Discussing Breast Cancer

October … 31 days of pink products, pink services and pink possibilities!

Quite frankly, I’m excited. There’s so much to share during Breast Cancer Awareness month it’s been hard to decide where to start.

Just to get you ready and in the mood to think pink, check out this site that explains all about National Breast Cancer Awareness month — and look through their online catalog if you’re in the mood to shop.

See you tomorrow!

If you think it is, then you should vote for it!

Back in the spring, Discussing Breast Cancer was nominated for Best Health Blog in the 2007 Blogger’s Choice Awards. It was a real contender at first but then other blogs grabbed the top spots in the race.

Here’s the deal … the voting for the 2007 Blogger’s Choice Awards will end at 11:55pm on October 19th — so that means this blog still has a shot at winning. If you didn’t vote, head on over to the site register and cast your vote for Discussing Breast Cancer. Tell your friends to vote, too. Support for this blog supports the breast cancer survivors everywhere.

Thank you all!

When I sifted through my email inbox this morning, I found one from Ford. Someone created a special Warriors in Pink patch on their Virtual Quilt in my honor. I followed the link and searched for Karen Lynch and there it was …

THAT is why I do what I do. Thank you, my anonymous virtual quilter! I love it.

I’m passing on an excerpt from an MSNBC news story:

“The death rate from breast cancer continues to drop steadily–by approximately 2% annually, according to the American Cancer Society.”

Wait … don’t get all excited … read on … the decline is in part because women stopped taking hormone replacement therapy and fewer women got mammograms and therefore were not diagnosed.

ARRRGGHHHH!

Fewer women getting mammograms!!!!!

ARRRGGHHHH!!

Gotta love Australia.

Seems 20 celebrities were asked to design “boob tubes’ — fashion-forward tube tops if you will — and they’re being auctioned off to benefit
The McGrath Foundation.

Never heard of it? I hadn’t either until a short while ago. Seems “three quarters of all women in Australia who undergo treatment for breast cancer have limited or no access to a breast care nurse.”

Survivor Jane McGrath experienced first-hand the shortage of breast care nurses in Australia when she was in the early stages of her treatment; subsequently, she co-founded the foundation with her husband, Glenn, with the primary goal of placing more breast care nurses throughout the country. Cool.

Anyway, here’s a link to the auction page.

Let the bidding begin!

Have you seen the October 2007 issue of SHAPE? It’s loaded with information about breast cancer. That’s Sheryl Crow on the cover (looking like the fantastic survivor she is). And, oh, wait … that’s me on page 226!

I was called several months ago; the writer, Ginny Graves, explained the premise of part of her article to me … real life advice from real life survivors. I was onboard in an instant. When I turned the pages of the magazine, I now see I’m in the company of Jaclyn Smith (yes, the actress herself) and Cathy Bueti (author of “Breastless in the City”).

How proud am I? This scan below is rough … but you get the drift of my advice, don’t ya?

I’m starting my countdown …

I was recently interviewed by Keris Stainton, a columnist at DollyMix (thought candy to stimulate your ladybrains).

Keris keeps a great book blog at Trashionista — worth checking out!

These are UK blogs … don’t ya just love how the internet pulls the breast cancer community across borders (and oceans)?

Anyway, Keris posed a question about my honesty … and questioned if I every worried about who was reading … here’s part of my response.

“Sometimes I do … when I was re-diagnosed, I wrote about it then heard from a local girlfriend that she’d read the news online — that freaked me out because I wasn’t ready for my community to know about my diagnosis. I think it is easy to assume that your readers are virtual strangers when in fact they can be the guy next door!”

Everyone else, head on over to Dollymix you want to read the entire interview.

BRIDES magazine is teaming up with Good Morning America to kick-off a national Breast cancer fund-raising campaign that features donated wedding gowns.

On October 4, 5 & 6th in NYC you can choose from thousands of wedding dresses at great prices and the proceeds will go to the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation.

Hadn’t heard of that charity yet, so I checked it out. Their mission is: “To provide an opportunity for metastatic breast cancer patients’ dream or wish to be fulfilled by providing a special time of ‘Making Memories’ together with their families, a chance that might not have become a reality without the assistance of the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation.”

For tickets to the preview sale, go to www.brides/com/somethingpink. Or, head to the general sale on October 5th & 6th at Lotus Space, 122 West 26th Street in NYC.

If you’d like to donate your dress to be sold, email donatemydress [at] bridesmag [dot] com by September 29th for more details.

Help grant a wish, touch a life … and make a memory.

I suppose I’m no longer a young survivor, huh?

My family and friends threw me a huge celebration this year. My favorite place, my favorite people … it was a perfect evening.

I felt so blessed to be turning 40. I mean geesh, I almost didn’t make it there, ya know? So I really looked at this one differently than most of my friends. Instead of dreading getting older, I just kept thinking, imagine if I’d have waited until this year to get my first mammogram? Imagine? How much would my cancer have progressed in the last four years since I was first diagnosed?

I am so blessed.

Anyway, I share this with you all, not because I want to hear ‘Happy Birthday’ yet another time, but because I want to remind you all to celebrate your milestones the way you want — you are worthy of the best, most extraordinary affairs if that’s what is in your heart or the quietest, most intimate encounters if that’s your preference.

For me, there will never be another 40th birthday … and the celebration my friends and family threw in my honor was the exact one I’d previously imagined in my heart.

If you guys are reading (and you know who you are) … thank you!

Last week I posted about Ford’s Warriors in Pink campaign and promised to send the baseball cap Ford’s people sent me to someone who left a comment on this site during the week. Well, Sherry Smyth is the winner of that contest and I couldn’t be happier because she’s been such a loyal reader of this blog.

Sherry is a a two year and counting breast cancer survivor/thriver diagnosed in her 40s, living and loving life better than she ever did before. She’s Her2+ — many of you know what that means but if not, here’s a link to a May Clinic explanation. Back to Sherry … she shared with me via email this morning:

“Having a more aggressive form of the cancer has made me even more determined to not allow cancer to hold a higher place in my life than it needs to. I have breast cancer yes, but I have and am so many other things. I am a mother, wife, friend, and artist. I am creative, I read like there is no tomorrow and I am opening my mind to new subjects and new ideas through the wonder of the written word. I am taking my first steps towards writing and communicating and want to share my experiences to promote breast cancer awareness as well as spirit and inspiration.”

Good for you Sherry!

When I wrote Sherry to tell her that she’d won she told me that she intends to wear her hat to the CIBC Walk/Run for the Cure. So I couldn’t be happier to share this prize with her today.

Yes, I’m confirming the next book on our breast cancer book club reading list: “Nordie’s at Noon: The personal stories of four women too young for breast cancer.” (Thanks for the push, Sherry. I was so busy I overlooked the fact that another month was slipping by!)

These four women were all at different life stages when diagnosed with breast cancer. Patti was a 24, single corporate girl. Jana was a 27 year old about to get married. Jennifer, also 27, was five months pregnant. And Kim, at 30, was about to celebrate her son’s second birthday party.

People Magazine gave this book a 4-star review (10/9/06) and had this to say about it: ” …this is a rare book that has the saddest of endings and yet still manages to be–yes–life affirming.”

Let’s read this one asap. I’ll post my review at the end of the month; you can email me yours and I’ll make it an official post or you can add your comments/review as a comment to my review.

If you want, let me know what you want to read next in a comment or an email. Also, if it helps, here’s a link to the book on Amazon:

Not sure how (or why) this book club works? Here’s a link to my first explanatory post here on this site. Check out the other books we’ve read together on this site (look at the category, ‘breast cancer book club’ — there have been a bunch. I look forward to reading with you!

cancer, breast cancer, kelly clarkson

I love this girl. She’s the face of the Ford Warriors in Pink print campaign and she’s speaking out on the importance of early detection (check her out).

Didn’t know this, but in 2006, a portion of the proceeds from the tickets sold for Clarkson’s Addicted summer concert tour was donated to Komen for the Cure. This year? Clarkson designed a one-of-a-kind customized Warriors in Pink miniature Mustang that will be auctioned off during the month of October.

“It is so important for all women to realize that the earlier breast cancer is detected, the better a woman’s chance to go on to live a full life. I wholeheartedly support breast cancer awareness and the eradication of this deadly disease and am proud to be affiliated with Ford’s Warriors in Pink campaign for a second year in a row,” says Clarkson. “Through my partnership with Ford, I hope to raise awareness and encourage women of all ages to join in the fight.”

You go girl!!!!

The Ford Warriors in Pink campaign began just last year and generated more than $1.1 million in sales. All net profits went towards the Komen for the Cure. This year Ford hopes to be beat last year’s record and donate even more.

A representative for Ford recently found this site and mailed me a fine Warriors in Pink baseball cap and a t-shirt that I’ve worn, washed and have on again … it’s a keeper. (Thanks again, Andrew!)

You can get yourself a t-shirt of your own by visiting Fordcares.com and - like last year - 100 percent of net proceeds will go to Komen.

I’m touched by this level of corporate commitment and generosity. Because of that … I’m feeling generous. I’ll mail the baseball cap to one lucky reader (i.e., commenter) this week!