The ‘Privilege’ of Preventive Surgery: Why I decided to go back for more despite the hassle, cost, & trauma
I’ve been thinking a lot about the privilege of access to healthcare, and I have become more disillusioned than ever about my experience with it here in the United States. My husband works for a “good company” with “good benefits.” Yet, the healthcare costs we have incurred and the hoopsContinue Reading
I went from a “Healthcare Hero” to a demoted discipline- What it’s like to be deemed a non-professional profession
I’m sure you’ve heard by now about the Department of Education reclassifying certain degrees as nonprofessional, thus excluding them from qualifying for sufficient federal student loans. This list may not be exhaustive at this point, as we remain unsure of the final impact of these changes, but here it isContinue Reading
I Traded my Boobs for Peace of Mind (Inside the motivation for prophylactic mastectomy)
This isn’t the full story, of course, but it’s a big part of it. I didn’t have cancer, I was under 40, and my genetic testing was all negative (as in I don’t have any of the known cancer gene mutations). It was a family history of breast cancer, extremelyContinue Reading
Double Mastectomy with DIEP Flap Reconstruction Explained
I realized as I was providing continued updates after my surgery and posting update articles on my website that many of my readers may not completely understand what it is I have had done to my body! Since this type of surgery has become more common, and since prophylactic surgeriesContinue Reading
Why I Threw Myself a Pre-Mastectomy Party
Reaching out for help and support during my mastectomy journey was the best decision I ever made. As I approach the one-year mark since surgery (which was on 11/5/24), it warms my heart to reflect on this. I know myself, and I know that I absorb the energy of theContinue Reading
Turning 40 in the Age of Fearful Aging
“It’s my year!,” I keep saying. Most people say this when they’re planning to do something great or accomplish a big goal on which they’ve been working hard (which I’m open to as well). In this case, my big thing is that I’m turning 40. I am excited! I truly amContinue Reading
Creamy White Chicken Crock Pot Chili
Creamy White Chicken Crock Pot Chili **Recipe Update!!** This is my most popular recipe by far, and over the years I’ve adjusted it- so instead of sending everyone on a goose chase, here’s the updated version. I’ll put additional adaptations at the end. It is truly difficult to mess upContinue Reading
Why I Decided to Have a Prophylactic Double Mastectomy
When you’re at an elevated risk for breast cancer for any number of reasons, your doctors can calculate what your individual lifetime risk level will be. They have metrics for this, and your scans, genetic testing results and family history each play a role. It was determined that my lifetimeContinue Reading
What Does It Mean to “Handle It Well?”
*This article was mostly written on 10/18/24 and found while cleaning out my emails. I say this because the perspective is from before my double mastectomy, while I was still processing my decision and soon after I had decided to share about it on social media.* In times of crisis,Continue Reading
My First Breast Biopsy Experience
As I lowered myself down onto the uncomfy frame of the MRI machine for my first-ever breast biopsy, I tried to fend off my nerves by focusing on the benign aspects of my immediate surroundings. Inches from my face was a machine-related sticker that I couldn’t quite make out, asContinue Reading