A fellow Cancer survivor recently wrote a post on her blog about living with cancer.
This has been on my mind even more recently then ever. After a few days of mulling over the term "living with cancer" I can honestly tell you Cancer has become a part of my family. Yes, you read that right. Go ahead re-read it.
A part of your family, you ask? Yes, cancer is right there with us every step of the way, for the ups and downs, it is sitting beside us at the dinner table, on family vacations, and right there when we wake up every morning, staring back at me when I look in the mirror.
Not a day goes by that I don't think about the what ifs and how I will address this topic with Briggsley and our future children. On one hand I want to be sworn to silence and never lay something so heavy on their hearts. But, I know that honesty is the best policy. I believe that I would want to know and would feel hurt if I was left in the dark, even as a child.
As much as cancer is the black sheep of the family, it looks like it is here to stay. The word is at least. Praying that it stays in the shadow of our day to day lives, and doesn't feel like it is being neglected and decide to star in the Shaylynn show.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Living With Cancer.
A fellow Cancer survivor recently wrote a post on her blog about what it mean to her her to be living with cancer.
This has been on my mind even more recently then ever. After a few days of mulling over the term "living with cancer" I can honestly tell you Cancer has become a part of my family. Yes, you read that right. Go ahead re-read it.
A part of your family, you ask? Yes, cancer is right there with us every step of the way, for the ups and downs, it is sitting beside us at the dinner table, on family vacations, and right there when we wake up every morning, staring back at me when I look in the mirror.
Not a day goes by that I don't think about the what ifs and how I will address this topic with Briggsley and our future children. On one hand I want to be sworn to silence and never lay something so heavy on their hearts. But, I know that honesty is the best policy. I believe that I would want to know and would feel hurt if I was left in the dark, even as a child.
As much as cancer is the black sheep of the family, it looks like it is here to stay. The word Cancer at least, praying that it stays in the shadow of our day to day lives, not the star.
This has been on my mind even more recently then ever. After a few days of mulling over the term "living with cancer" I can honestly tell you Cancer has become a part of my family. Yes, you read that right. Go ahead re-read it.
A part of your family, you ask? Yes, cancer is right there with us every step of the way, for the ups and downs, it is sitting beside us at the dinner table, on family vacations, and right there when we wake up every morning, staring back at me when I look in the mirror.
Not a day goes by that I don't think about the what ifs and how I will address this topic with Briggsley and our future children. On one hand I want to be sworn to silence and never lay something so heavy on their hearts. But, I know that honesty is the best policy. I believe that I would want to know and would feel hurt if I was left in the dark, even as a child.
As much as cancer is the black sheep of the family, it looks like it is here to stay. The word Cancer at least, praying that it stays in the shadow of our day to day lives, not the star.
Friday, November 19, 2010
1 year of remission.
1 year ago I completed my 37 rounds of radiation & 8 rounds of chemo.
That means officially 1 year in remission. I cannot even express how blessed I feel to be able to say that I have been cancer free for a year. I made it about 6 months in 08/09' before my recurrence. So many wonderful things have happened in the past year and that just makes this milestone all the more amazing!! Thanks you Lord for this blessing!
When praying for healing, ask great things of God and expect great things from God. But let us seek for that healing that really matters, the healing of the heart, enabling us to trust God simply, face God honestly, and live triumphantly. -Arlo F. Newell
That means officially 1 year in remission. I cannot even express how blessed I feel to be able to say that I have been cancer free for a year. I made it about 6 months in 08/09' before my recurrence. So many wonderful things have happened in the past year and that just makes this milestone all the more amazing!! Thanks you Lord for this blessing!
When praying for healing, ask great things of God and expect great things from God. But let us seek for that healing that really matters, the healing of the heart, enabling us to trust God simply, face God honestly, and live triumphantly. -Arlo F. Newell
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Oral Cancer Story Featured
My story was featured in thie month's edition of Dental Assisting Digest. You can read the article here
Thursday, August 5, 2010
1 Year Ago
1 year ago I had my full neck dissection. I cannot beleive it has been a whole year. I thank God each & every day for helping me through the roughest period in my life. I cannot beleive that December will mark 2 years from my 1st surgery-WHOA!! Hopefully I will only add years and no more surgeries!!!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Check Up!
I had a check up with my Oral Surgeon today! He says I get an A+!!! Doesn't see or feel anything of concern! WOOOOOOO He wants to see me again in 6 months, and of course a pic of baby girl when she arrives!
YAY for good check ups!!
YAY for good check ups!!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
News Release about Nashville Walk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nashville hygienists partner with Oral Cancer Foundation to raise awareness of a silent killer
Thu, Jun 10, 2010
OCF In The News, Oral Cancer News
Source: The Oral Cancer Foundation
Author: Staff
Locals join together for second annual Oral Cancer walk and free screening event
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., June 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ –
For the second year, the Nashville Area Dental Hygienists Society (NADHS) has organized a successful walk to promote oral cancer awareness for a disease that affects so many, yet so few know about. Hundreds of Nashville locals gathered for the “Boot Scootin’ for Oral Cancer Screening II” event that recently took place at Nashville’s Centennial Park to raise disease awareness, and funds for the Non-Profit Oral Cancer Foundation (OCF).
The walk was lead by NADHS president Nicki Raines, who encouraged the organization to embrace the cause of oral cancer detection when she began her two-year presidential term. Her committee worked countless hours to ensure that the event would top last year’s successful effort. Nicki’s team was able to generate a local buzz for the walk through posters displayed at area Starbucks and Panera Bread stores, and via news releases sent to all local media. Local merchants rallied to support the event. Attendees were treated to coffee donated by Starbucks, water donated by Kroger’s, and donuts donated by Krispy Kreme. Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Wal-Mart and other Nashville area merchants came together to show their support by donating products for the auction and raffle that took place after the walk. Nashville superstars George Strait, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Brooks and Dunn were represented through autographed memorabilia, which brought their fans to the raffle.
The event also included three inspiring speakers. Two oral cancer survivors: Kathi Gill, a Georgia resident, and ShayLynn Grant, a 24 year old from Kentucky. The third speaker was Mrs. Tennessee International, Cydney Miller who is a loyal advocate of early cancer detection. In keeping with the theme of early detection, free oral cancer screenings were offered for all attendees. “The free screenings were an important component of the event” OCF founder, Brian Hill commented, “We urge the public to get screened annually. The dental community is the first line of defense against oral cancer, through the process of early discovery. Reducing the death rate from oral cancer is tangible, and doable in the immediate future.”
Dr. Ross Kerr, an oral medicine specialist from New York University, who is an advisor to the foundation, commented on 24 year old survivor ShayLynn Grant. “Most people have a perception that this is a disease of older people who have spent a lifetime using tobacco, and finally develop the disease in their sixth or seventh decade of life. That is no longer completely accurate. With the Human Papilloma Virus #16 becoming an increasing cause of the disease, young non-smokers are the fastest growing segment of the oral cancer population.” OCF operations manager, Megan Cannon added, “Oral Cancer is not a rare disease. It kills one person every hour of everyday in the US, and 100 new cases of oral cancer will be diagnosed each day. These are staggering statistics, making these events so important, as awareness of the disease and its risk factors in the US population is so low. Clearly, Nicki Raines and the Nashville participants are doing their part to raise awareness on a local level, but their impact is so much greater. Through the funds received today, OCF will be able to disseminate information about risk factors, and do free screening events in parts of the US where disparities exist, and access to screening is either not available or cost prohibitive for those people.” Oral cancer is the largest group of those cancers which fall into the head and neck cancer category. Common names for it include mouth cancer, tongue cancer, head and neck cancer and throat cancer.
The Oral Cancer Foundation, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) public service charity that provides information, patient support, sponsorship of research, and advocacy related to this disease. It maintains a Web site at http://www.oralcancer.org which receives millions of hits per month. At the forefront of this year’s agenda is the drive to promote awareness in the minds of the American public about the need to undergo an inexpensive, painless and quick annual screening, and an outreach to the dental community to provide this service as a matter of routine practice.
CONTACT: Brian Hill of Oral Cancer Foundation, +1-949-646-8000
SOURCE Oral Cancer Foundation
Nashville hygienists partner with Oral Cancer Foundation to raise awareness of a silent killer
Thu, Jun 10, 2010
OCF In The News, Oral Cancer News
Source: The Oral Cancer Foundation
Author: Staff
Locals join together for second annual Oral Cancer walk and free screening event
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., June 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ –
For the second year, the Nashville Area Dental Hygienists Society (NADHS) has organized a successful walk to promote oral cancer awareness for a disease that affects so many, yet so few know about. Hundreds of Nashville locals gathered for the “Boot Scootin’ for Oral Cancer Screening II” event that recently took place at Nashville’s Centennial Park to raise disease awareness, and funds for the Non-Profit Oral Cancer Foundation (OCF).
The walk was lead by NADHS president Nicki Raines, who encouraged the organization to embrace the cause of oral cancer detection when she began her two-year presidential term. Her committee worked countless hours to ensure that the event would top last year’s successful effort. Nicki’s team was able to generate a local buzz for the walk through posters displayed at area Starbucks and Panera Bread stores, and via news releases sent to all local media. Local merchants rallied to support the event. Attendees were treated to coffee donated by Starbucks, water donated by Kroger’s, and donuts donated by Krispy Kreme. Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Wal-Mart and other Nashville area merchants came together to show their support by donating products for the auction and raffle that took place after the walk. Nashville superstars George Strait, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Brooks and Dunn were represented through autographed memorabilia, which brought their fans to the raffle.
The event also included three inspiring speakers. Two oral cancer survivors: Kathi Gill, a Georgia resident, and ShayLynn Grant, a 24 year old from Kentucky. The third speaker was Mrs. Tennessee International, Cydney Miller who is a loyal advocate of early cancer detection. In keeping with the theme of early detection, free oral cancer screenings were offered for all attendees. “The free screenings were an important component of the event” OCF founder, Brian Hill commented, “We urge the public to get screened annually. The dental community is the first line of defense against oral cancer, through the process of early discovery. Reducing the death rate from oral cancer is tangible, and doable in the immediate future.”
Dr. Ross Kerr, an oral medicine specialist from New York University, who is an advisor to the foundation, commented on 24 year old survivor ShayLynn Grant. “Most people have a perception that this is a disease of older people who have spent a lifetime using tobacco, and finally develop the disease in their sixth or seventh decade of life. That is no longer completely accurate. With the Human Papilloma Virus #16 becoming an increasing cause of the disease, young non-smokers are the fastest growing segment of the oral cancer population.” OCF operations manager, Megan Cannon added, “Oral Cancer is not a rare disease. It kills one person every hour of everyday in the US, and 100 new cases of oral cancer will be diagnosed each day. These are staggering statistics, making these events so important, as awareness of the disease and its risk factors in the US population is so low. Clearly, Nicki Raines and the Nashville participants are doing their part to raise awareness on a local level, but their impact is so much greater. Through the funds received today, OCF will be able to disseminate information about risk factors, and do free screening events in parts of the US where disparities exist, and access to screening is either not available or cost prohibitive for those people.” Oral cancer is the largest group of those cancers which fall into the head and neck cancer category. Common names for it include mouth cancer, tongue cancer, head and neck cancer and throat cancer.
The Oral Cancer Foundation, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) public service charity that provides information, patient support, sponsorship of research, and advocacy related to this disease. It maintains a Web site at http://www.oralcancer.org which receives millions of hits per month. At the forefront of this year’s agenda is the drive to promote awareness in the minds of the American public about the need to undergo an inexpensive, painless and quick annual screening, and an outreach to the dental community to provide this service as a matter of routine practice.
CONTACT: Brian Hill of Oral Cancer Foundation, +1-949-646-8000
SOURCE Oral Cancer Foundation
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