Tag Archives: pain

Reading the Past

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Scorchy

Recently many people Tweeted, blogged, and FB statused (!) reflections on two dear friends they lost to metastatic breast cancer a year ago in February. I knew neither woman; they were, in a sense, before my time. Before my time … Continue reading →

Posted in My Stage IV Life, Stage IV Musings | Tagged blogging, blogs, breast cancer, Diagnosis, friends, frustration, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, pain, pain management, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, support, The Cancer Culture Chronicles, the unknown, uncertainty, vulnerability | 24 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

2012, Don’t Let the Door Hit Ya!

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Scorchy

First of all, 2012 sucked! Before July 19 all I bitched about were office politics and cat hurl. Things have changed a tad. And while I can certainly detail the changes, there is one profound change worth talking about. Particularly … Continue reading →

Posted in My Stage IV Life | Tagged Attitude, breast, breast cancer, Diagnosis, frustration, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, pain, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, support, vulnerability | 32 Comments

The Meltdown

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Scorchy

Change is never easy, but as a change agent in my professional life I’ve always been willing to suck it up. I don’t always like it, but I can usually find a opening that appeals to me and warms me … Continue reading →

Posted in My Stage IV Life, Physicians | Tagged Attitude, bad customer service, breast cancer, condescension, customer service, Diagnosis, disrespect, emotional meltdown, frustration, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, oncologist, pain, panic, respect, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, support, Tamoxifen, Treatment, vulnerability | 53 Comments

What I Did On My Autumn Paincation

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Scorchy

Life has sure been a challenge since late September. A period I have begun to call my paincation. It has been a rough couple of months physically and psychologically Just at the point that every challenge turned me into a … Continue reading →

Posted in My Stage IV Life | Tagged Attitude, breast cancer, chronic disease, chronic pain, Etsy, exhausted, exhaustion, Humor, knitting, Lidocaine patches, Lidoderm, Lyrica, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, narcotics, Oxycodone, pain, pain management, pain relief, Paincation, patience, Peg Bundy, Protopage, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, Treatment, vulnerability | 21 Comments

Lyrica

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Scorchy

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Posted in Just for Laughs, My Stage IV Life | Tagged breast cancer, Happy Fun Ball, Humor, Information resources, Media, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, pain, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, Treatment | 8 Comments

Pain Management

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Scorchy

So I’m five months into this cancer crap. And, to quote a popular refrain, “what a long strange trip it’s been.” I take it a day at a time, but the days have been pretty long since October. The last … Continue reading →

Posted in My Stage IV Life | Tagged advocacy, breast cancer, confidence, Diagnosis, friends, hopelessness, Information resources, Lidocaine patches, Lidoderm, lumbar spondylosis, Lyrica, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, Mount Sinai, MRI, neuropathic pain, Oxycodone, pain, pain management, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, support, Treatment, vulnerability | 22 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

Prognosis

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Scorchy

The first time I heard the word “prognosis” as part of this little breast cancer adventure was back in July when I was diagnosed. 80% was the magic number. I had an 80% chance of survival. I remember saying, “Can’t … Continue reading →

Posted in My Stage IV Life, Stage IV Musings | Tagged Attitude, breast cancer, breasts, career, Death Star, Diagnosis, end of life planning, frustration, knitting, lytic lesion, Media, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, pain, prognosis, quality of life, retirement, retirement savings, savings, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, support, Tamoxifen, Tamoxifuck, TFK, Treatment, vulnerability, wills | 23 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 →