Tag Archives: HNPCC

invisible touch

In an unexpected twist of fate, the presence of these writings in the public space of the Internet has revealed deep and difficult connections between my status as a cancer survivor and an adoptive mother.  I owe this in large … Continue reading

Posted in adoption, fellow fighters, Infertility, Life After Cancer | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

leap of faith

Thursday night, Mike and I attended a workshop on the effects of substance abuse during pregnancy.  Our agency, Open Arms, does a fabulous job of making the adoption process all about “lifelong learning,” and one of the areas they want … Continue reading

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dreams, whiplash and pre-scope anxiety (oh my!)

It is expected and logical that the eve of two surveillance scopes (lower and upper GI in a delicious one-two punch) would find me in a somewhat heightened state of anxiety. The psychological whiplash goes something like this: Spend an … Continue reading

Posted in adoption, Death, First Descents, Life After Cancer, medicine, running, Work | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

next time, a lollipop

“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

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the essence of injustice

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 cancer, Death, Life After Cancer | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

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

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

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

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

the lynch syndrome, with apologies

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

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the RIGHT NOW! box

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

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(cancer) flash forward; (cancer) flash back

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment