Living with stage IV Inflammatory Breast Cancer
We hear this from friends, colleagues, advertisements and family. Somebody plans a special event and every one races to their phones to update their calendar. Whether it be this week or next month, we mark our calendars. We save the date! I recall very early in my career, I was asked to create a “Save [...]
"In cancer, survivorship focuses on the health and well-being of a person with cancer from the time of diagnosis until the end of life". I hear this word, A LOT! People ask in the elevator at the hospital, "are you a survivor?" I have attended quite a few functions for "Survivors". I have clothing that [...]
When I was young, I went through this phase of signing all of my notes, cards, and drawings, "Jenny The Great". Apparently, I thought I was pretty terrific (although I don't recall those high levels of confidence). I suppose when you are a child, confidence is a given, perhaps something that we are born with? [...]
At the bus stop, while conversing with fellow parents, one of the Moms asked me, “do you work?”. As a stay-at-home Mom, I stumbled through my answer, as I do every time someone asks me that question. I responded vaguely, “while I do not go to work everyday, I do indeed, work”. She then asked, [...]
Yes, this is a real word. While you will not find it in the dictionary (yet), ask any cancer patient about the waiting period after you have had a set of scans. I received a call Saturday night from the nurse confirming my 7:30 a.m. pet scan on Monday. She was making sure that I [...]
It has been two years since my diagnosis of Inflammatory Breast Cancer. It is still hard to wrap my brain around November of 2015. The doctor visits began with, “this doesn’t look good” and ended with “this is incurable”. Ringing in 2018 seemed unachievable back then. Yet, here I am living my best life…with cancer. [...]
To my army, those of you who have stood behind me, beside me or have led the fight before me...we now have our "armor". It is time to suit up. Together, we have proven that Love IS greater than cancer and always will be. My beautiful daughter Tat, is selling t-shirts. For every t-shirt sold, [...]
Writing a blog without using words is virtually impossible. Why would anybody even try? The whole idea behind a blog is to communicate about a particular topic. In this case, Inflammatory Breast Cancer. I suppose I could just post photos and hope that gives you an idea of what I have been up to and [...]
They say cancer isn't contagious, I beg to differ. My entire family is living with cancer now. I have seen cancer change every single one of my family members. Cancer changes the way you see, hear, feel and think. Cancer even alters the way you look. When I look back at pictures of myself a [...]
November 2015 is a day etched into my mind forever. A half-dozen medical professionals stood over me preparing to break the news. The doctor asked, "is there anyone with you today?". I do not recall answering. Soon after, my husband joined the onlookers as I laid there exposed. "Jennifer, you have Inflammatory Breast Cancer" [...]
