About – ***Read Me First***

What is it like to discover you have an aggressive form of cancer when you are in your 30’s and have young children to raise?

At 33 I was told that the lumps in my breast were probably nothing.  So I did nothing, believing I was “too young for breast cancer.”

Shortly after my 34th birthday — and now with no health insurance — I discovered that Cancer didn’t care how old I was. On my twin kindergartners’ birthdays, the diagnosis of Her2 positive Stage 3C breast cancer rocked my foundation and changed my world in an instant.

This is the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful of my cancer diagnosis and everything that has followed. This is my story…

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There doesn’t seem to be an easy way to read posts chronologically, so if you would like to begin at the beginning, here is a current list of all of my posts in order, beginning with the very first post.  Thanks so much for taking the time to get to know me.

  1. Yep, I’m a Cancer Patient
  2. March 5, 2010
  3. March 25, 2010

  4. March 29, 2010 — I Wish “I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant”

  5. April 1, 2010 — Only 1 Pink Line

  6. April 3, 2010 — They Don’t Have a Frequent Flier Card for This

  7. April 7, 2010 — Pink Bunny Cupcakes & Good Samaritans
  8. April 9, 2010 — Life is Like a Box of Chocolate Cupcakes
  9. April 13, 2010 — Today is the Day
  10. Blending Past & Present
  11. Cancer and Cockroaches
  12. Happy Waving Guy
  13. 4 Months

  14. National No Bra Day and Breast Cancer Awareness Month — OR — Please Put That Pink Can of Soup Down & Put Your Bra Back On

  15. Looking for an Affordable Dinner Out? 2 Kids Eat Free at Chili’s

  16. I Want Out… Right?

  17. FREE Kids Meal at OUTBACK plus FREE Steak Dinner for your next visit!

  18. How the Hell Did I Get Here?

  19. Free LEGO Halloween Event at Toys R Us

  20. About My Brain

  21. FREE Kids Meal at OUTBACK plus FREE Steak Dinner for your next visit!

  22. Halloween Deal — 2 Kids Eat Free at Chili’s

  23. DP Challenge: I Wish I Were… Going to Live to See My Kids Grow Up
  24. revelation from a chilly gray day: I am Cancer’s Bitch
  25. Weekly Photo Challenge: Geometry
  26. what my 8~year old son has to say…
  27. Weekly Photo Challenge: Renewal — Confessions of a Former Mermaid
  28. Follea’s Breast Cancer Wig Giveaway
  29. PLEASE stop eating PLASTIC!
  30. Oh No, I’ve Been Robbed! Did Cancer Steal My Compassion?
  31. Grateful Am I…
  32. $50 Straws AND How Cancer Changes Everything
  33. Weekly Photo Challenge: Changing Seasons
  34. Procrastinators Unite! Photo Cards — Printed, Addressed, Mailed w/ FREE STAMPS for $0.25
  35. GUEST POST: A Holiday Season With Cancer
  36. Weekly Photo Challenge: Delicate
  37. Update: Received My Cheap Holiday Cards…
  38. The Daily Post: Weekly Photo Challenge: Surprise
  39. A Minute Can Make a Difference
  40. A long overdue thank you…
  41. Weekly Photo Challenge: Resolved — In Memory of Julie
  42. Messed Up
  43. Weekly Photo Challenge: Illumination
  44. My 1st Bucket List Adventure
  45. Weekly Photo Challenge: Love
  46. FREE Papa John’s Pizza!
  47. Free Pancakes for a Good Cause… And more free pizza!
  48. Reblog:  Emily Cousins: Looking for Links between Cancer and the Environment
  49. “Give me back my peanut butter!” — OR — “My 1st Bucket List Adventure: Part I”
  50. Weekly Photo Challenge: Unique
  51. Daily Prompt: Childhood Revisited — Dirty Memories
  52. Weekly Photo Challenge: Home
  53. Reblog:  Learning to Live with Lymphedema
  54. Happy Valentine’s Day
  55. Weekly Photo Challenge: Kiss ~ a Wedding, an Elephant, a Gorilla and a Boy
  56. The Worst Job I Ever Had — Or — A Hairy Guy and an Old White House
  57. Weekly Photo Challenge: Forward — Boys at the Beach
  58. Iced Coffee for a Quarter! — Or — Why I Haven’t Slept in a Week
  59. Weekly Photo Challenge: Lost in the Details
  60. Skin Cancer Too?  Really?!
  61. Weekly Photo Challenge: Lunchtime
  62. The Green Study “Worst Job I Ever Had” Contest: Honorable Mention
  63. Happy Easter and Happy Passover
  64. The Night I Lied to You
  65. Weekly Photo Challenge:  A Day In My Life — Winter Break
  66. Weekly Photo Challenge:  Color
  67. Palliative Care at 30-Something.  What Does It Mean?
  68. Man of Science, Man of Faith
  69. Daily Post:  The Satisfaction of a List — Things I’m Afraid I Won’t Get to do Before I Die
  70. Weekly Photo Challenge:  Change
  71. Guest Post By Susan Vento, Wife of the Late Bruce Vento
  72. And Tonight We Danced…
  73. my suns blog
  74. Weekly Photo Challenge: Up
  75. The Battle We Didn’t Choose
  76. Mistaken for the Bride of Frankenstein
  77. Travel Theme: Light
  78. Weekly Photo Challenge: Culture
  79. An Update on Frank and Nancy
  80. Reblog:  Brinker Stinker: A Reminder of What Susan G. Komen is Not About…
  81. Pirate Treasure and Minecraft TNT
  82. Weekly Photo Challenge:  From Above
  83. Mistaken for the Bride of Frankenstein:  Part  II
  84. Reblog:  Harmonic Convergence
  85. Weekly Photo Challenge:  Escape = The Sea
  86. Palliative Care at 30-Something:  What Does it Mean? (Part II)
  87. Weekly Photo Challenge:  In The Background
  88. In Memory of Julie (Weekly Photo Challenge: Resolved)
  89. Reblog:  The Scar Project
  90. Daily Prompt: Tourist Trap
  91. Weekly Photo Challenge:  “The Sign Says” I Have Cancer
  92. I DO NOT LIKE WASHING MY HANDS!
  93. Weekly Photo Challenge:  Fleeting — “Not Enough Time”
  94. The Dream
  95. Today is My 1st Birthday…My Blog’s 1st Birthday, That is!
  96. Weekly Photo Challenge: World Through Your Eyes — “Old San Juan”
  97. M.I.A.
  98. National No Bra Day & Breast Cancer Awareness Month — OR — Please Put that Pink Can of Soup Down & Put Your Bra Back On!
  99. The Devil is in the Details…and my Bed
  100. Weekly Photo Challenge: Fresh
  101. Weekly Photo Challenge:  One Shot, Two Ways
  102. Weekly Photo Challenge: An Unusual POV
  103. Weekly Photo Challenge:  Inside — A Word From the Dogs
  104. Weekly Photo Challenge: From Lines to Patterns — Prelude to Toplessness
  105. Wow!!!… And It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month
  106. National No Bra Day — An Update
  107. On the Radio
  108. Why I Can’t Wait for My Colonoscopy
  109. My Little Characters
  110. An Eerie Feeling — Is it Cancer?  [Weekly Photo Challenge]  —  ***WARNING:  INCLUDES POST-SURGICAL PHOTOS***
  111. Hello Again…
  112. Let There Be Light  [Weekly Photo Challenge]
  113.  Dogs Get Cancer, Too
  114. Lone Jellyfish, Candy Apple Redhead, Happy Holidays, and a Weekly Photo Challenge
  115. I’ve Missed You — And Weekly Photo Challenge
  116. Silence Isn’t Golden — And Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside / Little Dog Inside of Big Dog
  117. I’m Sorry… An Open Letter to My Followers
  118. On a Dark and Winding Road
  119. Hello Again…
  120. Warmth — Weekly Photo Challenge & Thoughts of You…
  121. Hello, My Friends… And Weekly Photo Challenge: Early Bird
  122. Morgan
  123. Cancer In Many Languages by Morgan (Leisha’s son)
  124. Doing Something a Bit Different This Mother’s Day
  125. Thank You For Standing By My Side
  126. Is It Really “All About the Titties” on National No Bra Day (a.k.a. Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day)?
  127. The Words…

There are more ~ I’m behind with updating this list!  Skip to October 2015 in the listing at the right…

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95 Comments

95 thoughts on “About – ***Read Me First***”

  3. Deadline for Submissions 11/18: Follea’s Breast Cancer Wig Giveaway – 6 Winners Will be Selected

    Dear Cancer in My Thirties,

    We believe you and your followers may be interested in Follea’s Breast Cancer Wig Giveaway on Facebook. Participants who share their inspirational story will have the chance to win a Gripper-2 wig, a beautiful Tres Chic wig or a super-soft bamboo sleep cap. To view the Follea video “A Woman’s Spirit is Unbreakable: A Tribute for Breast Cancer Awareness Month”, visit

    Here are the Follea Breast Cancer Wig Giveaway instructions, which can also be viewed at http://www.facebook.com/follea:

    1. There are two different ways that a woman with breast cancer can be submitted for a chance to win these prizes:

    • A woman with breast cancer can create and submit a short video about her journey with breast cancer, how it has affected her life, and how she is dealing with it.

    • A friend or family member of a woman with breast cancer can submit a video about how their loved one who has cancer inspires them.

    2. Submit video by Sunday, November 18, 2012 at 11:59 pm PST.

    3. All winners, including grand prize, second place and third place winners, will be determined based on the number of votes a contestant receives, in comparison to their competitors. Voting closes Friday, December 14, 2012, at 11:59 pm PST. :

    • The grand prize winner will receive her choice of either Follea’s Gripper-2 Sport or the Gripper-2 Cool, from Follea’s innovative and luxurious 2012 Gripper-2 Collection. The winner will select from one of five standard sizes and available standard color and length specifications.

    • five second place winners will receive one of Follea’s beautiful, short-style, premium European-hair Tres Chic MM6 wigs.

    • 50 third place winners will receive one of Follea’s super-soft bamboo sleep caps.

    4. Follea will announce the winners on December 17, 2012 at 12:00 pm PST.
    Also, every Friday through December 14, Follea will conduct a random drawing of all of the contestants’ names, giving all participants the chance to win one of Follea’s bamboo sleep caps every week.
    About Follea: The company’s 2012 collection includes wigs and hairpieces that are specially designed for women with little to no hair such as the Gripper collection, which is light, breathable and stays securely in place with affixed medical grade silicone tabs. Follea has ICARe representatives and ICARe salons around the world, so women can get hands-on help choosing just the right wig or extensions to suit their needs.
    Would you like to receive any additional information?
    Best regards,
    Lisa Elia
    Lisa Elia PR
    310-479-0216

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  6. Pingback: Many Thanks for the Fun Stuff | The Retiring Sort

  7. Hi there – This is just to let you know that because I appreciate your posts, I’ve nominated you for the Illuminating Blogger Award. I hope you’ll consider this good news – but even if you aren’t interested in accepting, I hope you may see some increased traffic as a result. The acceptance rules are at: http://wp.me/p2ekZU-ZC. All the best!

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  10. Pingback: $50 Straws AND How Cancer Changes Everything | cancerinmythirties

  12. I am just spellbound by your blog. I have nominated you for an award — the 2012 Blog of the Year Award. It will be ‘announced’ on my blog, tomorrow morning, where you will find the rules. They are not onerous, I’m happy to say. Here’s a link to my blog:
    http://weinstein365.wordpress.com/

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  13. I popped over from Weinstein365 as I am a young 1 year chemo free triple negative breast cancer survivor, although that is (WAS) only one of multiple medical problems, so I really dont pay much attention to it, or any of them in fact. They dont own me! Every day is a gift, and severe illness will spurt you on to greater heights or allow you to fall into the pit of despair. I am flying in the clouds, and I hope the same for you.

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  17. Hello nice to meet you, I’m sitting in a car dealership and haven’t time to read through your blog at this time. I will definitely come back and poke around. With heartfelt empathy, raising children is worrisome let alone having to cope with what you have been through. And so – where are you today? Cancer free I hope !

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    • Thanks so much! It’s nice to meet you, too. Thanks for taking the time to read & comment. I’m not sure where I am today. No one has used the words “cancer free”. I have some upcoming scans to look into whether my current issues are related to the many treatments and surgeries I’ve had — or… So I am trying not to dwell on it & am taking one day at a time.
      Thanks so much — and I look forward to visiting your site.

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      • My humble apologies – please excuse my choice in words – like many we are so ignorant of using common cliches.

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        • Oh Divine, I hope I didn’t make you feel bad!!! No apology necessary! I’ve certainly heard of people being deemed ‘cancer free,’ so I don’t think there is anything wrong with the expression. I seem to hear ‘remission’ more in later stage cancer circles if there is an expectation of return. Some of it may be oncologist preference, too? P.S. I am enjoying your blog!

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  18. Pingback: The Green Study “Worst Job I Ever Had” Contest: Honorable Mention | The Green Study

  20. You are strong enough to keep on fighting. Just like me, I’ve been diagnozed with breast cancer only 4 days after my 36th birthday, on 2010. I guess that was my another “birthday gift” that year. I’ve been taking some treatments, and now I still consume tamoxifen 20 mg tablet, with prescription from my oncologyst. I hope we’ll be the champions from this kind of fighting.

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      • I had Stage 0 breast cancer. I had a lumpectomy, followed by radiation with the “balloon” in the breast. If I had it to do over, I would just have the breast removed. It’s been 5 years and it still hurts when we hit bumps in the road in the car, etc.
        How are things going? Are you undergoing chemo?

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        • A balloon in the breast doesn’t sound pleasant! I’m sorry you are still experiencing pain after 5 years! I think all too often we are not really told what to expect after surgeries and treatments, so it’s difficult to make the right decision — and sometimes to feel good about the decisions we make. I think the medical community really needs to come up with a better way of conveying what to expect from cancer treatments and of helping patients make choices they feel good about!

          Things are going okay for me. I began Palliative Care a few months ago and am on an oxy and morphine regimen that has made a huge difference for me. As for treatments, I’ve had lots of chemo and radiation and surgeries and Herceptin, but I’m happy to say that all I’m getting now is Zometa and Tamoxifen. 🙂

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  26. Pingback: Today is My 1st Birthday…My Blog’s 1st Birthday, That is! | cancerinmythirties

  29. Pingback: The Devil is in the Details…and My Bed | behindthemaskofabuse

  34. I had a lump in my breast when I was 28, and went undiagnosed until I was 33 years old. I was told repeatedly that I was to young to worry about Breast Cancer. I am happy to tell you that I am now 55 years old, and yes I did have a recurrence when I was 40, but am a survivor, one day at a time.

    My 27 year old daughter just had bilateral prophylactic mastectomies, and now she is a PREVIVOR!

    I wish you all the best of health and happiness, and know that there are a lot of people out here praying for you.

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  35. Thank you for your posts, your courage and your activism! I lost my brother-in-law to an aggressive melanoma in 2009. He was living in our house and died peacefully, surrounded by his family. It was still a very tough year. My Mother-in-law, who lives with us, is a two-time cancer survivor. She is 84, and beautiful, active and vibrant. I hope your life is as long and fruitful as hers, and I truly appreciate the contribution you’ve made here. XOXOX

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  36. I haven’t started reading your blog…yet, but I came across it today coincidentally. I just left the dr after my “well” women check and the dr found a few lumps she believes are just benign cysts. Mammogram is being scheduled. I am 30 with 5-year old twin boys also…small world 🙂 My mom just went through breast cancer lumpectomy and radiation treatment last fall so I am familiar with breast cancer and its affects. Stay strong and believe in yourself. Best wishes to you!

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    • Hi Heather,
      I’m glad your doctor was thorough and didn’t miss or dismiss your lumps. And glad that she thinks they are benign cysts,but that she wants to check them out anyway. It makes me happy when I hear of doctors who don’t dismiss breast changes/lumps simply because of a patient’s age and because they buy into the false notion that cancer can’t happen to a young woman..
      That being said, I’m sure it was probably a stressful day! And worrisome! Especially considering how you’ve just just gone through your mom’s surgery and radiation with her.
      I am so glad you are getting the lumps checked out (and hope they will do an ultrasound, too). I could say ‘try not to worry,’ but I know that’s easier said than done. I will be thinking of you & I hope you check back in and let me know how your appt. goes.
      Best wishes, Leisha
      p.s. funny that you also have twin boys! 😉

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  38. I won’t press “Like” because it’s not something good to be liked. I’ so sorry about your health, I wish you get better and be able to raise your kids. I am looking forward to start reading your posts and hopefully I’ll be able to help in any way. Best wishes. God bless you!

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  45. Hi, I just came across your blog. I’m 37 and was diagnosed with breast cancer just over a month ago and had my mastectomy September 5. Right now I’m a stage 2B but will be seeing my surgeon tomorrow to see if I’m upgraded to a 3A. I haven’t had a chance to read too many of your posts yet but plan on it. I also invite you to check out my blog, http://www.littlebsbigc.wordpress.com. I hope you are doing well.

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