Wendy Harpham on Healthy Survivorship

To reveal -- or not to reveal -- my "MD" status

Last evening I went to a clinic for what I was 100% sure was contact dermatitis, contracted when I stupidly pulled a few weeds barehandedly the morning before. I decided against putting "MD" after my name on the forms or mentioning it to the nurse and physician.

Later, at the sign-out desk, the nurse said, "I didn't know you were a doctor." In response to my surprise, she reminded me that my insurance is through the medical association.

I felt as if I'd been caught in a lie.

Details

Someone recently asked me how I was handling the stress of planning two weddings.

I answered. "I don't feel stressed; just happy. I'm not worrying -- and I'm not going to worry -- about the details. As I see it, the two young men who are soon to join our family are honest, ethical, hard-working and madly in love with my daughters...

And...

(Genetic) Testing My Children

In a piece entitled"The Genes That Bind" (summer issue of CURE magazine), Journalist Charlotte Huff covers the emotionally charged topic of when and how to share information on genetic risk with children.

Reacting to Post-radiation Risks

How did I go from rattled to relaxed in a matter of hours after learning about my risk of carotid disease due to radiation therapy I received 18 years ago? First, by putting the piece of information in perspective, as outlined in my last post. Second, by making a plan of action.

Dealing with Post-radiation Risks

In yesterday's post, I shared how I learned about my increased risk of carotid artery disease due to my past radiation therapy. So how did I get from rattled to relaxed? My thoughts went something like this:

Late Effect of Radiation

Many of my friends and family assume that the further away I get from the mini-mantle irradiation I received in 1992, the more I can relax about my developing any complications of that treatment. Not so.

Cancer in America

If you haven't already, check out yesterday's issue of Parade, found in Sunday newspapers everywhere. This multi-feature story entitled "Cancer in America" begins with the topic addressed at the Cancer Survivorship Research conference in DC: "Living After Cancer."

Cancer Survivorship Research: Recovery and Beyond

What a three days I've had here at the 2010 Biennial Conference. While packing my suitcase for the return home, I'm thinking about all I've heard.

Wendy in Washington

Tomorrow begins a conference entitled "Cancer Survivorship Research: Recovery and Beyond." And I have a job to do.

"Right" or "Best"

Healthy Survivors make the best decisions, not the right ones. They take the best steps, not the right steps.  Right? Best? Is there any difference?

Last Acts

"Imagine you know you have only a few months to live. What would you do with your remaining time?"

The Gratitude Campaign

A recent post on Jeanne M. Hannah's wonderful Updates in Michigan Family Law blog introduced me to The Gratitude Campaign.  

Letting Go

Illness and injury have a nasty habit of causing losses. Can such loss be good?

Breakthrough Melanoma Drug: Hope or Hype?

NBC News health correspondent Robert Bazell introduces his report on a sensational new drug for the treatment of melanoma.

But then he explains that the new drug --  ipilimumab -- improves life expectancy from 6 months to 10 months. And it works well in only 20-30% of patients, the other 70-80% of patients showing no benefit at all. And it carries serious side effects, such as colitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Is the fanfare hype? Are we celebrating too soon?

Living High

Recently I was asked to do someone a favor. My helping him would help other survivors, a prime directive for me. So I was planning on doing the favor until the person then made another request in a rude and disrespectful way.

The Love Story of a Man Without a Heart

The title is not a trick. Mr. Charles Okeke had been tethered to an artifical pump in a hospital for over two years before a new portable artificial heart made it possible for him to go home to his wife and two young children.

I'm sharing his dramatic story for two reasons: