Weekly Round Up: Getting Off The Hamster Wheel

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.

You know how I love to find similar themes in the blogosphere each week? Well this week, quite a few of you wrote about slowing down and finding a new perspective. Ever feel like you are stuck on an endless hamster wheel? Then read Jen’s advice. As a companion piece check out Stacey’s tips on keeping things in perspective,  Dawn on GTBA, Victoria on the perils of living life in the fast lane,  and Chloe on knowing when it’s time to slow down.

Christmas is a time for many to ramp it up, not slow down. But for some of us that is hard when we are grieving and dealing with loss. Nancy’s post on coping with loss at Christmastime is a timely read. I also wrote a guest post on the same topic for this South African blog. And speaking of Christmas.. perhaps those of us are not in a holiday mood could take a leaf from Caroline Lee’s book and bypass Christmas in favor of the New Year!

One of the things that confuses and concerns me each time I attend a cancer conference is hearing the latest research that seems to contradict my own experience and treatment. Have you ever felt like this? The only way I can deal with it is by passing on the latest research so that others may benefit from it, even if I didn’t. Jo’s latest post is all about this and it upsets and angers me to read her concern that her treatment may have been mishandled.

Diana Martinez’s cancer diagnosis came at a time when she was already in the midst of sadness and turmoil: She had been laid off from work a few months earlier, and she had suffered a devastating loss when her younger sister died. She shares her Fresh Chapter story.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in my early thirties I felt I could reasonably designate myself the title of young woman with cancer. Ten years later over 40 and pre-menopausal, I still think of myself as young, but which category do I fit now? This is the question that Chelsey tackles on her blog.

At first glance, Elizabeth’s latest blog “I am mean” had me wondering, how on earth could she be mean? But that’s not the kind of “mean” Elizabeth means. It’s such a clever post with a very important point to make on breast cancer opinions and debates. Well worth your time to read it.

Elsewhere in the blogosphere….

Sharon’s Christmas story warmed my heart this week.

Dr Susan Love has a round-up of the latest research presented at the recent San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

If we designed a system to care for people, what would it look like? My friend Andy might just have the answer.

Some nice healthy recipe ideas on the Breast Investigators blog.

Information on the LBBC blog on triple negative breast cancer.

A lovely post by Dr Don Dizon on gratitude.

Separating the facts from the fiction – a must-read on metastatic breast cancer by the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network. 

Renee shares some very good news and hope for other metastatic breast cancer patients.

An excellent post by Tami on building your cancer network.

Margaret writes about the first mammogram after her lumpectomy and Claudia shares her 6 month check up with her oncologist.

Beth offers her wise advice to those who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

Coffee Mommy raises some interesting questions about how to raise our next generation to be knowledgeable and empowered healthcare consumers and generally health literate.

Aren’t you offer that cancer stuff yet? The Cancer Curmudgeon is challenged to answer this question. The title of Justine’s latest post Forever Changed, Never Fixed provides a good answer to that question!

Stunning winter scene posted by Yvonne.

Information on male breast cancer shared by Oliver.

Uzma shares her plans for getting her ovaries taken out.

Amy posts in memory of Annie Goodman who sadly passed away this week at the ridiculously young age of 33 years.

Great read on over-diagnosis  from the Risky Body and Dr Elaine Schattner shares her thoughts on how a new genomic health test could reduce over treatment of breast cancer.

Very useful tips on how to get access to journal articles by Dr Kathleen Hoffman for Medivizor.

Beautiful reminders of the importance of kindness from both Audrey and Anne Marie.

Helen shares an update on Kimber’s Lymph Node Transfers.

Musings on the good and bad of technology by Kimberly.

Great post from Ann on survivor guilt.

Caroline was on a roll this week – lots of thought-provoking posts to read on her blog.

Wonderful review of Philippa’s book How Does One Dress To Buy Dragonfruit? I am so proud of you Philippa!

Finally, I leave you with what is possibly the cutest picture ever – Diane’s adorable puppy Okie.

Wishing you all peace and happiness this Christmas season.

Marie xxxx