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Jan 23, 2017
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What It Means to Be Your Own Patient Advocate
I learned what it means to be a patient advocate many years ago, when my dad was sick. We knew something was terribly wrong with this tall, strapping man when he started to lose weight and was continually fatigued. Our...
Kathy-Ellen Kups, RN
Life With Breast Cancer
Sage advice from a breast cancer survivor
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Jan 11, 2017
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How I Celebrate the New Year With Metastatic Breast Cancer
New Year’s Day 2017 found me in Panama City, Florida. The New Year was rung in by fireworks literally right outside my beach-front window. My husband and I had planned this last-minute trip on Christmas Day, and when we...
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Oct 26, 2016
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With Stage 4 Breast Cancer, ‘Pinktober’ Awareness Just Isn’t...
The worst thing about living with metastatic breast cancer during Pinktober is seeing most of the attention placed on disease awareness and prevention. We who have been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer are given little...
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Aug 11, 2016
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What ‘Taking Care of Yourself’ Means When You Have Metastatic Breast Cancer
People who call to check on me often end the conversation by saying, “Take care of yourself.” I have said this to others battling their own conditions. Lately, though, I’ve been questioning what the expression even...
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Jul 28, 2016
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Why I’m Trying to Find Spouses for My Sons
These past two months have been a whirlwind of wonderful celebrations. In June, we celebrated my eldest son’s graduation from college, and I held a surprise birthday party for my husband. This month, we’ve been...
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Jul 15, 2016
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More Bad News?! How to Stay Calm With Metastatic Breast Cancer
I’ve received a lot of bad news since being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer almost three years ago. Mostly it comes after scans that show the cancer has progressed, and the treatment has stopped working. It’s a...
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Jul 8, 2016
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Cancer Is Scary, but It’s the MRI Machine That Terrifies Me
I mentioned in last’s week blog that I don’t scare easily. Well, that might not be completely true. I have two real fears — and they are major! For one thing, I am totally afraid of falling off a cruise ship. I am...
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Jun 29, 2016
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Emotional Distress: It’s Inevitable When You Have Metastatic Breast Cancer
This has been a tough couple of months. I’m finding it a challenge to figure out how to have purpose and direction while living with an incurable disease. In fact, the biggest problem has been how to plan for the rest of...
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May 9, 2016
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Do I Dare Connect With Others Living With Metastatic Breast Cancer?
Last month, I had the opportunity to attend the HealtheVoices16 conference in Chicago. I attended last year’s conference as well, in New Jersey, and I have to say that both times, I was overwhelmed by how well I was treated...
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Mar 8, 2016
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Don’t Believe These 3 Myths About Living With Cancer
When people find out that I have stage 4 terminal breast cancer, they have varied reactions. Some are saddened and compassionate, some are concerned and curious, and others, because of their own fears, need to find an...