About DnD

Ye New About Section:

It’s a year since the thyroid was popped out, and 7-8 months since the bilateral mastectomy, and I’m starting to be more post-treatment than in-treatment, so it’s time for a new “About”.

Breast cancer is political like few other cancers. Over the last year and some, I’ve been learning about this new world I’m in, the world of the previously-breasted, and what society expects me to do with that, and I say “No f-cking way.” I don’t think the general public service ad campaigns had the punk kids in mind, when crafting their messages, but here it is…the punk kids are all grown up, we’re getting cancer too, and we are doing our best to cope, the way WE like to. You kinda have to expect that the punk/DIY crowd doesn’t do cancer like other people do.

I’m hoping that this site will be your springboard into the world of the Disorderly Cancer Patients, who have more mosh pit scars than credit cards, and who lie in their treatment chairs listening to Minor Threat instead of the piped-in Muzak that’s supposed to soothe us. We know what works for us.

I’ve met some awesome people along the way, both in the cancer and craft blogging worlds, and I hope that you’ll discover them through this site, too, if you don’t already know them.

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Ye Olde About Section:

March 2007

I realize that I haven’t done a concise profile of my situation (as I’m rarely concise), so here’s the quick version:

April 2006-diagnosed with DCIS

July 2006- lumpectomy. Mystery nodule seen on lung. Mystery nodule found on thyroid. In pre-admission testing, abnormal red blood cell values discovered.

Sept 2006-thyroid cancer diagnosed + total throidectomy performed. Red blood cell values still too high. Visit oncologist/hematologist for testing. She has me consider genetic testing (which was done in January, and was negative) and bilateral mastectomy instead of radiation (as I’ve now had both breasts affected, and I can’t take tamoxifen). We all (Mom, self, boyfriend, 5 doctors) agree that this is the best way to ensure the least chance of recurrence.

Oct 2006- Radioactive iodine ablation done for thyroid cancer. Blood tests show the high red blood cell count is secondary polycythemia, reason unknown. Tests for primary polycythemia are negative (whew!).

Jan 2007- Mystery lung nodule remains mysterious after a second CT scan. I have my last mammography, and it’s clean (whew!)

Feb 2007- Bilateral simple mastectomy peformed. No malignancies found by pathology dept (whew!)

March 2007-Post-surgical complications, including a seroma & lymphedema. As of this writing, this is not severe or chronic. Stay tuned.

Future: both the lung nodule and blood cell counts are going to be monitored until something interesting happens, or my head falls off, I guess. In February, my monocytes also went over normal, which is not cool if there wasn’t a reason for it. Have to be retested. Due for another CT scan in the summer for the lung nodule.

About this site:

There’s one thing that often comes with a cancer diagnosis of mild-to-medium severity. Lots of time to wait for things. Time in cars, subways, waiting rooms, exam rooms, hospitals. Unfamiliar surroundings. Magazines aimed at the rich and boring. Daytime TV and Top 40 radio blaring from corners. In other words, a total nightmare for the DIYer. And on top of that, cancer, too!

I needed a lot to occupy my active hands and mind and started to crank up all of my craft interests, some from childhood, some as recent as last year. I’m a dilettante; for the record, I have dabbled or destroyed in the following categories: pottery, felting, papermaking, sewing, jewelry-making, knitting, crocheting, welding,perfumery,drying herbs and flowers, painting furniture, building CD-racks out of rulers, lamps out of blenders or rocks, and tables from salvaged pallet-wood, doll-making, pillow and blanket applique, rugs (sewn, coiled and woven),weaving non-rug things,henna (mehndi) tattooing, hat-making, Victorian rosebeads, and other things that only bored Goth chicks used to do.

Most of the interest in crafts came from my mother, who taught me all I needed to know about breast cancer, in terms of how to get through it beautifully, and how to love my life more than my boobs. She also taught me some of the crafts I listed above, and she does those far better than I could ever hope to.
So, am I qualified to spin cancer and craft? You bet your ass I am. Stay tuned. We’re going to get through this and look even more stylish (if that’s even possible) when we’re all done with the doctors and waiting rooms.

Update: I’m so excited! So far, two of the strong-n-fierce women from Flickr’s “beyond the pink and yellow. a living journal” group have expressed interest in contributing to this blog, so it won’t just be me. Alllll rrrrright. If you find yourself in the same boat, that is: you’ve got cancer, DIY/indie leanings, and a dread of going through the upcoming months without knitting needles in your hands, even if they get tangled with your IV, give us a shout. We think we might need to talk to you.

Update, part 2: I’m having a bilateral mastectomy this month (feb. ‘07), so stay tuned for some scary photos. Hoooooo-damn!
You can register to post a comment, and I’d love to hear from you!
To write articles about crafty DIY and cancer-ness for the site, too, send an email to diy (at) diynotdie (dot) com and let’s talk! I am not paying in anything but gratitude, tho’.
Thanks!

Your host for the festivities,

A word of thanks:

Here’s some love for the support teams out there. Our families, friends, discussion board participants, Flickr friends, etc. Just because this is a site run by the crafty-with-cancer doesn’t make it a site for the crafty with cancer alone. It’s also useful for your friends. Some of the links we like have viewpoints from husbands, wives, sisters, cousins. Explore. You’ll find that there are people out there who’ve been through it, too.
Thanks to my own support team: Mom, Dad, Craig, Marisa, Marshall, the folks at work and my online favorite people: Jacqueline, Kim, Erika and Lori.

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