October update

Avon, what are you thinking?

A copy of the email that I wrote to Avon in regards to their very insensitive ad. It has me very upset. This is just not a cute disease. I am just so angry about this. Let's stop being aware and start doing something beyond feeling ourselves up. Let's get a cure!!!!


I am writing in regards to your avon "check yourself" campaign. I am a woman who has lived the past three years with metastatic breast cancer. I "checked" myself in 2000 and was diagnosed with right breast cancer and treated. I checked myself with yearly mammograms, pet scans, mri's and cat scans and was diagnosed with mets bc because of a routine pre-surgical x ray and blood test. My normal mammo and pets ect didn't discover my spreading disease, it was a test done pre surgery. So, lucky me huh? Your ad is offensive and misleading, as well as uneducated and uniformed. Women/and men who could develop breast cancer or metastatic breast cancer are not being served well by your ad. It would have been better spent money if you had given it directly to research. Shame on you. Should you wish to learn more about this disease from women who live and are dying with this disease, please check out my blog www.lesliescancerconfessions.blogspot.com or http://jillscancerjourney.blogspot.com/ or http://www.butdoctorihatepink.com/ or http://lisabadams.com/tag/xeloda/ or http://mbcn.org/.
All of these web sites can inform you better about what you are missing in your ad.

Leslie Bowlus

The awareness machine-By Ann Silberman

Hello friends,

I hope you all are enjoying Autumn, with its pumpkin lattes and cool crisp weather!  I have been a bit lower key this week.  My very heartfelt intention to film and update didn't work as expected.  I filmed three different videos and deleted them all as unacceptable to share with you.  So, Here I will just give you a blog post update.  As well as share an incredibly well written and intellegent article by fellow cancer blogger Ann Silberman.  This article says IT ALL!  My mind has been seriously blown by the detailed information and knowledge that she has shared in the writing of this article.  I am linking it in the below post. 

How am I?  Well it has been an emo week for me.  Lots of highs and low low lows.  The important parts are that I had my 3 week check up, and all seems pretty routine, except for an increase in the amount of fluid in my lungs.  Still not enough to warrant a thoracentisis though.  I'll have a chest xray before my next appointment to compare to my recent scans and xrays.  I won't know what my tumor markers are for a few days.  They had been climbing again, but were only slightly higher than the normal range last month. So no big alarms there.  Overall, its cancer business as usual. 

But please do check out this article.  It will really be worth your time.  You'll be glad you did. 
Here is the link:

 http://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer/turn-from-awareness-to-research

Thanks for stopping by,

Lesllie

Seriously, show me you are out there

I am seriously frustrated!  I have been blogging about  my cancer journey for three years.  I have two, TWO followers on my blog.  I get lots of views, but no subscribers, (thanks MO and MOM) but cancer is my life.  It is breast cancer awareness month.  Everyone is talking (lots of talk no damned action) about it.  It would mean a lot to me if you would follow, or like or thumbs up my blogs or videos.  If not, there is zero point in me making them.  Time is precious, I don't want to waste what  I have left thinking that I am sharing important info, if no one really gives a damn or wants to hear it.

Leslie

Webinar recap, Sadie cam, FIND A CURE!

I am......

Hello my friends,
Here is a little info so you can get to know me better.

Thanks for stopping by,
Leslie

13 Facts you should know about breast cancer

13 Facts Everyone Should Know about Metastatic Breast Cancer

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(click HERE to download a flyer you can print and distribute)

1. No one dies from breast cancer that remains in the breast. Metastasis occurs when cancerous cells travel to a vital organ and that is what threatens life.

2. Metastasis refers to the spread of cancer to different parts of the body, typically the bones, liver, lungs and brain.

3. An estimated 155,000 Americans are currently living with metastatic breast cancer. Metastatic breast cancer accounts for approximately 40,000 deaths annually in the U.S.

4. Treatment for metastatic breast cancer is lifelong and focuses on control of the disease and quality of life.

5. About 6% to 10% of people are Stage IV from their initial diagnosis.

6. Early detection does not guarantee a cure. Metastatic breast cancer can occur 5, 10 or 15 years after a person's original diagnosis and successful treatment checkups and annual mammograms.

7. 20% to 30% of people initially diagnosed with early stage disease will develop metastatic breast cancer.

8. Young people, as well as men, can be diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.

9. Like early stage breast cancer, there are different types of metastatic breast cancer.

10. Treatment choices are guided by breast cancer type, location and extent of metastasis in the body, previous treatments and other factors.

11. Metastatic breast cancer is not an automatic death sentence. Although most people will ultimately die of their disease, some will live long and productive lives.

12. There are no definitive prognostic statistics for metastatic breast cancer. Every patient and their disease is unique.

13. To learn more about National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day on October 13 and to access resources specifically for people living with metastatic breast cancer and their caregivers, visit www.mbcn.org.