The Breast Cancer Barbie Doll - Coming to a Store Near You

Dolls and Accessories Included

From the new photos you can see that Barbie has gained weight considerably, predominantly in the hips, ass and pouch area. She is sporting a paper "modesty vest" and two drains and a gauze wrap tube-top bandage. She also has her lymphedema wrap, IV drip, port, and has had some blood work done.

Her toe nails and finger nails are unfortunately turning black and there is some concern that she may loose a nail or two. She is leery of going to far away from the toilet, can't remember if she took her pills today and is depressed that she doesn't have ovaries and can't have a baby.

She also found out that Ken cheated on her with a lady cop and that he's a coke head. Her path report is looking OK but the bills are piling up and she is too sick to work, but has to keep working to keep medical insurance. Hot flashes are keeping her up all night and she wonders if she should call her old flame GI Joe when he comes home on leave from Iraq- but will he still want her?

Her sex drive is gone, she's scarred-up and bald and twenty pounds over weight. Her body hurts, she feels as if she is loosing her mind, she doesn't want to go anywhere or do anything. Yelled at Skipper for asking her if she wanted to go the Town House this weekend for a party, then cried afterwards. Drove pink Corvette to Jack in the Box for drive through burgers and a chocolate shake for dinner. Staying in tonight and watching trashy movies by self. Thank goodness she has a cat and the YSC for support.

The above is extracted from a posting by a fellow breast cancer survivor, Linnea, from the YSC booard. Its funny, its relistic. Only problem is, Barbie shouldn't be smiling so much since she had threw up her entire lunch.

Christina Applegate 100%' Free of Breast Cancer ?????

I wish these celebrities wouldn't make such sweeping statements of their medical condition. Christina Applegate, star of Samantha Who made the statement that she 100% cancer free after receiving treatment. Read the full report here:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=5606034&page=1

Much as I want to believe this to be true, unfortunately, it may not be so. There is no such thing as being cured of cancer. My oncologist has been very frank and candid with me regarding my mortality. She said it to my face at the start of my journey that i will never be cured. The best she could do for me is to put me into remission for as long as possible. The longer I live, the higher chance i have at beating this disease. If you ask me, I think she managed my expectations pretty well. At least I knew from the start, that my life will never be the same ever again, and that I will live with the cloud hanging over my head.

Well, perhaps things are very different in La-La land.

Oh, today is also a dear friend's cancer-versary. She was diagnosed a couple of weeks later than me. She was a Stage 3A, and I was a Stage 2A when diagnosed. And here she is, 5 years later, without a recurrence. I am so happy for her. Cancer is a strange thing, isn't it?

Please say a Prayer

Please keep my friend in your prayers.

The cancer has now spread to her lungs and liver, after missing out on 1 session of treatment. The cancer markers are moving up very quickly. She is adamant about going for a 9 days trip to Moscow, against her doctor's orders. She felt that this could quite possibly be her last vacation abroad. Please pray that she will have a safe trip, and return home safely.

Lifestyle of One High Maintainence Gal

Just back from my monthly maintainence program. And i am feeling rejuvenated and sort of energized. i am back-ache free for the moment. If you ask, I probably could bent and touch my toes. Haha. I haven't seen my toes in that angle in a long long time if you ask me.

Well, I would like to say that my monthly maintenance program revolves round facial, spa, massage, slimming program, and an occassional face lift or botox. These are luxuries that I
will love to indulge in. In actual fact, my monthly maintenance program involves a trip to the hospital, and an infusion of Zometa through my veins. Its good stuff, if you ask me.

Bone metastases wear away portions of bone‚ leaving small holes called osteolytic bone lesions, leaving the bones weak and fragile. The drug essentially fights these abnormal cells, and restores the normal process of bone remodelling, and help protects the bones. My interpretation: it fills up the holes in my bones, and fights away the bad guys.

And they even have a Buy 2 dose, get one dose free promotion, I kid you not. Ask your oncologist. He / She will provide you with more details on the offer.

Anyway, my hubby joked that that I am evolving into one very high maintenance gal.

Other than the monthly program, I am on drugs that cost a subsidised priceof $10 a pop. Not complaining cos' i know of fellow survivors on more expensive drugs. And I need to do quarterly scans. These scans are costly ($$$) and can cause large amount of stress built-up and pent-up emotions. And after each scan, we celebrate the result with nice dinners ($$$). And during school holidays, we take short trips overseas ($$$), to destress ourselves from the cumulative amount of stress.

Well, at least i am not filling our cupboards with bags and shoes :)

Due for My Monthly Upkeep

Somewhere around the 3rd of each month, the aches and pain on my back i normally have starts to get worse. Thats when i know that I am due for monthly maintainenece - I need my monthly dose of Zometa to ease the pain, and hopefully fill the holes in my bones eventually.

Woke up this morning with a really painful lower back. Feel like an old lady right now. Thats when i realise that my next trip to the Hospital will be on the 18 Aug, coming Monday. Hopefully my achy breaky bones will feel better.

Grrrrrrr...Feeling grouchy now

I am HeartBroken

My friend is back from her trip. She has made up her mind not to proceed with any more treatment. I am heartbroken.

Happy Birthday Papa!

Papa will be turning 65 on the 12th August. As usual, we brought him to East Coast Seafood Centre, for his favourite Chilli and Pepper crabs on National Day, just so we can catch a glimpse of the flypass, and basked in the festivity of Nation's birthday.

Papa was diagnosed with end stage kidney failure in 2003, a couple of months before my own cancer diagnosis. He has been on dialysis three times a week since. As they say bad thing happen in threes. My grandpa passed away at the start of the year in 2003 to kickstart the string of bad luck that year.

Papa was a huge man, standing at a towering 1.8m in height. He never fail to give me a sense of security when i stand beside him. He loved his food, and has a fantastic appetitie, and it shows with his girth. That was in 2003 when he first started dialysis. He goes for dialysis on his own 3 times a week, and bible study classes once a week by the public bus. He enjoys his independence, and relish in it.

Today, 5 years on, he is hunched over. He walks with a walking stick, and has difficulty getting up from his sitting position. He suffers extreme back pain walking short distances, despite taking painkillers. His appetite has shrank, though he still enjoy his crabs. And poor Mum has to accompany him on his trips to the dialysis centre.

He is unable to travel long distance, as he cannot afford to miss his treatment. Receiving treatment overseas while on holiday is a viable option, abeit an expensive one. A short 4D3N trip to Melborne 3 years back, ended with a trip to the hospital, upon arrival to Singapore as Papa became breathless during the flight back, causing some panic among the stewards an stewardess on board the SQ flight.

He was a stark contrast to the man we knew 5 years ago. It seems that 5 years of dialysis treatment has taken a toll on his health.

Between the 2 of us, I guess I have the better end of the deal. I do not need to suffer giant needle pricks and the inconvenience of getting treatment 3 times a week. I still get to travel, i get pricked only once a month, and anxiety attacks only when I need to go for my quarterly scans. As they say, you will only know how blessed you truely are when you are aware of the misfortunes of others. I am sadden by his condition, and the little I could do for him.

Here's wishing him health, and happiness, and lots and lots of love from your daughter.

I will be holed up at home these few days. I had these viral warts, skin tags on my neck which were removed by laser yesterday. I splattered like 2 tubes of emla to numb the entire area. My treshold for pain seems to have diminished as time passes. Anyway, it worked, and the doc was "trigger-happy" as she went around zapping all the buggers on my neck. Didn't realise i had that many, until I saw myself in the mirror. I look like I got some major skin problem on my neck.

The entire area feel raw, and was painful when the anaesthesia wore off. Hopefully, the skin recover nicely. Not that anyone is gonna notice my neck, but what the heck!

Anyway, not gonna be posting gross pics of my neck. Took a couple of shots of Nic yesterday.
Sigh....Look how she has grown...

Travelling Without Nic

Over the weekend, Mike, myself, good friend Tien and hubby decided to make trip to the Travel Fair. The main objective of this trip was to scot for some good deals for travel packages during the short September school break. We had planned to bring the kiddies to Langkawi, Tioman or Redang, or some interesting beach resort, that is not too far from Singapore, and not too expensive. We went away not finding any bargains for the September break, but went away with tickets for 4 to Macau for ourselves.

We will be staying 3 nights at the luxurious Venetian Hotel in Macau. I am so excited. Trip is scheduled for the 08 Sep, when the new school term starts. It will be the first time we are not travelling with Nic. Not sure how she will take to staying at Grandma's for a couple of days. We have not told her about that yet. I would love to have her with us. We have always travelled as a family, but this time round, with her in formal school, its a little tricky.

Anyway, we will probably do a road trip to Malaysia or something during the September break.