Topic: breast cancer

Why I Wear This Necklace I Earned On The Job: An Inspiring True Story

Why I Wear This Necklace I Earned On The Job: An Inspiring True Story

I’m BRCA2 positive and do a lot of advocacy work for women like me who are at a higher risk of developing breast and/or ovarian cancers during our lifetimes than the general population (87% lifetime chance for breast cancer and close to 50% lifetime chance for ovarian cancer). Being the daughter of an incredibly strong breast cancer fighter—my mother is currently in the midst of her third battle with the disease, a fight that has spanned three decades—I took action when I learned of my mutation and almost immediately underwent a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy and a total hysterectomy. More »

Executive Suite: CEO Allison Schickel Invented A Special Robe For Women In Breast Cancer Recovery

Executive Suite: CEO Allison Schickel Invented A Special Robe For Women In Breast Cancer Recovery

Allison Schickel had an idea. Living in Austin, TX with her husband and two daughters Mackenzie and Monya, she knew for a long time she wanted to design a robe with a front-opening bra built inside for personal support and comfort. She constructed a prototype with her own robe and a sports bra. After years of research – fitting and re-fitting – the Original Brobe was born. More »

Going Back To Work After Cancer: 3 True Stories

Going Back To Work After Cancer: 3 True Stories

Returning to work after cancer is no easy feat. Impossible as it might seem–especially after battling cancer–the day comes when treatment is finished. Facing a job again can be nerve-wracking, stressful, and exhausting.

For some survivors, it’s important to jump right back on the wagon, to prove you’re in control. For others, it might be tempting to postpone work indefinitely. With the long term effects of chemotherapy still being researched, many patients experience what is called ‘chemo brain’ for years afterward. It’s described as a cognitive impairing side effect that makes you feel foggy, and can make completing simple tasks like following a book or quickly recalling information difficult. More »

Beloved Author Judy Blume Has Cancer And Is Writing About It

Beloved Author Judy Blume Has Cancer And Is Writing About It

Judy Blume was one of my favorite authors growing up. With epic books like Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, Freckle Juice, and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing she has inspired and entertained generations. Her books have sold over 80 million copies and hit the New York Times bestseller lists numerous times. On her blog yesterday, Blume revealed she was recently diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma right before leaving for a 5 week vacation in Italy. Yes, Judy Blume, age 74, has breast cancer. More »

Working The Night Shift May Raise The Risk Of Breast Cancer By 40%

Working The Night Shift May Raise The Risk Of Breast Cancer By 40%

Working the night shift already has plenty of disadvantages: Potential sleep disorders, difficulty scheduling time for relationships, and the extra expenses of heavy-duty blinds and sleep masks. Some research suggests it raises the risk of diabetes and obesity, too. Now, researchers in Denmark say that working nights seem to increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer by 40%. More »

7 Ridiculous Pink Products That Have No Good Reason To Exist

7 Ridiculous Pink Products That Have No Good Reason To Exist

We learned just this morning that women purchase more tech products than men. That’s part of why we were so baffled when we read this Jane Dough post about a special new tablet “for women professionals.” It’s literally just a normal tablet computer, but pink. How professional. That got us thinking about other products that have been needlessly pinkified. (And no, not for breast cancer awareness.) For the record, I’m not against the existence of pink. The irritation is not that the color exists, but that companies feel like they have to feminize perfectly fine products by coating them in pink — “for women.” It tacitly assumes that anything other than pink is for dudes. It’s a halfhearted gesture toward inclusiveness that really just shoves women who are interested in traditionally masculine pursuits into a ghetto. A beautiful pink ghetto, but still. So with that in mind, peruse this ever-so-ladylike hall of shame — and just plain weirdness. More »

Celebrities Are Inspiring, But How Do Career Women Handle Announcing Breast Cancer?

Celebrities Are Inspiring, But How Do Career Women Handle Announcing Breast Cancer?

Rancic said she was a wreck before she told the world about her condition and admitted that the decision to go public was a difficult one. But the thought of all the women she could inspire to go get tested and educated compelled her to go in front of the cameras. But for women who don’t have the extra incentive of being able to educate thousands of people on this disease as part of their announcement to their company, telling your employer and colleagues that you have breast cancer is a daunting and difficult task. More »