Grief Tourist Defined

“Grief tourist” is a term I’ve heard used many times in the cancer and grief communities that I’m now, unfortunately, a part of. And I have witnessed grief tourism personally. Sadly, it’s a far too common occurrence.

I created this awhile back but was reluctant to share it because I didn’t want anything to take away from my hereditary cancer advocacy work. But damn, I even see it in my cancer advocacy work, so I decided to create this graphic.

Encountered any grief tourists in one of your difficult journeys in life? Share the graphic.

About BRCA Genes & Mutations

Talking openly about health history with your family is important. Documenting that information, especially if there is a family history of cancer, can be life-saving.

There have been more than 50 hereditary cancer syndromes discovered so far. Many of the cancers associated with these syndromes can be prevented.

Being aware of a family history of cancer can provide important information that you and your physician can use to determine if you’re a candidate for genetic testing, more frequent screenings, and/or other preventive measures.

Download a free Family Health/Cancer History Pedigree PDF. There’s no advertising or donations associated with this, it’s just a simple tool I created to help you learn about your family’s health history.

Just a Little Art for Earth Day

Yesterday I put aside the grief work and hereditary cancer advocacy and practiced a little self-care. I picked up a pencil and some paint brushes and did a little nature art for art’s sake in honor of Earth Day.

This is my rendering of a desert grassland whiptail lizard that routinely strolls around my yard. Fortunately, it felt comfortable enough to pause and let me do a few sketches.

Know nature. Learn to be still.

 #EarthDay #NatureArt #nature #DesertGrasslandWhiptailLizard #WhiptailLizard #ArtForArtsSake #illustration #NatureIllustration #herpetology #ReptileArt #WildlifeArt

 

Hereditary Cancer Changed Everything

Once upon a time I was an introverted whimsical illustrator approaching retirement after a long and rather enjoyable and satisfying career.

I had planned on just fading into the background and enjoying the artist’s life without art directors, editors, agents, and other gatekeepers. Maybe donate a few art supplies where needed and continuing to volunteer for the NPS and maybe paint “happy little trees” somewhere green. But something happened that should have never happened. Hereditary cancer changed everything.

Being a cancer caregiver, solo parent of a previvor, and a hereditary cancer awareness and prevention advocate was something I could have never imagined. It’s the flip side of whimsical. And I really don't want to be there.

Here is a link to an article about how my late wife's nightmare cancer story began and how I became a hereditary cancer prevention advocate. https://www.brcastrong.org/blog/hereditary-cancer-changed-everything

I only share this story in the hopes that the conversation about hereditary cancer will improve among families with a history of cancer and health care professionals that at times seem unaware that there are cancers that can be prevented. Nobody should die of a preventable cancer. Nobody!

Thank you BRCAStrong for asking me to share this story.

Also, see my story at FORCE, Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered,  "An Individual Doesn't Get Cancer, a Family Does"

Previvor Defined

---

Because my adult child is a previvor and because my late wife should also be one, I often use the word "previvor" in my articles about hereditary cancer at Cure Today and other places. However, many people have never heard of the word or don’t know the accurate definition. And, not surprisingly, much of the info on the internet just doesn’t correctly explain it. So here’s is my attempt to define it and to shed some light on its origin.

Feel free to share the graphic. 

#hereditarycancer #BRCA2 #BRCA1 #CHEK2 #ATM #PALB2 #PTEN #TP53 #BARD1 #MLH1 #MLH2 #MSH6 #KnowledgeIsPower #previvor #cancerchangedeverything #canceradvocate #cancerprevention #cancercaregiving #genetictesting

Can We Talk About Family Cancer History?

The cartoon is only to get your attention and get you thinking. There’s nothing really humorous about it actually. My person, my muse, my soul mate died because detailed information about a known cancer risk was not shared.

The CURE® article is a personal narrative about something that really needs to be seriously addressed – the sharing of potentially life-saving family health history information.

https://www.curetoday.com/view/can-we-have-a-talk-about-hereditary-cancer-risks-

#hereditarycancer #BRCA2 #BRCA1 #CHEK2 #ATM #PALB2 #PTEN #TP53 #BARD1 #MLH1 #MLH2 #MSH6 #KnowledgeIsPower #previvors #cancerchangedeverything #canceradvocate #cancerprevention #cancercaregiving #genetictesting