Monthly Archives: December 2012

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

Inside a Roll of Toilet Paper

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Scorchy

This evening I spent an hour smooshed into a toilet paper roll as a fire engine, three jackhammers, and a shotgun popped off multiple rounds around my person. Or, as it is known in laymen terms, I had an MRI. … Continue reading →

Posted in My Stage IV Life | Tagged breast, breast cancer, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Diagnosis, magnetic resonance imaging, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, MRI, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, Treatment | 19 Comments

Seasons Greetings 2012

Posted on December 22, 2012 by Scorchy

Posted in Not Cancer | Tagged Sarcastic Boob Woirld Headquarters, Seaons Greetings | 9 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

On Being Nominated for Multiple Awards

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Scorchy

“It’s an honor just to be nominated.” We all hear this on the days and weeks that lead up the the Oscars. And every time I hear it I say, “Bullshit! You want to win!” Then network television made the … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, My Stage IV Life | Tagged advocacy, awareness, Best in Show Twitter Award, blogging, blogs, breast cancer, endorse me, friends, Hilarious Health Activist Award, Humor, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, nominate me, peers, PET/CT, pink ribbon, stage iv breast cancer, support, The Rookie of the Year Award, Twitter, vulnerability, WEGO Health | 14 Comments

Where’s the Empathy?

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Scorchy

I have to tell you, every twist and turn of this cancer experience always reveals something new. There is the physical stuff: physiology, biology, and chemistry. There is the psychological stuff: fear, resolve, sadness. happiness, and uncertainty. And then there … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, My Stage IV Life | Tagged advocacy, anger, Attitude, breast cancer, chronic disease, discussion boards, discussion groups, fear, frustration, Inspire, judgment, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, Philosophy, Politics, rage, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, stigma, support, vulnerability | 20 Comments

Lyrica

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Scorchy

If you’re having trouble reading the text, press Ctrl and + to enlarge.

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

Klingon Inspiration

Posted on December 15, 2012 by Scorchy

Special thanks to Mark E. Shoulson from the Klingon Language Institute for the translation.

Posted in My Stage IV Life | Tagged breast cancer, chronic disease, disease management, Fight your disease like a Klingon, Humor, Klingon, metastasis, metastatic breast cancer, Stage IV, stage iv breast cancer, support, Treatment, Worf | 2 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

Talking with My Mom

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Scorchy

My mom and me have always had a good relationship. The way we fight and annoy one another, outsiders might think that was a crazy statement to make, but it’s true. Mom was born in 1930 and grew up poor. … Continue reading →