Happy New Year!

 MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

From me and my two sweet grandsons, Gaige and Nico,

sitting on our hearth in our jammies the day after Christmas.

There is so much to be grateful right now for me. I am in good health and somewhat active. My mammogram last month is clear of any concerns. My family is happy and healthy, especially these two adorable grandsons. Finances aren't the best, but somehow we struggle to get by from month to month. So 2013, BRING IT ON!

  L I F E   I S   G R E A T

And.... November mammogram is clear.  :-)

Feel free to leave a comment below. It would be just fabulous to know you have visited.

Debbie... aka the cancer warrior ... AND SURVIVOR!!!

LIVESTRONG: 

• I AM STRONG • I AM HEALTHY • I AM LOVED •

Don't Be A Chump

Don't Be a Chump, Check For A Lump

What more can I say. :-)

LIFE IS GOOD

Feel free to leave a comment below. It would be just fabulous to know you have visited.

Debbie... aka the cancer warrior ... AND SURVIVOR!!!

LIVESTRONG: 

• I AM STRONG • I AM HEALTHY • I AM LOVED •

Cancer Buddies

Last week I had lunch at Cafe Citti with some "cancer buddies". Two are in the midst of a breast cancer recurrence, one from 12 yers ago, the other from about five years ago. One other is a newer breast cancer survivor, much like myself; having been diagnosed about one year after me. And the fifth friend is experiencing cancer via her husband's recent diagnosis and treatment.
While it may seem like this would be a dreary and gloomy lunch out, it was not. We give each other good support, reassurance, share ideas and resources, and of course news of new people facing cancer in our little community. But all in all it is about laughter, sharing stories and photos of kids and grandkids, comparing knitting and quilting projects, talking about the holidays, and just a fun girls afternoon out. And it does turn into an afternoon as we usually leave around noon and don't return until 4'ish.

So anyone else out there, don't be afraid to support other cancer buddies. We all share a common bond, and have a lot in common, although we may be very different.

I look forward to our next Cancer Buddy meet up in early January. But meanwhile, we stay in touch via phone, email, Facebook, and an occasional visit.

Huge hugs to you all.

LIFE IS GOOD

Feel free to leave a comment below. It would be just fabulous to know you have visited.

Debbie... aka the cancer warrior ... AND SURVIVOR!!!

LIVESTRONG: 

• I AM STRONG • I AM HEALTHY • I AM LOVED •

Anti Estrogen Therapy

What is Anti-Estrogen Therapy? It is what I am taking now and for a total of five years (one year down).
What is anti-estrogen therapy? It is an additional therapy used during treatment for women who are estrogen receptor positive. These receptors are on the surface of cancer cells and by turning them off, the cancer cells will not continue growing.

Watch as Dr. Harness explains what kind of patient will benefit the most from this therapy and the difference between Tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors. Let’s successfully fight breast cancer together!

LIFE IS GOOD

Feel free to leave a comment below. It would be just fabulous to know you have visited.

Debbie... aka the cancer warrior ... AND SURVIVOR!!!

LIVESTRONG: 

• I AM STRONG • I AM HEALTHY • I AM LOVED •

Another Year; Another Increase

So the mail arrives yesterday and I have an "Important Notice" from my insurance carrier, Blue Cross. Of course you wonder, when an envelope is stamped as such, is it really important? Or is this more "junk"?
I open the envelope, and tears flow... along with some expletives. Yes, come February 2013, they are increasing my premium another $150 PER MONTH. That's $1,800 more each and every year. At least until next Februaryn when it will most likely increase again. For those who may not remember or be following along, that brings my premium up to $950/month - JUST FOR ME. And, I have a very high deductible

And I begin to wonder. How can cancer not be affecting this decision for Anthem Blue Cross to increase my premium a second year in a row. Last year the increase was by $100 per month. This just has a hint of discrimination to me. Someone who has always paid her premiums, always had health insurance, and been reasonably healthy all my life, until cancer.

So, after an hour wait on hold with Blue Cross (1/2 hour holding to get someone to answer, another 1/2 hour to wait once I was transferred), I get a very nice and calming rep named Fleta. Fleta explains that there are other more affordable plans I would normally be eligible for, but with my pre-existing condition (cancer), there is no way underwriting would accept a change. So I must wait until 2014 and hang in there and be patient. This is when pre-existing conditions will no longer be considered for insurance and plan changes.

She did a wonderful job of explaining everything, and seemed very understanding, a cancer survivor herself; but explained that even in January 2014, things may not change quickly and I may need to be patient again. Because you see, the millions of uninsured will then be flooding the system as well. But the age bands will change somewhat then too, and that will be in my favor. So, although I was in tears again at the end of the call, she did help to calm me and help me to understand the situation.

Thank you Fleta; I guess.

LIFE IS GOOD

Feel free to leave a comment below. It would be just fabulous to know you have visited.

Debbie... aka the cancer warrior ... AND SURVIVOR!!!

LIVESTRONG: 

• I AM STRONG • I AM HEALTHY • I AM LOVED •

Annual Mammogram -- CHECK!

Last week I went in for my annual bi-lateral mammogram. I am waiting for results but feel very positive and expect the "good" report to arrive any day. Besides, if there had been concern, I'm sure I would have received a call by now.

But while there, knitting in hand, waiting to be called back to the Mammogram department from the reception area, I heard the name "Claire" called. I did not see her face and did not recognize her from behind as she left the room. But when I entered the Mammogram waiting/changing area, sure enough I recognized that face. It was Claire Deiringer!

The Deiringer family lived just down the street from us when we grew up on Eighth Street East in Sonoma. They were another large Catholic family, with nine or so kids. Marsha was in my class, and Claire a year older. We've run into each other just a few times over the years, as they relocated to Santa Rosa while we were still going to St. Francis Solano school. Claire's mother is still alive in her 90's and they all just enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving at one of the other sister's home.

It was fun to run into Claire and chat a bit, as we sat their in our robes.

LIFE IS GOOD

Feel free to leave a comment below. It would be just fabulous to know you have visited.

Debbie... aka the cancer warrior ... AND SURVIVOR!!!

LIVESTRONG: 

• I AM STRONG • I AM HEALTHY • I AM LOVED •