Weekly Round-Up: On Not Being The Perfect Cancer Patient

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 theme of this week’s round-up has been inspired by a post this week from Nancy on the pressure to be an over-achieving cancer patient; and Audrey‘s reminder of just how crap cancer treatment is.

These effects are life changing for many and yet they’re expected to wear a pink ribbon and smile or even run or walk marathons-wearing pink of course. We must all wear a brave breast cancer survivor uniform, get back to work, bring up our families, care for our vulnerable and workout of course. I might just design a T-shirt with « this is shit » on it, in pink of course. I suspect it would be popular.

Someone left a comment on Nancy’s post about the “ordinary” every-day one foot in front of the other patient as being the ones most deserving of our admiration and thinking of Audrey I couldn’t agree more.

Great advice from Karin on getting out of your own way.

Dee‘s latest post wondering if her blog has any value to the gyny cancer community tugged at my heart this week. We’ve all had the experience, I’m sure, of pouring our hearts into something we’ve written only to be greeted by the sound of crickets. A lack of comments is not an indication that people aren’t reading and absorbing your writing.  People leave comments less and less on blogs these days. One of the reasons I started this weekly round-up is because I know how much of you goes into your blogs and I wanted to lessen that feeling of writing alone. It hurts me to think that our words go unheard and I hope that the round-up goes some little way towards honoring your writing.  So let’s try a little experiment. Go to Dee’s blog and leave a comment today – let her know her words matter to the community. (PS Dee, I left a comment on your blog but it hasn’t shown up yet  :-)).

A wonderful quote on gratitude from Lisa Valentine:

Gratefulness illuminates the next step and soothes the pain, helping us see our way out and move in the right direction. At the most difficult, trying times, when deep despair may be what we feel, the time we have spent living gratefully will be there. It will shore us up, strengthen us, guide us in our next steps.

Practical tips on handling chemotherapy from Shine Cancer Support.

Are you trying to make a decision about breast reconstruction? Terri has some helpful advice for you about DIEP Flap surgery from her own personal experience.

Congratulations to Barabara who is celebrating her 11th blogoversary.

Jo Ann’s three-word mantra to guide the year ahead is intriguing.

Introducing a new blog to the round-up this week. Melanie writes at “But Seriously, Who Knew?” Check her out.

Katie shares lessons she’s learned from her love of musicals.

Gorgeous post on hope springing on Johanna’s blog.

Part 2 of Cathy‘s not–to-be-missed series on physical activity, body weight and breast cancer is live on her blog. Go read.

I’ve pulled back from sharing writing prompts here for the moment, but if you’re still in need of a shot of inspiration to get you writing again, check out Ilene‘s super prompts.

What’s the difference between cancer-related fatigue and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)? Eileen explains in her latest post.

Dr Attai looks at the trend towards a decline in cancer deaths in the US.

Good news from Rachel and Barb as they celebrate No Evidence of Disease.

A super reminder from Connie on baking routine into your day if we want to achieve our personal goals.

I caught up with Chris Lewis for my social spotlight interview series. You can catch the interview here.

Powerful writing from Yvonne Watterson on medical euphemisms and cancer.

Maybe it’s because there are no right words to respond to cancer, that we invent others to minimize and manage its havoc, to shelter us from it or make us smile through the illusion of it even as it terrifies us.

Finally this week I’m heartbroken to hear the news of  Susan Rosen‘s passing and once again I want to share the words written by her daughter a mere week ago.

Mom is dying. It’s the awful truth. She’s not losing a fight or a battle, she hated when people said that about others who died of MBC. Mom is ending her journey with MBC, and damn did she show us all how to live with what happens in our lives.

Until next week,

Yours with much love always

Marie xxx