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Last Spring, a routine mammogram found calcifications in my left breast. For 90% of women, these are the result of injury and are usually nothing to worry about. But, in 10%, calcifications are an early sign of breast cancer. Two needle biopsies confirmed the presence of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (Stage Zero) in my [...]

When life gets busy and stressful -- as often happens during the holiday season -- we have to make sure we are taking care of ourselves. Because not only is stress bad for our mental health, it also impacts our physical health. The more stress you have, the more likely you are to have [...]

Autumn brings with it the promise of cooler temperatures (for many of us) and a variety of colors. Fall is a season that evokes different reactions from different folks. I'm a fall fan, for instance. I love the cooler temperatures, the beautiful colors and even the contrast of gray skies with colorful leaves. Other [...]

Age is often included as a risk factor for various conditions. Some medical conditions happen more in younger people; others happen more in middle age, and still others happen in senior adulthood. Yet, in the IC community, the age of onset is widely varied. So perhaps it makes sense the average age for diagnosis [...]

This special issue of the IC Optimist is one of our biggest to date with a wide variety of articles, some of which were my way of coping with a sudden and completely unexpected diagnosis of breast cancer last May. I was hoping to spend the summer with trips to the beach, hiking and [...]

Earlier this year, my 14-year-old daughter had severe pelvic pain -- enough to cause her to shiver, sob and be unable to stand upright. We headed to the emergency room of our local hospital. After waiting for three hours, we finally saw a nurse practitioner. My daughter's pain was dismissed as period cramps, even [...]