a couple studies available

The Army of Women has posted a new notice of a couple studies for breast cancer survivors in the Columbus, Ohio and Los Angeles area. If you or anyone you know might be interested, these may be worth checking out!

Yoga for Breast Cancer Survivors Study (We need breast cancer survivors living near Columbus, OH)

Breast cancer survivors can have a lot of post-treatment problems, such as fatigue, depression, and a decrease in physical function. It is possible that physical activities, like yoga, could help ease these symptoms. This is a study about how yoga affects fatigue, immune function, and mood of women treated for breast cancer. To read more and sign up, please click here or click on this link

http://www.armyofwomen.org/current/view?grant_id=316

Chronic Insomnia Study (Tai Chi Effects)

(We need breast cancer survivors living near Los Angeles, CA)

The purpose of this study is to determine whether Tai Chi or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can change sleep patterns and reduce insomnia. The study will also investigate whether Tai Chi or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy changes levels of the immune cell products that are known to alter sleep. It will also assess individual genetic differences in immune cell products and their possible relationship to insomnia. To read more and sign up, please click here or click on this link

http://www.armyofwomen.org/current/view?grant_id=372

Sweet cool air conditioning for a boob

I'm finally back in my little home on wheels - everything is repaired or replaced, and I have plenty of nice cool air to carry me thru the HOT days of a Tucson summer. It was only 87 when I walked Misha at 6am this morning! and 104 as we 'speak'!

I have a new circuit board in the bedroom air conditioner, and it's working better than ever. Have a new power converter, and I bought a 50 amp surge protector to be hard-wired into the coach to prevent anything like this happening again. Picked up a new router for my wi-fi yesterday, and it's faster than the old one, which is a treat!! So now things are back to 'normal' - whatever that means.

Saw my surgeon last week - Dr. K confirmed what we already know, that I do, indeed, suffer from lymphedema. And I am still waiting for the second therapist here in town to find time to squeeze me into her very busy schedule to try the compression therapy again.

Dr. K was impressed with how well I've healed up. She expected my scar to be worse than it is, because of all the issues with dead skin and the wound that wouldn't close up. Personally, I think it's an ugly scar, with all it's bumps and lumps, pooches and sags and bags, but supposedly that's what I get for being big-breasted. Gee, thanks. She says a plastic surgeon can clean it up, down the road, if it really bothers me. It bothers me.

What's interesting to me is that it's not that I'm missing a boob that bothers me. It's the ugliness of the mess left behind. There's that nasty old vanity rearing it's ugly head again! :o)

There is some other news though - I now have a new boob!

It's made of silicone, weighs about a pound and three-quarters (a lot less than one made of flesh and blood!!), and fits into a pocket of a totally uncomfortable and unattractive bra . . . besides, it hooks in the back, and I have worn front hook bras for decades - I can't even figure out how to fasten it!

But then I've worn Victoria's Secrets sexy bras for many years, so I may be prejudiced! At least I'm not quite so lop-sided when I wear the thing.

It isn't just aesthetically pleasing, it's for my good health too - Dr. K is concerned that the remaining boob, by gravity and not having worn a bra since November, is weighing down my skin, possibly causing the port to erode thru the skin, meaning more surgery. For that, I'll wear the bra! I don't think much of the cleavage though!


While Maggie was visiting, she showed me how to make pockets in my own bras, in hopes that I can wear those instead of the institutional model. Gonna have to work on that!