Living With: A Podcast Interview with Abigail JohnstonAfter receiving a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer at the age of 38, Abigail Johnston has drastically changed her life to maximize her time with her family, optimize her health... By Emily1 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
ATM Mutation, Part 3 - My SpouseAt the time of my de novo metastatic diagnosis in mid-2017, my husband and I had been together for nearly 12 years and had been married for nearly ten 10. We... By Abigail Johnston, Esquire4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Series - AdvocacyAt the end of last year, we had the opportunity to sit down with Sarah Kelly and Melissa Berry to talk about their experience with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and... By Editorial Team 5 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Thinking About the Holidays... an Introspective RetrospectiveI read a post on Facebook recently that said: "For many, the holidays are a time of joy. For some, it is a time of sadness. It reminds them of... By Abigail Johnston, Esquire3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Conversations with a Chaplain: A Chaplain’s Role in Supportive CareEditor's Note: This article was originally created by the Editorial Team for our sister site, ProstateCancer.net. Rev. Isaac Dusenbury is a chaplain at Duke University Hospital. He completed his chaplain... By Editorial Team 4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
The Five Types of Cancer ExhaustionEveryone knows cancer is exhausting. There is a reason that the image of the gaunt person wrapped in blankets, peering out above sunken cheeks is such an archetype. Cancer wears... By Emily Garnett2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
The Underutilization of a Social Worker in an Oncology office"Mental health refers to the cognitive, behavioral and emotional wellbeing of a person. It does NOT refer to a mental health diagnosis. A cancer diagnosis for an individual and their... By Leah Robert2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
Community Shares: How Other People Respond to the News of Advanced Breast CancerWhen it comes to talking about difficult subjects, few people lean in. There aren’t many topics more difficult for others to talk about than cancer, which explains why people with... By Editorial Team 4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Pain Medicine and Advanced Breast CancerAs a caregiver for my husband, Bob, one of my responsibilities is managing his prescriptions. Recently I went to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription for my husband. Bob... By Linda Holden2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Of Hello and GoodbyeIt was a Spring day in 2018 when I met Katrina. Pollen covered the streets of Chattanooga like a thin blanket, and birds whirled around overhead. It was the first... By Danielle Thurston3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
How Do I Talk to Real People Living with Advanced Breast Cancer?Many people with advanced or metastatic breast cancer told us they had never known anyone with late-stage breast cancer before they were diagnosed. After hearing those words – “you have... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments7 comments
Taste and Smell ChangesPeople often experience taste and smell changes when they have advanced breast cancer or when they are getting chemotherapy or radiation therapy to treat cancer. The cancer treatments themselves cause... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Community Shares: The Test that Detected My Breast CancerEveryone who is dealing with advanced breast cancer has their own experience, from the moment of detection to choosing the right course of treatment. Before or during diagnosis, there are... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Troubleshooting Symptoms - PainDisclaimer: I'm not a doctor or any sort of medical professional. All of my comments and suggestions in this post (or any other) are based on my own experiences or my... By Abigail Johnston, Esquire5 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
A Nurse’s Perspective on Ringing the Chemo BellI remember when the "chemo bell” was donated to the treatment room where I am an infusion nurse. The local news came and did a clip in our treatment room... By Leah Robert3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments14 comments
Faith, Spirituality, and Advanced Breast CancerWhen it comes to living with advanced breast cancer, people rely on different things to help guide them through their daily struggles. Some people in the community have mentioned that... By Editorial Team 1 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Working to Replace OurselvesFor the second year, I was able to attend the Stampede, which is an effort by Metavivor towards legislative advocacy, and the Die-In, which is a form of a sit-in... By Abigail Johnston, Esquire2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Breast Cancer Screenings and Mental HealthPeople with serious mental illness often die 15-20 years before people without serious mental illness. Some types of serious mental illness include bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia. The... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Community Shares: The Benefits of the Advanced Breast Cancer Online CommunityThe power of community should never be underestimated. When it comes to living with advanced breast cancer, someone may feel alone when first receiving news of the diagnosis. Perhaps you... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Piqray - My New Treatment OptionIn May of 2019, Piqray (aka Alpelisib) was fast-tracked by the FDA and in August of 2019, I was prescribed it, after experiencing a mild progression after two (2) years... By Abigail Johnston, Esquire3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments