Intimacy After Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Many women find that breast cancer diagnosis and treatment seriously disrupt their sexual lives. First there are the most obvious issues—the physical changes, exhaustion, nausea and pain from treatment, self-image, empty energy reserves, and the emotional chaos from the diagnosis itself. But there are also many other issues that women and their partners may not even know they'll have to face.

Yet retaining intimacy in your relationship both during and after your breast cancer ordeal is critical to your overall recovery. And single women who want to become part of a relationship worry how breast cancer will affect their prospects, about how and when to tell those prospective lovers about their condition.

Reflections

Just sitting here reflecting on July 2009. Looking back at this picture, I was focused on losing weight before my 40th birhday and how I was going into 40 with a bang. Little did I know the bang would come in the form of a Stage III breast cancer diagnosis. This after picture was taken just before I got that news. Thanks to negligence of doctors I almost lost my life. Glory be to God that it was caught just in time. I cannot thank the team of wonderful doctors at Memorial Regional Hospital and the Breast Cancer Centers who gave me excellent care.  Their skilled team of doctors saved my life and gave me a second chance.  God is so able and His grace spared my life. I turned 42 last week and on September 14th last year I finished my last treatment after a year of chemo, bi-lateral masectomy and radiation. My life has come full circle to where I am not so focused on myself and my weight but now I am focused on serving others and sharing how God impacts my daily life. Once again I cannot thank all my prayer warriors enough for keeping me lifted up during that journey. I am forever changed!

Pink Carpet Launch Party & Fundraiser

Contact: 

Andrea Nugent -

954-376-9571

andrea@bionicgirls.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

“MIRROR OF HOPE” TO BE DISPLAYED AND CELEBRATED

AT B.I.O.N.IC. GIRLS, INC’S PINK CARPET FUNDRAISER HOSTED BY

MEMORIAL REGIONAL HOSPITAL

September 9, 2011 – Pembroke Pines, FL – Join B.i.o.n.i.c. Girls, Inc. as we admire local artist, Berne Born’s, infamous and stunning “Mirror of Hope.”  This special event will be hosted on Saturday October 1st, 2011 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., during our Pink Carpet Fundraiser.  The event will be hosted by Memorial Regional Hospital in their main auditorium, and will also feature light refreshments, hors d’oeuvres, jazz music, and a silent auction.  The event will also feature guest speakers Dr. Alejandra Perez (Director) and Dr. Carmen Calfa (Breast Oncologist) of the Memorial Breast Cancer Center.

“Our hope is to offer inspiration to people in the community whose lives have in any way been affected by cancer with this amazing work of art which was created for that very purpose,” said Andrea Nugent, B.i.o.n.i.c. Girls, Inc’s. (Founder and Survivor).

New Book - Mommy is Still Mommy: Cancer Can't Change That!

Filled with text and coloful illustrations on a level that children can relate to, this book is designed to be a conversation starter for you and your young children, as it cleverly tackles the affects of cancer treatment. Cancer no longer has to be a scary topic. This book will simplify the effects of cancer treatment and change the way it impacts your family.

Setting Goals to Transform your Tomorrow.

Set the goal now for tomorrow's benefit
============================

No matter what aspect of your life you are talking about, goal setting is a crucial factor throughout it all.  As you will see, each of the decisions you make as an entrepreneur will affect your overall goal of being successful with your business.  Yet, there is more to it than just that. 

You should also set goals because they can help you to make the right decisions throughout the process of getting to the level of success that is coming.  By investing the time and energy that you have in setting goals now, you help yourself for each decision it takes to reach the end result you are hoping for. In other words, if you set some overall goals today, you can help insure that your business will be there and be prosperous throughout the future of the business.  Goals now, count. While we all have the same goal of finding success in the future, we still need to set goals to help us to get to that point.  It doesn’t happen overnight!

Eliminating Stress

Stress is a misdemeanor waiting to happen. Stress will wear heavy on your nerves when it builds up, causing you to feel depressed. You may start to develop unnatural health issues that seem to have no justifiable cause for its development. This can lead to several problems. You can avoid many problems by taking action instead of letting stress get you down.

How can I learn to be stress free?

In order to be stress free you have to work at it, it will not come to you over night. It takes time to train your brain to deal with stress. Stress is very bad for you so if you can learn to be stress free you will be better off in the long run. There are many ways to train you brain to get rid of the stress.

What are some of the things I can do to train my brain to be stress free?

You have to decide what you may want to try first and see what will work for you.

Some people may like to read. Others like to just walk or even work out. Working out is a good way to get rid of stress while doing something healthy for your body.

Sharing a Piece of My Story

"Last night I had a discussion with a friend and it led me to this note. It is easy to get up and put on a show like all is well and make people feel like you are so strong. When truly inside you are crumbling and falling apart. I say this because some of us do not ask for help when we need it. Not necessarily help from family and friends, but help from God! He should be the first place we turn. But after you ask for help you have to trust Him. Trust Him with all your heart and all your soul and know that He will carry you through. I will be the first to admit that I did not always do this myself.

Those of you who know and follow me, know what I would say is some of my story. You know the last year and a half has not been an easy road for me with facing and overcoming a battle with Breast Cancer. But the last 9 years of my life had been quite challenging and I was not always so Faithful. God had been trying to get my attention for a long time. For a long time I tried to figure out what my purpose was. I remember reading "The Purpose Driven Life," by Rick Warren one year from cover to cover and still, after reading being very frustrated in trying to find a purpose.

B.i.o.n.i.c. Girls, Inc. - Beauty Is Optional; Newer, Improved, Changed!

B.i.o.n.i.c. Girls, Inc.  -  Beauty Is Optional; Newer, Improved, Changed!
www.bionicgirls.org
             
Mission
Our mission is to empower and transform the lives of young breast cancer survivors who have undergone cancer treatment and/or mastectomy. We focus on rebuilding self-image and self-esteem while creating opportunities for wellness. It is also our goal to promote public awareness and early breast cancer detection in all women.
  
Description
We provide free services to breast cancer patients going through treatment, in recovery and survivors. Our focus is to provide assistance that will allow them to concentrate on healing and less on life's stresses. Services includes ride to treatments, drop-off and pick-up of prescriptions, household cleaning, workshops, support groups and in-home counseling.
  
Key Facts
Target demographics:
We serve low-income breast cancer patients and survivors in the south Florida area. We assist patients of all ages, however, we focus on patients under the age of 45 as this population is increasingly being diagnosed.

Important to Get Moving After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis.

Exercise and Breast Cancer

You don't have to start running triathlons or training for a boxing match to reduce your risk of breast cancer. Doing regular exercise will cut down your risk of developing the disease, as well as preventing its return, if you're a survivor.

Being Sedentary Increases Your Risk
Physical inactivity may contribute to the rise in several types of cancer –- colon cancer, postmenopausal breast cancer, endometrial cancer, kidney cancer, and cancer of the esophagus. Women who are overweight produce and store more estrogen in their bodies than women who have a healthy lower body mass index (BMI). Increased exposure to estrogen and risk of breast cancer are linked, since the estrogen-receptor positive kind is the most common type of breast cancer. Obese women have a greater amount of breast tissue, and it is more difficult to detect breast tumors in obese women, as compared to lean women. This can lead to detection at a more advanced stage of cancer, when it's harder to treat.