Who Knew? Managing Privacy in Your Social Circle

After multiple scans, biopsies, lumpectomies, and a diagnosis of an early-stage breast cancer, I asked the doctor in charge of my breasts at the time, “Why me?” To which she responded, “I don’t know, Rosie, you just have shitty breasts.” Nice answer, and the impetus to change practices!

The following month as I was preparing to begin radiation treatment, I received a call from the …

Male Breast Cancer: Adding Some Blue on the Pink

Editor’s Note: Movember is an annual event for which men grow moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of various men’s health issues, with the ultimate goal to reduce the number of men dying prematurely. While Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week is the third week of October, Breastcancer.org Community member Traveltext wants to share his story in November to let people know that …

Absolutely Sweet Marie

I wore red cowboy boots and a Pabst Blue Ribbon bowling shirt to my friend Marie’s memorial service. Another friend wore a thrift store skirt with cat faces printed all over it. Another wore a Twangfest music festival t-shirt.

It was fitting, not flip. Marie had given me the PBR shirt. At one point we had bonded over our hatred of beers “with too much …

Have You Been Told You’re a “Difficult” Patient?

I care for many patients diagnosed with breast cancer, and they’re often accompanied by family or friends. Some of my patients are so invested in their care that they bring me stacks of research studies about their treatment options, along with many questions. And some are more well-versed in their healthcare rights than I am. Maybe this describes you. Are you the kind of patient …

Metastatic Breast Cancer: How Holley Kitchen Changed the Game

Holley Kitchen seemed to arrive out of nowhere. She was 42 and living in Cedar Park, Texas, with her husband and two boys, and she’d been living with metastatic breast cancer since 2013. In the spring of 2015, Holley posted a homemade video on Facebook. In the video, she used a series of note cards and poignant, even humorous facial expressions to explain what it’s …