Humblings

This has been an exceptionally hard week for the Hartman family.  We had two family members waiting on news of potential cancer.  The waiting is always the hardest part.  I am extremely happy to say that as of right now, neither case resulted in a cancer diagnosis.  As happy as I am about the outcomes, I am humbled by the experience.  Cancer is everywhere and can come about when you least expect it.  I can't forget that despite lowering my risk of breast and ovarian cancer, there are other cancers I am still as susceptible as anyone else to developing.  And, worse, those around me, those I love the most, are also at risk just like anyone else.  There is no immunity in this fight.  I am thanking whatever higher power there is for such great news for my family.  But I am also remembering that these victories don't end the larger war.

Long Overdue Update, AND, Exciting News

Long Overdue Update:
I went to Baltimore last Wednesday for one of my annual follow-ups.  Everything is absolutely perfect....except!  The P.A. that typically does the nipple tattooing is no longer dong them and the office hasn't found a replacement....yikes!  So I got the name and card of someone called "Wild Bill" who is licensed to do nipple tattoos....(please read with skepticism).  I might be albino nips for a while longer. 

Exciting News!
A few months ago I was contacted, via this blog, by a grad student in Journalism writing her final project.  She was wanting my perspective and experience with BRCA and surgery to write a portion of an online magazine called Twenty-Something.  You can view the article by downloading, for free, the app "Best of Newhouse".  The article is called "An Inherited Dilemma".  I think she did an amazing job!