Let’s Talk About It: Breast Cancer (It is Your One and Only Body – Learning to Love it Again)

When undergoing cancer treatment, our bodies often change, and it is common to be critical of ourselves as we struggle to heal. Being at peace with our own bodies can be difficult, and the thought of sharing our bodies with someone else can be terrifying. How can we learn to recognize and silence self-criticism, allowing […]

Rebuilding Myself: A Post-Breast Cancer Reintroduction

Are you feeling a bit lost at the end of your treatment? One of the hardest things after treatment is not knowing what happens next. While it may bring some happiness and relief, it may also bring fear, depression, and anxiety. The fear of recurrence is real. Life can feel confusing. Some breast cancer survivors, […]

Let’s Talk About It: Breast Cancer (Who am I now? When cancer flips the script)

A cancer diagnosis can often trigger difficult and confusing emotions. You may find yourself feeling uneasy around people who used to bring you joy, experiencing unexpected anger, or struggling to navigate through fragile moments. It’s natural to question your identity and to feel the impact of change, loss, and the effort to rediscover yourself as […]

Let’s Talk About It: Breast Cancer (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Relationship with Loved Ones After Cancer)

A cancer diagnosis can change how you seek support from others. You may look to friends for light-hearted distraction, help with decision-making, or reassurance and comfort. However, all too often, relationships become complicated and fraught with misunderstanding. Let’s talk about boundaries, and how to express yourself clearly and thoughtfully so you feel connected, understood, and […]

Let’s Talk About It: Breast Cancer (Toxic Positivity)

We discussed the common experience of dealing with loved ones who offer positivity but may come across as dismissive when supporting someone with a breast cancer diagnosis. You have the right to feel a range of emotions, and it’s important to find meaningful ways to honor your honest experience and communicate your needs to others. […]

Let’s Talk About It: Breast Cancer (Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired)

Individuals with breast cancer can join Julie Larson, LCSW and peers via video or phone to talk about topics such as “Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired”. Cancer-related fatigue is one of the most challenging treatment-related side effects. Your level of cancer-related fatigue may vary from day to day or last for extended […]

Part III – Cumulative Grief: Learning how to honor the many losses that occur in a brief period of time

Cumulative grief, also known as compounded grief, is grief that occurs more than once in a brief period of time. As a person with cancer, a caregiver or professional in this world, we are often met with confronting grief on a frequent basis. So often, we may be unable to process fully the loss that […]

The Importance of Black Women Understanding the Chemicals in Their Personal Care Products

Certain chemicals, such as phthalates and parabens, can disrupt the body’s hormones and have significant effects on health. According to data, hormone-related health issues such as uterine fibroids, infertility, early puberty and more aggressive forms of breast and endometrial cancers disproportionately affect Black women. Our guest speaker, Jasmine A. McDonald, PhD, an Assistant Professor in […]

Let’s Talk About It: Breast Cancer (Survivor’s Guilt)

The question of “Why me?” often exemplifies the experience of survivor’s guilt. Feeling survivor’s guilt is more common than you may think and can be triggered in different ways. Your positive news at a follow-up visit, regaining strength when treatment ends and manageable side effects are all events that may counter-intuitively lead to stress or […]