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A Breast Cancer Alphabet
A Breast Cancer Alphabet | Madhulika Sikka
8 posts | 2 read | 1 to read
A definitive and approachable guide to life during, and after, breast cancer The biggest risk factor for breast cancer is simply being a woman. Madhulika Sikka's A Breast Cancer Alphabet offers a new way to live with and plan past the hardest diagnosis that most women will ever receive: a personal, practical, and deeply informative look at the road from diagnosis to treatment and beyond. What Madhulika Sikka didn't foresee when initially diagnosed, and what this book brings to life so vividly, are the unexpected and minute challenges that make navigating the world of breast cancer all the trickier. A Breast Cancer Alphabet is an inspired reaction to what started as a personal predicament. This A-Z guide to living with breast cancer goes where so many fear to tread: sex (S is for Sex - really?), sentimentality (J is for Journey - it's a clich we need to dispense with), hair (H is for Hair - yes, you can make a federal case of it) and work (Q is for Quitting - there'll be days when you feel like it). She draws an easy-to-follow, and quite memorable, map of her travels from breast cancer neophyte to seasoned veteran. As a prominent news executive, Madhulika had access to the most cutting edge data on the disease's reach and impact. At the same time, she craved the community of frank talk and personal insight that we rely on in life's toughest moments. This wonderfully inventive book navigates the world of science and story, bringing readers into Madhulika's mind and experience in a way that demystifies breast cancer and offers new hope for those living with it. From the Hardcover edition.
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Kshakal
Breast Cancer Alphabet | Madhulika Sikka
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3 years ago today we lost my beautiful aunt to a long struggle with breast cancer... not a day goes by that I don‘t think of her. Love you always Patty!

SilversReviews HUGS!! 7y
tpixie Hugs! What a great photo!! 7y
RaimeyGallant More hugs! 7y
See All 11 Comments
knittedgnome So many hugs. Cancer sucks. 7y
Cinfhen 💕💕 7y
cobwebmoth *hugs* 7y
JoScho Sending love ❤️ 7y
DrexEdit 💕💕💔💕💕 7y
BethM Hugs 7y
AJones 🎀 Breast Cancer Awareness https://ww5.komen.org (edited) 7y
ReadingEnvy ❤️ 7y
34 likes11 comments
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alisiakae
Breast Cancer Alphabet | Madhulika Sikka
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I am so deeply appreciative of the support from other Littens after my mom‘s diagnosis at the end of Oct. Your kind words have meant so much to me.

Her surgery is this morning, and I will update afterwards to let you know how it went! 💗💗💗

#thankful

batsy Best wishes to your mum for her surgery 💐❤️ 7y
Michelle_mck 💕💕💕 7y
Lcsmcat ❤️❤️ 💐 🌺 7y
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DivineDiana Sending 🙏🏻 and 💗 7y
mabell 💐❤️ 7y
robinb Prayers for a successful surgery and recovery. 😘 7y
kezzlou85 Sending best wishes and healing thoughts 7y
Jas16 You and your family are in my thoughts. ❤️ 7y
LeahBergen 💕💕💕 7y
HelloImJez Best wishes to your mum 💕 7y
Paperplaces Wishing your mom has a successful and speedy recovery. 7y
TricksyTails Sending you and your family all the love. Extra big hugs to mom! 🤗💖 7y
alisiakae @batsy @Michelle_mck @Lcsmcat @DivineDiana @mabell @robinb @kezzlou85 @Jas16 @LeahBergen @HelloImJez @Paperplaces @TricksyTails Surgery went great! Stage 1, caught early, and mom‘s back at my place resting. 💗💗💗 7y
robinb @4thhouseontheleft such wonderful news! Continued prayers and best wishes. 🙏❤️ 7y
mabell Awesome news! ❤️ 7y
HelloImJez @4thhouseontheleft Great news! Get well soon Alisia's momma! 💕 7y
kezzlou85 So glad to hear this. X 7y
TricksyTails Wonderful news!! Wishing mom a speedy recovery. I hear ice cream triples the speed. 🤗😘💖 7y
DivineDiana Fantastic! Wishing her a quick recovery! 💗 7y
Lcsmcat I‘m so glad for you both. Sending my hopes for speedy healing. 7y
Paperplaces That‘s fantastic news!!! So happy everything went so well 😊 7y
batsy So glad for you guys. Wishing her a speedy recovery. 7y
64 likes22 comments
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alisiakae
Breast Cancer Alphabet | Madhulika Sikka
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There is a reason I have been quiet lately. In Sep, my mom had an annual mammogram, and on Friday found out that her biopsy shows she has breast cancer.

We hope it was caught early, but she skipped last year‘s mammogram. So, for BC Awareness Month, I find it even more important to remind everyone to have their ta-ta‘s checked annually! Hits close to home this year. 😢

She will be staying with me in Nov to have surgery w/ my hubby‘s practice.

AndreaReads Prayers and hugs for you, your family, and especially your mom! 💕 7y
Simona I wish your mom and you all good 💕💕💕 7y
cobwebmoth Sending positive thoughts and hugs! 7y
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BookKenz Prayers for you and your family. I lost my mother to breast cancer in 2015. The journey can be tough, but positivity is important. 💕 7y
BookwormAHN Keeping you and your Mom in my thoughts. My Aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer about 10 years ago. After a hard fight I happy to say she is still cancer free and doing well. 😺 7y
alisiakae @AndreaReads @Simona @cobwebmoth Thank you. It also really helps that she has a son-in-law that does this kind of surgery all the time. ☺️ My hubby won‘t be doing her operation, one of his partners will, but he is a tremendous help in breaking down the process for her in a sensitive way. @Kenziejo I am so sorry for your loss. 7y
Kalalalatja So sorry, but crossing my fingers, and hoping your mom is one of the lucky ones 🤞💜 7y
Cinfhen Sending good thoughts and prayers to your mom...so important you posted this! Two out of my 3 SIL both had breast cancer under the age of 40!!! Thank God they are both well now 🙏🏻 7y
Balibee146 So sorry and sending you all and your mom love, hugs and healing vibes 💕💕💕😘😘 7y
LeahBergen I'm so sorry to hear this. Thank you for this important reminder post!! 💕💕 7y
DebinHawaii I'm sorry to hear your news and I'm sending you and your mom lots of positive thoughts and prayers. 💕💖💕Thank you for your post about regular mammograms. My sister was diagnosed last year about this same time. She had a mammogram the year before but last year had the 3-D kind-urged on by a woman in the waiting room & they found a tumor they likely missed the year prior. She has completed treatment & is currently doing well, fingers crossed. 💕 7y
Bookzombie I‘m so sorry to hear this. I hope everything goes well. Sending you and your mom lots of positivity and love. 💕💕💕 7y
Notafraidofwords I‘m sorry to hear this. My mom‘s mammogram showed up as irregular, so she has to see a doctor. 7y
Kshakal I am sending good thoughts and vibes your way!!! 💖 7y
OrangeMooseReads I‘m sorry to see this. I hope all goes well. 7y
MicheleinPhilly I‘m so sorry to hear this. I‘ve been putting off making my annual doctor‘s appt. because I know I‘m going to get sent for one (thanks 40!) Because of your post, I‘ve just made my appt. Sending peace, strength, and positivity to you, your mom, and your entire family. ❤️ 7y
Mdargusch Praying all goes well for your mom. 👍🏼 7y
TrishB Sorry to hear 💝 keeping my fingers crossed all goes well. Was just thinking today I hadn't seen many posts off you lately. Thinking of you all. 7y
KirstieE ❤️️❤️️❤️️❤️️✨ 7y
Reviewsbylola I‘m so sorry. Prayers for you and your mom. 7y
alisiakae @Notafraidofwords I‘m sorry to hear that. I hope she has answers soon. The waiting to see if there was cancer present or not has been the worst part for my mom so far. (edited) 7y
alisiakae @MicheleinPhilly way to go! That really makes my ❤️ happy. I have been having mammograms since I was 35, because as an adoptee my medical history was unknown (well, up until this year when I found bio family). Mammograms are not nearly so horrible or uncomfortable as the reputation they have. They are pretty easy, and quick. I do get some back pain afterwards, but that‘s it. (edited) 7y
[DELETED] 3803335244 Hugs, I‘m so sorry. 7y
Jas16 I am so sorry. Sending love to you and your family 7y
arlenefinnigan Good luck to her x 7y
EllieDottie I'm sorry, sending love ❤️ 7y
batsy Good luck to your mum and all the best wishes for her health and recovery, and much love to you and you family ❤️ 7y
SilversReviews Hugs!! Sorry to hear. I had breast cancer 17 years ago and am still good. More Hugs!! 7y
SilversReviews Were you able to open your box? (edited) 7y
52 likes29 comments
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Kshakal
Breast Cancer Alphabet | Madhulika Sikka
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Spent my morning raising money for breast cancer and trying my hand at some new crafts such as floral arranging!!

Cinfhen They look great and what a worthy cause💕 7y
CouronneDhiver Beautiful! 👍🏽 7y
32 likes2 comments
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JessReads
Breast Cancer Alphabet | Madhulika Sikka
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Hey everyone - I hope no one minds, but I'm going to take a second for something not book related. I'm running a 10K this weekend for a charity called Young Survival Coalition. This charity supports women who are diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 35 - women like my college roommate who was just diagnosed at 25. My page is here: https://www.yscchampions.org/jessicaharwick. If anyone can donate, that would be amazing. (Continued below)

JessReads Litsy has been such an amazing and supportive community, and I wanted to reach out to you all for help. I promise this is the only post I'll do about this, so I won't be spamming your timelines with requests. Thanks for taking the time to read. 8y
31 likes1 comment
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Yasmineokla
A Breast Cancer Alphabet | Madhulika Sikka
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Insightful, reassuring and honest. Enjoyed reading this book more than any other "cancer" book since my own diagnosis. I identified with this quote in so many ways. I'm pretty sure every cancer patient could at some point in their treatment. ???

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Eyelit
A Breast Cancer Alphabet | Madhulika Sikka
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I'm reaching out to my fellow Littens for some recommendations. A family member was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. I found the pictured books at the library (and have a few more on hold). I'd like some recommendations of books for support people of those diagnosed as well as some good breast cancer info and resource books for my family member. Thanks in advance!!

Hooked_on_books For the medical information, the Mayo clinic has a great website designed for patients which provides good, reliable info which is up to date. Sorry to hear about the diagnosis--I hope treatment goes well. 8y
Lola Wishing all the best to your family member. And here is another book written by a survivor: 8y
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LauraBrook I just packed up the breast cancer books I have, so I'll fish them out of their box in the basement tomorrow. In the meantime, your family member and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. 8y
LauraBrook Just relooked at the ones pictured and mom and I both really liked the one you have tagged, A Breast Cancer Alphabet. It may be the only one she actually read herself, the rest was all me, trying to learn and understand. 8y
Claireluana So sorry... I recently read help me live when my dad was diagnosed with cancer and it was really helpful to gain insight into how family members can help support, what to say/not to say, etc. 8y
StaceyKondla I haven't any recommendations, but you and your family member definitely have my best wishes. Take good care of each other ❤️❤️ 8y
EnidBiteEm Several members of my family and friends have had cancer in the last five years (including my mother who had breast cancer). I think every individual's experience is so different, but knowing what to say is important and more important than saying nothing. I couldn't find the perfect book, but offering specific help (e.g. What meal can I cook for your freezer, what's a good day to look after your dog/children, when do you need a lift is more ... 8y
EnidBiteEm ...practical than 'let me know how I can help.' I'm sure your wide variety of reading will help, I'm sorry to hear your news. 8y
ReadingEnvy Been there! I do not have books about cancer to recommend but you should know that most treatment plans are their best guess for what works for most people. Every body is different and it can be frustrating to not know what will happen. But hang in there because they know so much more than they used to! One book that remains comforting to me is 8y
ReadingEnvy Also Pinterest was helpful in identifying good care package ideas. If they're doing chemo in particular. 8y
JanuarieTimewalker13 I didn't have breast cancer, but I had stage 4 NHL....and I can tell you the best thing friends and family did for me was accompany me to treatments, make me sandwiches, and overall cheered me up!! I had a cycle of people so no one got burnt out. As far as things to read, I was determined to never go through this again, so I read about foods that prevent cancer. I watched DVDs like Food Inc and Forks Over Knives. Movement is key!! Must walk! 8y
Kitta My friend was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer and has written a graphic novel about it - very moving and heartbreaking! She's inspirational and still touring with the book (in Vancouver at the moment). It could be too difficult to read about someone who's terminal, but if you want to check it out it's 8y
Peddler410 When my mom was diagnosed in June, I reached out to a friend who is an 18 year survivor of breast cancer. The number one thing she wished of others --- "Treat me as if I don't have cancer." Friends and family treated her with kid gloves and she just wanted to feel normal. She gave me a book for my mom to read. My my loved it -- I will get the title. It's fiction. 8y
Eyelit This is why I 💜💜💜 Litsy! Thanks so much @Hooked_on_books @Lola @LauraBrook @Claireluana @StaceyKondla @EnidBiteEm @ReadingEnvy @JanuarieTimewalker13 @Kitta @Peddler410 your words and recommendations have been very heartwarming and helpful!! 8y
JanuarieTimewalker13 @Eyelit you're so welcome!!❤️🌻 8y
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Betty
Breast Cancer Alphabet | Madhulika Sikka
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#booktober #textonlycovers is there an hashtag for ABC books? #abc