You never think it will be you. You go about your days making plans, imagining futures, dreaming ordinary dreams. Life feels steady, predictable. And then it isn’t. One phone call. One scan. One… Continue reading
In 1948, two French scientists noticed something unexpected in their lab samples: fragments of DNA drifting in blood plasma. At the time, the discovery seemed trivial, even puzzling. DNA, after all, was supposed… Continue reading
You’ve likely heard people talk about “chemo brain”—or maybe you’ve even felt it yourself. It’s that foggy sensation that can make it tough to find the right word, recall a friend’s name, or… Continue reading
So few grains of happiness measured against all the dark and still the scales balance. – Jane Hirshfield “The Weighing” I’ve been reflecting on these lines from Jane Hirshfield’s poem The Weighing and how its… Continue reading
In many cultures, greetings are often seen as polite and routine exchanges. However, in some Muslim cultures, there exists a profound dimension to these everyday interactions. When someone asks, “How are you?” in… Continue reading
I discovered that today, September 16th is ‘Tattoo Story Day’. While I am not sure if this is a day that’s universally marked, it gives me the prompt I need to tell the… Continue reading
Checking my August Awareness Day Calendar, I discovered that today, August 30th is designated as Grief Awareness Day. Sometimes I feel we are awash with grief in our community. Not just in our… Continue reading
Are you looking for a new job after cancer treatment? Perhaps you left your last employment after your diagnosis, or maybe you are still in your current job but want a fresh start… Continue reading
“In a society which is much more inclined to help you hide your pain rather than to grow through it, is necessary to make a very conscious effort to mourn.” – Henri Nouwen Grief… Continue reading
T 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 […]
The Thing Is to love life, to love it evenwhen you have no stomach for itand everything you’ve held dearcrumbles like burnt paper in your hands,your throat filled with the silt of it.When… Continue reading
The Butterfly Effect For Marie Ennis O’Connor So close and still Quietly far away From the company Who chose you The day you heard The word we all Heard. Echoes In a canyon… Continue reading
26 posts. 26 days. 26 letters of the alphabet, one blog post beginning with each letter. H is for Hair I started this blog a few years after my breast cancer diagnosis and… Continue reading
The HSE National Cancer Control Programme has confirmed this week that agreement has been reached to allow for the diagnostic test Oncotype DX to be made available to appropriate breast cancer patients in… Continue reading
The Anna Livia Mile takes place on Breast Health Day, Saturday 15th October in central Dublin at 11am. The walk starts on the riverside at The O2, North Wall Quay and ends at… Continue reading
The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart Robert Ingersoll
I have just finished reading the latest book by Britta Aragon, When Cancer Hits, and am left with just one question – why wasn’t this available to me when I was going through… Continue reading
I still find it hard to believe that it is seven years since I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Yesterday, September 29, is the day that I traditionally date my “cancerversary” from – the day… Continue reading
It’s a real pleasure for me to introduce you to today’s guest writer, Beth Gainer, author of Calling the Shots: Coaching Your Way Through the Medical System. The idea of writing my book –… Continue reading
Many of you won’t need any explanation from me on the nature of lymphoedema, but for those readers who might not be familiar with this side effect of cancer treatment, here’s a quick… Continue reading
The actor Pete Postlethwaite is someone I have always admired, particularly for his Oscar nominated role in the Guildford Four film, In The Name Of The Father, and I was saddened to hear of… Continue reading
