Weekly Round-Up

Welcome, dear readers. I’m so glad you’re here.

We begin this week with Beth, who shares the first draft of Surrender—the final oil painting in her Breast Cancer, Female and Young series. Despite recent hand pain, she captures how art remains both anchor and joy, a reminder that even small, ordinary moments can hold profound healing.

Carolyn reflects on Dr. Kamran Abbasi’s BMJ column on “clinical noise” — the distractions that distort medical practice — and shows how gender bias, from leadership to emergency care, too often becomes background noise with serious consequences for women’s health.

Jennifer highlights a proposed Medicare policy that could strip coverage for DCIS biomarker tests, which provide personalized insight into recurrence risk and guide radiation decisions.

Terri shares the behind-the-scenes challenges of planning the inaugural DiepCFoundation Breast Symposium while ensuring affordability and accessibility.

Martha highlights how peer-to-peer connections offer practical insights and emotional comfort that healthcare providers alone can’t always provide—showing how the cancer community’s shared wisdom ensures no one has to walk the journey in isolation.

The Surviving Breast Cancer blog shares a safe guide to exercise during recovery.

Barbara tackles the tricky terrain of product and program endorsements in breast cancer care.

Connie writes a moving tribute to her mother, recalling a moment of emotional preparation as she helped her grandmother move into long-term care.

Finally, this week, Becky writes with honesty and courage about facing fear, frustration, and self-doubt as she returns to paddleboarding after cancer and chronic pain.

Until next time,

May we continue to encourage—and lift—each other up in the days ahead.

Much love always

Marie xxx