Weekly Round Up

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girl_with_lassoTime for the weekly round-up of blogs.  These are the posts that have moved me, taught me something, inspired me, and which I’ve wanted to share with you.

I feel I have to point out that I am only human (and incredibly busy!) and I may miss someone’s post during the week, so I rely on you to let me know if I do. I realize that there are many great blogs out there and this is by no means an exhaustive list, but it’s my list of the blogs that I read on a regular basis and also my way of saying thank you to you who take the time to read and comment on my posts and make me feel that I am not writing in a vacuum!

So let’s get started…

Katherine of I hate breast cancer is gearing up for “pinktober”   – check out her post on endorsing pink bras. And in “Pinktober comes early..ugh” Lisa of cancerfree2be has been pointing out that it’s not even October and already the world is awash in pink branding!

With the 10th anniversary of 9/11 this past week, Nancy has been reflecting on survivor guilt and Jackie has written a very poignant poem “Choice” to mark the occasion (the last line of her poem in particular is incredibly moving). Jody has also written a moving post and Jan has used the image of the towers as an analogy for life in a beautifully written post. Lauren uses the occasion to reflect on the nature of trauma, something she has written extensively about on After Five Years, and her description of our “experience of trauma” as  ” a fingerprint on our psyche” is very striking indeed. The Feisty Blue Gecko is remembering her own significant anniversary – “the day I discovered “the lump” and the day that it all started. ”

Lots of comments and opinions on NBC Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell’s diagnosis of breast cancer, but for me, the discussion on The Pink Underbelly’s blog says it best and I particularly liked Renn’s comments.

I am captivated by the latest idea –  The Survivor’s Nest – on Where We Go Now . “One of the most important gifts of cancer I’ve discovered is the realization of how important it is to nurture myself.” writes Debbie Woodbury, by way of introduction to her new series of posts which will combine her passion for interior design with her experience of cancer survivor ship . I am looking forward to seeing where we go now with this one Debbie!

Catherine has been writing about what my old boss used to euphemistically call “women’s troubles” this week, but also that common fear we all have that every twinge, ache and pain may be the start of something more sinister.

Bringing Up Goliath has been playing the cancer card this week  in a very interesting post and Anne Marie is getting ready to walk the walk and talk the talk next month when she will be in NYC in advance of the Avon Walk enrolling people to join the Army of Women.

Stephanie has written a lovely post about how the little things can make your day if you know what to look out for!

Sarah of The Breast Cancer Lottery blog has been writing about her experience of The Maggie Cancer Caring Centres, and as someone who found my own local cancer support centre a lifeline, I do agree with her when she says ” I think it is about time the government recognises the importance of these centres and the important service they provide to cancer patients.”

This week I’ve touched on the subject of patient empowerment and what that term means to you, so I was delighted to see that this was also the theme of Tami’s latest post (still time to enter the book giveaway on this!)

I know I get ridiculously excited when Debbie writes a new post, but it’s because she doesn’t get as much time to do this as I would (selfishly like) but when she does..boy is it worth reading, and this week’s is no exception. I love Debbie’s honesty, her gentleness, her wisdom and her compassion. It shines through in her writing and in Cancer Redirected My Mid-Life Crisis, she has written a post that is sure to resonate with so many of us struggling to find the “balance of living the life I want combined with living the life I have created with my husband, daughter, family and friends. The balance of living in the real world where there are societal expectations and responsibilities combined with the desire to be on permanent vacation. The balance of living with a life-threatening disease and just living.”

And finally, Terri, has been reflecting on the best moments of 2011 and sharing some incredible memories with us. This week, I want to finish with some lines from Nadine Stair’s poem, “If I Had My Life to Live Over”, which Terri quotes:

Oh, I've had my moments,
  And if I had it to do over again,
    I'd have more of them.
  In fact, I'd try to have nothing else.
    Just moments, one after another,
  instead of living so many years ahead of each day.

Wishing you all the best of moments this weekend!

Love Marie xxx

Category : Patient Empowerment, Psychological impact of cancer, Round-Up, Survivorship
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