Weekly Round-Up: #ForBeth

 

Time for this week’s round-up of the best of the blog posts which I’ve read over the past week. These are the posts that have moved me, taught me something, inspired me, and which I’ve wanted to share with you. Don’t forget if you have written a post which you would like readers to see, just leave a comment below. 

Apologies for missing the round-up last week. I was speaking at a conference in Barcelona. It’s good to be back in the saddle again this week to catch up with your news.

I missed the end of Pinktober  – so here’s a selection of posts which closed the month out. First up, Jen on the nature of breasts,  Elizabeth on feeling out on  a limb, stuck between the “think positive” crowd to the “everything about cancer sucks” crowd, and Sally calls for less awareness, more research.

A lovely gentle reflection on winter from Philippa.

Helpful advice from Barbara on taking precautions when you fly and are worried about lymphedema.

Terri answers  the question of how long DIEP flap breast reconstruction surgery takes in her latest blog.

As Audrey adjusts to her reduced mobility and is still dealing with feelings of grief and loss, she looks for reasons to be cheerful – and finds a delightful reason.  See also Margaret‘s latest post on a similar theme.

If you have ever felt overwhelmed with #NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), Julia has a gentler alternative for November  #NaNoReaMo (National Novel Reading Month).

Thought-provoking reflection by Connie on missed opportunities.

If you are feeling untethered and a bit lost right now, read Stephanie‘s latest post on finding the light within.

Sue writes honestly about the mental and emotional strain of parenting a child with disabilities.

Great post by Nancy on cancer’s collateral damage.

One of the legacies of cancer is that we are never done with it. The fear lingers as Carrie‘s latest post conveys so brilliantly.

A series of questions from Becky – What do you think of the idea of a breast cancer bootcamp for newly diagnosed? Would it be something that could work in an online format? What type of information and what type of reflection activities would you think would be of value? If you have breast cancer, what did you wish you knew before you began treatment? If you have thoughts on this topic, please contact Becky.

An alarming story from Elaine about a 36-year-old woman who had elective surgery to remove her uterus and breasts, after medical practitioners informed her she had cancer-causing genes. Only later, she learned she didn’t have the abnormality about which she’d been informed.

Susan has created a new look to her blog and Grace announces her new podcast.

Finally, this week our hearts are breaking once more at the news of Beth Caldwell‘s passing. Eileen captures her “indomitable spirit and fierce advocacy” in paying tribute to her. Victoria writes in The Underbelly about the reality of losing friends to MBC, something we seem to have done a lot of this year. I leave you with these powerful words from Stacey on bearing witness to life and death:

While birth and death are two things that unite every single being on this planet, our society tends to celebrate one and fear the other regardless of its inevitability…So please, never turn away. Bear witness to life. While that shell of a body may not be the body you remember, that person you love is inside. Be with them until the end and that time will be a gift for you both.

Until next week,

Yours with much love,

Marie xxx