Kathy Bates discusses her lymphedema... and I am here for it!

Finally, someone is taking this issue public! Yay for Kathy Bates. 

*Disclaimer: This post does contain a few affiliate links. If you make a purchase using these links, I will earn a commission. As always, I sincerely appreciate your support of this blog.

Yassss! I was so excited to see this video clip of Kathy Bates discussing lymphedema on The Doctors Show. Finally someone was discussing a survivorship issue that so many of us have to deal with. Trying to explain to people why you wear sleeves (or what the sleeves are) can be tortuous sometimes. They understand that you had breast cancer but usually have never heard of lymphedema nor are aware that it can be an unfortunate side effect of undergoing a mastectomy.

Speaking for myself, I'm just not always in the right frame of mind (or location) to get into all of that. TSA agents aren't always cheerful when you're trying to explain that you're not wearing your fake tattoo sleeve just because you're a badass -- that it is actually for medical reasons and removing it is a pain in the butt. I digress.

I struggle with survivor's guilt because of this

Survivor's guilt is real. So is the divide in the breast cancer community.

This post is difficult to write. And yet, as soon as I read this article [Read: Only the weak die of Cancer] I was compelled to write down my thoughts. 

I am conflicted

The "us" vs. "them" divide within the breast cancer community is driving me out of my mind. And too often, into the bottom of a wine glass. I'm just keeping it real and honest.  In the years since I've been blogging about my journey with this disease, I've met a lot of wonderful metastatic patients and I've lost several friends to that disease. I've lost one aunt to breast cancer and another aunt just reached her 5 year mark after her second bout with breast cancer. I worry regularly when (or if) it will ever be my turn with stage IV breast cancer. I try to stay abreast of changes and gains in research and treatment regarding the disease.

I need some style! Looking for fashion to hide my lymphedema

I'm still on a quest to get my sexy all the way back... between constantly searching for hair looks to cope with my thinning, grow-slow hair... and my chunky "man-hands" lymphedema arm... I'm taking in all looks from all sources and trying to figure out who Nic will emerge as in 2015.

Will you watch The Book of Negroes?

#BookofNegroes Will you be watching?

BET (Black Entertainment Television) will be airing a mini-series that starts Monday, February 16, 2015; The Book of Negroes It is based on the book by the same name. Well, unless you're American like I am... then the book is titled, Someone Knows My Name

Update on my new electric toothbrush and thoughts on blogging with integrity

*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I'll earn a commission if you use my link to shop. This won't affect your price but it will give me a good boost. Just being honest... :) *

A few months ago, I wrote a sponsored post about a new electric toothbrush, the Oral-B Pro-Health 3000. I wanted to jump out here and let you guys know that...

I REALLY LOVE MY ORAL B TOOTHBRUSH!!

#sponsored Trying a new hair care routine with Head & Shoulders for Textured Hair

I've been growing my post-cancer hair for a few months now. I went from the practically bald girl you see at the bottom.... to a less-bald girl now. I have a tiny afro and I'm reasonably pleased with it. I've learned some things about myself and my hair in the past 4-6 months and not all of it is fun! But... in the spirit of trying new things, learning more about me, accepting all parts of myself -- all parts of Reclaiming My Fabulousness -- I've been trying. And it has been good.

How Dreaming Big Is Helping Me to Survive Breast Cancer

My dream is 6000 sq. feet. Single family home. With a gazebo in the backyard and a pergola. 

My dream is vivid. My dream is so tangible in my mind that I can imagine licking the walls and tasting plaster.

* Yep, I said... licking the walls...*

My dream is 6000 sq. feet. And I want it. I do. It doesn't make a lot of sense to a lot of people that I want a 6000 sq. foot home when I am a single woman with no children. But I sincerely do. The desire for this house and for what it represents is so strong in my heart that I often feel really close to tears because I have no idea how I will get there.

How a sister looks at the end of radiation treatment

What the pink ribbon doesn't show you... is what you need to see

A few days ago, my pink ribbon sister Shay, posted a picture of her chest at the completion of her radiation therapy. This is Shay's second bout with breast cancer. She recently had a mastectomy for this cancer and now is done with the radiation treatment. I don't know all of the details about her second diagnosis and what I do know, I've learned by watching her instagram channel.

Watching her go through it all again, reminds me clearly of my time with breast cancer a few years ago. When I saw the picture, I shed tears. I soooo remember looking at my chest and it looked the same. Same breast missing. Same scorched burned skin, the after-effect of the radiation treatment. I was happy that she had a picture because I didn't think to do so then. And now I wish that I had.

My new Kate Spade handbag is gorgeous!

I won a beautiful pink Kate Spade bag!

Last week I attended the DC Auto Show with a group of bloggers. We were invited by the great ladies at She Buys Cars and I have to say, it was a MARVELOUS experience. I'm going to give an overview of my auto show experience in another post. This post is about my fabulous new bag!

Yep. That's right. I'm writing about a handbag. LOL... don't hate me.

What LIES are you believing about breast cancer?

I hate to tell you this but... you might be believing a few lies about breast cancer.

Its okay. I don't blame you for your lack of knowledge about this disease. Unless you've been through it, or have had someone very close to you go through it, its not likely that you've learned all that you can know based on a few pink ribbon campaigns in October. There are a lot of things that I don't know much about either...but I happen to know a little bit about this disease so I'm sharing the knowledge of my experience with you.