Tag Archives: HNPCC

next time, a lollipop

Posted on July 15, 2010 by Emily

“You’ve been through a lot.” Simple words, uttered by an attending internist I met for the first time this morning, but it was exactly the straight-forward recognition that I look for from people – especially doctors – when they first … Continue reading →

Posted in Life After Cancer, medicine | Tagged 10 cm mass, attending, blood pressure, Boston accent, colonoscopy, fertility specialist, HNPCC, internist, Market Street, MRI, resident, taxi, upper endoscopy, vaginal ultrasound, vomiting, weight loss, West Philly | Leave a comment

the essence of injustice

Posted on June 18, 2010 by Emily

Other women with ovarian cancer are dying. Lots of them. Young women, women my age. I don’t understand why they are dying and I am not. I feel a little guilty. No, a lot guilty. I am so fucking alive, … Continue reading →

Posted in Death, Life After Cancer, cancer | Tagged grapefruit, head-on collision, HNPCC, injustice, luck, mutation, stage III ovarian cancer, survivor, trenches | 3 Comments

does my cancer offend you? tough s*&#!

Posted on March 31, 2010 by Emily

I generally don’t spend much time reading random comments from anonymous folks on the Internet – in response to blogs, news bits, whatever – but today, I took a peek over at my ovarian sister Donna Trussell‘s latest cartoon, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, cancer, politics | Tagged accessories, bald, bandana, bar exam, big chunky earrings, cartoon, dignity, Donna Trussell, genetic mutation, grocery shopping, health care reform, HNPCC, makeup, Obama, Phillies games, public appearance, semi-literate, style, sympathy | 6 Comments

dear nurse sarah (and co.): thank you for saving my life

Posted on March 23, 2010 by admin

Before I am completely buried under the growing piles of boxes that surround me, before tomorrow comes along and sweeps me up in one work drama or another, I need to take a minute and offer some thoughts on yesterday’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Life After Cancer | Tagged CA125, Cancerland, caregivers, checkup, Christina Chu, CT scan, gyn-onc, HNPCC, neuropathy, nostalgia, running, Sarah, Silverstein Seven, South Jersey, thank you, treatment team | 5 Comments

the lynch syndrome, with apologies

Posted on March 14, 2010 by Emily

Some things are just plain unexpected. Or are they? Yesterday, when the rain-soaked mail fell through the slot in the front door, I discovered a thin envelope from Penn GI Genetics – far too thin to be the packet of … Continue reading →

Posted in Life After Cancer, cancer | Tagged apology, compassion, HNPCC, humanity, Lynch Syndrome, Matt Damon, Penn GI Genetics | Leave a comment

the RIGHT NOW! box

Posted on March 13, 2010 by Emily

Last month, I visited the genetic counseling folks at Penn’s GI Practice. I sat with a GI doctor, a genetics counselor, a genetics intern, and some other unidentified young physician. Before I met with the lead doctor, the intern was … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Life After Cancer | Tagged ALL, Baseball, Cancerland, fear, floods, gardening, genetic testing, Hamlet, HNPCC, Jazzfest, lymphoma, New Orleans, peril, phlebotomist, RIGHT NOW! box, running, strike three, Utah | 2 Comments

(cancer) flash forward; (cancer) flash back

Posted on February 10, 2010 by Emily

On days when I am due for a check-up with my oncologist or some other cancer-related appointment, I have been known to do things like forget to pack my yoga pants for my acupuncture appointment after work. Yesterday, after getting … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Life After Cancer, Philadelphia, running | Tagged chemo suite, early detection, family medical history, genetic testing, HIPAA, HNPCC, Perelman Center, port flush, preventive medicine, prophylactic surgery, sports bra, treadmill, West Philly | 1 Comment

my dog ate my GI cancer risk evaluation forms

Posted on December 8, 2009 by Emily

LATE AFTERNOON (5:15 PM) One of my old friends from high school made a very funny observation the other day on Facebook: “I think people say something is a “perfect storm” when what they really mean is that it’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Life After Cancer, cancer | Tagged 20 foot alien zombie, Facebook, family medical history, forms, genetic testing, GI cancer, Grim Reaper, HNPCC, Paleozoic Era, puppy-dog eyes, shitstorm, survivors, ticking time bomb | 1 Comment