Category Archives: Career Conundrums

The effect of cancer upon one’s career.

After the Crisis, Ambiguity

Posted on December 5, 2013 by Scorchy

Since August I have been struggling to write. Writer’s block would be the easy explanation. But as reality has it, there is so much more going on. For the first year of my diagnosis I scorched Earth with my posts. … Continue reading →

Posted in Career Conundrums, My Stage IV Life, Stage IV Musings | Tagged ambiguity, anger, breast, breast cancer, Cancer Culture, career, co-pays, denial, Diagnosis, finances, Letrozole, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, oncologist, optimism, pain management, pink ribbon, retirement, retirement savings, scan, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, support, Treatment, vulnerability, writer's block | 41 Comments

Me and My Shadow

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Scorchy

I have to be honest: it’s been a conscious effort to think about cancer recently. Not that I’m complaining, who the heck wants to think about cancer all the time? Who knew it could be so easy? I love being … Continue reading →

Posted in Career Conundrums, My Stage IV Life, Physicians, Stage IV Musings | Tagged "Alright Tit", Attitude, bone metastasis, bone mets, breast cancer, captain picard meme, career, denial, Diagnosis, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, Tamoxifen, Treatment, vulnerability | 48 Comments

Two Weeks In

Posted on March 17, 2013 by Scorchy

“We’re ya been, Scorchy?” I saw that subject line in my Inbox and realized that I have not been writing. And there’s a reason: I’M WORKING AGAIN! I’M WORKING AGAIN! Ah, what a wonderful thing. This tumor flare/spondylosis crisis that … Continue reading →

Posted in Career Conundrums, My Stage IV Life | Tagged career, frustration, history, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, pain, pain management, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, Tamoxifen, Tamoxifuck, TFK, Treatment, vulnerability | 20 Comments

A Perfectly Unnatural State

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Scorchy

Over the last week or so I’ve been struggling with something stuck in my craw. I’m not sure what it is, although I’ve been trying desperately to find out. The thoughts go something like this: Yeah, I know. All over … Continue reading →

Posted in Career Conundrums, My Stage IV Life, Stage IV Musings | Tagged 2012 Sisters, Attitude, awareness, breast cancer, Death Star, Diagnosis, doomsday machine, friends, gratitude, marginalized, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, Start Trek, support, Tamoxifen, vulnerability, william windom | 24 Comments

Don’t Be Stupid

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Scorchy

I’ve been slowly pushing back into work and it’s been going well. Just as I get going it’s time to go home. I pushed it a bit one day and paid for it the next, but I’m getting there. Patience, … Continue reading →

Posted in Career Conundrums, My Stage IV Life, Uncategorized | Tagged advocacy, ambition, Attitude, breast cancer, career, competition, Death Star, Diagnosis, Mammogram, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, priorities, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, tumor, vulnerability | 34 Comments

Six Months

Posted on January 19, 2013 by Scorchy

Today is the six month mark. I guess some would term it a “cancerversary,” but I wouldn’t call it that. First, because I hate the term “cancerversary.” And, second, I haven’t bought any commemorative jewelry for the occasion. (Note: … Continue reading →

Posted in Career Conundrums, My Stage IV Life | Tagged Attitude, cancerversary, friends, frustration, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, office, pain, pain management, pill organizer, Pinktober, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, support, support network, Tamoxifen, Treatment, vulnerability | 40 Comments

What I Want

Posted on December 11, 2012 by Scorchy

Posted in Career Conundrums, My Stage IV Life, Stage IV Musings | Tagged breast cancer, career, frustration, grief, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, pain, professional identity, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, stigma, support, useless, uselessness, vulnerability | 5 Comments

Just

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Scorchy

We’re all so programmed to minimize our experiences. I hear it a lot among women with breast cancer. Whether it be in a discussion board or face-to-face conversation, it doesn’t take long for someone to say “I’m just dealing with … Continue reading →

Posted in Career Conundrums, My Stage IV Life, Stage IV Musings | Tagged breast cancer, career, frustration, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, professional identity, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, Treatment, two sides of the coin, vulnerability | 13 Comments

Professional Identity in Crisis

Posted on November 17, 2012 by Scorchy

Today might be the hardest hit I’ve taken with this breast cancer crap. In mid-September, I woke up and my lower back hurt. I took it in stride, took two Motrin, and waited for it to pass. It stayed. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Career Conundrums, My Stage IV Life, Stage IV Musings | Tagged accomplishment, Attitude, breast cancer, breasts, career, chronic pain, Diagnosis, fear, friends, frustration, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, pain, professional identity, quality of life, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, support, Tamoxifen, Treatment, vulnerability | 30 Comments

Dream Talking

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Scorchy

Did you ever have one of those odd dreams where you are trying to talk, but your words come out in slow motion? As you’re trying to speak you can’t and some part of your mind is fighting back and … Continue reading →