I'm in another hospital lobby -- this time waiting while my three-year-old son has surgery to repair a hernia.

So I'm back to reading a magazine. This time I brought my own not-so-outdated publication -- The Oprah Magazine, April 2007. And as I sit here flipping and turning the pages, there is so much I want to tell you.

I'll be back with more. But for now, think about this:

"...see how the flesh grows back
across a wound, with a great vehemence,
more strong
than the simple, untested surface before.
There's a name for it on horses,
when it comes back darker and raised: proud flesh.
as all flesh
is proud of its wounds, wears them
as honors given out after battle,
small triumphs pinned to the chest."

Jane Hirshfield, From What Binds Us

I have a few small triumphs pinned to my chest -- they show in the form of surgery scars and radiation tattoos and puckered skin where a port once lived. Proud flesh. Stronger than the once untested surface. My honors for having survived a battle.

I never got a chance to call for the results of my breast biopsy the day after it was performed -- because my phone rang hours before I was told to inquire about the pathology of my lump. That one phone call changed everything. Forever.

November 2004

The next day, November 24 and the day before Thanksgiving, my phone rang at 10:00 AM and the doctor who did the biopsy said the pathology report was back already. He said that unfortunately, cancer cells were found. He said I would need a lumpectomy (surgery to remove the lump), radiation, and possibly chemotherapy. He told me to buy a book called Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book. I got the book that day.

Somehow, I made it though the Thanksgiving weekend, with my thoughts jumping from the hope that this would turn out okay to the fear that I would not see my boys grow up. My mind wandered and worried about surgery and what treatments I would have. I wondered if I could have more kids and whether or not I would lose my hair. I cried and lost sleep and was hopeful too.

I learned a lot from reading my new book. I learned that many women do go on to have kids after cancer but I also learned that chemotherapy in young women can cause early menopause. I learned that I have an 85 percent survival rate and also that I will get tiny little tattoos surrounding my breast to aid in the proper delivery of radiation. These permanent tattoos will also alert any future doctors that my breast has had radiation because I can never have it again in that same area. The book helped me feel positive about this journey but it also helped me face reality.

I have since faced reality. And now I am surviving the reality of breast cancer. Following my diagnosis, I endured a lumpectomy, four rounds of dose-dense chemotherapy, more than six weeks of radiation, and one year of Herceptin treatment. Through it all, I learned that I am okay, that I will likely see my boys grow up, that my early menopause was only temporary, that I am physically able to have more children, that I did in fact lose my hair, that my 10 tiny tattoos are so small I can barely see them, that my survival rate is much higher than 85 percent.

I knew I had breast cancer the day I detected a lump in my breast. It just took eight days to confirm my suspicion. And now it's been two years. I have survived for two years.

Late last March fans of rock legend and Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler became concerned over speculation that Tyler had been diagnosed with throat cancer. Even though the remaining Rockin' The Joint show dates were cancelled, everyone connected to Tyler assured the public the rumors were false. Steven Tyler did not have cancer. He was suffering from strained vocal cords and needed a rest.

At the time, bassist Tom Hamilton explained the cancelled shows by saying, "You know Steven. Anything worth doing, to him, is worth overdoing," in reference to the fact that the band had been touring more now than it did 10 years ago.

Unfortunately, several months later it was announced that Hamilton had been diagnosed with cancer.

While the rumors had quieted concerning Tyler's health, now and then something new would come to our attention that made us wonder if he was okay. A reader wrote in that he had seen Tyler at the oncology clinic at a hospital he was visiting. We kept that under our hat.

Last night, Tyler appeared on Access Hollywood and for the first time, publicly discussed his health. No, he was not diagnosed with throat cancer -- but he had faced a serious health crisis and decided to speak about it. Tyler said he had been fighting a secret battle with a silent killer -- Hep C. Diagnosed three years ago, he was told by his doctor, Deepak Chopra's brother, that it was time he sought treatment. Tyler agreed to undergo a year of chemotherapy with interferon. He stated it nearly killed him but managed to stay with it and complete treatment. Tyler had Hep C for many years, and was asymptomatic, which is typical.

During the interview, Tyler said, "Hepatitis C is the one that, of all the people in this room, at least three have it and don't know it." He would like to raise awareness about Hep C and mentioned he might appear on Oprah for that purpose. "It's one of those things people don't speak about it, but it is treatable."

Almost 4 million Americans, or 1.8 percent of the U.S. population, have been infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV); it is the most prevalent cause of chronic liver disease in the United States. 80 percent of those with Hep C have no symptoms. Chronic hepatitis C can cause cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.

If you missed the television Access Hollywood interview with Steven Tyler, the video segment of the program is available online here.

David Mise, 20, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in May, placed an item for auction on eBay and was told by eBay to take it down. Because of chemotherapy hair loss, David has decided to sell advertising space on his bald head to the highest bidder. David, the father of a beautiful little boy, is a sheet metal worker who cannot work right now. He is trying to raise money to pay some of his bills.

On David's new eBay auction page it reads:

"DUE TO HAVING TO COMPLY WITH EBAY'S VERY STRICT REGULATIONS AND RULES AND CHARITY REGULATIONS I HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED THAT I CANNOT LIST A REASON FOR MY AUCTION AND APOLOGIZE DEEPLY FOR MY LAST BEING PULLED OFF, IT SIMPLY WASN'T MY FAULT BUT I'M STILL HOPING FOR THE BEST AND STILL HAVE MY HEAD UP FOR AUCTION."

I believe the caps, as the statement appears on the eBay auction page, reflects his level of frustration. So there you go. Maybe David cannot tell you why his bald head is available as advertising space -- but we can. The eBay item number is: 330013072811 and the auction runs through Saturday at 5:52 p.m. David ends his eBay auction with Happy Bidding and God Bless. We wish you the best of luck and May God Bless you too.

Women undergoing radiation treatment for breast cancer are marked with blue tattoos on their chest to show technicians where the radiation beam needs to be pointed. The blue tattoos are permanent, although after treatment a woman can have them removed.

Sheryl Crow, diagnosed with breast cancer last spring, who went through radiation treatment and has the blue tattoo, said, "I've kept my tattoo because it is a reminder for me. It's a reminder of that time. It's a reminder of how I want to look at my life. I want to remember. I don't want it to fade on me so fast."

Christy Schwan, who was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago and received the blue tattooing while undergoing radiation treatment, wrote a book called The Blue Tattoo Club. According to Schwan, in the spirit of sisterhood of breast cancer survivors, all women with the blue tattoos are members of the club. With her book, she wants to reach out and make sure no woman ever feels alone in her breast cancer journey.

Each cancer survivor is different. Some embrace cancer survivorship as a way to make the lives of others facing similar challenges and the world in general a better place. They reach out to comfort and to offer hope. Others simply want to forget as fast as possible the cancer experience. There is no one right way to be a cancer survivor, but I admire people like Crow and Schwan who do not walk away, who stick around, who fight as fierce warriors and gentle healers in this battle against cancer. It is, as Lance Armstrong said, the obligation of the cured for cancer survivors until a cure is found for all.

An unavoidable and unfortunate side effect of most chemotherapy drug treatments is hair loss. In making the best of a bad situation, Chemo Chicks features tattoo kits to adorn your head, re-create your eyebrows and have some fun with your temporary baldness.

The product, Earth Henna Body Painting Kits, is based on Mehndi, the art of henna painting on the body, practiced for thousands of years in India, Africa and the Middle East. For a bit of fun folklore, Chemo Chicks shares that the crushed leaves of the henna plant used to make henna are believed to bring love, luck and prosperity. Henna tattoos are painless and not permanent -- the henna tattoos fade gradually over weeks.

According to the Earth Henna tattoo kit product description, the henna paste lasts 4-6 weeks once mixed; contains enough henna to do two head tattoos or many eyebrows; and comes with head patterns and eyebrow stencils -- or you can create your own.

The body painting tattoo kit is based on a formula created after Artsy Chick Jen -- who is a scenic artist and painter for film and television -- after spending hours researching this ancient art. Together with Jana Rosenblatt, founder of Chemo Chicks and ovarian cancer survivor, they created a kit that other cancer patients can have fun using to lessen the trauma of chemotherapy hair loss. According to Jana, her head tattoo makes every one who sees it smile -- which makes her smile.

Some people detail their journeys with cancer through journaling -- like me -- and some use other mediums to express their emotions about this life-threatening disease.

Marilyn Whitney uses watercolors to sum up her experiences. As she underwent all sorts of procedures for breast cancer, two thoughts kept crossing her mind. One thought was the tendency to flee and the other was that there must be some way to help others by describing her procedures.

So after each hospital session, Marilyn would go home and craft a watercolor of what she had just seen and experienced. Then she would add a poem so the viewer would fully understand the message she was trying to convey.

In 2002, Pamela Anderson publicly announced she had been diagnosed with Hepatitis C, a disease that can lead to liver cancer. She indicated she had contracted the Hepatitis C virus from sharing tattoo needles with her husband Tommy Lee. At the time, she decided to forego conventional medical treatments, relying instead on a healthy vegetarian diet. She credits avocados for her improved liver health.

I am going to venture out on a limb and guess that it has more to do with her overall diet, lifestyle and other factors -- not simply avocados. But there you go, that's what she said.

Anderson is probably best known for her activist activities on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, PETA, but she has also acted as the celebrity spokesperson for the American Liver Foundation and the Canadian Liver Foundation. Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver that can lead to liver cancer. Hepatitis C is usually spread by blood transfusion, hemodialysis, and needles. There is no cure.

Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002, Christy Schwan, a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, friend, and a sister in spirit in the sisterhood of breast cancer survivors said, "My family and friends are the center of my life and they all agree that someday my tombstone will be engraved -- don't have too much fun without me!" Schwan invites you to join her in The Blue Tattoo Club. According to Schwan, she hopes, like wildflower seeds blowing in the wind, her book will pass from woman to woman so that no woman will ever feel alone in her journey.

The Blue Tattoo Club is a book she wished she had found when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. The blue tattoo is the permanent mark made on a woman's chest when she is going through radiation cancer treatments. These marks are where they will direct the radiation. If you have these marks, you are part of The Blue Tattoo Club. The Blue Tattoo Club book is a collection of personal stories from breast cancer survivors as they made their journey through breast cancer diagnosis, treatments and beyond.

Pete Wells, slide guitarist and one of the founders of the Australian power blues band Rose Tattoo, has lost his fight for life to prostate cancer. In 2002, when Wells was diagnosed with cancer, he was told he had six months to live. He outlived the original diagnosis, but ultimately, not the cancer.

Posted on the Rose Tattoo website, it reads, "We have to announce with much sadness, that Pete Wells has passed away. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. The good news is that Pete's music will live on for the inspiration of generations to come. Pete Wells, a great musician, a rock 'n' roll legend and most importantly, a good friend."

Rose Tattoo influenced bands that followed them, including Guns N' Roses, Motley Crue and L.A. Guns. Last September, Australian acts such as the Beasts of Bourbon, Paul Kelly and Tim Rogers staged benefit concerts for Wells in Sydney and Melbourne. For his many fans, this is a great loss.

Tattoos are not just for the bipeds anymore. Veterinarians have been tattooing livestock for years to prevent theft. but some vets are taking tattooing to new levels. For instance, take Dr. Jacque Rosholm of Main Street Animal Clinic in Payson, Arizona. She routinely gives animals ear tattoos to ensure proper identification to protect against theft and animal testing. By inking both ears, implanting a coded microchip and then inking the codes from the chip onto the animal's groin area, Dr. Rosholm can give pet owners an extra sense of security when it comes to their beloved four legged friends. Another use for tattoos is cancer prevention. At high altitudes or areas like Arizona where the sun shines a majority of the time, vets are able to tattoo the lighter skin areas such as a dog's nose. By giving the dog a layer of ink protection, the odds of skin cancer decrease significantly. Although it sounds a trifle extreme, it is a fabulous display of love as to just how far pet owners are willing to go for their animals.

The Healing Art Foundation offers cancer survivors a wonderful, if not unusual, gift: a tattoo. Permanent make-up, areolia re-pigmentation or cover ups are just a few of the services the foundation offers to cancer survivors. The non-profit group depends on public donations and the pro-bono services of the artists to keep the program operating. Madame Chinchilla, one of the first artists to tattoo images on cancer scars, states that creating beauty on the marks that initially caused so much pain and horror is a healing act for both the artist and the patient. To learn more about this unique therapy, click here.

Just as each case of breast cancer is different, each woman deals with breast cancer differently. Some women will go to all lengths to avoid a mastectomy while others, most often those with a family history of the disease, choose to have preventative mastectomies to increase their odds of survival. The methods of coping after surgery are equally varied. Immediate reconstructive surgery is a must for some, and other women choose alternative means for coping. Tattoos have become a widely accepted form of acknowledgment and expression when it comes to surgical scars. As mentioned in a previous post, the tattoos are sometimes immediate and other times take years to develop and grow as an expression of life after cancer. One such example of this is Pam Huntley. After having a mastectomy she did not want reconstructive surgery, saying, " My choice was not to have reconstruction after surgery because I didn’t want to pretend that my cancer hadn’t happened. I’m a person who needs large reminders. The cancer has brought so many blessings to my life, the biggest is the perspective that each day is so precious" She writes that getting a tattoo was the culmination of her three year battle with breast cancer, she views it as her shield against the disease. This is not to say that one method of coping is better than the other, but the fact that there are numerous choices available to women who have had no choice in their disease is a wonderful thing.

Last Friday a friend of mine asked me to accompany her while she went to a tattoo parlor to have her tattoo updated. It was a small, generic flower she had gotten a few years ago on a wild night in Las Vegas. The flower is located near her bikini line right next to a vertical scar that runs from her pubis bone past her bellybutton. At the age of 22, shortly after she was married, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. She had a complete hysterectomy and a handful of lymph nodes removed: It saved her life. She and her husband have since adopted a fabulous boy and the three of them live a happy, American life. But her tattoo needed some work, and work we did. For over six hours we sat in the tattoo artist's home as the lonely flower blossomed from drab to a series of vine laden leaves with her husband's and son's initials entwined in the foliage. Six hours of  holding her hand, telling stories and an ever filled wine glass left us all a little wonky by the end of the evening. She made plans to extend the flowers and vines to eventually grow over and around her scar, not to hide it but to welcome it as a part of her life.

Since that experience I have begun researching stories about the significance of tattoos and cancer. There is an abundant supply out there, and I feel it worthy of an ongoing blurb during the month of March. I have dug up quite a few interesting one, but if any readers have some to share, please do so and we will post them.