About
Photo credit: 3cubedstudios.com
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”
― Hunter S. Thompson
And what a ride it’s been – thanks for joining me! My name is Lori and I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002. After chemo, surgery and five years of endocrine therapy, I thought I was home free. But that’s not how cancer works. Cancer hangs on, psychologically and physically, until it returns or we die of something else. In my case, it came back in 2011, showing up in my bones. Since then I’ve learned to live with the ups and downs of metastatic breast cancer, the scans that can show progression, the changes of treatments and their side effects. Along the way I’ve built a community of friends and colleagues that journey with me.
My blog is my chance to share, question, speculate, yell, wonder and discuss life – life with cancer, life as a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend, life with peaks and valleys, in all its glory and in the ditches. In the years since it began, it’s changed a lot – and so have I. I’m humbled to share it with you, and honored when you chime in. So grab a glass of wine or a cup of tea, and let’s get to know each other!
regrounding 
May 29, 2011 @ 17:46:52
I’m finally here. Great photo!
Jun 02, 2011 @ 18:55:42
TY…John wants the photo credit but I don’t know how to put that under the pic!
Aug 29, 2011 @ 09:13:24
I’m going to share this blog with my mom. Thanks so much for creating this, Lori.
Sep 12, 2011 @ 11:22:40
Lori I am here and if you need any previews let me know. Love Toby
Jan 17, 2012 @ 07:04:14
Hi Lori,
You have some wonderful posts on your blog. We would love to share them through our site that shares the patient experience. Would you be willing to contact me for a larger conversation?
Thank you for sharing what you have.
Sep 04, 2012 @ 09:04:45
when i read your tag line the words ‘of chemo,cancer and red,red wine’ made me flash back to those huge syringes of that red chemo drug that turns your urine red in less than an hour.
Sep 04, 2012 @ 15:17:26
Lori:
Thanks for taking asterisk into etcetera—they are kissing cousins in some way. Do you know the poetry of Alicia Ostriker? She has a set of poems on her mastectomy that run with blood and red, red wine. She is a very dear friend.
Sep 04, 2012 @ 15:59:06
I agree they are certainly related! I do not know Alicia’s work. Thanks for sending me in her direction!
Nov 03, 2012 @ 11:51:31
Lori:
Is there a way I could contact you by e-mail?
Jan 15, 2013 @ 04:39:10
I just read I want you to know on Reader’s Choice. What a beautiful story about courage and love. Thanks for shaing it!
Peace and love and joy to you.
Diana
Feb 18, 2013 @ 14:13:42
Dear Lori.
My name is Michael Foti and I am the Director of Business Development and Syndication for Empowered Doctor. Our company, Empowered Doctor, focuses on the latest healthcare news. Currently, we are news affiliates of The Chicago Tribune, Arizona Central, and CBSNewYork, supplying their website’s health sections with the latest advances against cancer. Over the course of our extensive research on the topic of breast cancer, we came across your blog and I found it to have a plethora of great information and I believe it would be very appealing to our readers. We’ve recently launched a program to identify and publcizie someof the top breast cancer-related blogs on the web. As such, I’d like to congratulate you as your blog has been selected as one of Empowered Doctor’s Top Breast Cancer Blogs. I’ve included the code below which will allow you to copy and paste it into your site in order to display your award badge. Again, I’d like to congratulate you on your selection, and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Additionally, be sure to visit both CBSNewYork.com/health (on the right hand side under advances against cancer) and ChicagoTribune.com/health (and then click the cancer central tab) to see the continuous work we do for the fight againstcancer.
One of the perks of being selected an Empowered Doctor Top Blog is being featured on a dedicated page on our website, as well as being profiled in upcoming articles. We would greatly appreciate you displaying your award badge, as many of our other nominees have. A few examples are: http://breastcancerbydrruddy.com/ , http://journeyingbeyondbreastcancer.com/ , and http://bethlgainer.blogspot.com/ .
I’m unable to include the code for the award badge within this post, but please email me at michaeljfoti@gmail.com and I’d be glad to provide it to you.
Again, congratulations on your selection and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Jun 02, 2013 @ 11:16:27
How do I subscribe to your posts?
Jul 29, 2013 @ 11:59:44
Hi Sharon! So sorry I’ve neglected this! There should be a box near the top where you can enter your email address. I HOPE I will have time to clean up the page a bit in the coming weeks.
Thanks,
Lori
Sep 24, 2013 @ 08:49:15
Hi Lori! I just got reading through a few of your posts and I had a quick question. I am involved in the cancer community and was hoping you could email me back when you get the chance. Thanks! – emilywalsh688@gmail(dot)com.
Emmy
Mar 10, 2014 @ 20:30:45
Forgive me but I am trying to figure out your story. Are you metastatic now? I hope not and your about doesn’t say that but your recent post did but four years on chemo and my brain doesn’t always track as well as I might like.
Anyway, delighted to find you site! There is much more for me to explore here. You and I both chose the same, exuberant theme!
warmly, marcy
http://livinglydying.com/
Mar 10, 2014 @ 22:14:43
Hi Marcy, great to “meet” you. I suppose this could use an update! I am an MBC patient – diagnosed Sept 2011, after 2 years of knowing it was there but unable to find it.
Glad you found me and I love forward to checking out your blog as well. Love the theme!
Mar 10, 2014 @ 22:20:43
Sorry to hear that. Dang. But it’s a good decade to be metastatic in or that is what I am hoping! I was diagnosed stage IV ovarian only after my lung collapsed. The down side of being fit. I, too, am trying to bring a political frame into cancerland.
warmly, marcy
http://livinglydying.com/
Jul 16, 2014 @ 13:50:30
Hi Lori! My name is Cameron Von St. James and I had a quick question for you! I was wondering if you could email me at your earliest convenience at cvonstjames AT gmail DOT com 🙂 I greatly appreciate your time!!
Jan 15, 2015 @ 15:39:00
Hi Lori,
Your blog is an amazing place! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on breast cancer. I am very interested to know more!
I am a graduate student working on a project funded by Stanford to study how women with breast cancer use social media for informational support. We are planning to send out a brief survey via Twitter. Would you mind if we tag you on this Twitter mention?
Thank you for your consideration.
Jan 15, 2015 @ 16:43:15
Thank you so much! I am glad you found my site. By all means tag me and I will try to get the word out.
Jan 15, 2015 @ 20:47:35
Thank you Lori for your support! We really appreciate it and I am very excited that I found this blog!
Mar 09, 2015 @ 15:15:55
Hi Lori..I was/am looking for info and came across your blog. I myself was diagnosed in 2005 then again in 2010. I was recently told I have mets. to bones. I am just starting this next phase. I really hope we can touch base at some point. Thanks for sharing this journey..
Mar 09, 2015 @ 20:43:14
I’m so sorry, Cathy. But I’m here. Please let me know how I can help.
Mar 09, 2015 @ 21:13:32
Hi my name is Jenny and I was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer that metastasized to 1 axillary lymph node. I’m having a lupectomy tomorrow then embarking on my chemo journey. I’m not afraid because no matter how I feel I can’t control the outcome. I enjoyed reading what you wrote. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Mar 09, 2015 @ 21:15:26
Wishing you the very, very best of outcomes tomorrow. I’m here for support, whatever your future holds!
Mar 15, 2015 @ 20:59:29
Hi Jenny. By now your surgery is behind you. I hope all is well and that your healing had begun!! Wishing you the best! Lori
Mar 16, 2015 @ 18:19:10
Hi Lori thank you for checking in on me. My journey physically has been rough but mentally I’m holding on mainly because of the out pour of strength and support and love from my friend. They have this thing where they each send me links on days that I have chemo to music that they have downloaded and want me to listen to. It makes them feel like they’re sharing the journey with me. I lost my father a year ago to cancer so it is very personal to me. He fought with dignity and strength and I plan on tackling this battle the same way! How are you feeling?
Mar 16, 2015 @ 18:22:15
I’m glad to hear you’re getting such loving support! At this point, my treatments are quite tolerable and I’m doing well. Hang in there!
Sep 01, 2015 @ 08:40:49
Hi Lori, I found you on Twitter and then was reading the content on your blog! Your message, story, and location (SoCal) inspired me to connect. We are a clinical genetics laboratory in Irvine CA and are preparing to start testing for Hereditary Cancer Risk this month. I personally have a family history of brain (husband and mother in law), prostate (uncle), and ovarian cancers. Other executive leaders have personal and family (breast, lymphoma, TP53 gene mutation) ties to cancer as well. I wasn’t sure if you have heard about genetic testing but I wanted to connect after reading your story. We are always looking to grow our network of people like you who – whether patient, caregiver, or provider – probably see life through a different set of eyes due to these experiences. I would welcome you to come visit the lab and meet you in person. Please take a look at our website and I hope you have the opportunity to chat with you in the near future.
Regards, Amy
http://www.vantarigenetics.com
Twitter: @AmyDuncan21 (attaches a face to this message)
Oct 08, 2015 @ 22:20:51
Hi Amy – just getting back here after too long a hiatus. Thanks for reaching out. I certainly am familiar with genetic testing and always appreciate a new resource! My schedule is busy through mid November but I’d love to come down and learn more!
Sep 04, 2015 @ 20:12:13
Hello Lori, I just found your blog and am pleased to meet you. I look forward to reading more. Although the topic is difficult, your writing is very light and lively.
Oct 08, 2015 @ 22:18:31
Hi Rita – thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you’ll join the conversation now that I’m back to posting more frequently!!
Oct 09, 2015 @ 10:11:29
Lori – this is Shawna from Rethink Breast Cancer. Would love to get in touch but don’t have your new email. Please message me when you get a chance. Will I see you in Lisbon?