After cancer, now what?

Those of you who regularly read this blog have surely noticed that I have not been posting as frequently as usual. I'd like to apologize and explain. Four years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was the worst day of my life. I was 38 years old, sure that I was going to die and that my children would not remember me. I went through months and months of treatment and since March of 2007 there has been no sign of cancer. In April of 2008 I started blogging about cancer. Unlike most of the people I had met, I had great difficulty resuming regular life after my treatment was complete

In an exclusive story just published by Reuters there is evidence of Wellpoint canceling health insurance for women diagnosed with breast cancer. One after another, shortly after a diagnosis of breast cancer, each of the women learned that her health insurance had been canceled. First there was Yenny Hsu, who lived and worked in Los Angeles. Later, Robin Beaton, a registered nurse from Texas. And then, most recently, there was Patricia Relling, a successful art gallery owner and interior designer from Louisville, Kentucky. None of the women knew about the others. But besides their

When I started reading God Never Blinks - 50 Lessons for Life's Little Detours I didn't realize that I had already read part of this book. As it turns out lots of you have as well. Regina Brett wrote a column like she has been doing three times a week for eight years for the Cleveland Plain Dealer when she turned 45 about the 45 lessons life had taught her. Then at age 50 she added five more and the paper published the 50 Lessons she had learned in her life. The column took on a life of its...

From Lump to Laughter - The Story of Grace was written by Connie Hill and talks about her experience with breast cancer and her relationship with God throughout the process. "Grace" was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 34 when her children were 1 and 3 years old. This book is the story of the year from diagnosis through treatment. Interestingly "Grace" and I live in the same town and apparently used the same breast surgeon. He and I were not a good match personality wise but he is a good...

Cancer Sucks works from the mission statement that they "Provide a forum for those who have lost loved ones to cancer while aggressively raising money to find a cure. No one should have to go through what millions of cancer victims, survivors and those left behind have endured." Cancer Sucks has a new website and they have added a Memorial wall, a chat room and have great lists of fund raising events mostly in the Oklahoma area.

Planet Cancer recently joined LIVESTRONG to combine resources and efforts to reach and serve young adults with cancer. Their first project is pilot testing of a new LIVESTRONG Planet Cancer tool to help get the word about the needs of young adults out to health care professionals. Volunteers are needed to pilot test the Planet Cancer: Welcome to Our World Kit. This kit is designed to help you talk with health care providers about the unique issues and experiences young adults have with cancer. If you are interested in helping two really great groups visit www.livestrong.org/PCPilotTestApplication

I love the Pink Daisy Project and I hope you will too. Instead of funding research or lobbyists this group buys groceries and pays prescription copays. They connect breast cancer patients with someone to help clean the house or mow the lawn. Don't get me wrong, advocacy and research are very important but sometimes you want to be able to help an actual person. The Pink Daisy women do that and more. We all know that it's the little things that mean so much, whether a gift card to take your...

After months and months of fighting, health care reform is a done deal, at least for now. Now I want to get back to things that you can do to help others with cancer as well as help yourself. Peer connections are a big and relatively easy way that you can help someone who is just starting on a path that you've been down. Some of these groups are small, others much larger and more formalized. The Lineberger Cancer Center, part of the UNC Chapel Hill Center has a program called Cornucopia. Cornucopia offers lots of different services but right now they are looking for volunteers willing to be

March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month and the folks at Freedom Pharmacy and Wellness Center want you to be more aware than ever. They are giving out FREE “Colon Self-Test Kits.” You can pick up your FREE “Colon Self-Test Kits” at 3901 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, Florida 32803 or call 407-898-4427 to find out how you can have it delivered to anywhere in the world (shipping fees may apply) ! These usually cost between 10 and 15 dollars so it's worth the phone call.

Turns out Bart Stupak is the winner of today's Dick of the Day! Do you know what he won with this hold out crap? The policy of federal funds being used to pay for abortions stays EXACTLY THE SAME! Not pro life, just on a power play, nothing more. I don't usually blog on Sunday but with the health care reform vote pending I've been online more than usual.

This is in two parts and should be required viewing for anyone with a sense of humor and morality. The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10c Intro - Progressivism Is Cancer www.thedailyshow.com Daily Show Full EpisodesPolitical HumorHealth Care Reform The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10c Conservative Libertarian www.thedailyshow.com Daily Show Full EpisodesPolitical HumorHealth Care Reform

Like everyone who has kids, our kids have doctors. Dr. David Hill is one of the pediatricians in the practice that we take our children to. I've never given a lot of thought to the opinions of my physicians, other than medical of course. But after reading this article I am proud to be associated with them. This is the beginning of an article that ran in the Star News, our local paper, yesterday. Two things happened a couple of days ago that I cannot reconcile. One of the fathers of a...

Looking for more ways you can help someone with cancer? Why not get involved with Zac Efron and support Zac Gives Back. Bracelets are a dollar, heck you may even be able to find them on sale ( hint, hint ). Helping Zac will help young adults with cancer, could win you a $250 dollar iTunes gift card and lets you give cancer the bird!