Good-bye 2014, Hello 2015

It is the last day of 2014.  It has been an interesting year for me - one of incredibly good news, and yet also one of transition.  In some ways, I think it is as difficult to stand at the precipice of death as it is to stand safely a few steps back.   The view has changed, which has required an adjustment in not only thinking, but also in being.  Before I was dizzy, looking down at that

Chemo-brained Christmas

I made it to another Christmas.  Good news indeed, but ungrateful wench that I am, I'm not quite feeling the joy and love I did last year.   This year I'm back to my traditional, "I hate those effing tree needles all over my floor"  rat race.    I no longer have the nagging feeling that it's my "last Christmas ever" that is so scary yet also heightens all things good and makes life seem

Survivor's Guilt

“Isn’t she supposed to be dead by now?”


I fear those words may be whispered behind my back as I go out in public.

It’s true. I couldn't blame the whisperers. I was supposed to be dead. I thought I would be by now too.
So why am I not when so many others are?

I don’t know, and that leaves me confused, with no data to steady myself. There is no clean answer.

How long do you have to

Snippets Before the Holiday - Life with Cancer

Have you liked my facebook page?  I've been posting little snippets of my life with cancer there, and here is what you have missed:


November 24, 2014 - Cleaning for Thanksgiving



Why did I spend hours today cleaning my closet when I have guests coming for Thanksgiving? 




ADD, that's why. 



I'd decided to clean off my living room coat rack so people could use it, and one item hanging

Thanksgiving Cancer Style

I used to be a foodie.  I cooked "gourmet" as it was called then.  Fresh everything, from scratch.  I  grew my own herbs, shopped farmers markets, had boxes from local farmers delivered to my house weekly with unknown goodies in them I'd find recipes for.  I was the first to find a weird and unknown vegetable and figure out how to use it.   I cooked a different, fresh meal every day, simple

Glioma...

Michael Davis' tumor


I considered blogging about Brittany Maynard and her compelling right to die story, but I could not bring myself to do it.  I believe that this is each person's decision, and I really have no business weighing in.  We all know what I would have done in her situation:  here I am.  Yet, she has her own value system and her own way of determining what is best for her family

Whew.....We Survived Pink October. On to November!

My goal for pink October was one long post, detailing how egregious the marketing has become.  I have had several people say that seeing it laid out that way opened their eyes.  I do realize it was difficult to read and I apologize, but I do think it was important to have a long, pink line highlighting what has gone so wrong with the month.

Breast cancer does not exist solely in October.  I live

Ann's October Hall of Shame, 2014 Version

Here is where I will be putting all the PR letters and requests I get to promote pink items, as well as the charities that they partner with and just anything that I think adds to the pink atrocity that is the month of October.  You can make up your own mind what you think about these letters, events and sales tactics, but I think when you see them stacked in a long line at the end of the month,

YourCareMoments Endorsed

As we all know, cancer is expensive.  Even if you are able to stay in your job, which I was not lucky enough to do, or if you have great insurance, as I fortunately do, there are unexpected expenses that come along with having cancer.  From prescriptions, to hospital parking, to creams for radiation burn; Biotene mouthwash, scarves, books - it goes on and on.  Even with the best insurance,

Putting the "What's Under Our Shirt" Campaign to Rest

 I received this latter from AirXpanders CEO Scott Dodson today,


Dear Ms. Silberman,On behalf of AirXpanders I would like to sincerely apologize for the insensitive outreach that you received last week on behalf of our company.  This language was neither reviewed or approved by the company and its trivialization of breast cancer patients worldwide is unacceptable.  As you know, we have worked

BRA Day "What's Under Our Breasts" Update

(Excuse errors and typos, I am having technical issues but I wanted to get the gist of this online)

I received an email from Ms. Hollister Hovey of the PR firm that sent out that crass and insensitive letter.  She asked for my phone number so she could apologize in person and we did managed to speak yesterday.   I expressed my disbelief that a  PR Firm devoted to Healthcare could miss the mark

Bra Day, another metastasis

I was stunned to get this in my inbox today.


Dear Ann,

Boobs are so much more than just “the girls” or “melons.” They’re fabulous. They make us feel sexy, whether we’re in our best outfit, lounging around in our favorite flannel PJs, or just bare butt naked. This fall, we want to spread this sensation of beauty and breast empowerment to breast cancer patients and survivors, as well as women

Pinktober, Metastasized

For weeks now, I have been getting emails from PR companies that start like this,


Dear But Doctor I Hate Pink,


With Breast Cancer Awareness month fast approaching, we wanted to take the time to introduce you to our product, the Pink Crapola JunkYouDon'tNeed.  10% of the sales of this very special Crapola will go towards Useless Awareness Charity Du Jour, which we are proud to say will do

Three Book Reviews: Mani-Pedi Stat, The Art of Adapting, Living Without the One You Cannot Live Without

I love to read and always have.  Unfortunately, I have had some difficulty the past few years.  I think chemo-brain has made reading a struggle:  concentration, memory and the ability to stay awake are all critical skills when reading a book.  After my 3rd chemo, my taste had changed from New York Times Notable books to Chick-Lit and YA, after my 5th chemo I could only manage newspaper cartoons

Save Your Brows - Tip for Chemo!

If you are starting chemo for the first time, or have just started it, this video is for you.  It is my very own invention, and if there was any way to make money on it, I would. I do, after all, have a child starting college in one month.

And is that ever going to be a blog post.  A long, whiny, tear-filled post.  And I won't even be talking about the money.  Yet.

Anyway, since there is no