Woody Fraser: The Inspiration for Men for Women Now

Noreen Fraser’s husband, Woody, is the inspiration behind the Men for Women Now initiative. Recently, he’s been guest-blogging for Noreen via FoxNews.com. Check out his blogs, excerpted and linked below.

Living with My Wife’s Breast Cancer

Our world changed forever when Noreen found a cancerous lump in her breast.  We were lying in bed, and she said, “Feel this.  Is this a lump?”

We both panicked – could we feel a hard cancer, or is it soft?

That was 10 years ago.  Today, Noreen’s cancer has progressed to stage 4. (More…)

Facing a New Obstacle Together

Noreen asked me to write again because she is in a great deal of pain which is generated by the side effects of a new chemo drug called Afinitor. It is very difficult to see my wife in this way.

She went on the drug eight days ago. Within 30 hours, her mouth filled with sores. Not the usual mouth canker sores, but huge open wounds everywhere, including her gums. Unable to eat, she has had to spend two days at UCLA with drips to resuscitate her body. Her potassium levels were almost nil. It was bad, very bad. (More…)

The Man’s Role in a Life with Cancer

I remember when my first child was born. The doctors didn’t even let you near your wife as she gave birth. We missed it all. But today it’s totally reversed. Now we do everything from sharing the pregnancy test, to Lamaze class, to helping your wife through the birth. Remember that one word you shouted a million times? “PUSH!” And that once in a lifetime experience – watching your child pop out.

Women’s Cancer has excluded us “men” from involvement. When Noreen was diagnosed with breast cancer, our house swirled with family and friends. Noreen is one of nine, five being sisters. Her parents, aunts, uncles, cousins – plus the siblings – crowded every room in our house. Add in Noreen’s friends. No room at the Fraser home for guess who? Right. Me, the husband, the “man” in her life. (More…)

Category: Blog, News, Resources

Noreen Fraser Fox News Blog Posts

A weekly contributor to FoxNews.com’s Health section, Noreen Fraser is living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. She is co-founder of STAND UP TO CANCER and co-produced the TV show, which raised 100 million dollars for cancer research.

Noreen went on to create the Noreen Fraser Foundation to raise money and awareness for women’s cancer research. The ‘Men for Women Now’ program enlists men to ask the women they love to make appointments for their mammogram and pap smear.

Click here to read all of Noreen’s Fox News Posts.

 

 

Category: Blog, Resources

LA Times: Genetic cancer test often urged for wrong women

From the LA Times
“The U.S. Preventive Services Talk Force (USPSTF), a federally-supported expert panel, advises against routine counseling and testing for women who don’t have suspicious cases of cancer in their family, such as two close relatives with breast cancer, one of whom got it before age 50.”

The key is knowing if your wife, mother, sister or loved one is at a high risk.

Category: News, Resources

Help Me Live: 20 Things People with Cancer Want You to Know

Lori Hope wrote a book, Help Me Live: 20 Things People with Cancer Want You to Know, which is “an intimate guide for families, partners and friends of individuals diagnosed with cancer.”

Sometimes our loved ones just don’t know how to react, what to do, or how to help, but there’s still Hope (pun intended).

Here’s an excerpt of some of the things Lori wants you to know:

Six of the “20 things people with cancer want you to know”

- “It’s okay to say or do the ‘wrong’ thing.” [Just don't disappear because you're afraid you'll hurt me]

- “I like to hear success stories, not horror stories.”

- “I need to forget and laugh.”

- “Asking my permission [to visit, share news of my cancer, give me advice] can spare me pain.’

- “Telling me to think positively can make me feel worse.”

- “I don’t know if I’m cured, and bringing up my health can bring me down.”

Check out Lori’s book and website here.

 

Category: Literature

Stand By Her

Stand by Her is a compelling book about John W. Anderson and his personal experience with women’s cancers. John went through cancer with four women in his life and is sharing his story, trials and tribulations with us.

Read more »

Category: Blog, Literature, Resources

Of Dragons and Garden Peas

Alice Stewart Trillin’s 1981 essay, “Of Dragons & Garden Peas,” is regarded as one of the seminal texts in cancer patient literature; since 2011 is the piece’s 30th anniversary.
What Cancer literature have you found that helps bring perspective to the experience?
Of Dragons & Garden Peas

Category: Literature, Resources

“My Wife Has Breast Cancer”

The blog, My Wife has Breast Cancer, is a personal account of Ed and his wife Patty. Ed updates his blog frequently to share their experience with breast cancer.

We wish both Ed and Patty all the best on their journey and applaud their bravery in sharing their story with all of us.

Click here to read Ed’s blog.

Category: Blog, Resources

Breast Cancer Husband

via MedicineNet.com

A husband’s role can not be understated for women diagnosed and living with cancer. From day-to-day activities to ongoing emotional support, sometimes men don’t know what to expect or what role they should play for the women in their lives.

Read more »

Category: Literature

Cancer Support Organizations

www.youngcancerspouses.org

Helping spouses of cancer patients cope with cancer, take care of themselves as well as their spouse. Their mission is to bring together young spouses of adults with cancer to share information, support and experiences.

Read more »

Chemo Tips

* Has the patient had a second opinion? Always take a second meeting with another oncologist
to discuss the drugs being included in your cocktail.

* Hit the internet to read all you can on the side effects of each drug. Go to holistic sites
which have herbal remedies. Every body reacts differently. What might make one person nauseous or
itchy, might not be the same for another patient. Read more »

Category: Chemo Tips, Resources

Donations are accepted by the Noreen Fraser Foundation, a certified 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization dedicated to finding cures for women's cancers. 100% of your donation will be directed towards life saving research.
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Men for Women Now is a program of the Noreen Fraser Foundation, dedicated to supporting Women's Cancer Research through education, mobilization and fundraising initatives.

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