Before You Donate
Think very seriously before donating to any breastcancer organization, or fundraising program until you read their Annual Report to see who their top contributors are, and if they have a product that appears frequently in the message the organization sends to the public. That would be unethical and its illegal. The same applies to a request that the public buys products, but does not receive a "donor receipt" for tax-deductible purpose. Read any and all food labels that breastcancer "non-profits" are promoting to raise money. Some organizations tell the public to help them raise money by asking you to visit their websites, but that only gives them "hits" to increase their sponsors.
Another tip, "signing" an online Petition is not acceptable, so don't fall for such antics. An ethical non-profit, or professional will not request your visit to their website, nor use "cookies" placed on your computer when you visit their site.
Purchase the Breastcancer Postage Stamp, the Post Office will always give you your charitable deduction receipt. Its a valid form of fund raising.
PLANNING
I knew I had to have some type of a plan (of course, I was a Type A personality). For three months I'd been going through surgeries, and illness, waiting to be sure everyone agreed on the treatment, and I had slipped off the "board" into the water at some point. I did have to have a port-a-cath (VAS system) surgically placed in my chest, and it has NOT been a positive asset in that it's frequently not accessible. It's painful to have the needles put into my chest tissues repeatedly, without success. Not sure I'd do that again but my only available arm veins were just not patent (open) and chemo was best not put into other veins. Its a common practice to have the chemo going into a large cardiac vein.
I prepared for chemotherapy. Having had a closed head injury in the past, I knew that I had to rely on strategies when I was under a lot of pressure, and being a strategic planner, I knew I had to have some goals, objectives, etc. (which did result in my mammogram being re-read, after all)
I thought of the things I'd like to accomplish (don't get tense, you won't do all of these, or at least, I didn't, at all), and set out to build myself some protocols for Dental, Nutrition, Spiritual, Fitness, and Recreation.
My readers must realize that my planning was a way to distract myself, as well as keep myself under control. I had a Type A personality since I had Polio as a child, and it propelled me forward no matter how hard it was to "mobilize" at any given time. Now, I would have just rested, relaxed, and left the work up to those who were working very hard for me, anyway—My Team, including friends, colleagues, loved ones...Do NOT try to do this yourself. Force relaxation, and delegate, delegate!
Trust me, the following plans and steps faded as chemo progresses. I grow tired, and don't have the zip and fight in me I had when I started out. I've been poisoned but this is normal and as my ever vigilant oncologist said to me, several times, "it is important that you take this time "out" and don't judge yourself. You've got to have the view that this is a "time out," and you will get through this. Your oncologist will be the best barometer for you.