Being before doing
I met Pasha Hogan, two years ago, at the Young Survival Coalition conference in Washington DC, where she sought out the two Irish girls who had travelled all the way across the Atlantic… Continue reading
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
I met Pasha Hogan, two years ago, at the Young Survival Coalition conference in Washington DC, where she sought out the two Irish girls who had travelled all the way across the Atlantic… Continue reading
To Risk To laugh is to risk appearing a fool, To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. To reach out to another is to risk involvement, To expose feelings is to risk exposing… Continue reading
Last month in the New York Times, Dana Jennings, who has been writing a regular column about his experience of dealing with prostate cancer, wrote about his desire to “nest” following treatment: “More… Continue reading
Each year, the American Society of Clinical Oncology releases a report that pinpoints the top advances in cancer treatment, prevention and screening. This year, ASCO identified 15 key advances in four areas. Here is… Continue reading
Today’s Meat Free Monday recipe is a healthy alternative to traditional burgers. Falafel burgers are based on chickpeas which are high in protein and one of the earliest cultivated vegetables. They are a good source… Continue reading
Nearly 40% of breast cancer tumours change form when they spread, a UK study shows. The researchers say this could mean that patients require changes to their treatment regime. They analysed 211 tumours… Continue reading
Movember, the month formerly known as November, has been set aside to raise money for Action Prostate Cancer, an initiative of the Irish Cancer Society. Talented photographer, Chari Olmedo has created an album of… Continue reading
While I don’t usually make any claims for cancer fighting food, it is claimed that specific anti-carcinogens are bound to the red colouring matter in beetroot which supposedly helps fight against cancer. Additional… Continue reading
I am a huge fan of the CSI series on TV – I am fascinated by the techniques, so I was intrigued to read today that breast cancer therapy that’s customized for each patient’s… Continue reading
I came across an uplifting story recently about an organization with the wonderful name, Hope in Bloom, a nonprofit that plants gardens for breast-cancer patients. Linda (Bosse) Charron is getting a reminder of… Continue reading