I was 42 years old when I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer.  Cancer has never run in my family. I had chemo for five months then a double mastectomy and 39 rounds of radiation during 2012. I had reconstruction surgery with a horrible outcome. I had several surgeries …

My cancer was found by accident after passing out one evening. I was rushed to the hospital, and the CTA (computed tomography angiography) of my chest showed multiple [abnormal] lymph nodes everywhere. After a biopsy, I saw my first oncologist. He told me it was Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma-Stage 4 and …

This past week I learned something. After four negative pregnancy tests and only one month left to try, I decided to talk to my hubs about IVF and having my eggs harvested to maybe have a surrogate one day. Turns out the hubs doesn’t believe in IVF or surrogacy. Hum. …

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women; and the second-leading cause of death after heart disease.   But there is good news: WomensHealth.gov reports that lung cancer deaths in women continue to decline each year, thanks in part to federal programs to help women quit smoking …

Lupus is often called “The Silent Killer.” It can be difficult to diagnose because it mimics so many other illnesses.  It is an autoimmune disease, can affect almost any organ in your body and may differ from person to person. For example, one woman with lupus may have swollen knees …

Obesity in the United States is common, serious, and costly. According to the Center for Disease Control, the prevalence of obesity was 39.8% and affected about 93.3 million of US adults in 2015-2016. Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer that are some …

Stress is a reaction to a change or a challenge. In the short term, stress can be helpful; it makes you more alert and gives you the energy to get things done. But long-term stress can lead to serious health problems. Women are more likely than men to report symptoms …

You enjoyed a day at the beach and now have a painful sunburn to show for it. What’s the best treatment for an unexpected sunburn? While nothing will completely take away the pain and redness, there are a variety of treatments that will relieve some of the discomfort you’re feeling. …

Modern society has created a mindset that each individual is alone in the world. Every day, you pass people on the street or in the mall, never pausing for a moment to touch, to talk, to even think about them. Practicing random acts of kindness brings back your awareness of …

A Hendersonville, NC couple, both diagnosed with cancer, has found a way to support each other that few other have done: with matching cancer awareness tattoos. On Sept. 6, 2012 Joni Brezenoff learned she had stage-4 breast cancer. “I was told if the treatment didn’t work, I’d have 12-18 months …