Cancer Awareness
Authors who fight cancer, support organizations to eradicate the disease, or have family and/or friends with it.
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Living for the dead, missing out on the living. Dee from PM Inc on Fighting Cancer @pmnp #AttackingCancer #Cancer
Dee is the blog designer and guru for Romance Lives Forever as well as my Kayelle Allen website. I’m honored to have her here sharing her fighting cancer story.
Fighting Cancer
Hi, my name is Dee; both my manager, Cindy, and I have been affected by Cancer. Through the loss of loved ones, supporting family and friends, having our own trials with it, it does sometimes seem like cancer is winning the battle. However, that is not exactly the case. Yes, it has taken some very important people from our lives but we have also learned more about ways to fight cancer. We know now that it is more than just genetics but also the environment you are in and what you take into your body.October is Breast Cancer Awareness month but each month, day, and year is also a time to be aware of the new developments in fighting and surviving cancer and it’s treatments. A year ago I could not have told you why mom had to pass away. I could not have told you what good came from it. Today I know that she fought a long hard battle, that she was tired and her quality of life just was not the same. I can also tell you that she would not have wanted us to wallow in her passing. I did just that for several months; I was unwilling to let her go and because of it I ended up living for the dead and missing out on the living. I can barely remember any memorable moments over the past year because I spent so much of it disconnected from the world. Through my faith, I have been able to see the light of day again and know that Mom is safe in Heaven, no more suffering, no more treatments, no more blood disorders or other complications from cancer treatments.
In the past, I have tried to live a healthier life, I want to be around to watch my four grandchildren grow up and live to see my great-grandchildren. I also want to be there for my dad, so I have off and on attempted to live healthier but it was not until about 6 months ago I started sticking to it. I own a bicycle now, and yup I ride it. I go for walks every day even when it’s not convenient. Most days I try to go to bed at a decent hour so I can get much-needed rest. I pay more attention to not what’s just around me but what I put into my body. Having so many family members and my own trial with cancer, I am at too high of a risk to ignore it. So instead of waiting on it to happen, I am being proactive about it. Guess what? My family supports me in this.
For those who have lost someone to cancer, I do not know that we ever truly get beyond that point but we can live for them. We can fight for them. We can show the world they mattered by not sitting back and waiting for it to happen to us.
I hope that each person reading this takes something for themselves. Whether it is eating healthier, getting out and exercising more, or seeking support from a group or counselor, that they just make the conscious decision to do something and not wait on cancer or any other disease to affect their lives.
If you ever need a friend or someone to just listen and not judge, feel free to drop us a line. We do understand and being someone’s pen pal is just one way we can make a difference in other people’s lives.
Dee and Cindy
Personalized Marketing Social Media
Website https://PersonalizedMarketing.info
Twitter https://twitter.com/pmnp
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Personalized.Marketing.Inc/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/deeowens/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGJyzsWU3LmZVLwTg32BOIg
G+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/+PersonalizedMarketingInc
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dee.pminc/ -
Be #Canceraware #Cancer doesn’t discriminate – with Iris Blobel @_iris_b #RLFblog
Here’s a personal post from my friend, romance author Iris Blobel.Thanks to Kayelle for the opportunity to write this special post outside the October Awareness month, but I suppose it’s something we should all think of occasionally during the whole year.
I was diagnosed with Breast cancer late 2016. I found a lump and had a mammogram that came up with nothing, ditto with the ultrasound and in the end it was a biopsy, which confirmed the uncomfortable truth. Just before Christmas! And an 8-month-journey of highs and lows began.
Cancer was always something “others had” – family, friends, colleagues, neighbours … the list is long, but I never thought that my otherwise sickly body would throw that illness at me as well. I was upset and angry, at the same time I had, and still have heaps to live for: my little family.
In hindsight, what is manifested in my mind about that time is a terrible three days after the first chemo treatment and the poor nurses trying to find a vein for each treatment. My arm was bruised and battered. However, what I remember most is the outpouring of love, help, and kindness. The old saying “you find out who your friends are when you need them” is completely true. I’ve been lucky, not in being diagnosed with it, but having to only “fight” for eight months. Of course, it’s a constant part of my life now, but I do my best to ignore it. It was eight month out of a whole lifetime – a whole wonderful lifetime which I can spend with my family, friends – near and far -, colleagues … when we put our mind to something, we can do anything!
But please … be cancer aware. Do self-checks and if you feel uncertain, go and see your GP.
The final chapter, in a way, of this journey was my travel to New Zealand in September – to close the door on everything. To move on. To rejuvenate. To have fun. It’s a beautiful country, which I love it … so much that I wrote a book, partly set in the south island. I wish for readers to be able to escape to NZ for a little while and know there’s beauty in the world and so much to live for.Today’s featured book is Their Bond Through Jade, a contemporary romance by Iris Blobel.
Pikorua, the Maori name for the symbol, is a twist that is said to symbolise the strength of the bond between two people. Mat is certain there is something between Tiffany and him.
When Tiffany Cahill opens the door to the police, memories flood her mind of the previous year and a relationship gone bad. Frightened, she calls her friend, Steve, for help, but instead a stranger answers the phone. Little does Tiffany know how much this New Zealander is going to impact her life, especially after she is assaulted only a few hours later.
Mat Apanui, the owner of a helicopter tour company in New Zealand, can’t ignore the worry in Tiffany’s voice when he answers Steve’s phone. Before he knows it, he is spending most of his business trip to Melbourne with her. Desperate to keep her safe after an attack, he invites her to stay with him in Queenstown, NZ.
With her safety at risk, how will Tiffany overcome her reservations and trust the sexy stranger enough to fly across the Tasman Sea?
Genre: Romance
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077L3HRVQ/
Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/their-bond-through-jade-iris-blobel/1127500110
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/au/en/ebook/their-bond-through-jade
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/759812Iris Blobel Social Media
Website http://www.irisblobel.com/
Blog http://www.irisblobel.com/blog
Twitter https://twitter.com/_iris_b
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/IrisBlobel
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4067254.Iris_Blobel
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Iris-Blobel/e/B00FNFP3LI/
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bQ68rL -
Vicki Batman #NoQuit Last Year was Tough. This Year was Tougher @vickibatman #RLFblog
Last year, Kayelle asked me to write about Handsome’s cancer journey. (Here’s the link to the post.) I had to end with not-so great news: he would have to have a second go. This time:
9 surgeries
16 days in the hospital
6 weeks living in Houston
More months to recuperate
1 tongue that won’t work
1 gastro feeding tubeBecause Handsome’s first flap surgery a year ago in July (removing right fibula and creating a left jaw bone) wasn’t successful, our doctors suggested we go to M. D. Anderson in Houston, Texas. Our journey began in November when we visited the doctor who was known world-wide for his reconstructive plastic surgery.
The doctor told us the surgery was the same, utilizing the left fibula, that he would be very careful, and the recovery would be hard, but eventually, Handsome would get through it. We had no choice. Every movement caused the temporary titanium plate to jam into his T M Joint. He could hardly eat and talk. If Handsome wanted to resume having a life like everyone else, he had to have the surgery.
On February 25th, we left behind work, home life, and our adora-poos in the hands of family and friends. The biggest thing we carried with us was hope.
Handsome’s surgery began at five-thirty in the morning. He was prepped, procedures signed off, and wheeled away. That was when my heart lodged in my throat as I prayed for the most superior outcome for him. A nurse escorted me to the waiting room to be updated via monitor. #2 son and my sister joined me as did friends. We talked and were kept informed. However, the day went long, and by six in the evening, I sent them on.
Exactly until twelve-thirty A.M. long. The doctor came out and told me he was pleased and guarded (that the transplant would be successful), and rightfully so. I stayed in the waiting room until one-thirty, long past the cleaning people. The only light burning was the lamp on the side table. My eyes were dry. My head hurt. I could barely do anything. Finally, the recovery nurse escorted exhausted me to him. He’d had: the fibula flap, two donor grafts, one artery graft. Handsome was barely aware as I kissed him and said I would see him the next morning.
The next day, I looked at his surgical sites. I saw the feeding tube, the tracheostomy, and the swelling. The raw graft on his neck. The myriad of stitches all over his body. I thought “aw shit, not again.” Definitely, a long haul.
We communicated by paper; sometimes, a wink and a smile. When he choked, the nurses suctioned his trach. (BTW-a shout-out to those amazing people). Staph infections brought surgical washouts along with massive doses of antibiotics and anti-fungal meds.
At day fifteen, we were discharged to the apartment we’d rented. The hospital nurse tutored us in clearing the trach, cleaning wounds, dispensing meds (including a daily heparin shot), and feeding.
With skilled help, eventually, we began to cope. He took short walks and slept a lot. Strength returned in small increments. As he improved, the trach was removed, and the nasal tube switched to a gastro tube because his tongue was unresponsive. Finally, we were able to go home.
We’ve been at home since the second week of April. Occasionally, we go to Houston for check-ups. The titanium plate had to be re-screwed, and the gastro tube replaced. Physically, he has responded well. He is able to swallow a tiny bit of water. His most recent test showed significant tongue strength. His legs have recovered. His posture improved. The flap is perfect.
They say cancer can be the gift that keeps giving. God, I hope no more for my handsome man. We want to travel more. He wants to eat a great steak. He wants to give inspiring talks to college kids and travel for other speaking engagements.
We have no idea how Handsome got throat cancer. Most people get it from smoking or chewing tobacco. If you do this, STOP NOW. Live a good lifestyle. You do not want this. You never want this. For anyone. Ever. It is brutally hard.
The truth remains: cancer sucks. We have also adopted the phrase “it could be worse.” After seeing what other cancer patients encounter, we believe we are fortunate people.
Know this–I am here for you. Anytime. FMI on esophageal cancer, go to: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/esophagus-cancer.html/
Temporarily Employed by Vicki Batman
Genre: romantic comedy, cozy mystery
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
New Job. New Love. And Murder.
Hattie Cook’s dream job is down the toilet and her new SUV violated. Desperate for cash to cover the basic necessities of rent and food, she takes a temporary job at Buy Rite Insurance Company where she uncovers an embezzling scam tied to the death of a former employee–the very one she replaced. The last thing she wants is to clash with By-the-Book Detective Wellborn, no matter how much he makes her heart pound.
Detective Allan Charles Wellborn has secretly adored Hattie all his life. When the police determine there’s more to the death of a former Buy Rite employee, he steps in to lead the investigation. Overly dedicated, always perfect, he puts his job first, even if doing so ultimately hurts the one he loves.
Can the killer be found before Hattie’s time is up?
The Wild Rose Press: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=5829
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Temporarily-Employed-Vicki-Batman-ebook/dp/B00N4J5FDQ/Vicki Batman Social Media
Like some of her characters, award-winning author, Vicki Batman has worked a wide variety of jobs including lifeguard, ride attendant at an amusement park; a hardware store, department store, book store, antique store clerk; administrative assistant in an international real estate firm; and a general “do anything gal” at a financial services firm–the list is endless.
Writing for several years, she has completed three manuscripts, written essays, and sold many short stories to True Love, True Romance, True Confessions, Noble Romance Publishing, Long and Short Reviews, Museitup Publishing, and The Wild Rose Press. She is a member of RWA and several writing groups and chapters. In 2004, she joined DARA and has served in many capacities, including 2009 President. DARA awarded her the Robin Teer Memorial Service Award in 2010.
Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking “What if??”
Website: http://vickibatman.blogspot.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VickiBatman
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1ipdLkv
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/vickibatman
Google+: http://bit.ly/1zUggDF
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4814608.Vicki_Batman
Amazon Author page https://www.amazon.com/author/vickibatman
Plotting Princesses: http://plottingprincesses.blogspot.com -
Beating cancer one life at a time by Livia Quinn @liviaquinn #RLFblog #Suspense #NoQuit
We’ve each lost loved ones to this killer. Thirty years ago when my father got cancer people were calling it “The Big C”, speaking about it in hushed voices ripe with trepidation and let’s face it, a sense of doom. He dies less than a month after he was diagnosed. By the time my mother passed away from ovarian cancer SEVEN years after they’d given her a one to two year prognosis, the tide was beginning t turn. Now drugs, new attitudes and protocols, and new outcomes are on the rise.Though I’ve lost many friends, even recently, to lung cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer and pancreatic cancer, these friends and family have lived WITH cancer. While doctors visits and treatments were a part of their lives, they didn’t stop living or doing the things that gave them joy. I miss them all terribly (Mary Amelia, Charlie, Mark, Earl and Cleo, and so many more) but the memory I have of each of them was strength, passion for life, and the way they put us one step closer to seeing the end of this illness. It’s power over our psyches has been diminished by the hope those who have come before us have left behind.
Hope is an integral part of beating cancer. My mother’s doctor said there was no reason she should have beat those odds. They credited her positive attitude. This is an accepted fact now– our will, our belief and our no quit attitudes will one day mean an end to cancer. There’s no way to express what a wonderful day that will be. I believe it will happen in my lifetime.
Please don’t let fear of the C-word keep you from getting screened. Early detection has meant the difference many times. And remember — We Will Not Quit until cancer is history.
These heroes fight for country and serve their communities, Luc, Men of Honor by Livia Quinn.
Today’s featured book is Luc, Men of Honor, a Romantic Suspense by Livia Quinn.
Not all tall, dark and dangerous heroes are bad boys…
The first time Delilah Burke saw him was at the crime scene, and she assumed he was a certain type—tall, dark and dangerous, and a robber—because he looked the part and he was holding a gun. She’d been wrong. A cop should know better than to assume but dressed like a mercenary, holding a gun, how was she to know? Under the circumstances a careful cop doesn’t presume or assume so, she’d followed protocol.
Former Navy officer, Luc Larue, knew the tough lady cop with her boot pressing him to the grimy floor of the tiny grocery suspected he was a criminal. But he’d been in the process of taking down the thief with his “gun” when she and her partner barreled onto the scene ordering everyone to get down. There was something about her commanding voice and those cornflower-blue eyes, but once she learned the truth about his part-time job, would she listen to his proposition or laugh?
Each day reveals the former naval officer to be almost too good to be true. Then trouble arrives from Luc’s past and Del faces a choice – believe the evidence against him, or trust her heart.
Genre Contemporary Romantic suspense
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG-13
Publisher Campbell Hill Publishing
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075YPN5NJ
Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/luc-livia-quinn/1127152133
iBooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/luc/id1290017804?mt=11
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/luc-13
Scribd https://www.scribd.com/book/360011704/Luc-Men-of-Honor-2
CreateSpace https://www.createspace.com/7460619Livia Quinn Social Media
A DC native, Livia Quinn lives and writes by the bayou in Louisiana. Her jobs as a mail carrier, computer trainer, plant manager, sales person and professional singer have provided her with plenty of fodder to share with her readers. She is protected from the alligators, snakes and bears by her husband and their feisty Pomeranian, Dusty the Cajun Husky.
Website: http://liviaquinn.com
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/liviaquinnwrites
Twitter http://twitter.com/liviaquinn
Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/livia-quinn
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/liviaquinn
Goodreads http://bit.ly/22VXuev
Amazon Author page http://amzn.to/1T5qmhN
Google+ http://bit.ly/2guNZn9
Instagram http://instagram.com/liviaquinnauthor
Livia Quinn’s Facebook Reader Group http://bit.ly/2gBFQ12
Blog: https://liviaquinnwrites.com/livias-ramblings -
Meet a survivor, champion, and fighter @pmnp #cancer #pinktober
Dee Owens from Personalized
Marketing Inc is helping Romance Lives Forever Blog celebrate Cancer
Awareness Week 2016. Dee handles the websites for Kayelle Allen, The Author’sSecret, Marketing for Romance Writers, and several others. Her new design for the
new Romance Lives Forever Blog will encore in
2017.
Hello Everyone,My name is Dee Owens, single mother, grandmother, cancer survivor and
supporter
for Cancer Awareness. I have had several family members, friends,
coworkers face different types of cancer. I myself have had my own dealings
with breast cancer. Cancer does not care what color we are, where we grew up,
how rich or poor we are. No one deserves to have to deal with cancer and no one
ever asks for it. Over the decades we have become more aware of what cancer is,
where it comes from and ways to detect it. Many do not realize that Cancer is
GENETIC, this means that if someone in your family has had it your chances of
getting it have increased. If we think about it, it makes sense that it can be
passed genetically, allergies, eye color, hair color, body types, diabetes are
all genetically passed from one generation to the next.
Cancer does not just affect the person who has it but also those that
take care of them. Fighting cancer is more than going and getting treatments,
eating differently, or trying to live heathier, it is also about the emotional
and financial drain it can have on you and your loved ones. Cancer treatments
are often covered by medical insurance but not always and never 100% cost. When
you think about how much it cost to just drive to the store, then imagine
having to drive that 2-3 times a week, every week for an extended period of
time. Or think about the additional equipment that is added to homes or the
missed ballgame because of treatment or just feeling bad. These are all tolls
that hit a family hard. That’s why I decided to help support those fighting
cancer and their loved ones by donating my time, finances, effort and skills.
My company provides free domain name, hosting and maintenance for an online
Cancer Awareness Community, http://Keep-HOPE-Alive.comWe also do yearly donations to local charities or organizations that
help others. Plus, we take time to show support of others by simply letting
people know they aren’t alone. Which in our opinion is probably one of the
single most important things we can do in the Fight Against Cancer.I am also the Owner/CEO/Founder of Personalized Marketing Inc, also
known as Personalized Marketing and Promotions. Being a single mother and
needing a way to support my family but also be a stay-at-home mother, meant I
needed a change. I began my journey in 2005 when I published my first novel,
got a basic website and wanted to learn more. Personalized Marketing Inc opened
in August of 2008 when a friend needing videos wondered why I didn’t offer them
as a service. We have the same Mission Statement today as when we opened, “Personalized
Services tailored to you”. We continually strive for 110% effort to bring
you the best services we can provide.Personalized Marketing Inc now offers all your online web presence
needs under one company. We offer Domain Names, Hosting, Emails, Network,
Social Site Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, SSL, Artwork, Website
Development and Ghostwriting. At Personalized Marketing Inc the first thing we
do is get to know you, we want to understand the efforts you have put in and
what areas you want help with. There have been times that we also suggest
additional items but never just “bloat” your services. If you would
like to get to know more about Personalized Marketing Inc or myself, please
visit any of the links provided below.Thank You
As a special
thank you, I am including two discounts for Romance Lives Forever Bloggers during
the Month of Oct.PM Inc Consultant Services
Get 15% off any service orderedFree 3 Months Hosting with Website Design Service (Contact
Dee prior to placing order) http://personalizedmarketing.info/rlf-bloggers/Hosting | Domains
Use Promo Code CancerRLF1 to get 10% off at http://hosting.personalizedmarketing.infoAbout Personalized Marketing
Main Site: http://personalizedmarketing.info/Services: http://personalizedmarketing.info/store/Hosting | Domains
| SSL and More: http://hosting.personalizedmarketing.info/Social Media
PM Inc Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Personalized.Marketing.IncTwitter https://twitter.com/pmnpExcerpts and
Promotions Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Excerpts.and.Promotions/LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/deeowensYouTube http://www.youtube.com/owensdeePinterest https://www.pinterest.com/owensdee/ -
When words are not enough–losing a friend #Cancer #Pinktober
Kayelle and Reaghan; airport San Francisco I first met writer Reaghan Moore when she joined my critique group. Back then, we were all on MeetUp.com and she joined ahead of moving from California to Georgia. We saw a few posts from her before she moved, but I’ll never forget seeing her walk in the door. I recognized her at once from her pictures. There was a feeling that I’d known her for a long time, when in fact we were meeting for the first time that day.From the beginning, our group knew she had lung cancer and that she had moved out here to stay with her sister, because Reaghan was unable to live alone. It would save money to be with family, and she had absolute faith in her sister. I’ve gotten to know Kim, and Reaghan was right. Kim is a rock. She doesn’t think so, but she is.Reaghan began a drug trial and bounced back so well that the two of us made a trip to San Francisco together last year. She wanted to visit friends there (her original hometown) and I love to travel, so it was a good fit. We had a blast. We had planned another trip in late June to visit some of her friends in Arizona. The night before we were to leave, she collapsed.She ended up in the hospital, and the friends she had visited in other states all came to her. It was a party in her room with friends and family. The doctors encouraged her to enjoy her time, because the cancer had returned full force. There was no longer anything they could do. Her sister told us Reaghan had weeks, not months.I put together a Facebook group for Reaghan’s friends so we could coordinate visits with her. It also gave Kim a single place to update people and to ask if she needed help with picking up things or walking the dogs. We used the group to gather photos and another friend put them in an electronic picture frame so she could have pictures of her friends with her 24/7. Another person brought her two stuffed dogs that looked like her own Maltese and Schnauzer, Pacman and Baron. The stuffed versions of her fur-heroes stayed where she could see them every day. Her sister brought the real ones to visit her in hospice. I was sorry I missed seeing that reunion.
Kayelle and Reaghan
San Francisco (2015)Three weeks later, at the end of July, Reaghan was gone. It happened so fast. For all you thinkyou’ve prepared yourself, you just can’t. I’ve been forgetting to eat (trust me — not like me!) and sleeping far more than usual. I haven’t been able to focus. I’m talking to a grief counselor, and it’s helping. I’m convinced, however, that only time will assuage the pain of missing such a dear friend.
Reaghan entrusted me with finishing her books; a trilogy, an anthology, and two novellas. The work was over 90% done when I got it. I haven’t been able to face any of it. Just can’t. I hear her voice in the words and it breaks my heart. We had gotten close over the last couple of years. The two of us had breakfast or lunch together once a week. We had lunch with the critique group every Tuesday. We traveled. I drove her to doctor visits when she was beginning her treatment. We drove in a blizzard together (in Atlanta!) and we almost ran out of gas one time by going too far on fumes. I worried; she laughed. We were very different, but we were the best of friends. We told each other things we’d never tell anyone else. We spent time together. So the sudden cessation feels empty. Hollow.When I asked my critique group to write a few words about her, no one could. Not because we didn’t love her and didn’t admire her absolute tenacity and will to live. But because of those very things. One of them shared with me why she can’t, and I think it works for all of us. “You want a celebration of a life fought for. Just writing these few lines made me cry, not because of what I have said, but because of what I haven’t.”How do you write about someone you’ve recently lost? I’m supposed to know. I’m a writer. I’m supposed to put all of this into perspective so I can harness the emotions to write even better. I will. Eventually. Right now, I need time to grieve. I will come back. I will write about Reaghan’s amazing life. I will finish her books. It was a deathbed promise and I will honor it.One thing I have learned about cancer is that those who fight–live. Those who refuse to stop–keep going. But this is a powerful disease. It’s one reason I set aside a week on this blog for guest authors to come and share. We must never give in. We must never let cancer win. We must be victorious.
Please, never stop fighting. Never stop moving forward. And never stop doing everything you can to help find a cure.You May Also Like
Waiting and hoping @AuthorTinaGayle #Cancer #Pinktober
Claire Marti’s Fighting Cancer Story @clairepmarti #AttackingCancer #Cancer
Authors and Dancers Against Cancer #anthology Get the inside scoop on Cosette Binet from The Red Slippers by Ruth A Casie @RuthACasie #RLFblog #Historical #Regency
