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Not too long ago, I did a post on BlogHers living, coping and blogging with chronic illness. At that time I hadn't included BlogHers blogging with cancer, although I do agree that cancer is becoming more and more a chronic illness.
Cancer is in the news a lot these days. Elizabeth Edwards’ breast cancer, Fred Thompson’s lymphoma, Tony Snow’s prostate cancer are a few that made the headlines. But what’s most interesting about these reports is that they all are about cancer survivorship and not about cancer deaths. Cancer has become a chronic illness and in most cases the diagnosis is no longer a notice of imminent death. Rather it is the beginning of a long-term treatment process with remissions and exacerbations over many years. And with new treatments being developed with novel mechanisms of action, the odds are that this trend towards chronicity will continue. More cancers will become chronic illnesses and those that are chronic will take longer and longer to show their worst sides. -- read full article
Coincidentally, it was just announced yesterday that Elizabeth Edwards will be be attending BlogHer '07 as part of our Closing Keynote on Saturday July 28th. -- read more about this exciting turn of events
Many of our BlogHers are blogging about how they are living with the diagnosis of cancer. Below are a few that I came across while surfing through the BlogHer Health & Wellness Blogrolls.
Laurie is a 39 year old BlogHer with two children who blogs about living with metastatic breast cancer. Her blog NOT JUST ABOUT CANCER, chronicles Laurie's experiences through treatment - "the good, the bad and the truly bizarre."
This is from a post of Laurie's titled...
I have just started another knitting project. It's another giant undertaking, even bigger than the log-cabin, because I will have to sew pieces together. It's the mitered blanket (although my plans are less ambitious than this example, from the really inspiring Cara, at January One) from Mason-Dixon Knitting.
I don't think I need a psychologist to tell me why I am drawn to projects that will take me a really long time to finish.
I am, after all, an optimist at heart.
Minevera is A Woman of Many Parts, this is a from a recent post...
How strange a different perspective makes. I am still so affected by the chemotherapy; my legs are hugely swollen, my eyes weep yellow gunk that glues them up, and my nails are so painful but because I am no longer looking to the next treatment, it all seems better. My eyes are not turned to the next island of treatment but instead to the mainland of normality. -- read full post
One Breast Less is an everyday story of breast cancer...
Last Thursday, I went for my annual mammogram, given we still don’t have MRI’s in this country.
Before they started the mammogram , the technician asked me some questions about my history. I felt myself getting agitated and angry at this woman. I thought “Why does she make me tell the whole tale again, while all she has to do is read my file†I told her this as well, I don’t know if she understood or not.
Going into that mammogram chamber always makes me go through the day I was diagnosed again. The fear, the horror, the helplessness, it all comes back. -- read full post
Jeanne Sather is the author of the blog The Assertive Cancer Patient - living with cancer, and an attitude.
Who, or What, Is an Assertive Cancer Patient?
These are questions I kick around every day of my life with cancer, especially since I began writing this blog back in September and officially identified myself as “The Assertive Cancer Patient.â€
Of course, I think I was an assertive cancer patient before the birth of the blog, but that was my coming out of the closet, so to speak.
I think there are at least three good reasons to be an assertive cancer patient:
• You will get better care.
• You will probably live longer.
• You will feel better about yourself and your illness.Here are some more characteristics of an assertive cancer patient... read full post
Ruby Shooz has a blog called A Bit of Peace and Quiet - life, here and now.
This is from a recent post about dealing with pain...
It was a total meltdown day for me. Back to oncologist who said that since the pain meds aren’t
