Weekly Round Up

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.

The Kohl’s/Komen controversy continues to gather pace in the blogosphere this week. Knot Telling shares a post by Elizabeth Cramer, who summarizes the story of how the current Kohl’s-Komen campaign  has co-opted Metavivor’s tag and theme without permission. For more insight on this check out Gayle Sulik‘s article at Psychology Today, this post by Insert Boobs Here and this one by  Booby and the Beast. If you are as outraged as the blogosphere at what has been happening, then you must read Scorchy‘s latest blog on how you can use social media to voice your concern and please do visit the Metavivor site to learn more about metastatic (stage 4) breast cancer and how you can help.

Pete McMartin, whose wife has breast cancer, pulls no punches, writing in the Vancouver Sun, about the infantilizing of the disease.

….to trivialize and prettify something as terrifying as cancer, by giving it a colour, the colour of Barbie and little girls’ bedrooms (and there is much about the sentiments around breast cancer campaigns that is childish and treacly), seemed to my wife to be puerile.

It’s been six years since Nancy‘s Mom died of metastatic breast cancer, and in marking the occasion, Nancy reminds us of all the mothers, wives, sisters and daughters lost to this disease. And check out Nancy’s guest post on Cure Diva on the changes cancer brings to our appearance and our lives.

I find it quite difficult to categorize Elizabeth‘s blog posts and this week is no exception – all I can say, is go read it – you won’t be disappointed. And how cool is this… her Mom blogs too! In fact it was her Mom who first encouraged her to start her blog.

A very moving and powerful blog by KatyDidCancer on the occasion of her daughter’s 8th birthday. Katy writes:

She will probably never really remember a time before cancer entered our house. I have lived long enough to see Lenny live a second lifetime of four years. I have no idea if we will be able to say the same in 4 more years, and even less of an idea if I will be here to see her live another lifetime from now and turn 16. I don’t know, and she knows I don’t know, and that is a burden she will carry, and while I do not feel guilty about it, I do feel sorry. I’m sorry that in the midst of the cake I baked and the balloons and streamers I bought and the party I planned and the gifts that I wrapped that I am also the only mother she knows who would write something like this on her birthday.

Dr Matthew Katz, who is a good friend to the breast cancer community online, has written a post for ASCO on the need to eliminate the war analogy from breast cancer. Amen to that. He writes:

From a philosophical standpoint, one of the things I hate most about cancer is the use of “war” analogies. The “battle” may mobilize patients and families, but it may also interfere with education and informed decision making. And both patients and clinicians often take recurrence or disease progression personally as a failure. Even when everything is done perfectly, the outcomes aren’t. Why compound grief with the unnecessary stigma of “losing the war”?

We are used to words like survivor, warrior and fighter when it comes to cancer descriptors, but Diane has a new way of looking at how she handles her experience of breast cancer. Check it out on her blog.

How do you handle fear in your life? Gai Comans looks at the science of fear in her latest blog.  Don’t forget if you haven’t already done so, you can download Gai’s free Survivor Guide here.

Great summary of the latest cancer research stories by Lisa DeFerrari on her blog.

Please send some good thoughts Lori‘s way – she’s been having a rotten time of things lately.

An important topic up for discussion on Tears In Our Chili – the impact of cancer on sexuality.

Another topic we may not talk about enough, but which is key to our recovery is post-traumatic stress after cancer – read this great interview with Lauren Rockwell to learn more.

Advice on what to do if you test positive for the BRCA gene by Dr Jennifer Litton.

Nice post on how to help a friend in crisis on Beverly‘s blog.

A leave-taking of sorts on Yvonne’s blog.

A stunning poem on kindness shared by Audrey on her blog – a beautiful reminder to us all, to treat everyone we meet – including ourselves – with kindness. And another poem – this time written by Sarah on her blog – check it out.

A reflection by Dr Greg Smith on waiting.

An excellent post on the Medivizor blog about caregiving in the Internet age – and caregiving is also a topic for discussion on Chris‘ blog, while Nicole at My Fab Boobies  shares some tips on being a breast cancer husband from a book by Todd Outcalt.

Stacey is writing this week at Coffee Mommy about her issues with her tissue expander and the choices she is faced with.

Loving the story behind Catherine‘s new look blog.

A terrific post by Justine on the paradox of letting go.

Helensamia shares some good news about her lymph node transfer surgery.

I adore Philippa‘s latest post on her wish bucket – a beautiful idea.

Nicole is celebrating her birthday and reflecting on her first year cancerversary.

Finally this week I leave you with some words from Lisa Adams’ blog – words to live by indeed.

My daily reminder: Find a bit of beauty in the world today. Share it. If you can’t find it, create it. Some days this may be hard to do. Persevere.

Until next week.

Yours with much love.

Marie xxx