Adventures of the New Mommy With the Big "C"

October is my favorite month. Or at least it was, until I got diagnosed with Breast Cancer nearly 3 years ago.  Suddenly, the ENTIRE month became all about pink, all about awareness, fundraising, etc. While I want you all to know how appreciative I am of the support - I must also remind you this month is a tough one for me. Reminders are everywhere: TV, billboards, bumper stickers, shirts, ribbons, social media posts, walks, and the list goes on. What some people don't realize, is that I live with the horrible scars physically and emotionally that serve as an cruel reminder everyday- not just in October. So please forgive me, when I once again, take a social media break for the entirety of October. I've decided to distance myself and fully enjoy every second of my favorite month with my family. I want to see my son smile when he picks out a pumpkin, jump in the leaves and watch the season change. I want to take a walk with the dog and unplug to fully enjoy the c...

Hello, all. I know I've been relatively silent lately. Perhaps, I've found that staying silent about my feelings will ensure my cancer stays away? Perhaps, not. Today I wanted to touch on the word "Brave." What does it mean to be brave? When I was first diagnosed, people would tell me, "Oh, you're so brave," and all I could think of was this: BRAVE? THIS IS BRAVE? WHAT OTHER CHOICE DO I HAVE? TO DIE? TO LEAVE MY SON AND HUSBAND? This is not brave, this is me doing what everyone has told me to do. This is me doing what my doctors tell me. This is me trying to live, that's all. I got to thinking today what the word really means. To me, brave means having the courage to check for lumps and bumps after you've been cancer free for a while. Cuz ya know what? None of us survivors ever want someone to tell us our cancer has come back. Brave is, despite trembling with fear, feeling a lump and having the courage to call the doctor anyway. Br...