When you have metastatic disease, or any illness for that matter, often you learn the hard way to speak up for yourself. Confrontation is difficult for me and questioning medical professionals can feel very scary. When I say you learn the hard way, what I mean is, you typically fall through the cracks a [...]
In Gratitude.
Dear Hospital Staff, I would like to extend my sincere thanks for choosing a career that supports people with cancer, like myself. I cannot imagine how you came to the decision to spend each day in a capacity where you see and hear from some of the saddest, angriest, and most frightened individuals. I have [...]
Six.
I went to the hospital yesterday. We parked in the same garage, on the same floor, walked down the same long halls marked cancer hospital, as we have for six years now. I remember the very first time I walked through that hospital in November of 2015. There was a distinct smell back then [...]
An update
I haven’t written in my blog for quite some time now. I am not that busy, but I am at a loss for words. I know, I know, hard to imagine. My cancer returned a few months ago, rearing it’s ugly head in my liver again. Predictable? Yes! Shocking? Every. Single. Time. While I [...]
Adjust the sails
It has been a minute since I last blogged. I think we all pressed pause on our lives this last year. I can hardly believe it has been a year since I walked mask-free around town, a year since I visited my closest friends and family, and a year since my sweet step-mom passed away. [...]
Save The Date?
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 [...]
Survivorship
"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 [...]
Jenny The Great!
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? [...]
You Have Been Hired!
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, [...]
Scanxiety
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 [...]
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