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.
First the Pinktober news. Yvonne wants us to put our money where it counts during Pinktober and has set up a fundraising page for Breast Cancer Action’s Don’t Pink For Me campaign. Grace continues her #PinkRibbonInvestigation during the month of October and updates us on its progress. Jennifer bemoans the fact that “the color pink has usurped the sunlit gold leaves and burnt orange pumpkins of October”, in a blog posted at The Underbelly.
I am so impressed with Elizabeth and her five-day silent retreat – it’s not something I could ever imagine having the mental discipline to do.
My heart goes out to AnneMarie, dealing with so much grief and pain right now.
Nancy points to a misstep in an awareness campaign by a respected breast cancer organization.
Another thought-provoking question from Becky this week – “are you your disease”?
Maureen is still processing her recent melanoma diagnosis.
A very sobering post by Margaret on getting – or more worryingly not getting – the surgeon we need.
I am sad and angry reading the brutal truth in Beth‘s latest post.
Carrie shares her experience of cording (rope-like structures in your arm which can occur resulting from a sentinel node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection) in her latest blog.
Practical and helpful post on health literacy from the Breast Cancer Consortium.
Connie reflects on learning to balance the need to be with others and the need to be alone.
Uzma is holding onto hope in her latest blog.
A Fresh Chapter, the wonderful volunteering program founded by Terri Wingham, are accepting applications for the Costa Rica Odyssey program until Wednesday, October 25th. If you are wondering what it’s all about, read Terri’s latest blog on the life-changing role volunteering played in her recover from breast cancer.
We in the breast cancer community, are all too familiar with how much language matters, so I am impressed to read on Renza‘s blog about the newly published American Association of Diabetes Educators guidance paper on language. I wonder if there is something similar for the BC community?
Jamie writes about mixed feelings on her five-year cancerversary.
A super-helpful post by Karin on exercising our self-esteem muscles.
I could stand to lose quite a few pounds myself, but honestly reading about Britt‘s diet, I think I might just invest in some new spanx instead!
Stephanie writes about finding our way back again when cancer treatment ends.
Sue shares her thoughts on the ingredients that make up the secret sauce for organizations who truly want to engage the patient in a meaningful way.
Finally this week, I leave you with a lovely reminder from Catherine to reach out to someone and let them know you are thinking of them.
Until next week,
Yours with love,
Marie xxx
Oh, Marie… thank you so much! A follow up to The Diet is that when I shared that essay on the “support” page for fellow shake-drinkers, they asked me to take it down. Apparently I wasn’t being “positive” enough. And they said other people are doing this diet for “more serious reasons.” To be honest, I jumped on this weight loss challenge fad because nothing else was working: low carb, intermittent starvation, drinking-only-on-weekends. Getting older plus tamoxifen makes the old, “oh, I’ll just do South Beach for a few weeks” trick unsucessful.
But what I didn’t tell them–but I can share with YOU ladies–is that the kick in the pants to drop some weight was an oncology appointment looming on the calendar. We all know the annoying data regarding recurrence and weight. I was slightly annoyed that these Champions of Health would just assume I was doing this to squeeze back into my jeans when, duh, I already LOOK fantastic. (We all do.)
xoxo
LikeLiked by 2 people
You DO look fab! But I totally know where you are coming from .. I am just too lazy/in denial to do anything about my weight – but I admire you for what you are doing. Good luck xxx
LikeLike
More great reading this week Marie! Thank you so much for including me, Catherine x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Is it critical if you don’t also question the value? – Rebecca J. Hogue