Michelle Kolath Arbel's Breast Cancer War Blog
The costs of treating cancer add up fast. If you have Medicare, many of those expenses are included in your coverage.
This article will answer basic questions about how to find out how much you will owe for your cancer treatment if you have Medicare.
If you receive a serious cancer diagnosis, … Read More
An average of 1.7 million people are diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States alone. Cancer is a widespread and unfair disease that touches many people and can take a terrible toll on a patient’s health, relationships, emotions, and finances.
The cost of cancer treatments can reach $150,000 or more, according to AARP, … Read More
False eyelashes are an easy and more cost effective way than eyelash extensions to go out and about your usual day. Although, applying them can be a little difficult. Regardless of whether you’re a pro or just starting out using them, they require immense amount of attention to detail and … Read More
If you or someone you love has breast cancer, you may be eligible for financial aid. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers monthly resources for people with serious disabilities that prevents them from working. While breast cancer will not automatically qualify, many women with advanced or aggressive cancer will be … Read More
After you go into remission or experience complete recovery from cancer, you may still have some troubles to deal with. Depression after cancer happens for many survivors. But you don’t have to handle it alone. We can give you some advice for living life after breast cancer to the fullest.
My … Read More
Breast cancer treatment can be challenging to go through. Even the most positive patients have days when they feel down. But, you have a community of patients and survivors to support you, and you also have hope.
For seven months, I underwent 16 different cancer treatments, including a one-sided mastectomy. During this … Read More
Breast cancer changes you, but not every change has to be negative. Before I started chemo, I would describe my physical activity level as…well, zero. As a busy marketing director, mother and wife, I just couldn’t seem to find the time. Although cancer brought about some traumatic changes in my … Read More
To boost their self-esteem and regain a sense of normalcy, some mastectomy patients go through nipple reconstruction or get areola tattoos. But, we now have a third option that opens up a world of possibilities for breast cancer patients and survivors.
After my single mastectomy and breast reconstruction, I couldn’t wait … Read More
After breast cancer, you might view your beauty habits differently. Chemotherapy and mastectomy procedures can change your body. You can lose hair, eyebrows and eyelashes when you get chemotherapy treatment. It also dries out your skin. A mastectomy can leave you with just one or no breasts.
As a woman who … Read More
Maintaining a positive body image after a mastectomy can be difficult. Whether part of your breast or an entire breast gets removed, your body has been changed. Going through such a process can be rough on even the most body-positive person.
I was 33 at the time. After seven months of 16 … Read More
Breast cancer is a well-known, devastating disease that plagues millions of women around the world each year. Although the stages, types, treatments, and outcomes all vary, one thing is consistent—every woman who faces this unimaginable fight is heroic. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, breast cancer is a disease … Read More
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide, affecting 1 in 8 women in the U.S. When the disease is detected early on the 5-year survival rate is 95%. View our inforgraphic to learn more about breast cancer, as well as how to develop an early detection … Read More
Deciding whether to wear a nipple prosthetic or undergo reconstructive surgery is a very personal choice. Unlike in the past, today women have more choices when it comes to reconstructing their breasts and nipples. Many women are prompted by their doctors to undergo nipple reconstruction surgeries, but there are other … Read More
Breast cancer leaves behind emotional and physical scars that stay with survivors even after the cancer is gone. According to the American Cancer Society, there is currently over 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States alone. The emotional stress and physical changes that accompany breast cancer, chemo therapy, … Read More
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Every October, millions of people across the country participate in events and show their support to increase awareness of the disease and raise funds for research. According to the American Cancer Society, this year saw 232,570 new cases of invasive breast cancer. Breast … Read More
My older sister gave birth this morning. It’s her 4th – a beautiful boy, and I am happy from the bottom of my heart!! Finally I can shed happy tears.
Yesterday I drove into town, to Only Hair, a unique hairdressing salon that creates natural hair wigs.
The idea of having a … Read More
After 4 blood tests, a lung X-ray, ultrasounds of my kidneys and another of my stomach, a vaginal ultrasound, Echocardiography, more blood tests, which they tacked on at the last minute, I ended up with a Pet-CT (which is a CT scan of my entire body).
The absurdity is that the … Read More
I SMSed her from the car, she’s one of the mothers from my son’s kindergarten and she was diagnosed with cancer 3 months after her son was born (bloody Hodgkin Lymphoma!).
A stunning long legged blond with a huge heart. And that was before I knew how huge it really is.
She … Read More
The Dr. leaves me with the understanding that the lump I discovered less than a week ago is cancerous.
He didn’t use those very words, but he also didn’t say it wasn’t… Unbelievable!
For the two days leading up to that fateful Wednesday I was constantly on the verge of tears, every … Read More
True, the examination was painful, but the feeling was that I am having an out of body experience…as if my body is there, but my consciousness is floating above and looking down at me… because really, this isn’t happening. I am healthy. I have no family history. I eat healthily. … Read More
I was already at the door after a routine check-up at my gynecologist, when I turned back and asked for a referral… ‘I think I feel a lump in my right breast… about a year now…’. It’s true that my last Dr. checked it out, but what the hell… She … Read More