Weekly Round-Up: The Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day Edition

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.

Today is Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. It is a day meant to bring understanding to the most serious form of the disease. Many people don’t realize that breast cancer itself does not become deadly until it metastasizes — or spreads outside of the breasts. Metastatic breast cancer (also called stage IV or advanced breast cancer) is not a specific type of breast cancer, but rather the most advanced stage. On this day, METUPUK is launching with a GoFundMe fundraiser.

Abigail continues to share a hard-hitting fact a day on Metastatic Breast Cancer on her blog.

Johanna writes of how she resonates with the metaphor of the compass in her latest post:

One metaphor helps me now: the compass. It is astral in the sense of earth-only, grounded here and then here. It is a traveling re-orienter. To consult it means to know where the one thing is, which is “direction,” which is not a destination per se – for the cancer patient, true north, or “health” is an implied and ongoing possibility. Some of us are further from this than others. And some must close their eyes, rest, and stop.

As Pinktober continues, the blogosphere keeps up its pressure on the crass pinkification of breast cancer. Lisa shares a list of non-profits that provide valuable services for those affected by breast cancer or fund critical research. As she explains, “donating directly to these organizations is a much better alternative to buying pink products.”

Wendi expresses her “frustration with the performative, exhibitionist, one-upmanship aspects of breast cancer ‘celebrations’ “in her latest post.

Nancy shares 16 things breast cancer is not about in her opinion.

How do you tell your kids you have cancer? Ann Marie writes about the moment she had to do just this.

This past week marked Mental Health Awareness Day. I posted here on the incidence of depression in cancer. See also Audrey‘s poem on gratitude.

I adore when cyber friends meet in real life – check out Elizabeth’s blog to hear about her meet-up with Diane.

Cathy shares a super list of 31 Ways to be PROACTIVE During Breast Cancer TAKE ACTION Month.

Karin is offering a free online cancer support meeting on 14 October. You’ll find more details on her website.

A post from Naomi on facing her fears.

Is there guilt associated with choosing breast reconstruction? Terri explores the question in her latest post.  Barbara also writes in advance of Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day on her website.

Another delightful read from Julia as she continues to share stories from her past. This week she spreads her wings further.

The importance of connecting with others who are going through a similar life challenge is the theme of Connie‘s latest post as she navigates her new post-marriage life.

Becky writes of a happy goodbye as she leaves her surgeon’s office for the last time.

Check out this wonderful profile of Dr. Deanna Attai by SheWarriors.

Janet celebrated her sixty-third birthday.

Sarah marks her first-year cancerversary.

Finally this week, I want to introduce a new blog to the weekly round-up – Michele Wheeler is a stage iv breast cancer patient who describes her blog A Crack In TheWall as follows:

I’ve turned my attention to chiseling a crack into that wall. To let in light on fear and love and grace and sadness and the future and joy and vulnerability and strength and life and how we move through it all. To find ways to talk about things there are no words for, impossible things, so that the people we care about can hear us. And know us. And so we can be heard. And so we can help each other through this thing. 

What a great note to end this week’s round-up on.

Until next week,

May we continue to let in the light for each other.

Yours with much love always,

Marie xxx