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.

Jen is relieved we have come to the end of Pinktober at last – but is anxious about upcoming scans in November.

Nancy reflects back on Pinktober and thinks we’ve had less “pink shenanigans” this year, while Caroline can’t resist a round-up of pink nonsense in her latest post.

Sarah wraps up a month of breast cancer awareness posts on the UK based Young Women With Breast Cancer blog.

A Lil Earthquake‘s celebration of all things autumnal reminds us that there is more to the season than Pinktober.

Another wonderful post by Elizabeth – this week she is talking privilege and power.

Compelling article by Jennifer Young on the power of touch therapy.

Beautiful tribute by Detrice for her Irish granny – there is nothing like an Irish granny!

Dee writes about fertility options and decision-making for young women with breast cancer.

Both Lulu and Ann share the start reality of living with metastatic breast cancer, while Beth proposes that being a young woman with metastatic breast cancer is startlingly similar to the experience of having AIDS early on in the crisis.

Stacey is calling for a paradigm shift in healthcare – from reactive to proactive; illness to wellness based.

Wendy writes about survivor guilt.

Isabel shares her thoughts on patient engagement.

A beautiful reflection on love, loss, and the magic in-between by Yvonne.

There is so much to digest in Emily‘s latest post What’s A Girl With Cancer Allowed To Be?  It defies a one-sentence description but I do urge you to read it.

Some startling statistics on the progression of Inflammatory Breast Cancer on AnneMarie’s blog.

The great mammogram debate continues – Dr Attai,  Katie, Jamie and Carrie weigh in on this week.

Helen has been missing from the blogosphere – here’s why.

A lot of resonance for me in reading Justine‘s latest post on Take Backs.

This month Jenny has learned a hard lesson”that cancer has taught me to be afraid in ways I never was before.”

Finally this week, I want to leave you with some life-affirming words from Rebecca:

I’m living my life just like anyone else is. I get joy from life. Despite my cancer diagnosis, I still get up in the mornings to breathe the fresh air, to laugh, to cry and to create more memories. I allow myself to go through all the emotions life inspires. Every cancer patient I’ve known does the same.

I am aware I will face mortality one day – don’t know when or how – but if the cause is cancer, I hope my love ones would see it as what it simply is: my body has expired. At the end, there will be no winners because my cancer dies with me too.

Until next week,

Yours with love

Marie xxx