It has been almost 1 year since my breast cancer diagnosis and it has taken many months to get comfortable being a survivor. Now, I feel a good sense of how I go forward. In this episode, I share important realizations that have helped me to lessen my survivorship fears and allow me to focus on the amazing life I have been given. Breast Cancer Life is a podcast about my breast cancer experience. This is for you, the person who may be facing a diagnosis, and the person who knows someone facing th...
May 10, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 28
A year ago things were about to get real serious. It will be a year on May 11th since the MRI guided biopsy that came back as invasive cancer. So now I have been reflecting on what I was doing a year ago on select dates in the past several weeks. What I really want to share is about how I am moving on. That did not seem possible at all for most of the past year. Especially, when I realized how stuck I felt for quite a while between the recovery from surgery until just a few months ago. I am not ...
May 04, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 27
This episode was recorded two weeks after surgery. The surgery was a nipple-sparing, skin-sparing left mastectomy. My reconstruction (placement of an implant) was done at the same time as the mastectomy. The treatment I had on the day of this recording was hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This therapy was needed to make sure there was good blood flow over the implant (in the skin and nipple area). I share what physical symptoms I have 2 weeks after the mastectomy and I touch briefly on emotions and th...
Apr 12, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 26
It was a mostly smooth process planning for my breast surgery. In this episode, I discuss the process of going between the breast surgeon and plastic surgeon in the time leading up to my mastectomy and right after. Breast Cancer Life is a podcast about my breast cancer experience. This is for you, the person who may be facing a diagnosis, and the person who knows someone facing the reality or real possibility of a breast cancer diagnosis. Nothing could have prepared me for this lived experience....
Apr 05, 2024•18 min•Season 1Ep. 25
I am talking about how I shopped around for the best price on Tamoxifen in this episode. The drug is generic and should not cost much, if anything. The pharmacy prices, including the mail-delivery pharmacy from my insurance company, were all over the place. Breast Cancer Life is a podcast about my breast cancer experience. This is for you, the person who may be facing a diagnosis, and the person who knows someone facing the reality or real possibility of a breast cancer diagnosis. Nothing could ...
Mar 22, 2024•10 min•Season 1Ep. 24
I have been exercising regularly for many months. For several months, I have been aware of how much I crave a good sweat and an opportunity to get my heart rate up into the high 120s and a little beyond. I would not say I am strong but I do see evidence that I am becoming stronger. I keep showing up and telling myself this is my best medicine. Recently, while searching for some information about exercise, I stumbled upon a website for a “We Can Row DC” and a special learn-to-row event in May. I ...
Mar 15, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 23
In this episode, I share resources and strategies I implemented to get information as soon as possible. This meant using a few tools and advocating for myself at a time when the full extent of the cancer was not yet known. Breast Cancer Life is a podcast about my breast cancer experience. This is for you, the person who may be facing a diagnosis, and the person who knows someone facing the reality or real possibility of a breast cancer diagnosis. Nothing could have prepared me for this lived exp...
Mar 08, 2024•23 min•Season 1Ep. 22
It was my first screening mammogram since being diagnosed with breast cancer. This mammogram was being done on the breast that did not have cancer in it at the time of my initial diagnosis. After reading the report from this mammogram, I wandered off into the world of searching for more information online. It turned out to be counterproductive and I developed a strategy to direct all of my thoughts into a place where they can stay until I need them. I share the whole story in this episode. Breas...
Mar 01, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 21
I have turned a corner in my life as a survivor. Perhaps this could be called “acceptance” of the life I am living now. Coincidentally, I am at the point in time where it has been a year since the journey of screening and diagnosing this cancer began. In this episode, I discuss my experience using the website “ Predict Breast Cancer ” to obtain survival statistics for my specific cancer diagnosis. The website provides statistics based on treatment with surgery alone and also provides predicted s...
Feb 16, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Being diagnosed with breast cancer has elevated my awareness of how much I must advocate to receive the highest standard of health care. I am a unique patient and one individual healthcare consumer. The “one size fits all” state of healthcare is not tailored to meet all the needs of individuals. As I continue on this Breast Cancer Life journey, I am reminded of the need to share experiences, in hopes that others will benefit as they navigate the system. This episode includes my stories of naviga...
Feb 09, 2024•18 min•Season 1Ep. 19
I am sharing my experience at the medical oncologist (breast oncologist) that took place the other day. I talk about why I get emotional at each of these visits and how surreal it is to be the breast cancer patient. It is my hope that this information will highlight the importance of this visit as an opportunity to communicate what you are feeling and ask questions. This visit is the face-to-face time in the relationship with your doctor and captures just a small portion of what your doctor can ...
Feb 02, 2024•17 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Now that I have had a few appointments with my medical oncologist, I have figured out the routine of how the appointment generally goes. I have developed a few helpful strategies I use to prepare for each visit. I share these with you in this episode because I want to provide information you can use to get the most out of these doctor visits. Breast Cancer Life is a podcast about my breast cancer experience. This is for you, the person who may be facing a diagnosis, and the person who knows some...
Jan 26, 2024•12 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Since being diagnosed, having surgery, and learning to thrive in survivorship, I have come to realize that the healthcare team does not really know what it is like to be the patient. In this episode, I share 3 realities of how my providers view me, the patient. These observations are contrasted with my past work as a nurse and the experience I had as a chemotherapy infusion nurse. This experience with breast cancer has shed light on how different the patient perspective is, compared to being an ...
Jan 19, 2024•22 min•Season 1Ep. 16
The first few weeks after surgery went rather quickly. This episode was recorded 16 days after surgery. I share the full story of what happened at the plastic surgeon’s office. I also talk about how I feel and what is happening at this point in my recovery. This is my story of recovery from a nipple-sparing mastectomy and immediate reconstruction (which was the placement of an implant at the same time as the mastectomy surgery). Breast Cancer Life is a podcast about my breast cancer experience. ...
Jan 12, 2024•17 min•Season 1Ep. 15
In this episode, I share my realization of what I was afraid of now that I had a breast cancer diagnosis. It was 4 weeks from the time of the biopsy results until I went to surgery. At that time, there still were a lot of unknowns that made coping essential. In this episode, I reveal my experience of figuring out what I was afraid of. Breast Cancer Life is a podcast about my breast cancer experience. This is for you, the person who may be facing a diagnosis, and the person who knows someone faci...
Jan 05, 2024•11 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Yesterday marked six months since my breast cancer surgery, which included a mastectomy and immediate reconstruction. In the initial two months post-surgery, I had frequent follow-ups to monitor the healing progress of the skin on my left breast and the implant. During the surgery, I opted for a nerve grafting procedure, an additional cost not covered by my insurance. Despite anticipating the insurance denial for the nerve grafting, I proceeded with the surgery. Fast forward to my six-month foll...
Dec 29, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 13
This point in time is a major milestone for me. It has been 6 months since I had a left mastectomy. A year ago I never knew this was how I would tell my life’s story now. I recently went through a lengthy process of multiple screenings and biopsies before getting the cancer diagnosis and finally, having surgery to remove the cancer - the mastectomy. Throughout this entire journey, there have been times when I needed to look beyond my health care providers to find information regarding treatment ...
Dec 22, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 12
This episode features my day in the life after a mastectomy, recorded on post-op day 12. This is a time in the immediate recovery period when I had a lot of health care appointments, including the wound care to heal the skin on the side where I had a mastectomy. This was also a time when my treatment planning was still in process, as some test results were still pending. Follow, rate, and review the Breast Cancer Life podcast. Share this podcast with others! Breast Cancer Life is a podcast about...
Dec 15, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Facing uncertainty is a certainty in life. Sometimes this is anticipated uncertainty, but often it is not and it may happen without any warning. Breast cancer life is filled with a great deal of uncertainty. Uncertainty during the screening and diagnosis journey is only part of the experience. There is more uncertainty that comes with survivorship. In this episode, I share my thoughts on uncertainty as a survivor. I also share how the diagnosis has affected my outlook on facing future uncertaint...
Dec 12, 2023•18 min•Season 1Ep. 10
It has been 5 months since I had a mastectomy. The physical recovery from surgery is now pretty much complete. The emotional recovery is still in progress. I am navigating the gray zone of breast cancer survivorship. I share what I encountered in the past few months that was mostly not anticipated. Follow, rate, and review the Breast Cancer Life podcast. Share this podcast with others! Breast Cancer Life is a podcast about my breast cancer experience (screening, diagnosis, and what happens next)...
Nov 17, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Week 1 Post Mastectomy - Pathology Results and Healing Activities There was a lot to share in the first week following surgery. I recorded short pieces of content to share what I was feeling and what activities were part of my immediate recovery period. This episode is made up of 2 short episodes, from post-op day 2 (not even 48 hours after getting out of surgery) and post-op day 7, the day I received my pathology results in my online portal. Breast Cancer Life is a podcast where I share my brea...
Nov 10, 2023•17 min•Season 1Ep. 8
It was just over 12 hours after leaving the OR when I recorded this episode. I had a mastectomy the day before. I had a very short night of sleep and I was still wobbly when I got up in the morning. I had a pretty good memory of getting ready to be wheeled to the OR, being in recovery, and being awakened by the plastic surgeon before 7am on post op day 1. It was a completely novel experience, as is the journey ahead, as I navigate breast cancer life. Breast Cancer Life is a podcast where I share...
Nov 01, 2023•10 min•Season 1Ep. 7
It is the day of surgery. This episode describes my pre-operative experience. I arrived 3 hours before I was scheduled to go to surgery. There were several things I needed to do to be ready for the operating room. I refer to some of what I know from work as a nurse and describe much of the unfamiliarity that comes with being a patient and undergoing surgery for the very first time. Breast Cancer Life is a podcast where I share my breast cancer experience in the hope that you can use this informa...
Sep 29, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 6
I did not put breast cancer screening (aside from a routine mammogram) on my 2023 to-do list. I did suddenly become well aware of what the process is over several months this year. The experience of screening and diagnosis continues in this episode. Learn about the activities leading up to surgery. Breast Cancer Life is a podcast where I share my breast cancer experience in the hope that you can use this information to help you, as the patient or friend or family member of someone living breast ...
Sep 24, 2023•13 min•Season 1Ep. 5
I did not put breast cancer screening (aside from a routine mammogram) on my 2023 to-do list. I did suddenly become well aware of what the process is over several months this year. The experience of screening and diagnosis continues in this episode. Breast Cancer Life is a podcast where I share my breast cancer experience in the hope that you can use this information to help you, as the patient or friend or family member of someone living breast cancer life. Nothing could have prepared me for th...
Sep 20, 2023•18 min•Season 1Ep. 4
I did not put breast cancer screening (aside from a routine mammogram) on my 2023 to-do list. I did suddenly become well aware of what the process is over several months this year. The experience of screening and diagnosis continues in this episode. Breast Cancer Life is a podcast where I share my breast cancer experience in the hope that you can use this information to help you, as the patient or friend or family member of someone living breast cancer life. Nothing could have prepared me for th...
Aug 11, 2023•17 min•Season 1Ep. 3
I did not put breast cancer screening (aside from a routine mammogram) on my 2023 to-do list. I found out what happens when your mammogram is abnormal. In this episode, I share my experience as a patient. This journey started in February and continued into May. I saw mostly techs and providers, but not many nurses, in the process. There were several calls with schedulers and those who obtained insurance authorization. I had multiple appointments and procedures. Despite being a nurse (oncology nu...
Aug 04, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Recently, I became a breast cancer survivor! Survivorship is part of my identity for life. My story of diagnosis unfolded over several months. This left me a lot of time to dwell on my thoughts - fears, uncertainties, and also moments of optimism (because the cancer was very small). Dealing with this personal emergency forced me to test my coping skills. As part of my recovery, I am compelled to share my patient experience. This experience is unique to me, however I hope it will allow others to ...
Aug 01, 2023•16 min•Season 1Ep. 1
