Women I Know and Admire

May brings many celebrations that honor women. It is Mother’s Day weekend, but I have seen so much more on social media this month celebrating women. There are many women I know and admire, and I wish to celebrate them. The Mothers we Know and Admire They are not all with us, which gives me an even greater sense of appreciation that my ninety-two-year-old mother is still quite well and living. Admiration does not begin to embody all my thoughts and feelings for this woman. Not all mothers are admired through life and even after they have passed. It is the way of our fragile and emotional human nature. But for those who have been there for us you deserve some kudos and few more as we celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend. Wiping tears, listening, making tough decisions on behalf of their children, working exhaustively at home and in their Continue Reading →

From Diagnosis to Regaining Strength after DIEP flap Breast Reconstruction

I remember well the day I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I found out when I received a phone call about my first diagnosis. It honestly felt surreal, like a gut punch when I picked up the phone and heard, “You have breast cancer.” The second time it was in person when I was called back to the radiologist’s office on my way home. The phone rang telling me to return after being cleared to go by a resident. I knew it wasn’t going to be good. But from diagnosis to regaining strength after DIEP flap, I made it through like so many others. My Diagnosis, Both Does the moment and emotions you experienced when you were diagnosed ever go away? I often hear the day, time, place, and how one felt is forever etched in your mind. It still is for me. How did you feel? My palms were Continue Reading →

Exercises Pre and Post DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction

There are several studies reporting the benefits of exercise for cancer patients. The studies center around maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle before during and after cancer treatment and surgery. I have long been a proponent of the value of exercise. In this blog I will share what I practice and know about exercises pre and post DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Taking it to the Streets The video I share gives an example of some simple, yet effective exercises guided by a trained exercise physiologist. We are filming at the Wolfe Foundation Cancer Wellness Program at the McConnell Heart Health Center in Columbus, Ohio. Whether you are part of an online class or in person class, I encourage breast cancer and breast reconstruction patients to ask their healthcare team if there is a local or online exercise program available in their area. While some people are incentivized by exercising in Continue Reading →

Benefits of Yoga after Breast Cancer and Breast Reconstruction

This summary is an interview I had with my former oncologist, and now dear friend, Leona Belle (Dr. Leona Downey, a retired medical oncologist) about the benefits of yoga after breast cancer and breast reconstruction. Because Leona is a breast cancer survivor and has had breast reconstruction she speaks about her own Journey through diagnosis, treatment, surgery, and recovery. A Medical Oncologist Turned Yoga Instructor Leona is a trained medical oncologist. She lived in Tucson, Arizona working in both academic and private practice for ten years. Leona expresses how much she enjoyed being able to help others who were diagnosed going through what is a very challenging time in their lives. She did a pivot after ten years in practice realizing she wanted a slower pace of life and to do something different. Leona retired at a young age and moved to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with her husband.  Her goal, Continue Reading →

Resilience and Hope in Breast Cancer and Breast Reconstruction

These seem like very strong words to define one who has been diagnosed with breast cancer or going through breast reconstruction. I believe people in either of these circumstances possess both hope and resilience. There are unpredictable forces in our life that move us forward. I consider resilience and hope in breast cancer and breast reconstruction as two of those forces. Resilience When Diagnosed with Breast Cancer When you hear or read the word, resilience, it seems like a strong word to define someone who has heard the news they have breast cancer. What I am really trying to convey is that whether you think you have resilience or not, you are actively showing that you do. How? By putting one foot in front of the other each moment, each day after being diagnosed. It is not to say you must stay positive, you are being courageous, or acting tough. Continue Reading →

Tips for Getting Through the Holidays During Breast Cancer

I have written about this topic before but each year I seem to learn something new. I hear from other people about being diagnosed or having surgery toward the end of the year. This can throw an extra wrench into holiday plans since so many people celebrate a number of different holidays in December. I learn from them and share my tips for getting through the holidays during breast cancer. My Tips for Managing your Phone Time This Thanksgiving, I gave myself a gift. I called family and close friends in the days leading up to Thanksgiving and told them I was turning my phone off the entire day of Thanksgiving beginning at bedtime the night before. I did not turn it back on until the morning after. They had the ability to get a hold of me in an emergency. I wanted to make sure of that. It was Continue Reading →

Acknowledging Those Who Give Their Time for Breast Reconstruction Patients

We come to a season of reflection, giving, and gratitude. I want to take a moment to honor all those who give selflessly of their time helping me in my pursuit of educating and supporting those who are affected by breast cancer. Acknowledging those who give their time for breast reconstruction patients is important to me. Those World is Full of Giving People Talk on the street says we have been through a lot the past couple of years. ‘Tis true. I don’t think it is necessary to rehash the events or effect from all that has occurred and shaped our world since early 2020. News headlines inundate us changing our mood, focus, and daily living. And yet, through all of this I continue to witness a world full of giving people. In my corner of the world helping breast reconstruction patients, those giving people seem to come from every Continue Reading →

The Gifts We Know Mean so Much after Breast Reconstruction

Each weekday morning, I wake up, fix coffee, and sit at the computer in my office. I open Facebook and read the comments on the DiepCjourney private page I started and admin. Questions are answered, members share resources, and it  feels like a warm place to start my morning. Recently, I posted this infographic asking members, “What would you add to this list”? These are the gifts we know mean so much after breast reconstruction. Insights for Gifts from the Heart after Breast Reconstruction Surgery These ideas are taken directly from the comments members of the Journey willingly shared. They showed extreme gratitude for those who gave their time and treasure to these ladies when they were recovering from surgery and undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Listened, listened, listened. Have space for all the feelings. The best gift I got from people was grace…grace for forgotten meetings, grace for bad Continue Reading →

Episode 7: Lobular Breast Cancer

In episode 7 of the DiepCJourney podcast we are discussing lobular breast cancer, also known as invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), with Leigh Pate. Lobular breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed type of invasive breast cancer. Often an understudied subtype of breast cancer I ask Leigh to join me on the podcast to help our followers understand more about it. Leigh founded the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance (LBCA) in 2017 and continues to work as a research advocate in the breast cancer and ovarian/fallopian tube cancer community. Leigh and I both have had lobular breast cancer. I have tucked my diagnosis, both of them, away in files and don’t pull them out to often. This is my way of coping with two diagnosis of breast cancer. Connecting with Leigh, precipitated my need to talk about this. Our goal is to explain lobular breast cancer to patients who have it Continue Reading →

Time to Consider Things While in Isolation

I have been fortunate not to have been affected by the Corona virus… until this week. The statement itself poses something of a paradox, “not to have been affected by the Corona virus.”  Our global population has been affected by this since the pandemic began in ways unthinkable, unimaginable. I felt the physical affects this week after testing positive. I have had time to consider things while in isolation. Perspective and the Regrettable Necessities of Life I am on the mend, thankfully. It feels a bit odd to write about this publicly after keeping it on the down low all week. Especially given the other world tragedies we are dealing with and as the pandemic numbers increase… again. Perspective! Folks are pent up, tired, weary of dealing with the isolation. Having celebrated a few trips around the sun, birthdays, and feeling fortunate to recuperate in the care of my mom’s Continue Reading →