Necessity of breast cancer awareness plus what I’ve learned

Debbie Dunn Moore is very grateful to add her name to the ranks of the thousands of breast cancer survivors. Her breast cancer journey began just before Christmas of 2009 when she discovered a 3- by 5-inch tumor in the left side of her left breast. Under the wonderful care of Dr. Dharmen Patel, Dr. John Boys, Dr. Mark Patterson, and Dr. Joe Austin, she went through 8 rounds of chemo, a double mastectomy, and 35 days of radiation. As of November of 2010, she has been “in remission” or “cancer-free.” Here are the main lessons that she has learned:

(1) Be aware of what your breast already looks and feels like so that if it changes, you are alert enough to catch any signs of breast cancer early – before it has time to spread to other parts of your body. Other than a lump, please be aware that other potential signs of severe breast cancer include a dimple or indentation on your breast (don’t just think it is gravity kicking in because you are getting older as Debbie did), a rash on the breast, puckering of the breast, nipple discharge, and noticeable breast shrinkage. Visit a doctor as soon as possible. If you don’t have insurance, visit the Health Department to see if they might be of assistance.

(2) Joining a cancer support group such as the one held at Laughlin Hospital in Greeneville, Tennessee, can be extremely helpful.

(3) Maintaining a positive attitude and a sense of humor (even if it only be gallows humor) can make a world of difference in your recovery potential.

(4) Having a good support system of family and friends is extremely helpful.

(5) The power of prayer can truly work miracles.

If you would like to know more about Debbie’s breast cancer journey, feel free to read this blog at http://healingseeker.wordpress.com/. She is also writing a book on the topic that is coming out in 2012. When the book becomes available, she will post details on her website at http://askdjlyons.com/ and on this blog.

A great resource for women of Greene County, TN who are in need of a free mammogram. Click on FREE MAMMOGRAM SCREENINGS. If you are not from Greene County, TN, check with your local hospital. They may very well provide that same service as well.

I am so excited about being able to renovate my office space

Living in a log cabin in the country has its perks and its challenges. One of the challenges is that the side rooms are not very large. In other to create more storage and work space, you have to make tall verticals rather than being able to spread out.

When I moved to this log cabin nearly two years ago, I had to give up my spacious office in my apartment in Knoxville, Tennessee. Of course, I was happy to be living and married to the man I love. I was a little regretful to having to down-size my belongings and work space. Not only that, the room that is my office slopes. When sitting down on the computer chair, you slide away from the computer desk. You actually have to climb a little hill to position yourself in front of the computer. The room has other challenges as well. It is not my favorite room.

A little over a year after moving here, I sadly got diagnosed with breast cancer. The happy ending to that is that I have already completed all chemo treatments and the double mastectomy. Even though I have five more radiation treatments that will end on November 5, 2010, I am officially in remission. I much prefer to use the term cancer-free; however, that is not politically correct. The term “in remission” has too much fear factor for me. So in private, I state that I am cancer free. In front of doctors and some others, I state I am “in remission.” In any case, there is no more cancer in my body. So to me, I am cancer free.

Due to having had this condition, notice the past tense, two friends of ours are going to make a beautiful gift to us. They are going to tear out the floor boards in that office and re-do the floor from scratch. This means they will also have to tear out the built-in bed and the two built-in dressers. I cannot tell you how thrilled I will be to see all three furniture pieces go. That means that I will get to re-do that room in its entirety. I am so happy and grateful.

The only sad part is that I had owned some beautiful nightstands, dressers, computer desks, etc. that would have been ideal for this office space. The nightstands that I owned would have been so ideal for storage of a lot of my storytelling materials. Sigh! By the way, this room also doubles as my dressing room. Not ever imagining that this opportunity would ever happen nor that I would be diagnosed and cured from cancer, I sold off all that furniture on Craigslist. Double Sigh!

By the way, the nightstand in the picture is not the same as the one that I sold; however, there are similarities.

Of course, the fun part is that I get the fun of picking out the perfect furniture to renovate this room exactly the way I most desire. I am so excited about that part.

So the sequel to this story will soon be posted where I find one or more perfect replacement pieces for my new office. Woo-hoo!

Best Review - Top 6 Breast Cancer Journey Tales Part 17 by Healing Seeker

Trace the saga of Healing Seeker as she travels her Breast Cancer Journey from first discovering the large lump to the diagnosis of having malignant breast cancer to a treatment plan that includes chemo, a double mastectomy, and radiation, to the blessed state of being in remission.

Perhaps if you learn from the Breast Cancer Journey traveled by Healing Seeker, you yourself or someone you love will not have to travel that same road yourself. Should you get diagnosed with breast cancer, know that there is a higher road to take full of blessings, the realization of the great power of prayer, a loving support system, and maintaining a positive attitude and a great sense of humor. Many blessings to you all! Healing Seeker aka Debbie

Click BREAST CANCER to visit these top six Breast Cancer tales at Best-Reviewer.com.

Click TOP TEN REVIEWER should you wish to post a top ten reviewer site of your very own. This site was created by James Colin from Best-Reviewer.com and She Told Me.com.

You can view the rest of my reviews by clicking Debbie Dunn’s Most Recent Tops.

Best Review - Top 5 Breast Cancer Journey Tales Part 16 by Healing Seeker

Trace the saga of Healing Seeker as she travels her Breast Cancer Journey from first discovering the large lump to the diagnosis of having malignant breast cancer to a treatment plan that includes chemo, a double mastectomy, and radiation, to the blessed state of being in remission.

Perhaps if you learn from the Breast Cancer Journey traveled by Healing Seeker, you yourself or someone you love will not have to travel that same road yourself. Should you get diagnosed with breast cancer, know that there is a higher road to take full of blessings, the realization of the great power of prayer, a loving support system, and maintaining a positive attitude and a great sense of humor. Many blessings to you all! Healing Seeker aka Debbie

Click BREAST CANCER to visit these top five Breast Cancer tales at Best-Reviewer.com.

Click TOP TEN REVIEWER should you wish to post a top ten reviewer site of your very own. This site was created by James Colin from Best-Reviewer.com and She Told Me.com.

You can view the rest of my reviews by clicking Debbie Dunn’s Most Recent Tops.

Best Review - Top 6 Breast Cancer Journey Tales Part 15 by Healing Seeker

Trace the saga of Healing Seeker as she travels her Breast Cancer Journey from first discovering the large lump to the diagnosis of having malignant breast cancer to a treatment plan that includes chemo, a double mastectomy, and radiation, to the blessed state of being in remission.

Perhaps if you learn from the Breast Cancer Journey traveled by Healing Seeker, you yourself or someone you love will not have to travel that same road yourself. Should you get diagnosed with breast cancer, know that there is a higher road to take full of blessings, the realization of the great power of prayer, a loving support system, and maintaining a positive attitude and a great sense of humor. Many blessings to you all! Healing Seeker aka Debbie

Click BREAST CANCER to visit these top six Breast Cancer tales at Best-Reviewer.com.

Click TOP TEN REVIEWER should you wish to post a top ten reviewer site of your very own. This site was created by James Colin from Best-Reviewer.com and She Told Me.com.

You can view the rest of my reviews by clicking Debbie Dunn’s Most Recent Tops.

Best Review - Top 5 Breast Cancer Journey Tales Part 14 by Healing Seeker

Trace the saga of Healing Seeker as she travels her Breast Cancer Journey from first discovering the large lump to the diagnosis of having malignant breast cancer to a treatment plan that includes chemo, a double mastectomy, and radiation, to the blessed state of being in remission.

Perhaps if you learn from the Breast Cancer Journey traveled by Healing Seeker, you yourself or someone you love will not have to travel that same road yourself. Should you get diagnosed with breast cancer, know that there is a higher road to take full of blessings, the realization of the great power of prayer, a loving support system, and maintaining a positive attitude and a great sense of humor. Many blessings to you all! Healing Seeker aka Debbie

Click BREAST CANCER to visit these top five Breast Cancer tales at Best-Reviewer.com.

Click TOP TEN REVIEWER should you wish to post a top ten reviewer site of your very own. This site was created by James Colin from Best-Reviewer.com and She Told Me.com.

You can view the rest of my reviews by clicking Debbie Dunn’s Most Recent Tops.

Best Review - Top 5 Breast Cancer Journey Tales Part 13 by Healing Seeker

Trace the saga of Healing Seeker as she travels her Breast Cancer Journey from first discovering the large lump to the diagnosis of having malignant breast cancer to a treatment plan that includes chemo, a double mastectomy, and radiation, to the blessed state of being in remission.

Perhaps if you learn from the Breast Cancer Journey traveled by Healing Seeker, you yourself or someone you love will not have to travel that same road yourself. Should you get diagnosed with breast cancer, know that there is a higher road to take full of blessings, the realization of the great power of prayer, a loving support system, and maintaining a positive attitude and a great sense of humor. Many blessings to you all! Healing Seeker aka Debbie

Click BREAST CANCER to visit these top five Breast Cancer tales at Best-Reviewer.com.

Click TOP TEN REVIEWER should you wish to post a top ten reviewer site of your very own. This site was created by James Colin from Best-Reviewer.com and She Told Me.com.

You can view the rest of my reviews by clicking Debbie Dunn’s Most Recent Tops.

Best Review - Top 5 Breast Cancer Journey Tales Part 12 by Healing Seeker

Trace the saga of Healing Seeker as she travels her Breast Cancer Journey from first discovering the large lump to the diagnosis of having malignant breast cancer to a treatment plan that includes chemo, a double mastectomy, and radiation, to the blessed state of being in remission.

Perhaps if you learn from the Breast Cancer Journey traveled by Healing Seeker, you yourself or someone you love will not have to travel that same road yourself. Should you get diagnosed with breast cancer, know that there is a higher road to take full of blessings, the realization of the great power of prayer, a loving support system, and maintaining a positive attitude and a great sense of humor. Many blessings to you all! Healing Seeker aka Debbie

Click BREAST CANCER to visit these top five Breast Cancer tales at Best-Reviewer.com.

Click TOP TEN REVIEWER should you wish to post a top ten reviewer site of your very own. This site was created by James Colin from Best-Reviewer.com and She Told Me.com.

You can view the rest of my reviews by clicking Debbie Dunn’s Most Recent Tops.

Best Review - Top 5 Breast Cancer Journey Tales Part 11 by Healing Seeker

Trace the saga of Healing Seeker as she travels her Breast Cancer Journey from first discovering the large lump to the diagnosis of having malignant breast cancer to a treatment plan that includes chemo, a double mastectomy, and radiation, to the blessed state of being in remission.

Perhaps if you learn from the Breast Cancer Journey traveled by Healing Seeker, you yourself or someone you love will not have to travel that same road yourself. Should you get diagnosed with breast cancer, know that there is a higher road to take full of blessings, the realization of the great power of prayer, a loving support system, and maintaining a positive attitude and a great sense of humor. Many blessings to you all! Healing Seeker aka Debbie

Click BREAST CANCER to visit these top five Breast Cancer tales at Best-Reviewer.com.

Click TOP TEN REVIEWER should you wish to post a top ten reviewer site of your very own. This site was created by James Colin from Best-Reviewer.com and She Told Me.com.

You can view the rest of my reviews by clicking Debbie Dunn’s Most Recent Tops.

Best Review - Top 5 Breast Cancer Journey Tales Part 10 by Healing Seeker

Trace the saga of Healing Seeker as she travels her Breast Cancer Journey from first discovering the large lump to the diagnosis of having malignant breast cancer to a treatment plan that includes chemo, a double mastectomy, and radiation, to the blessed state of being in remission.

Perhaps if you learn from the Breast Cancer Journey traveled by Healing Seeker, you yourself or someone you love will not have to travel that same road yourself. Should you get diagnosed with breast cancer, know that there is a higher road to take full of blessings, the realization of the great power of prayer, a loving support system, and maintaining a positive attitude and a great sense of humor. Many blessings to you all! Healing Seeker aka Debbie

Click BREAST CANCER to visit these top five Breast Cancer tales at Best-Reviewer.com.

Click TOP TEN REVIEWER should you wish to post a top ten reviewer site of your very own. This site was created by James Colin from Best-Reviewer.com and She Told Me.com.

You can view the rest of my reviews by clicking Debbie Dunn’s Most Recent Tops.

Best Review - Top 5 Breast Cancer Journey Tales Part 9 by Healing Seeker

Trace the saga of Healing Seeker as she travels her Breast Cancer Journey from first discovering the large lump to the diagnosis of having malignant breast cancer to a treatment plan that includes chemo, a double mastectomy, and radiation, to the blessed state of being in remission.

Perhaps if you learn from the Breast Cancer Journey traveled by Healing Seeker, you yourself or someone you love will not have to travel that same road yourself. Should you get diagnosed with breast cancer, know that there is a higher road to take full of blessings, the realization of the great power of prayer, a loving support system, and maintaining a positive attitude and a great sense of humor. Many blessings to you all! Healing Seeker aka Debbie

Click BREAST CANCER to visit these top five Breast Cancer tales at Best-Reviewer.com.

Click TOP TEN REVIEWER should you wish to post a top ten reviewer site of your very own. This site was created by James Colin from Best-Reviewer.com and She Told Me.com.

You can view the rest of my reviews by clicking Debbie Dunn’s Most Recent Tops.

Best Review - Top 5 Breast Cancer Journey Tales Part 8 by Healing Seeker

Trace the saga of Healing Seeker as she travels her Breast Cancer Journey from first discovering the large lump to the diagnosis of having malignant breast cancer to a treatment plan that includes chemo, a double mastectomy, and radiation, to the blessed state of being in remission.

Perhaps if you learn from the Breast Cancer Journey traveled by Healing Seeker, you yourself or someone you love will not have to travel that same road yourself. Should you get diagnosed with breast cancer, know that there is a higher road to take full of blessings, the realization of the great power of prayer, a loving support system, and maintaining a positive attitude and a great sense of humor. Many blessings to you all! Healing Seeker aka Debbie

Click BREAST CANCER to visit these top five Breast Cancer tales at Best-Reviewer.com.

Click TOP TEN REVIEWER should you wish to post a top ten reviewer site of your very own. This site was created by James Colin from Best-Reviewer.com and She Told Me.com.

You can view the rest of my reviews by clicking Debbie Dunn’s Most Recent Tops.

Best Review - Top 5 Breast Cancer Journey Tales Part 7 by Healing Seeker

Trace the saga of Healing Seeker as she travels her Breast Cancer Journey from first discovering the large lump to the diagnosis of having malignant breast cancer to a treatment plan that includes chemo, a double mastectomy, and radiation, to the blessed state of being in remission.

Perhaps if you learn from the Breast Cancer Journey traveled by Healing Seeker, you yourself or someone you love will not have to travel that same road yourself. Should you get diagnosed with breast cancer, know that there is a higher road to take full of blessings, the realization of the great power of prayer, a loving support system, and maintaining a positive attitude and a great sense of humor. Many blessings to you all! Healing Seeker aka Debbie

Click BREAST CANCER to visit these top five Breast Cancer tales at Best-Reviewer.com.

Click TOP TEN REVIEWER should you wish to post a top ten reviewer site of your very own. This site was created by James Colin from Best-Reviewer.com and She Told Me.com.

You can view the rest of my reviews by clicking Debbie Dunn’s Most Recent Tops.

Best Review - Top 5 Breast Cancer Journey Tales Part 6 by Healing Seeker

Trace the saga of Healing Seeker as she travels her Breast Cancer Journey from first discovering the large lump to the diagnosis of having malignant breast cancer to a treatment plan that includes chemo, a double mastectomy, and radiation, to the blessed state of being in remission.

Perhaps if you learn from the Breast Cancer Journey traveled by Healing Seeker, you yourself or someone you love will not have to travel that same road yourself. Should you get diagnosed with breast cancer, know that there is a higher road to take full of blessings, the realization of the great power of prayer, a loving support system, and maintaining a positive attitude and a great sense of humor. Many blessings to you all! Healing Seeker aka Debbie

Click BREAST CANCER to visit these top five Breast Cancer tales at Best-Reviewer.com.

Click TOP TEN REVIEWER should you wish to post a top ten reviewer site of your very own. This site was created by James Colin from Best-Reviewer.com and She Told Me.com.

You can view the rest of my reviews by clicking Debbie Dunn’s Most Recent Tops.

Best Review - Top 5 Breast Cancer Journey Tales Part 5 By Healing Seeker

Trace the saga of Healing Seeker as she travels her Breast Cancer Journey from first discovering the large lump to the diagnosis of having malignant breast cancer to a treatment plan that includes chemo, a double mastectomy, and radiation, to the blessed state of being in remission.

Perhaps if you learn from the Breast Cancer Journey traveled by Healing Seeker, you yourself or someone you love will not have to travel that same road yourself. Should you get diagnosed with breast cancer, know that there is a higher road to take full of blessings, the realization of the great power of prayer, a loving support system, and maintaining a positive attitude and a great sense of humor. Many blessings to you all! Healing Seeker aka Debbie

Click BREAST CANCER to visit these top five Breast Cancer tales at Best-Reviewer.com.

Click TOP TEN REVIEWER should you wish to post a top ten reviewer site of your very own. This site was created by James Colin from Best-Reviewer.com and She Told Me.com.

You can view the rest of my reviews by clicking Debbie Dunn’s Most Recent Tops.

Best Review - Top 5 Breast Cancer Journey Tales Part 4 by Healing Seeker

Trace the saga of Healing Seeker as she travels her Breast Cancer Journey from first discovering the large lump to the diagnosis of having malignant breast cancer to a treatment plan that includes chemo, a double mastectomy, and radiation, to the blessed state of being in remission.

Perhaps if you learn from the Breast Cancer Journey traveled by Healing Seeker, you yourself or someone you love will not have to travel that same road yourself. Should you get diagnosed with breast cancer, know that there is a higher road to take full of blessings, the realization of the great power of prayer, a loving support system, and maintaining a positive attitude and a great sense of humor. Many blessings to you all! Healing Seeker aka Debbie

Click BREAST CANCER to visit these top five Breast Cancer tales at Best-Reviewer.com.

Click TOP TEN REVIEWER should you wish to post a top ten reviewer site of your very own. This site was created by James Colin from Best-Reviewer.com and She Told Me.com.

You can view the rest of my reviews by clicking Debbie Dunn’s Most Recent Tops.

Best Review - Top 7 Breast Cancer Journey Tales Part 3 by Healing Seeker

Trace the saga of Healing Seeker as she travels her Breast Cancer Journey from first discovering the large lump to the diagnosis of having malignant breast cancer to a treatment plan that includes chemo, a double mastectomy, and radiation, to the blessed state of being in remission.

Perhaps if you learn from the Breast Cancer Journey traveled by Healing Seeker, you yourself or someone you love will not have to travel that same road yourself. Should you get diagnosed with breast cancer, know that there is a higher road to take full of blessings, the realization of the great power of prayer, a loving support system, and maintaining a positive attitude and a great sense of humor. Many blessings to you all! Healing Seeker aka Debbie

Click BREAST CANCER to visit these top seven Breast Cancer tales at Best-Reviewer.com.

Click TOP TEN REVIEWER should you wish to post a top ten reviewer site of your very own. This site was created by James Colin from Best-Reviewer.com and She Told Me.com.

You can view the rest of my reviews by clicking Debbie Dunn’s Most Recent Tops.

Best Review - Top 5 Breast Cancer Journey Tales Part 2 by Healing Seeker

Trace the saga of Healing Seeker as she travels her Breast Cancer Journey from first discovering the large lump to the diagnosis of having malignant breast cancer to a treatment plan that includes chemo, a double mastectomy, and radiation, to the blessed state of being in remission.

Perhaps if you learn from the Breast Cancer Journey traveled by Healing Seeker, you yourself or someone you love will not have to travel that same road yourself. Should you get diagnosed with breast cancer, know that there is a higher road to take full of blessings, the realization of the great power of prayer, a loving support system, and maintaining a positive attitude and a great sense of humor. Many blessings to you all! Healing Seeker aka Debbie

Click BREAST CANCER to visit these top five Breast Cancer tales at Best-Reviewer.com.

Click TOP TEN REVIEWER should you wish to post a top ten reviewer site of your very own. This site was created by James Colin from Best-Reviewer.com and She Told Me.com.

You can view the rest of my reviews by clicking Debbie Dunn’s Most Recent Tops.

Best Review - Top 5 Breast Cancer Journey Tales Part 1 by Healing Seeker

Trace the saga of Healing Seeker as she travels her Breast Cancer Journey from first discovering the large lump to the diagnosis of having malignant breast cancer to a treatment plan that includes chemo, a double mastectomy, and radiation, to the blessed state of being in remission.

Perhaps if you learn from the Breast Cancer Journey traveled by Healing Seeker, you yourself or someone you love will not have to travel that same road yourself. Should you get diagnosed with breast cancer, know that there is a higher road to take full of blessings, the realization of the great power of prayer, a loving support system, and maintaining a positive attitude and a great sense of humor. Many blessings to you all! Healing Seeker aka Debbie

Click BREAST CANCER to visit these top five Breast Cancer tales at Best-Reviewer.com.

Click TOP TEN REVIEWER should you wish to post a top ten reviewer site of your very own. This site was created by James Colin from Best-Reviewer.com and She Told Me.com.

You can view the rest of my reviews by clicking Debbie Dunn’s Most Recent Tops.