My Article Promoting Imerman Angels

I was asked by a friend who is the co-founder of the Women Survivors Alliance to write an article about my cancer mentor role with Imerman Angels for WSA's online magazine, The Plum.  Here is a link to that article if you are interested in reading it.  It was published on March 11.

If Only for a Second...

This is an absolutely lovely and touching video about giving cancer patients a moment of lightness while they struggle through their disease.  Click here to watch.

Decisions, Decisions

Last Thursday, I saw my neurologist.  I finally heard the words I've been waiting for...I have the option to discontinue the anti-seizure medication.  That's the good news.  With that option, she also gave me a lot of cautionary advice that if it has been the medication that has been preventing another seizure and I stop it, I may start to have seizures again and would not only have to go back on the medication, but wouldn't be allowed to drive for several months until they were sure the medication was at its full efficacy.  There is no rush to make this decision.  I can decide to begin easing off at any time, although she did suggest I wait until after the holidays.

The reason I am at risk for seizures is that even though the lesion(s) that caused them are gone, there is scar tissue there now.  Depending on the size and location of the scar tissue, it could potentially cause seizures without preventive medication.

So, what to do?  I've been wanting to get off this medication for a long time.  I hate taking drugs, which I have to do regardless, but anytime I can get off of one is great.  It is a nuisance to fill the prescription, to figure out when to take the pills when traveling across time zones and just having to take them at all.

I will mull these options over for a few weeks.  I'm leaning toward taking a walk on the wild side and going off the medication.  But we will see.  Your thoughts and suggestions are welcome if you wish to comment on this post.

Thanks.

One More Thing to be Thankful For

Although Thanksgiving has passed, I continue to be thankful for the many good things in life.  Today, yet another good thing - a clean MRI scan and normal blood work - was added to the list.

The next oncology visit is January 29, but I have an appointment with the neurologist on December 12.  I am hoping for more good things, like a reduction in the anti-seizure daily dosage.  Crossing my fingers!  If nothing changes, I won't post a message. 

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season.  Peace and joy to all.

Excellent article & video on the scourge of lung cancer

On November 26, 2013, the Chicago Tribune ran this article about 31-year-old Meghan O'Brien, who has stage 4 lung cancer, and her battle against the stigma of lung cancer as a smoker's disease.  This stigma hurts lung cancer research and affects the type of support lung cancer fighters receive from others.  The money raised for research of lung cancer doesn't hold a candle to breast cancer.  Lung cancer is the top cancer killer and most people don't even recognize that November is lung cancer month - there are no ribbons, sports teams or merchandise calling for lung cancer support.  Meghan's story is further detailed in this video.

Please take a look at these materials and share them with others.  And one last favor, when you come across a person who has lung cancer, don't ask them if they smoked.  More and more, the answer is no, but either way it doesn't matter.  Nobody deserves this wretched disease.

What I Have Learned Recently about Mesothelioma

A fellow blogger recently contacted me to share information about another type of under- publicized serious lung disease, mesothelioma. 

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer in the lining of the lungs caused solely by asbestos so it is entirely preventable if we can avoid exposure to asbestos. 

Asbestos is naturally occurring and invisible to the eye.   Although U.S. federal law requires that newly manufactured products contain no more than 1% asbestos, any amount of asbestos can ultimately cause mesothelioma.  Roughly 30 million pounds are still being used each year.

For more information on mesothelioma and asbestos, click here for 8 Things You Should Know About Asbestos.

Our Awesome Trip to Africa

We just came home from a 16-day trip to South Africa this past Saturday.  It was amazing.  We had great weather.  I got to pet a giraffe, a lion cub, a cheetah and several other wild cats and feed an elephant.  During game drives we saw hippos, zebra, impala, nyala (a local animal similar to antelope), lots of giraffes and assorted other wild creatures.  The highlight was horseback riding on the Indian Ocean shores in St. Lucia and then riding the horse into a game reserve and having up close encounters with baboons, zebra and impala.  Cape Town was also great, with its beautiful shorelines, wine country and diverse cultures. 

An African photo safari was at the top of my "bucket list" of things I wanted to do in my life.  I am very grateful to my sister and brother-in-law for helping to make this happen by bidding on the game reserve visit at a charity auction.  It was the trip of a lifetime.  I am so grateful that my recovery from cancer has allowed me this great adventure.

Click here to link to some photo highlights of our trip.