my Breast Cancer blog

2004, age 34 — this is my story
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What Breast Cancer Looks Like — Erica

Posted on 1/17/2011 By

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I’m Erica, and my breast cancer looks like a 30-year-old wife and mother who could not have been more rocked than when I was diagnosed. It looks like a momma who now appreciates every single day with my kids and husband more than ever before. It looks like the desire to run marathons, and see that desire fulfilled with pride. My breast cancer looks like a restoring of my faith. And it looks like a strength I never knew I had.

Erica was the #2 survivor to cross the finish line in the 2010 Komen Race for The Cure 5K in St. Louis.

Erica is a blogger, too — check out her entire breast cancer story, and her thoughts on faith, family, and fitness. Then, show us what your breast cancer looks like. Please e-mail your shots to jackidonaldson@gmail.com. No blurry ones, and please include a little blurb, too.

What Breast Cancer Looks Like

Posted on 1/17/2011 By

2 Comments

Breast cancer looks like a lot of things, and a while back, I asked readers to submit photos that captured the essence of the disease. I got pics of hair loss, bald heads, scars, a wedding, purple flowers, sailboats, and I published them in a series called What Breast Cancer Looks Like.

Danny, 7 years old

I think the little project turned out pretty well, and, at least for me, it was way inspiring. That’s why I want more — more images that tell stories of hope, strength, struggle, sickness, recovery, health, and more. You know why? Because I think most of us newly-diagnosed girls want to see right away what other survivors and their journeys look like. It’s how we prepare for our own travels with breast cancer.

And so, I invite you to sort through what you’ve got on your phones, computers, iPads, etc., and send me something that tells your story — or the story of someone close to you. Maybe it’s new curls sprouting from your head, your friend sitting in an infusion chair, a crowd of warriors in pink. You make the call, then shoot something great over to me! I promise to publish asap.

Please e-mail your shots to jackidonaldson@gmail.com. No blurry ones, and please include a little blurb, too.

What Breast Cancer Looks Like – Susan

Posted on 4/3/2009 By

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Susan, a mother of four and breast cancer survivor for two years and three months, says, “My college daughter, Kait, created this intaglio ink print (etched on a metal plate)  during my treatment in 2007. She never titled it, but to me it is what breast cancer looks like. This print is of our special vacation place, Lakeside, Ohio on Lake Erie. I feel it represents hope, love, comfort and sadness. The picture of myself and my sister (volunteering at the Race for the Cure) ”looks like breast cancer,” because we, as patients, get through the treatment with support from those special people around us.

Want to show me what you think breast cancer looks like? Please send me a photo that captures the essence of breast cancer, and I will display it here. Email to jackidonaldson@gmail.com, make sure your shot is at least 450 pixels wide and tell me something about the photo. No blurry pics, please.

What Breast Cancer Looks Like – Kara

Posted on 4/2/2009 By

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first-port-access

The first time they accessed my port for chemo. My chest is pretty flat because they haven’t filled my expanders with saline yet.

pic2

My sister cutting my hair. This was soooooo hard. My boys were watching. Very emotional time for me.

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The finished shave. It felt really weird.

boys

A big hug from 3 of my boys. They were very supportive, even though it was very traumatic for them, having to watch my head being shaved.

pic5

Post chemo. You can see that I’ve lost most of my eyebrows and lashes. My face is a little puffy from the steroids they put me on during chemo. This was a good day – I was waiting at the airport for my son to get off the plane – he was returning after 2 years on an LDS mission in Japan.

Want to show me what you think breast cancer looks like? Please send me a photo that captures the essence of breast cancer, and I will display it here. Email to jackidonaldson@gmail.com, make sure your shot is at least 450 pixels wide and tell me something about the photo. No blurry pics, please.

What Breast Cancer Looks Like – Iris

Posted on 4/1/2009 By

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Iris says, “Much more than cancer, are friends with whom you can rely on during the most difficult stages of treatment, they do look as a beautiful field of lavender. I had the privilege of being supported by my friends, who planned for my an amazing visit to flower fields of lavender in Quebec after my last session of chemotherapy.”

Want to show me what you think breast cancer looks like? Please send me a photo that captures the essence of breast cancer, and I will display it here. Email to jackidonaldson@gmail.com, make sure your shot is at least 450 pixels wide and tell me something about the photo. No blurry pics, please.