Bloggers Write about Living with Post–Breast Cancer Lymphedema

This month AJN features the first of a two-part article on post–breast cancer lymphedema, a debilitating sequelae to treatment for breast cancer that’s characterized by the abnormal accumulation of lymph in the arm, shoulder, breast, or chest. In editing this article, I was struck by the sense of isolation reported by many of those who develop this condition, which can be visibly disfiguring and functionally disabling, and for which there is no cure. I wondered whether any survivors were using the blogosphere to forge connections. Here's what I found . . .

2016-11-21T13:26:09-05:00June 30th, 2009|healthcare social media, nursing perspective, nursing research|1 Comment
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Update from South Africa: Shantytowns Not So Shabby After All?

The guide spoke to us about the strengths of this black community that still reveres its elders, looks out for their neighbors, and is proud of the new, simple housing that the government is slowly building. All of this housing has running water, electricity, and sewage disposal with indoor plumbing. Some of the people in these new homes have started gardens and added adornments to the plain concrete structures with proper roofs. And even in the shacks that co-exist with these new homes, we saw a hair salon, shoe repair shop, and two shacks strung together that were called the "mall". Our guide talked about the signs of hope for South Africa, saying that he sees improvements in the lives of people in these communities. They are incremental and small, but he reminded me that only 16 years have passed since apartheid was ended and much has been accomplished in this short time. One of the principles of nursing, particularly community health, is to recognize and tap into the strengths of people.

2016-11-21T13:26:11-05:00June 29th, 2009|Nursing|0 Comments
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Views expressed on the blog are solely those of the authors or persons quoted. They do not necessarily reflect AJN’s views or those of Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
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