Since October is Breast Cancer awareness month, I am looking to raise awareness and money for this great cause. I have found numerous etsy shops that are willing to donate prizes as giveaways during the month to get more people to come to my blog and donate.
I will be putting links in my sidebar that will allow visitors to donate to Susan G Komen and hopefully to Keep a Breast.
I am looking to have some guest bloggers leave posts about their own interaction with this disease. Whether it's about surviving, losing a loved one, hair loss, testing, being related to someone with bc, informational, poems, etc. Anything breast cancer related.
If you can be of help or know someone that can, please pass this email on to them.
My mom is a breast cancer survivor which is why I have gotten involved with this charity.
Please let me know if you can be a guest blogger on my blog in October asap so that I can get a schedule going.
Thank you so much!
Tina
http://talkinwithteenie.blogspot.com
Hi Tina - Thanks for trying to make a difference. Good luck with your October effort - perhaps some readers here will choose to be guest bloggers on your site. Remember to fill out the appropriate paperwork for Komen donations, OK? They don't allow you to solicit for them without going through channels... PJH
Since October is Breast Cancer awareness month, I am looking to raise awareness and money for this great cause.
I will be putting links in the sidebar of my blog that will allow visitors to donate to Susan G Komen and hopefully to Keep a Breast.
I am looking to have some guest bloggers leave posts about their own interaction with this disease. Whether it's about surviving, losing a loved one, informational, poems, etc. Anything breast cancer related. If you could be a guest blogger on my site, that would be wonderful.
My mom is a breast cancer survivor which is why I have gotten involved with this charity.
Thank you so much!
Tina
http://talkinwithteenie.blogspot.com
PJ,
I think you've done an amazing job of succinctly summarizing what lies ahead for the recently diagnosed. I reached out to you in January when I was diagnosed with BC for the second time, and your knowledgeable and supportive response was hugely helpful. Each of my occurences followed very different treatment paths but because this most recent was the second occurence, I opted for a bi-lateral mastectomy and haven't looked back. I'm almost through the reconstruction process; just waiting for the final tattoos. Two of the themes you emphasize, 1) patience (difficult at times!) and 2) "you will get through this"...sustained me through both occurences, along with love and support from friends, family and the breast cancer community.
Mary
Hi everyone,
My name is Emily Ward and I work with the Canadian Cancer Society. I came across this blog as I was looking for ways to share information about our new campaign and launch event.
We have created a new movement called 'Join the Fight!' It is about personifying cancer for what it really is.
On September 29th, we will be hosting a launch event in Toronto where people will be able to come together to symbolically eradicate cancer by throwing paint balloons at a large "cancer" wall.
I hope you will check out our site and share your story with cancer. Even if you can't attend the event, your experience will certainly inspire others to participate.
The link below will direct you to our event listing: http://tinyurl.com/qbrd6s
More information about our campaign can also be found at www.fightback.ca
Thanks everyone!
Emily
I found your article entitled " OK, I Have Breast Cancer, Now what?" very useful. I was just diagnosed last week. Have you published your next article on "tools?" Please let me know, I really need that, too.
Thank you Ms. Hamel for your help in straight forward terms -- yours is the only thing I've comes across that's not too medical, but deals with the REAL questions I have about breast cancer!
Marjorie, welcome to the club no one wants to join! 
I'm glad you found this post helpful. Please check out our post on treatment, which includes links to everything from how to work with your oncologist and how to make decisions about treatment, to guides to surgery, reconstruction, radiation, chemo... in short, everything you'll need to know as you go forward on this journey. Please come back whenever you have a question, or just want to vent - we're here for you. Best of luck - PJH
...ok you just described my life the past month. So I am at a cross roads. The doctor is suggesting a double mastectomy (to be safe) even though I only have cancer in one breast (and maybe a sentinel lymph node).
I am thinking about NOT getting a reconstruction. Instead maybe a beautiful tattoo. I'm young (ok 40) and small, so without breasts, I will definitely look like a boy. But implants are a prosthesis that require attention every ten years or so.
I am interested in hearing community thoughts on the subject.
Forty is young in the breast cancer world! You can (and should) about many others' experiences making surgery and reconstruction decisions, but in the end this is a very personal decision that has to be right for you. If you are hesitant about the double, be sure to ask your doctor about what your chances for a new cancer in the healthy breast are. Once you have the bilateral, you can't go back, but you can have a prophylactic mastectomy later unless there is a problem with your insurance.
If you are convinced that the double is right for you, but are on the fence about the reconstruction, keep in mind that that is also a surgery that can wait. You may be very happy with being flat most days, and you would have the option for external prostheses when you want a rounder appearance. One of my friends with a double has her B pair and her C pair!
I wasn't a candidate for reconstruction, and I've been reasonable happy using a prosthesis. I know other people who say they didn't feel truly healed until they had the reconstruction surgery.
So there is a lot to consider, but you can take your time with these decisions to be sure you are satisfied with what it right for you.
I'm wondering why your doctor is suggesting a double mastectomy, exactly. Do you have a family history of breast cancer? Is there a possibility there might be a genetic element at play here? I realize 40 is very young to be diagnosed, but a prophylactic double mastectomy is usually recommended for pretty specific reasons... especially since it doesn't reduce your risk of dying from breast cancer. It reduces your risk of a new cancer in the other breast, sure; but as Phyllis said, you probably want to find out just what that risk is, before you have the surgery - since you can't go back and undo it, but you could always wait, and have it done later, if necessary. You might want to read our post on prophylactic double mastectomy, if you haven't already.
As for reconstruction, you didn't mention autologous (body tissue) reconstruction. I've been totally pleased with mine, and it's permanent - no "upkeep" issues. So you might consider that, too. Though I have to say, I've seen some BEAUTIFUL tattoos...
Lots of decisions, as you say. I hope the hlep you find here helps make these tough decisions easier. Take care- PJH
Mine is a little different story. My mom died of breast CA last year (mets to bone, liver, and lung hers was an estrogen/progesterone sensitive CA), one of her sisters had bilateral mastectomy and chemo (inflammatory breast CA), the other two sisters have had lumpectomies (one for "pre-cancerous tisue" the size of a cell phone, and I'm not sure about the other one).
Here's the kicker, I'm adopted. The odd thing is that my cancer is also estrogen/progesterone sensitive. So I'm wondering if this is an environmental exposure. Or perhaps cancer is just random.
I have had the genetic test, but I won't get the results until valentines day. So what questions do I ask if I my genetic test come up positive? If it comes up negative then I am definitely going for the lumpectomy with the lymph node removal and radiation... suggestions?
Hi - Most breast cancers - I think abut 70% – are ER/PR (hormone) sensitive, so that wouldn't be surprising. It's a good thing; it means you can benefit from long-term hormone therapy.
Only about 2% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation, so chances are you won't deal with that. If by chance you do, though, ask the doctor what your risk of both breast and ovarian cancer is; unfortunately, it'll be a lot higher than that of the general populace. Women with these gene issues are usually advised to have their ovaries out (eventually); if you have plans for children, they'd tell you to do it ASAP. And many women choose prophylactic bilateral mastectomy.
But, as I said - chances of you having this mutation are very slight. So, I think the lumpectomy/radiation would be a smart choice. I assume you'll have a sentinel node biopsy - where they remove just the first couple of lymph nodes closest to the tumor. Ask about it, OK? If they say no, they'll just remove a lot of lymph nodes, press for a sentinel node biopsy. The less nodes removed, the less your chance of having to deal with lymphedema in the future, which can be a really aggravating condition to deal with.
And yes - cancer is random! About 85% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no known risk factors/family history. Best of luck to you- PJH
My genetic test came back negative! This means lumpectomy and sentinal lymph node biopsy (removal?) and 6 weeks of radiation therapy 5 days a week. My cells are going to be sent to a lab out west to see if I will "benefit from chemo".
I'm not sick. Why am I so darn tired? I know, I work full time (with a 50 min commute), am trying to pass Statistics, and have kids and laundry to do....
Please tell me it will get better. I'm trying to figure out how to squeeze in radiation, without missing work at my new job. I'll probably do it after work. I'm looking at 12 hour days for the next month and a half. Maybe I can get my homework done while I'm waiting for my treatments... I wouldn't have re-enrolled in school if I knew I was going to get cancer. But shoot, I only have 7 classes to go.
Glad to hear your good news!
You'll have the lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy (hopefully negative); and hopefully your Oncotype DX will come back with a low score, which would mean no chemo.
They'll give you a chance to heal a bit, then you start radiation. Any way you can do radiation first thing in the morning? There's less chance of them being backed up; at the end of the day they usually tend to be behind. Some women find themselves EXTREMELY fatigued from radiation; some feel pretty good. Hopefully you'll be in the latter group, but if not - be prepared to ratchet down your schedule, somehow. Your health is more important than laundry; figure out what you might let slide. Now, while you're feeling relatively good, you might consider making a priority list - what you'll give up first if the fatigue kicks in.
And yes, it DOES get better! You have to get through this treatment; and it'll be a long slog. But afterwards, you'll be on your way to good health again. Remember, cancer is a rock in the path. Step over it; the path will still be there. And there'll be a lot of hands reaching out to help you along the way. Take care- PJH
I finished my 3rd round of chemo - cytoxan and taxotere, with one more to go.
Physically - no hair, mouth sores, tired all the time, everything tastes off, I may just be going into chemopause (menopause from chemo), muscle fatigue after minimal exertion, and I'm losing my ability to concentrate....
Everytime I talk to my doctor, I'm told these symptoms are in the realm of normal... so I wait and feel isolated.
So glad you found us - you are NOT alone. Yes, so many of us went through chemo and experienced these same side effects. They're tough, no doubt about it; and unless you've been through it, it's impossible to make someone else understand not only the physical pain, but the emotional - losing your hair, your health, your normal life. And - there's an end to this road. Every day that passes, every treatment you take, you're that much closer to being done with chemo, and starting to heal.
It's OK to be angry, sad, or anything else. You're entitled to your emotions. The trick is to feel them, validate them - then try to move on and let them go. This is a great place to work on that - you can vent, whine, and put down in words everything you feel, without being afriad of offending anyone, or making your friends and family feel bad. We're here for you - unload! I'll bet every woman reading this has been in your shoes, and is putting a virtual arm around your shoulders right now...
So, one foot in front of the other. Time heals, it really does; but you can't rush it. You just have to slog through the rest of your treatments as best you can. Stay in touch here, OK? In a couple of months I want to hear back about how much better you're feeling! Take care- PJH
My daughter sent this site to me, and I am so glad to have real info. As someone else said all the sites so far have been medical.
I was diagnosed yesterday. So far I have had a positive attitude. It was diagnosed very early. Mamo, then ultra sound, and a biopsy this past Monday, and results yesterday. I weill seed the oncologist on the 1st(my 67th birthday) and go from there. I have a super hubby and my family are standing by. It helps to see info from gals who have dealt with and are dealing with breast cancer.Thankyou to all.
So glad you found us! Welcome to the club on one wants to join... If you haven't already, please check out our "just diagnosed" post - you'll find a wealth of "real life" information there that'll help as you start on this journey. And come back here whenever you need a helping hand - advice, a shoulder to lean on, a place to vent... We're here for you. Take care- PJH
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P J Hammel is the guru of breast cancer. I can only imagine how many women trail her articles like lost puppies, hoping to find a sense of security amidst the words of comfort, encouragement, hope. Thank you for offering normalcy in the ambiguous world of breast cancer.
Bernadette, you're so kind... I'm glad to be able to give back some of the love and care I was shown when I went through BC. Thanks for connecting - PJH