Hi friends!
Am publicly speaking for the first time about my experience with cancer at this event next week to support a newly diagnosed stage four colon-cancer patient who’s only twenty-five years old. Today’s the last day to vote for your favorite local geek/social media star to get roasted at the event. If you’re interested in coming let me know!!! Would love to have a table =) XOXO <3
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tamthatcancer posted this
Dear friends,
Thankfully, I have completed treatment, and as of December 2011, I am cancer-free. This blog will continue to have posts related to my journey towards a healthier lifestyle after cancer. It will include reflections on what cancer has taught me, recipes that are beautiful delicious and nutritious, inspiring stories of cancer survivors and patients, and life lessons and anecdotes along the way.
You can still discover and review my entire cancer journey through the archives section.
I can be contacted at mytamn@gmail.com.
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ABOUT ME
At 27-years-old, I was diagnosed with Diffuse-Large B-Cell Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and my life was turned around. Feel free to read the FAQ section to learn more about where I was at the beginning of my diagnosis. Since then, I've gone through eight rounds of chemo, a month and a half of daily radiation treatment, a minor brain-surgery to install a shunt, stem cell harvesting, a biopsy to remove a lymph node, and a port and Hickman line placement surgery.
Nine months after my original diagnosis, I was declared cancer-free as of December 2011. I'm currently 28-years-old, and working on living a more balanced, healthier life post-treatment.
This blog was built in response to all the overwhelming requests for updates and communication about my health condition. Thanks to the amazing support of my family and friends, we were able to maintain it all through treatment. My aim was to be as open as possible about what life with cancer looks like, and I hope it will help some patients get through some of the toughest hurdles of their life to know that they are not alone. I also hope it continues to inspire those of us continuing on in our daily lives to pause, reflect, and count our blessings and the gifts of life.
Please feel free to contact me about speaking engagements, how to set up a support team, how to set up a blog, how to mobilize your community to support you through social media all throughout treatment, and any questions and concerns about treatment and the cancer journey.
I am particularly interested in serving and supporting young people, traditionally underserved communities, and those with limited financial resources.
I can be reached at mytamn@gmail.com.
Love,
My Tam
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RESOURCES
http://www.cancerlifeline.org/
http://thrivethroughcancer.org/
http://www.gildasclubseattle.org/
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Meet the amazing Team My Tam!
Please read the full bios of their awesomeness here.
MEDICAL TEAM
To work in oncology takes strength of spirit, depth of mind, and clarity of heart. I am in constant wonder and amazement that the medical professionals working with my treatment and so many others are able to continue their work every single day. Some patients are not as lucky as I am, and don't make it out of treatment alive and well. The good folks who work in oncology have lost many patients, and somehow manage to still get up every morning, open their hearts, roll up their sleeves, and start over again in the business of saving lives and improving the quality of the lives of those going through treatment. They are my every day heroes and I am so deeply grateful for them.
Dr. Rafic Farah, my primary oncologist. Doc Farah is more than just my physician, he's my friend, medical confidante, and goes way above and beyond what doctors do. He was absolutely there for me 24/7 during the entirety of my treatment, and would call to check in on me, and visit me in the ER and in chemo. It is because of his thorough work, watchful eye, and compassionate heart that I did as well as I did all through treatment. He knows all the names of my friends (and believe me, there were a whole lot of them coming thru), and hears the concerns of my family. If you have family or friends having to face lymphoma, I would highly recommend him. I am so incredibly lucky to have him as my doctor.
Dr. Marc Chamberlain, neuro-oncologist. Doc Chamberlain was in charge of everything related to my brain tumor, and our visits are always hilarious and full of food and pop culture talk. His adventurous spirit, passion for life and fun is inspiring and he always has phenomenal stories to share. He understands the brain like the back of his hand and was able to communicate complex conditions with me clearly in human-speech.
The lovely Melita Williams, Scheduler Extraordinaire. Melita manages hundreds of patients' schedules, with a smile and a huge heart. I could barely manage my own schedule, and somehow, she manages to fit it all it. Her constant support, love, and friendship actually made it fun to be at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance ALL THE TIME. I'm so deeply grateful for her.
Nurses Lorraine, Pam, Fam, Mary, Tyler, Justin. My wonderful team of nurses, from the exam room, into the chemo room. They were by my side through the worst of my treatment. We've gone beyond the medical relationship and have grown in friendship and I'm so deeply grateful for the love work they do for me and so many other cancer patients every single day.
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FRIENDS AND FAMILY SUPPORT TEAM
Naomi Ishisaka, digital communications - who will be updating this blog the most and post Facebook updates when I'm not feeling well enough to.
The core - Jean, Mimi, Dao, David. They will usually be by my bedside. Holding my hand and supporting me through it all along with my family
Deborah Streeter, empress of insurance and queen of love and comfort.
Nora Liu, empress of by any needs necessary.
Mom & Uncle John, supreme holders of my spirit, heart, foundation.
Aunties Hai & Anh , Uncles Larry, Bac Hai, Cau Hung, foundational family support, Arkansas and New York chapters.
Cousins Ly, Sonny, Ai Lien, Kim Mai, Andrew, Lam Son, Thao Vi , holding it down for our generation and supporting me through it all via three coasts.
Bob Ness, supreme spiritual advisor.
Molly Nissen, supreme queen keeper of the schedule and executive director of email communications on a daily basis.
Jack Knellinger and Alan Blickenstaff, supreme updaters of community engagement and involvement.
Autumn Lerner, empress of wellness, pleasure, lead mantric advisor.
Nai Saelee, empress of pampering and beauty.
Wendy Kuo, empress of optometry and all things chill.
Ana Pinto da Silva, Michael Cannon & Baby Ezra, supreme goodness collective.
Tyson Lin, emperor of workplace communications.
John Duong, emperor of happyness and well being.
Jamie Badilla, email communications and lead adventure advisor.
Abraham Vu, emperor of fast and furious driving, zen sustainer.
Shane Rock, emperor of greatest needs..
Anh Tran, best friend for 19 years with baby on the way who's really been through it all with me.
Shanaiah Joyce, executive empress, Team My Tam, San Diego, CA chapter.
Netsanet Tesfay, executive director, Team My Tam, Nairobi, Kenya chapter.
Saara Ahmed, executive director, Team My Tam, New York, New York chapter.
Thank you for boarding this journey with me!
Love,
My Tam
