Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Feb 8, 2012, 3:10 pm
Yesterday my friend Stephanie died of the metastatic lung cancer she'd lived with for three years. Stephanie and her partner had celebrated an early new year's eve over lunch with Rik and I just a few weeks ago. Later I learned that S got very sick that same night and stayed so for the next coupl...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Feb 7, 2012, 12:53 pm
Karen Handel, vice president for public affairs at Susan G. Komen for the Cure, resigned on Tuesday following public outcry over the announcement Komen would pull funding from Planned Parenthood.  Read the rest of this article from The Huffington Post here.
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Feb 4, 2012, 6:21 pm
Today is international ice cream for breakfast day. There are only three rules: 1. Eat ice cream 2. for breakfast 3. on the first Saturday in February Make the batter with seltzer, not whipped egg whitesSo we did! I invited a few friends we and ate homemade buttermilk waffles (from the Cook's Illust...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Feb 3, 2012, 6:36 pm
Here’s the press release from the Komen Foundation: We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women’s lives. The events of this week have been deeply unsettling for our supporters, partners and friends and all o...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Feb 2, 2012, 1:18 pm
Yesterday's news about the Susan G Komen For the Cure foundation's withdrawal of support from Planned Parenthood really angered me. Komen says it's all about raising awareness, providing breast health services to underserved women, advocacy and research. So tell me, how does removing support for Pla...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Feb 1, 2012, 7:20 pm
I just got the word that Premera has approved my participation in the clinical trial at SCCA. I've already scheduled  my first labs, nurse visit, EKG and PET scan. Let's hope the rest of the trial goes this smoothly.
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Jan 31, 2012, 2:38 am
I keep forgetting to post this.... Since my wig is made from artificial hair, which is flammable and could melt if exposed to high heat, the salon told me to never open a hot oven while wearing it. The whoosh of hot air escaping through the oven door could melt a wig. Now, I bought this wig about tw...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Jan 31, 2012, 2:27 am
I'm checking out a new micro-fundraising model on Kickstarter. Donors pledge at least one dollar to help a project. Your credit card gets charged only if the organizers reach their goal. Plus you can help them reach their goal through social media, email to friends, blogging, etc. I chose to support...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Jan 27, 2012, 2:08 pm
I'll sing with Radost at this one-of-a-kind performance. Earlier this week I heard the orchestra in rehearsal and not only do they sound terrific, they will do justice to Johnny's arrangement. Hearing these simple folk tunes, now beefed up with so many musicians instead of an eight piece folk band,...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Jan 27, 2012, 1:46 pm
(Sung to the tune of "London Bridge is falling down") Tumor markers falling down, falling down, falling down Tumor markers falling down That's just terrific! Tuesday's labs showed that my CEA is stable at 4.4 (normal!). This is the tumor marker shared by both breast and ovarian cancers. My CA 27.29 ...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Jan 25, 2012, 6:18 pm
Dr G said yesterday that he thought the clinical trial at SCCA studying Vorinostat was worth a chance. It seemed to offer small risk and much to offer to help treat my cancer. As far as my other fears, expressed here, I asked him to call the lead researcher, who he knows well, to advocate for the us...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Jan 24, 2012, 1:49 pm
My feet still bother me. For months I've taken gabapentin, L-glutamine powder, and vitamin B-6. After seven sessions of acupuncture I learned that my health insurance was only going to reimburse about 25% of the total costs, so I discontinued the acupuncture. We'd already spent more than $500 on t...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Jan 22, 2012, 4:00 pm
Check out this video: Sh*t girls say to girls with breast cancer. So, stop saying things like this, people! I certainly don't appreciate hearing sh*t like this. I especially detest "how ARE you?" when said with Bambi eyes. Uggh!
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Jan 20, 2012, 6:23 pm
We've been snowed in most of the week, at least since Tuesday night. Although temperatures warmed up enough today to start the snow melting, this morning's walk was all the more treacherous with water on top of the snow and slush just starting to form. Rik has been at work clearing the gutters of ic...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Dec 14, 2011, 8:50 pm
... , partly to get off chemo and partly because my very estrogen-sensitive cancer responded well for seven years to these drugs. Bloomberg BusinessWeek reports: In a second study, another drug long used in organ transplants but not tried against breast cancer -- everolimus, sold as Afinitor by Nov...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Dec 12, 2011, 6:41 pm
... makeup, and we walked out the door at 5:00. As we arrived at the store to pick up the flower bouquet for Dina and extra roses for each member of the choir, I realized I had left my skirt ... was the whole thing?" Indeed, we had sung for 40 minutes straight. The second half featured duets, tr...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Dec 8, 2011, 1:58 pm
I am still doing too much but don't seem to be able to stop. Yesterday I cooked that lunch for the synagogue office employees, to thank them for all their hard work. I made zucchini minestrone, mushroom spread, stuffed manicotti, green salad, and that chocolate-dried cranberry cake with freshly whip...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Dec 6, 2011, 9:05 pm
As usual, when I feel good I do too much. Today I was off to the acupuncturist (and arrived too early). Next was a meeting at the synagogue. After a quick lunch at home, yay leftovers, I picked up Rik and took him to the dentist. From there I drove to the grocery store for a few things. I bought a p...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Dec 3, 2011, 6:12 pm
I've blown through five chemos in the past year (Abraxane, Doxil, Adriamycin, Gemzar and Navelbine) and there are about six still available, including one I received in 1999 at my original diagnosis. This scares me. I don't want to face that I might be in constant chemo until all options are gone Ye...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Dec 2, 2011, 11:30 am
It's a little early for this, but I couldn't resist sharing it.... thanks to P!
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Nov 29, 2011, 8:10 pm
1. The brain MRI results were very good and the three lesions are faint. 2. The Abraxane has clearly become too toxic. Plus my CA 27.29 tumor marker is about the same as last time, so it's also no longer as effective. I get to take a two week break from treatment in hope that the side effects (fatig...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Nov 28, 2011, 5:38 pm

Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Nov 28, 2011, 5:10 pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                  NOVEMBER 27, 2011 SEATTLE BALKAN WOMEN’S CHOIR TO SING EASTER EUROPEAN SONGSDUNAVA IN CONCERTSat, Dec 10, 2011 at 7:00 pmMuseum of History and Industry, 2700 24th Ave East, Seat...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Nov 28, 2011, 5:01 pm
I had a rough weekend. On Saturday morning, we all went to synagogue (Rik was a greeter at the door). There was a huge crowd and although I am generally one who gets energy from being with people, it all sort of wore me out quickly. I came home to nap, perked up mid-afternoon, and crashed again. On ...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Nov 2, 2011, 7:35 pm
The results of Monday's PET scan were good -- the liver mets are shrinking and there appear to be no new mets to report. My tumor marker came down from 89.9 at the end of August to 73 today. This is a slower rate of decrease than in the past few months but still a decrease. Dr G says I should contin...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Oct 31, 2011, 5:41 pm
I read on Facebook about a woman who uses the last day of October to remember those she's lost to breast cancer. I thought this was a beautiful custom to share. I remember.... My grandmother, Mary Neuer Cohen, who also had metastatic breast cancer and lymphedema. In the late '60s and early '70s, no...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Oct 31, 2011, 5:09 pm
In preparation for today's PET/CT scan, I had to eat a special diet for the previous 24 hours. No carbohydrates at all; high fat and protein. That meant no milk in coffee; hardly any vegetables; no fruit at all. For breakfast I made a two egg omelet, sauteed in butter, filled with sauteed mushrooms ...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Oct 28, 2011, 6:02 pm
My nose was slightly less bloody today (only used 15 tissues before noon). So far I've had coffee with a friend, ran two errands, and done three loads of laundry. Next up is to start some soup for dinner -- I'm considering squash/pear bisque -- and maybe bake an apple galette for dessert. I must fee...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Oct 26, 2011, 8:57 pm
I LOVE to sing!
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Oct 26, 2011, 8:54 pm
It's been a tough couple of days, more so than usual. Monday's chemo took 5.5 hours for a 90 minute infusion. This time Dr G got everything approved and properly "signed" on time, but the Swedish Cancer Institute lab had a machine breakdown and couldn't process my creatinine. They had to send the sa...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Oct 24, 2011, 10:01 pm

Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Oct 24, 2011, 9:10 pm
I've asked many questions about Komen's financials over the years. Read here for author Gayle Sulik's (Pink Ribbon Blues) summary of the research The Cancer Culture Chronicles did into Komen's publicly available financial statements. Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the largest and most visible br...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Oct 21, 2011, 5:30 pm
Seattleites can hear my choir Dunava, along with Vela Luka Croatian Dance Ensemble, Dave and the Dalmatians, and other special guests, in a FREE special performance of Ladarke, a Croatian choral piece composed by Emil Cossetto. Croatia FestSunday, October 233:55 PMSeattle Center Exhibition Hall Clic...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Oct 20, 2011, 11:48 pm
Bob the dog is recovering nicely from his dental cleaning and surgery. This evening he "graduated" from canned food to dry kibble soaked in warm water, which he ate so rapidly I don't think any bits touched his teeth. The x-ray report wasn't as good. Evidently he has compression of several spinal di...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Oct 18, 2011, 2:27 pm
What a long day yesterday was! First I dropped off Bob the dog at the vet for a dental cleaning and x-ray to check out his hoip. He'd been complaining while scratching and grooming himself so we were following up. The dental thing is annual. Then I was at the Swedish Cancer Institute for four and a...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Oct 15, 2011, 10:29 pm
It's a Bob O'Lantern, hand-carved by our friend D, the proud owner of two Cavalier King Charles spaniels.
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Oct 15, 2011, 10:27 pm
My sister has conquered day two of the Komen 3 Day in Philadelphia: Sister S (on the right) and her walking buddy.
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Oct 14, 2011, 8:16 pm
While talking with my sister yesterday, she told me a laugh-out-loud story. It seems one of her Facebook friends also had a family tradition of making onion cookies. This friend had lost their family's recipe and put out a call to her relatives -- who had Grandma's recipe? A niece replied that she h...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Oct 14, 2011, 8:10 pm
This weekend my sister participates in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure® in Philadelphia. Participants must raise a minimum of $2300 and train to increase their stamina and ability to walk 20 miles each day. I am proud that S raised $6500 for Komen. When we spoke yesterday, she was planning to...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Oct 14, 2011, 7:35 pm
I received some feedback about the new "dynamic" template, and decided to revert to the old format. Writing Chick said it best: Hm... seems snazzy, but I don't like it.For one, all information about you is gone. There used to be a sidebar with links and information about you... no more? I tried sev...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Oct 13, 2011, 8:59 pm
Today, October 13, is Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. I received this email from Living Beyond Breast Cancer this morning. You can help raise money specifically for metastatic breast cancer. For Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day 2011, Genentech has partnered with Living Beyond Breast Ca...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Oct 12, 2011, 9:13 pm
Monday's chemo went even slower than usual. I arrived at 11 AM but the lab was backed up, so they didn't take me until 11:30 AM. I waited more than 90 minutes for lab results and a go ahead from Dr G to treat me. Thanks to my good friends G and R I had company almost the whole time, but still! 4+ ho...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Oct 11, 2011, 2:35 am
Blogger has created new Dynamic templates. What do you think of this version, called Magazine? It's a different way to showcase my blog. Just click on a post to read the whole thing. I'd like your feedback.
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Oct 11, 2011, 2:28 am
We drove to Vancouver BC today for the funeral of Rik's "aunt." The two families were so close when they all lived in Montreal. The kids called all the parents aunt and uncle and they refer to one another to this day as cousins. Auntie E was devoted to her family. She found tremendous opportunity fo...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Oct 7, 2011, 5:31 pm
Last night my sister called with the annual reminder that it's time to bake the onion cookies. This family recipe was handed from my grandmother Mary Neuer Cohen to my father, and from him to my sister and I. It's our special way to break the fast after Yom Kippur. You can find the recipe here. I ...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Oct 6, 2011, 10:28 pm
I have spent the past few days practicing yizkor, the memorial service for Yom Kippur. Yesterday I had the bright idea to find the CD my friend T made of an old tape recording. My dearest friend from high school, Charisse Kranes, became a rabbi. Only a few months after her ordination, she was diag...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Oct 4, 2011, 7:43 pm
We own four Whirlpool appliances: a dishwasher, refrigerator, washer and dryer. The washer began having issues just after the warranty period ended. Recently more issues arose with this three year old washer. The white cycle stopped working. The normal cycle stopped working. And then it died on ever...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Oct 3, 2011, 10:05 pm
Check out this YouTube video about pinkwashing. Take action at www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org. Pinkwashing has reached a new low this year with "Promise Me," a perfume commissioned by the giant of the breast cancer movement, Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Promise Me contains chemicals not listed in the i...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Oct 2, 2011, 10:55 pm
Rosh Hashanah was terrific but it's been a long few days. We celebrated the beginning of the holiday at dinner Wednesday night with the usual gang of friends (family of the heart, I call it). On Thursday, after a long morning of praying, we had a long afternoon of eating and socializing with more fr...
Comment - Like

Jill C. posted an article on Dancing with cancer - Sep 28, 2011, 4:29 pm
We say something like this in my weekly yoga class: May all beings be free from suffering. May we all be healed in heart and mind. May all beings live in peace and harmony. May we have joy and happiness in abundance. שנה טובה ומתוקה Shana tova umetukaWishing you and yours a good and sw...
Comment - Like