When Jacki Donaldson found a lump in her breast
while showering, her doctor sent her in for a mammogram. Because she was the youngest person waiting to get a mammogram,
she took it as a sign the lump was nothing serious. Mammograms are not recommended for women until they reach 40 years
of age. Donaldson was only 34 years old, too young for cancer, she thought. The day before Thanksgiving, her doctor
called to tell her the news. Donaldson had breast cancer. When she started keeping my Breast Cancer blog, she intended it as a way for family and friends to stay informed of her progress. Her blog grew in readership, beyond the sphere of family and friends, to include other cancer survivors and strangers who care. As she kept blogging, she realized the blog served several purposes. Comforting words from readers quiet her worries, lift her mood, and give her inner strength. Readers are thankful for her blog and her willingness to share her breast cancer experience, because it motivates them, informs them, and helps them. Blogging is a great way of creating connections. Connections that heal.
1. I was diagnosed with Indolent Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma last year. I didn't have any tumors yet. I had cancer in two of the lymph nodes in my spleen. My spleen was swollen and had eaten all my blood. I was fortunate that it was caught hours before it would have killed me. I was lucky to get Rituxan which put it in remission.I have been feeling good so far.
Posted at 10:28PM on Feb 9th 2006 by Rita