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
Hot flushes are a continuing problem for women long after completing breast cancer treatment, causing distress, disrupted sleep and interference in their daily lives, reports a UK team of researchers. Many treatments for… Continue reading
Last December, I spent a wonderful day at Luisne, Retreat Centre, in Co Wicklow. I attended a mindfulness workshop given by a lady called Anne Twohig. If you ever get the chance to… Continue reading
Breast cancer survivor Gene Glave stars in her original comedic retrospective about her diagnosis and recovery. This is just a few scenes from it. She says she hopes other people will see… Continue reading
The International Mind, Body, Spirit Festival takes place in the RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin this weekend. Visitors can find out about a range of complementary approaches to health and wellbeing as well as sampling… Continue reading
I have written before that I believe that herbal remedies may have a role to play in maintaining health after cancer treatment. I have found it very effective in treating certain medical conditions I… Continue reading
Women who know they carry a gene that puts them at higher risk of breast cancer tend to opt for preventive mastectomy, a new study concludes. Several type of risk management strategies are… Continue reading
Breast cancer survivors whose bodies make the least estrogen have the lowest chance of breast cancer recurrence, a long-term study shows. Estrogen levels — measured soon after initial breast cancer treatment — were… Continue reading
Women at increased risk for breast cancer because of the genetic BRCA mutations are more likely to think a prophylactic mastectomy is the best way to reduce their risk for the disease, compared… Continue reading
From today’s Observer Newspaper A remarkable reconstruction technique is being trialled by British surgeons, who are harvesting stem-cell-enriched fat from women’s bodies to plug the dip often left by breast cancer operations. The… Continue reading
I came across this short video today from Duke University. Guided solely by 3-D ultrasound images, an autonomous robot places its biopsy needle precisely on a metallic target within a Nerf ball. You… Continue reading
