Sunday, August 19, 2012

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.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

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!