Breezy Mama

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chemotherapy

Helping to Cure Breast Cancer by Shopping

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As we all know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. In order to help raise research funds, a slew of companies create one-of-a-kind breast cancer awareness products which, if bought, a portion of the proceeds will go to a variety of breast cancer organizations. How much easier (and fun) can it be to help stop an awful disease? Below you will find a few choices that have come across our desks. . .

weeDECOR

If the name weeDECOR rings a bell, it’s because Breezy Mama featured one of their adorable wall graphics in a past children’s decorating piece. During the month of October, weeDECOR will be [Read more…] about Helping to Cure Breast Cancer by Shopping

My Breast Cancer Story, One Year Later

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Cheryl and her family, at a recent summer trip to see the Redwoods.

Last October, my husband’s aunt and my friend, Cheryl, (who, for the rest of  the year gives us her great craft ideas) told us her story about what life was like after being told she had breast cancer, and was in the process of going through chemotherapy. This October, she comes back to us with an update. Luckily, it’s a happy one as she is doing well. However, life still has its tough moments, as recovering from chemotherapy is a long process. Read on to see what the days are like for Cheryl since treatment ended. . .

Cancer is a word we have all become very familiar with.  Most of us know someone who has been diagnosed and some of us have had cancer ourselves.  I was diagnosed with breast cancer May 28, 2010 at age 42.  I went through very aggressive surgeries and treatment to get rid of the cancer and hopefully keep me cancer free for the rest of my life.

So here I am, a year later, cancer free.  The past year and a half has [Read more…] about My Breast Cancer Story, One Year Later

My Story: Experiencing the Power of the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

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Jill on site at the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

As you all know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breezy Mama thought it fitting to start the month with a personal story of someone fighting breast cancer right now, at this moment. Cheryl agreed to share her experiences, as she’s going through the horrific events that come with being diagnosed with breast cancer. If her story gets one of you checked, then she’s done her job. As October comes to a close, we have another story to share, but not from one who’s experienced breast cancer per se, but one who has looked in from the outside, and has lost her terrific friend, Christy, to the disease. Breezy Mama‘s Contributing Beauty Editor, Jill Kloster has been through this ordeal, and, in her memory, participated in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer this past September. This is her story, along with her dear friend, Christy’s. . .

Jill dedicates this story to Linda Renwick-Lawson . . .

From Jill:

Christy Medrano hated me.  I was the new hire at a Los Angeles based health food company and she was not having it one bit.  On my third day, she accused me of breaking into her apartment and stealing her flat front Gap khakis.  Seriously.  I didn’t even know where she lived.  As weeks progressed I [Read more…] about My Story: Experiencing the Power of the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer: A True Story

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Cheryl, today, with her kids, Matt and Molly. (Matt thought it was funny I wanted a picture of her with her bald head!)

Last spring, my husband’s Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Tom came for a visit. They live in Northern California, so we don’t get to see them very often. Beers were drunk, a delicious dinner was grilled, and the kids got along beautifully. It was one of those visits where after they left, you really wished you lived closer, so you could see each other more than once in a blue moon. So, when Cheryl sent out an email a few months later that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, I was shocked. Tears started pouring down my face and I kept asking, “why?” Especially since a big topic of conversation that night was how both my daughter and Tom had been diagnosed with cancer that winter. Today, Cheryl has just finished the first part of her treatment, and words can’t describe how positive and great her attitude is–she’s upbeat, but very realistic at the same time. So, as we enter October, (aka Breast Cancer Awareness Month), Breezy Mama only thought it fitting to share someone’s story from the front-lines. –Alex

From Cheryl:

My day started like every other day.  I hit the snooze button one too many times, I was pulling my kids out of bed with a crowbar and the dog was following me around with a ball so I wouldn’t forget to take her hour for some exercise.  Then, in a split second [Read more…] about Breast Cancer: A True Story

Melanoma: One Mom’s Story and Advice from a Dermatologist

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Helga and her family.

With the warmer weather on its way and Memorial Day weekend kicking off the beach/lake/pool season comes the threat of melanoma, a potentially deadly form of skin cancer. Helga, a mom of two daughters, ages 6 1/2 and 9, shares her story on finding out she had melanoma and what happened next. Plus, advice from Breezy Mama go-to dermatologist, Dr. Vi on treatment, prevention and more.

How was your melanoma discovered? A routine check? A suspicious looking mole you discovered and had a dermatologist look at?

I was [Read more…] about Melanoma: One Mom’s Story and Advice from a Dermatologist