Author Archives: thesmallc

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About thesmallc

I'm Rebeca. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 32. But there's more to my story: I am an animal lover. I love to cook. I have a wonderful fiancé who doesn't mind walking my rocky path with me. We currently live in New York. ---------------------------------------- “Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any 'how'.” ― Viktor E. Frankl

The “Big D”

Posted on May 28, 2015 by thesmallc

“The trouble is, you think you have time” – From “Buddha’s Little Instruction Book” The day I was diagnosed with breast cancer was the day the “Big D” packed his bags and left me. I don’t blame him. If I … Continue reading →

Posted in Awareness, Coping after cancer, Reflections | Tagged | 24 Comments

May I introduce you to my pets?

Posted on May 25, 2015 by thesmallc

Nelly, who I named after my sweet grandmother, is my kitty. It wasn’t until I took her to the vet and we checked her adoption records for the first time that I realized she shared my grandmother’s birthday. What are … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Support | Tagged | 16 Comments

Associations

Posted on May 16, 2015 by thesmallc

I’ve just returned from a vacation. I was really hoping to have both a mental and physical time off. Away from all of this stress I have in NYC. I didn’t want to think of cancer during my vacation. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Coping after cancer | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

Reasons she was my mom

Posted on May 10, 2015 by thesmallc

Today is Mother’s Day here in the U.S., but we celebrate it on May 31 in the Dominican Republic (D.R.), where I was born and raised by my grandma. But she was also my mom. My dad. My best friend. … Continue reading →

Posted in Family | 6 Comments

On vacation

Posted on May 3, 2015 by thesmallc

We’re going to visit California tomorrow and I am feeling super excited about it. Prior to my cancer diagnosis, we were thinking of possibly moving there. But now it has become difficult for me to move anywhere because I am … Continue reading →

Posted in Travels | Tagged , | 11 Comments

What it feels like to be in the oncology waiting room

Posted on April 19, 2015 by thesmallc

My friend Ed recently asked me, “What does it feel like to be in the oncology waiting room?” It was an interesting question. I had seen many doctors in my life, but never a medical oncologist. It feels different to … Continue reading →

Posted in c World, Coping after cancer, Follow-ups | Tagged , | 25 Comments

To ignore or to educate: that is the question

Posted on April 9, 2015 by thesmallc

I don’t think any of us really expects people to offer us perfect words of wisdom or comfort when they find out about our diagnoses, but I am surprised by how many people have impulsively said really inappropriate and completely … Continue reading →

Posted in Awareness, Coping after cancer, Reflections, Support | 19 Comments

April 1

Posted on April 4, 2015 by thesmallc

It was on an April 1 that I received my first chemo treatment. I got a chance. On April 1, this week, my cousin Glenny — who I wrote about two weeks ago — died of metastatic BC. She did … Continue reading →

Posted in Awareness, Family | Tagged , , , , | 18 Comments