Saturday, June 8, 2013

The Art of Survivorship - Blogging 101



Steven and I were honored to participate in 'The Art of Survivorship' today at MD Anderson.  This was an all day "expressive art" seminar by MD Anderson in conjunction with Survivor Week.  Steve and I spoke on the panel for 'Blogging 101'.  There were about 75 people that attended the seminar.  The group of 75 was split into 3 groups - Origami, Exercise, and Blogging 101.  The groups rotated through each class.  Each session was about 55 minutes.  The moderator of our group introduced Steve, me and Dr. Oliver Bogler.  Dr. Bogler is a Professor in the Neurosurgery Department at MD Anderson and is also a blogger.  Dr. Bogler blogs about his recent (September 2012) diagnoses of male breast cancer.   For each session, I spent about 15 minutes talking to the groups about blogging, about why I blog, how to create a blog, etc.  Steve of course was my computer guru and pulled up my blog as I spoke and showed the stats (audience, views, traffic sources, etc.).  Then Dr. Bogler spent about 15 minutes discussing his blog and his story, etc., and then we opened the floor to questions for a short Q&A session. 

It was a great day.  I thoroughly enjoyed speaking with and meeting so many amazing people.  From the volunteers, the communications department employees,  the courageous cancer survivors and their caregivers, everyone had something to offer.  Kudos to MD Anderson for a successful, fulfilling day!! 

Tomorrow Steve has his 3 month scans of his abdomen and Monday scans of his neck.  We are hoping that the Yervoy (Ipilimumab) has continued to work and his tumors are either stable or have gotten even smaller, or better yet...ARE GONE!!!  I will keep you all posted!





6 comments:

  1. My husband is stage 3c and had started a blov as well. He didn't continue because he said it was a reminder he had "cancer". I am not a blogger but found a need to reach out to the community so one life can be saved. I teamed up with a national non profit to bring it here to South Texas. It's cathartic for me. Blogs are a great source to emote. Too bad D stopped. www.milesagainstmelanomasouthtexas.webs.com

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    1. Thanks for reading, Jamie! If you click on my Facebook badge on the right, you can friend request me. After we are friends, I have 2 AWESOME Facebook groups I can add you to. I am familiar with Miles Against Melanoma. Great things they are promoting! Awareness!!!Awareness!!!Awareness!!!

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  2. So sorry Jennifer. I'll be praying for y'all.

    Barbara Eisenhower

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  3. My cancer alternative treatment center hopes to see great changes in his health soon. I will pray for his continuous healing, continue to give him your full support, love and care. Thanks for sharing your story to us. Have a nice day.

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  4. Hi Jennifer,
    Was so glad to see that Steve was holding his own with ipi. That's great! Given what heart you've put into your blog and how much other blogs meant to you, I thought it would be best that you know that 'Jenny' and her alter ego, 'Kim' have been hijacking any blog/post that alludes to cancer (including mine) to tout Branyon's Center. Turns out, Branyon is NOT a doctor, but a criminal. Fredda Branyon of Scottsdale, Arizona, has made thousands off sick and desperate individuals. Ms. Branyon started buying umbilical cords and cord blood tissue from a Del Rio birthing center in 2009. Then, with no training regarding stem cell development or the legal ability to do so, she manufactured hundreds of vials of "stem cells". She sold 183 vials of "stem cells" for more than $300,000, to Francisco Morales, who worked with the lab she owned, Global Laboratories. Morales, in turn, led his patients to believe he was a doctor (he isn't) and was arrested in Texas for treating people with cancer and multiple sclerosis in "treatments" not approved by the FDA. Branyon pleaded guilty during an investigation by the FDA and FBI in 2011. She was facing 3 years in jail and a $10,000 fine. I hope she is cooling her heels in prison as I write.
    You can research it yourself...but it is all true.
    Wishing you the best.

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