April 27th, 2008Sitting
Saturday, April 26th, 2008
"Sometimes having surgery is a good thing," seven-year-old Joey told me yesterday.
"Oh Yeah," I said. "Why?"
"Because you get to sit around and do nothing," he answered.
Wait. It gets better.
Joey went on to tell me: "You are always driving us around and doing things for us and now you get to sit and rest."
I love that guy.
Sitting is exactly what I've been doing ever since my tummy was tucked on Wednesday. I've been sitting in my living room recliner, sitting at the kitchen table, sitting in my mom's car traveling to and from post-op appointments, sitting in my back yard watching Joey and Danny splish and splash on their new Slip-n-Slide. I can't yet recline in a flat position, and I can't stand for extended periods of time. Sitting. That's what I've been doing. That, and taking pain medication. And emptying drains. And sleeping. And writing. And doing quite well, I think.
I'm not in horrible pain. I'm tight, and hunched over, and I feel a bit of pressure and pulling. But I'm not miserable. I predict, in fact, that before too long, I'll be back to my routine—the one that involves driving my boys around and doing things for them. For that, I can't wait.
Tummy transformed
Thursday, April 24th, 2008
My tummy is tucked. It's flat, tight, and oh how I love my new belly button. Amazing. Simply amazing how that loose and saggy skin that troubled me for so long is now gone. Completely gone.
My surgery yesterday went well. My excess belly skin was removed, my baby-stretched muscle was repaired, and my umbilical hernia was fixed. One day later, I'm walking in hunched-over style, spending a lot of time in my living room recliner, and staying on top of my pain medication so misery doesn't set it. I have two drains dangling from my belly, one pain pump strapped to my side, and a compression garment holding me tight. I feel some pressure and some minor throbbing but nothing serious is plaguing me at the moment. Could it get worse? Probably not, says my doctor who will remove my pain pump and one drain on Saturday. The second drain will come out on Tuesday. Then I'll be on my own—well, maybe I'll keep my pain meds on board just in case—to recover and heal.
Just after I had my second baby, I asked my OB/GYN about a tummy tuck. He wasn't a fan of the procedure and suggested I give it five years. Five years to allow my body to bounce back from two whopper pregnancies and to achieve a healthy weight and fitness routine. The five-year mark would also put both of my boys in school so I'd have time to rebound from this serious surgery without tending to their every need all day long. Good advice.
Today, both of my boys are in school. Danny turns five in May.
Ax the alcohol
Thursday, April 17th, 2008The connection between alcohol and breast cancer existed at the time of my diagnosis. Nothing conclusive, just a possibility, yet enough for me to forgo that occasional cold beer in a frosty mug at dinner and that sometimes social drink. I don’t want cancer. Once was enough.
I think I’ve made the right drinking decision. Just this past Monday, findings from a large U.S. study—the biggest of three major studies on the topic—revealed this: Alcohol consumption leads to an increased risk of the most common type of breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
OK, I’m not postmenopausal, and I didn’t have the most common type of breast cancer—the kind fueled by hormones—but I will go through menopause one day. And I could develop a hormone-sensitive tumor. These facts are enough to secure my choice to remain a non-drinker for all of time.
This new research found that women who consumed one or two small drinks per day were 32 percent more likely to develop a hormone-sensitive tumor. Three or more drinks per day: 51 percent.
Toss the trans-fats. Ax the alcohol. Neither is worth the risk.
Toss the trans-fats
Sunday, April 13th, 2008What causes breast cancer? Oh, I don’t know. Genetic mutations. Family history. Environmental factors. Poor diet. Lack of exercise. Alcohol consumption. Obesity. All are possibilities. Here’s one more: Trans-fats.
The link may not be strong at this point but preliminary research—published in the American Journal of Epidemiology—shows that women with high blood levels of trans-fats may have nearly twice the risk of developing breast cancer than women with the lowest levels. It’s enough to steer me way clear of these fats, found mostly in baked goods, snacks, and a variety of other processed foods.
I don’t want to steer clear of omega-3 fatty acids—the good stuff found in fish such as salmon, walnuts, and leafy green veggies—but interestingly, it seems women with high levels of these fats were not any less likely to have breast cancer.
More about the omega-3s another time. For now, let’s collectively ditch the trans-fats. We already know they’re artery cloggers. The fact that they may also up breast cancer risk is a deal sealer. For me, anyway.
Better
Sunday, April 6th, 2008I constantly work at being a better person. I work at criticizing less, gossiping less, whining less, and yelling at my kids less. I try to understand people instead of judging them. I try to keep my crabby moods from troubling others. And I try to admit when I’m wrong, even when it would feel so much better to be right.
Cancer helps me work on my shortcomings. Because I’ve conquered the disease—for now—I figure I have a second chance at becoming a really good person. So when I learn about a self-improvement technique that seems suited for me, I grab it and try to infuse it into my world. Here’s one I know will work wonders the next time I find myself in a disagreement with a loved one. It comes from Dan Shapiro, a 20-year Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor, husband of a breast cancer survivor, and psychologist who treats folks with cancer. This guy knows cancer. And he knows how to solve problems for people living with the disease.
Shapiro, who shares his three-step approach to good communication in the premiere issue of heal magazine, has this to say.
First, recognize that cancer shapes most of your interactions with most everyone.
Second, listen carefully and start your response to any attack by acknowledging the true parts of what your opponent has said—even if the true part is teeny tiny. Instinct will have you doing what you normally do—defending yourself, maintaining your rightness—but saying “you’re right” in the middle of a fight is a great way to defuse the emotion of the interaction.
Third, do little things that make your spouse, friend, family member feel loved. Shapiro’s wife likes a clean bathroom. If he cleans it for her, he knows she’ll feel loved.
I’m going to practice these three steps. For better or for worse. I’m banking on better.
Blogging breast cancer
Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008I just received a copy of MAMM magazine in the mail—the March/April 2008 issue—and I wish I could lead you to the online version of this publication but the issue is not yet available on MAMM.com. Bummer. Because if it were there, you could read this article titled “Blogging Breast Cancer.”
The article starts: Thousands of women are sharing their cancer stories and baring their souls to the world—without ever leaving their computers. Why are online diaries so popular?
It goes on to spotlight a handful of breast cancer survivors who author their own blogs. I am one of them. A snippet of one of my posts is published. Mention is made of my writing career and how it grew from my cancer misfortune. My photo appears too.
Usually, I do the writing when it comes to breast cancer. Now someone has written about me. If you can track down a copy of MAMM, check me out. And check out these other featured blogs.
www.fighting-breast-cancer.com
www.jaynesbreastcancerblog.com
www.2hands.blogspot.com
www.the-cancer-grrrl.blogspot.com
www.krankipantzen.blogspot.com
www.blog.healthtalk.com/breast-cancer/life-with-breast-cancer
