I started this breast cancer blog at the time of my diagnosis in March 2012, to record the interesting or funny things that happened during my treatment, and to try to make sense of all the things I was learning so much about. Most of these posts appear in the category ‘Breast Cancer.’
My treatment is over. Now I only have to take one pill a day. I feel very lucky and grateful that I appear to have got through the bulk of this for now.
The blog earned recognition from Healthline in the US as one of the top 23 Breast Blogs of 2012 and 2013.
The blog started me off on wanting to write more and more. I used the blog to serialise chapters of a novel: The World According to Shardonnay. I have also done around ten articles about the Adventures of the Gin Club, which I have now put in a category called ‘Gin Club‘.
From March 2014 I have been blogging about the process of planning a show to take to the Edinburgh Fringe in August. I thought this would be interesting for other people who might be tempted to try it. You learn an awful lot about putting on a show through just doing it, so I am posting about all the little things we have to do for the show to happen. These posts are in the category ‘Tingeys go to the Fringe.’
Here is a pic of me at Shambala Festival in the summer, with my daughter Chloe:
And here is a pic of Fred and me, on our way to a posh Christmas dinner at Hassobury Manor. (We don’t dress up often.)
Hello Hester! I was saddened to hear that you have breast cancer, and have to go through all that it entails. It was quite a shock receiving your email, but reading through your first five blogs, I must say that I appreciate you sharing your experiences with us, your readers and doing so with such an open and witty style. My thoughts are with you.
Eleanor
Dear,dear Hester – of course I’m not surprised that you have turned this situation into something good, something creative. You write in such an immediate, fresh style that your personality shines through. Hope you keep it up – it’s already required reading!
Sending you love, and positive energy.
Ali
Oh Hester your writing can keep me entertained for hours!
I admire you incredibly, you manage to turn these experiences into something creative and imaginative and I LOVE the blog’s name! So funz!
I’d love to come round for some flutey soon, or even just a chat! (I’ll bring some berries)
Love you and admire you more than ever!!
Ruby xxx
P.S I’ve been practicing!
Hello Hester,
I was awfully sad to hear your news, and I will, without a doubt, be constantly checking your blog for updates on how the treatment is going.
All this being said, I also completely admire your courage and openness in writing this. I expected nothing less of you, of course, but it is so refreshing to be reading such a fresh outlook on the matter. I have two great-aunts who have both had breast cancer, a great uncle battling lung cancer currently and lost my nan just over 3 years ago to leukaemia so it is a subject very close to home.
Thank you for your witty, expressive and calm entries; they sound just as if you were telling me the stories face to face!
Wish you all the best,
Leah xxxx
Hi,
I’m a friend of Bob Stiven from Canada.
Bob sent me the URL as I had done something similar with poetry on my website during my journey.
http://www.rural-in-urban.com/rcd/views/journey.html
I’m so glad I did. At the time it took care of updating those who did not want to know how things were going, yet allowed me to just say it like it was… and now, looking back, an amazing paper trail. Your blog brought back so many memories.
When I got diagnosed, I immediately contacted everyone I could possibly think of because, I reasoned, cancer is a social disease…we got us into this and we are going to get us out of it…together…grin…
Wishing you all the best.
Stu Harvey, Brandon Manitoba Canada
Hester
I read this from sunny Andover, and read the whole lot, at once of course. I so want you to get well asap, so keep writing, and I will see you soon I hope (i was mad as heck at the receptionist story, big hugs)
Your blog is so compelling it ought to be reviewed for a book club (!), mmm wonder where there might be one of those?
Keep as well as you can, and you know there’s a ton of support from us out here – even when we are miles away . Love you lots, see you soon. Jill xxxxx
Dear gorgeous Hester,
A Strong Woman with a Warrior — very funny and true. These five entries are fascinating and wonderful. Kudos for your energy in writing such informative and amusing reports! Also, history very revealing (initial lack of medical insight, and the nuclear background). Your stories are important in all aspects: technical as well as as human condition. Thanks, Hester!
Your friend E.
My mum has breast cancer, and despite she talks freely about her treatment, she doesn’t talk about the way she feels much. Thank you for sharing your feelings. It helps me a lot. I wish my mum spoke english, i could share this blog with her and talk about it. I guess i’ll have to find another starting point. Thank you ever so much. Love, charline.
Charline, what language does your mother speak? maybe we could find a translator for the blog? if it is French, my sister would do it, no problem.
I could do it, but it’s not the same thing as reading of someone who goes through the same things as you “in real time”. I still can pop up the subject. Thank you for your offer, you’ve already done so much 😉
And I went a bit too fast: it isn’t exactly breast cancer, it’s under her armpit, her arm is swollen a bit because it disturbs the lymphatic system, but if she went into surgery, she would have a part of the upper breast removed as the veins and glands are closely connected in this area. She had ganglions removed already a few years ago, but they were not cancerous. She’s fighting great, with ups and downs according to the way her arm swollens or not, but I’m always concerned she hides her fears. She’s got very good friends around, I’m so thankful for that.
Hi Hester,
I was shocked to come across your blog post on my news feed, I had no idea when I saw you Thursday evening. As people above have mentioned, your blog is truly inspiring and a real eye opener for anyone reading it.
I admire your strength and wish you the best in fighting through this.
Love Zoë xx
Hester~ Keep writing! I love your posts…and if you need anything, I’m here. xo
This is great stuff Hester.In fact it is AB Fab!!
Doug
XX
Hi Hester – thank you for your lovely blog – I have so enjoyed reading it. I spent last year nursing my poor Mum through cancer of the oesophagus – that was the year from hell, but she was given the all clear almost a year to the day from her diagnosis in December and is doing really well now as I know you will be soon. They said they detected lung nodules on her too when she had a scan and we had a very depressing meeting with the oncologist following that, but it turned out to be nothing so you may find the same thing. I do hope so. You’re obviously an amazing lady with a wonderful family. You deserve nothing but good things! My son Will is a Eliot’s really good friend so I’ve met your lovely daughter and heard all about you all. Would love to meet you. I’m sorry you’ve got to fight this, my thoughts and good vibes (sorry- I can’t do prayers being a strict atheist) are with you.Looking forward to you next instalment.
Sarah x
dear Hester,
have been uplifted by your experience of healing. so glad the chemo over for now. glad that Penel has been with you too. much thinking of you and sending love, Tessa
Hi Hester,
Healthline editors recently published the final list of their favorite Breast Cancer blogs and your blog made the list. You can find the complete list at: http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/best-breast-cancer-blogs (in no particular order). We encourage you to share your status as one of the best blogs on the web with your friends, family, & followers.
We also created a set of badges you can easily embed on your site & anywhere else you see fit:
http://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer-badges
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Congrats & continue the great work!
Warm Regards,
Tracy
You humor his hilarious! Thank you for sharing your story in such a refreshing way. Yes breast cancer is a serious disease, but it doesn’t mean that a person has to be confined to a serious tone, and medical terminology. Presenting the situation in a light-hearted way is a way to stay positive about it all. My family has a history of breast cancer with my great aunt undergoing a lumpectomy less than two months ago. Feeling overwhelmed and wanting to have a sense of control back in my life, I decided to get involved with the breast cancer nonprofit community. It has given me the opportunity to feel as though I am fighting this disease right along my family and friends who are continuing their journey with the disease.
I wanted to give you a head’s up; The Keep A Breast Foundation were nominated for a $250,000 Chase Community Giving grant. This youth-focused nonprofit organization educates about cancer prevention, early detection, and of cancer-causing toxins in the environment. The recipient is determined by votes and winning would mean that they could continue their awesome work in education. I was thinking that you can help them get the word out. Thank you!!! Polls close September 19th. People can VOTE here: http://bit.ly/TrduBz
For kicks and giggles….. They were so excited about the nomination (and being the T-Swift fans that they are) they made a video parody of Taylor Swift’s We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together entitled We Are Never Ever Too Young For Cancer. It’s super cute! WATCH it here: http://bit.ly/NOEVG4
More information about Keep A Breast:
http://www.keep-a-breast.org/about/#mission
-Sarina
Hi Hester,
Healthline recently finished researching the best Apps for breast cancer patients and we were wondering if you would consider sharing the link with your network of followers. You can find the complete list at: http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/top-breast-cancer-iphone-android-apps
Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Warm Regards,
Tracy
Hi Hester (and Fred), remember me? I taught you guitar a very very long time ago! I stumbled across your blog and thought ‘I know that person’… SO sorry to hear about the cancer, but what a fantastic response, to write this great blog. I really can’t put it better than Ali and Eleanor and Ruby and Leah, so won’t try. Just keep up the great work – it would be so good to see you both again, after all these years 🙂
Hi James, it would be great to see you again too! We did not make much progress with guitar after having all those babies, but you will be glad to know that our first daughter is a guitarist and is studying music at Berklee in Boston! So all your efforts to get us tuning our guitars properly was not in vain. And Fred does sometimes play some carols at Christmas. We have to meet up!
Hi Hester,
Breast cancer awareness month is almost over!
Healthline recently finished compiling its list of the best breast cancer awareness videos of 2012. You can view the list at http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/best-videos-breast-cancer
We would love if you could help spread awareness by sharing these amazing videos with your followers, friends, and subscribers.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Warm Regards,
Tracy
Hi Hester,
I am happy to inform you that your blog has made Healthline’s list of the Best Breast Cancer Blogs of 2015! Healthline’s editors carefully selected each winner based on quality, frequency of updates and contribution to the community. You can see the full list here: http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/best-breast-cancer-blogs
We created a badge to help you publicize your achievement: http://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer/best-blogs-badge-2015 We encourage you to embed this badge on your site and share your status with your followers.
Thank you again for providing a great resource to the Breast Cancer community! I’m happy to answer any questions you may have.
Best,
Nicole
Nicole Lascurain • Assistant Marketing Manager
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Thank you very much, Nicole! This makes me think I will spend more time with my blog…it’s very encouraging to know that one’s work is appreciated.