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
Sit Here Sit here just a moment in the stillness with me listen can you hear it? can you hear your heart beat? can you hear as breath leaves as you breath in… Continue reading
Anna Wallace is a highly motivated breast cancer advocate, who was so inspired by attending the 10th annual conference for younger women affected by breast cancer in 2010, that she came back to the UK with… Continue reading
Being diagnosed with breast cancer at any age is an overwhelming and frightening experience, but being diagnosed with breast cancer when you are a younger woman brings its own unique challenges. Facing a… Continue reading
Today is International Women’s Day and it got me thinking about inspiring women of the past and present. Over the past two years, I have highlighted inspirational writers from Maya Angelou to Mary Oliver on the JBBC… Continue reading
In what is her most raw and candid interview to date, Kylie Minogue opened up about her breast cancer experience during an emotional interview with Australian television programme Sunday Night. Her emotions were… Continue reading
You could curse and complain about your feebleness, or you can get busy and make yourself stronger. You could seethe with resentment about the past, or you can make the choice to let… Continue reading
Arrived back in Ireland today and looking forward to catching up on all your happenings since I’ve been away. Lots of new blog posts to read, e-mails and tweets to catch up on… Continue reading
Since some breast cancer treatments can compromise bone strength and lead to osteoporosis, bone health can be a significant long-term concern for young women. In this podcast from Living Beyond Breast Cancer you… Continue reading
I am all packed and ready for the 11th Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer, which takes place this weekend, in Orlando, FL. This will be my second time attending… Continue reading
