Donna Peach

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Following: 6
Following Blogs: 9

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metastatic breast cancer support groups

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 29, 2009, 1:27 am
I’ve been reviewing online sites to ferret out those that pertain specifically to metastatic breast cancer. I have found a few support sites devoted to MBC, so I’m including them here as w...
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no cancer zone continued

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 28, 2009, 1:19 am
Today seemed like a day from a past era. Faithfully avoided shopping anywhere. Also, continued the mood from yesterday: slow, blissfully avoiding you know what, reading about all things else. Writing ...
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Happy Thanksgiving 2009: Family Time, Ziggy Marley

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 26, 2009, 4:25 pm
Today is my no-cancer zone. I am thinking only of all those wonderful parts of my life and all that give me reasons for being thankful. Family is my number one thought today, and here’s today...
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Taxol solo: chemo 3.4.2

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 26, 2009, 1:50 am
This was an extra long day, and somehow, despite, the way I have been feeling, I think I fared pretty well. I woke up feeling quite sick, again, but got ready to go to the office. I had chemo schedule...
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side effects fighting to win

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 25, 2009, 12:45 am
Yuck. My side effects are all engaged so that I was sick again all day and ended up sleeping. I’m fighting it with ginger ale and my watered-down cranberry juice as well as eating little bits he...
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pink glove dance: Providence St Vincent

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 24, 2009, 1:02 am
Have you seen this video tribute to breast cancer awareness? Kudos to Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, Portland, Oregon, where the staff donned pink gloves from Medline and put their moves to Ja...
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venting, coping

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 23, 2009, 12:05 am
Spent some time writing cards and letters and going out for coffee with a friend–trying to take my mind off of the negative thoughts that keep tugging at me. Just enjoying today’s convers...
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fatigue and low-key Saturday

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 22, 2009, 1:50 am
The common theme here: fatigue. Relentless, pervasive, unending fatigue. Despite my extensive experience with this topic, I am still shocked at the degree to which this feature of cancer invades my li...
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Taxol solo: chemo 3.4.1 restart

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 21, 2009, 1:58 am
Changing chemo gears. Dr. Mehta, my oncologist, has discontinued my Avastin® since it has increasingly elevated my blood pressure, causing my shortness of breath and dizziness, and raised my urine ...
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breast cancer pen pal, anyone?

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 20, 2009, 12:41 am
Recently, I received in the mail a handwritten card from Breast Cancer Angels, to whom I was introduced by Chao’s counseling staff. Besides reaching  out to patients in many ways, one thing the...
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R and R training continued

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 19, 2009, 1:52 am
With my days off this week I am trying to do what I need to relax, still not a fait accompli but improving. I am purposely avoiding watching too much news or getting too involved in the issues that ...
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hospital visit follow-up

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 18, 2009, 1:27 am
Continuing the saga of my elevated blood pressure, again, presumably from the Avastin®, I went for my follow-up visit with my PCP this morning. She has added another two prescriptions to try to get m...
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R and R training

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 17, 2009, 1:22 am
I am officially training this week for rest and relaxation, having taken off the entire week as prescribed by the attending physician during my hospital stay. This is the first time I’ve been of...
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from doctors to clergy?

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 15, 2009, 9:19 pm
You know that state where you think you’re awake only to notice that the clock suddenly jumped forward one hour? That’s where I was when into my room walked a lone visitor. Having been rai...
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home from hospital, resting

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 15, 2009, 1:00 am
Woke up, 6:00 am, with shortness of breath and headache. Took my blood pressure and got 189/171–can that be? That’s the highest diastolic reading I have had. Walking down the stairs and ba...
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hospitals: no sleep zone

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 14, 2009, 1:58 am
Sleeping in a hospital bed is an impossible feat. The nursing staff warned me this when they welcomed me to my room and a bed inviting my slumber with fresh linens. As I was sickeningly tired from the...
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emergency room and admitting

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 12, 2009, 8:00 pm
Another day of surprises. I am in the emergency room where I’m waiting to be admitted. Last night I was short of breath just lying in bed. It lasted through the night and got worse. After callin...
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joy of girlfriends

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 12, 2009, 12:55 am
time with friends a gift nourishing the mind and soul better than chocolate ♦     ♦     ♦     ♦     ♦ This morning I woke up to a circus of raging side effects. It started with ...
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Avastin, elevated blood pressure and new meds

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 11, 2009, 12:21 am
Today started at the office. Buster came with me, as I’m taking him most places now to reinforce his training. He is getting more accustomed to his surroundings at my office as well as riding th...
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Avastin: elevated blood pressure

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 9, 2009, 11:56 pm
My primary care physician (PCP) wants to see me about my blood pressure, which, as you may have read in a recent post, has been an issue. My oncologist thinks it’s the Avastin®, which has as on...
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what happened to my taste buds

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 8, 2009, 11:59 pm
nasty metal mouth attacks food once delicious now mouthful of dirt ♦     ♦     ♦     ♦     ♦ One of the side effects that has grown progressively worse is the deadening of my sen...
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before and since: metastatic breast cancer

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 5, 2009, 12:24 am
One of the discussion groups I frequent was discussing how we’ve changed since our encounter with breast cancer. It got me to thinking about how things were then and now. then: having energy to ...
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breast cancer treatment: no cookie cutters

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 4, 2009, 12:36 am
One of the common misconceptions about breast cancer is that everyone receives the same kind of treatment. Our treatment, though, varies as much as our personal diversity. When we are diagnosed, our o...
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giant pandas: San Diego Zoo's pandacam

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 3, 2009, 12:42 am
One of my favorite Internet pastimes is watching the San Diego Zoo’s pandacam. I’m good at resisting watching the pandacam when I’m working as I know I will be unable to tear myself ...
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H1N1 vaccine side effects: none

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 1, 2009, 11:13 pm
So, after having the H1N1 vaccine this past Wednesday, Marvin and I are fine. We both had sore spots at the injection site but no other side effects. Marvin felt a little tired, as did I, though I can...
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music to enhance relaxation and healing

Donna Peach posted an article on - Nov 1, 2009, 12:50 am
Naturally, with dance being a major part of my life, music has also been important to me. I can’t imagine going through life without music. Going through treatment now for the recurrence of my b...
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chemo break has benefits

Donna Peach posted an article on - Oct 31, 2009, 12:44 am
brief break from chemo many dwindling side effects touch of ecstasy ♦     ♦     ♦     ♦     ♦ What a nice change. I have missed two Fridays of chemo to give me a chance to get...
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Buster's progress report: brace command

Donna Peach posted an article on - Oct 30, 2009, 1:33 am
I worked; Buster slept. That was how the day went with Buster accompanying me for a full day at work. He seemed to remember the environment from the other day when I took him to the office, so, it app...
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H1N1 vaccine: got mine

Donna Peach posted an article on - Oct 28, 2009, 10:59 pm
I woke up today with a rude good morning from my tummy. It’s funny how the side effects can seem like they’re fading one day only to come bashing down the door the next. It lasted a few ho...
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H1N1 vaccine tomorrow

Donna Peach posted an article on - Oct 27, 2009, 11:37 pm
Tomorrow I get my H1N1 vaccine–the shot which has the inactivated virus rather than the nasal spray with the live virus. I’m prepping myself for waiting in line at the local WalMart. IR...
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flu vaccine and service dog training continues

Donna Peach posted an article on - Oct 27, 2009, 1:57 am
Today, I got my seasonal flu shot at my place of employment. We had hoped that I could get both the seasonal and H1N1 shots at the same time, but UCI does not yet have a supply of the H1N1 vaccine. Af...
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free day

Donna Peach posted an article on - Oct 26, 2009, 12:30 am
Since the performance of Rhapsody In Taps last night at LA’s Aratani/Japanese America Theatre, I have had a surge of adrenalin. I slept well, dreaming about dance. When I woke up this morning at...
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inspired to tap dance

Donna Peach posted an article on - Oct 25, 2009, 1:54 am
Tonight we went to the annual performance of the tap dance company, Rhapsody In Taps. I am again, as usual, awestruck. Now, I cannot stop tapping my feet as I sit here writing nor can I stop choreogra...
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H1N1 vaccine: update for cancer patients

Donna Peach posted an article on - Oct 24, 2009, 1:17 am
For cancer patients the first course of action, of course, is to have the conversation with your oncologist about your own situation. It’s, also, a good idea to know a little about the H1N1 flu ...
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joy of simple communication

Donna Peach posted an article on - Oct 23, 2009, 1:59 am
Conversation is one of the gifts of being human. I love not only language and its nuances, I love the various  forms of communication and expression. I think human communication is a privilege of our...
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advanced cancer: thriving

Donna Peach posted an article on - Oct 22, 2009, 12:44 am
One part of this disease that is overwhelming is the way it demands your attention. After your doctor tells you that you have cancer, curable or incurable, you never really stop thinking about it. I s...
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side effects vying for attention

Donna Peach posted an article on - Oct 20, 2009, 10:48 pm
Today my side effects just won’t quit. I woke up with them, and they hung around all day like bad company. I nearly called in sick, but, instead, I decided to make a little pasta primavera in th...
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breast cancer: that's not too bad

Donna Peach posted an article on - Oct 20, 2009, 1:03 am
Waiting in line the other day, a woman, pointing to my TLSO brace, asked me, what happened to you. I answered that I had breast cancer that came back to my spine, so I had surgery and am going through...
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no thoughts of cancer

Donna Peach posted an article on - Oct 19, 2009, 12:49 am
Today was lovely in Long Beach. A friend and I went to the big swap meet at the Veterans’ Stadium, and it was good to be out for most of the day. What a fun outing. The swap meet is filled with ...
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#beatcancer: Tweet, FB or blog to support research

Donna Peach posted an article on - Oct 17, 2009, 1:29 pm
#beatcancer I just found out this morning that Beat Cancer Everywhere has teamed up with eBay/PayPal and MillerCoors for a 24-hour attempt to beat the Guinness World Record for distribution of a messa...
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Taxol, Avastin: chemo 3.2.3

Donna Peach posted an article on - Oct 17, 2009, 12:16 am
♦     ♦     ♦     ♦     ♦ cancer healing starts with killing cancerous cells i visualize ♦     ♦     ♦     ♦     ♦ meditating, calm with faith, hope, love f...
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simple pleasure

Donna Peach posted an article on - Oct 16, 2009, 1:41 am
Most significant today was my feeling strong and being able to stay out all day after a few meetings at Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach. After feeling so bad earlier this week, today wa...
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support free mammograms at The Breast Cancer Site

Donna Peach posted an article on - Oct 14, 2009, 11:44 pm
To celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness month, let us all click on TheBreastCancerSite where you click a button to support free mammograms. This is not a hoax. This is a real site and a real cause. When ...
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metastatic breast cancer awareness day

Donna Peach posted an article on - Oct 14, 2009, 12:24 am
Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness October 13 Today I’m celebrating my life. So much of this disease can take you to emotional depths that you’d never imagined existed, but you can choose ...
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breast cancer awareness

Donna Peach posted an article on - Oct 13, 2009, 2:03 am
Don’t know what’s up, but I was sick all day today. It started with the usual morning yucky tummy, but as the morning went on it got worse instead of better. This afternoon I was even runn...
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service dog and member of our family

Donna Peach posted an article on - Oct 12, 2009, 1:37 am
After having a few solid weeks in the rough, it’s good to feel a little stronger. Maybe having only the Taxol®, without the Avastin®, has made a difference; I just know that today is a huge im...
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sound sleep and good morning

Donna Peach posted an article on - Oct 11, 2009, 1:23 am
♦     ♦     ♦     ♦     ♦ sleep renews life when it comes deep, sound and sweet dreams revive the soul ♦     ♦     ♦     ♦     ♦ This morning was the first...
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Taxol with no Avastin chaser: chemo 3.2.2

Donna Peach posted an article on - Oct 10, 2009, 1:53 am
Today’s chemo went well except that when Jessica took my blood pressure, it was was really high, 185/90. Gabby came by later to take another reading, and it had come down to 165/85 (still way hi...
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control in my life: who invited stupid cancer

Donna Peach posted an article on - Oct 9, 2009, 1:46 am
Chemo is great. It’s the big guns that I believe are attacking the cancer and helping me fight. Helping me fight? What does that mean. I say it as though it has some validity, some truth. On one...
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cancer spam abounds: beware what you read

Donna Peach posted an article on - Oct 7, 2009, 11:54 pm
How many times have you received spam through e-mail? Undoubtedly, we have all received the letter about a dying child that needs our support or the e-mail warnings about viruses or the solicitations ...
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