Saturday, January 22, 2011

metastatic breast cancer

Metastatic breast cancer is cancer that has spread to far off sites in the body. It's what Daria of daria-livingwithcancer has and now she is moving to a hospice - the medical trial drug she was on shrunk her tumours but affected her liver and now she is dying...
Julie of fitnessforsurvivors has written an interesting post and has directed readers to an article in the New York Times this week which deals with metastatic breast cancer.
I like this quote at the end, made by Dr Suzanne Hebert, an optomotrist in Connecticut:
"Dr. Hebert says that while the pink-ribbon campaign has raised awareness about breast cancer, it masks a relentless killer.
“People like the pretty story with the happy ending,” she said. “We don’t have the happy ending.
“You always hear stories about women who ‘battled it’ and ‘how courageous’ they were. Cancer doesn’t care if you’re courageous. It’s an injustice to all of us who have this. There are women who are no less strong and no less determined to be here, and they’ll be dead in two years.”
Ja, I don't do the pink ribbon thing. Would feel most uncomfortable wearing on although I would not hesitate to wear a red ribbon for HIV/Aids. 
Do read Daria's blog if you want to inspiration on how to tackle adversities. She is too wonderful and I am going to miss her and her blog postings. Read the comments on the latest ones, in the last week or so, and you will see how she has touched so many people. Then read some of her earlier postings (I did, the other night) and you will see how her writing reveals an energy that she has not had for a long time, but the determination and resilience and practical approach has never left her. She is moving to a hospice within days...
And read Julie's most recent posting on pink ribbons and Daria and read the New York Times article on metastatic breast cancer.

Was asked to add this link: (9 September 2014)... (Also need to note that Daria died) 
 
I wanted to let you know about this great resource Healthline has about breast cancer. The resource includes a virtual tour on understanding the progression of breast cancer, from where it starts to how it affects the body. You can see the guide here: http://www.healthline.com/breast-cancer/anatomy-animations#1/breast-cancer-where-it-starts
 
 
 

1 comment:

  1. Gillian, like you I have followed Daria's writings. I guess the 'sisterhood' found in blogging is one of the many things that attracted me to it originally.
    There has been so much written about Daria this week that I believe she will feel the 'energy'

    ReplyDelete