Photo by Robert Pacelli

LIVE CANCER LARGE^®

(Don’t let cancer diminish you)

Meet Jill Kleiss

I’m a three-time breast cancer survivor. My cancer journey and diagnosis number one, begins in 2015. I recover, put my cancer in my rear-view mirror. Five years later, a second diagnosis, and once more I’m on the cancer ride. Fast forward post one mastectomy, and cancer is in the back seat – again. Then, in less than a year I take another ride with cancer – this ride almost kills me, but I catch it early. I insist on a lymph node biopsy that determines that I have cancer – AGAIN. For me, there has been an unending repetitiveness of cancer diagnoses. And now, three rides later, I’m once again, ‘over it’ and cancer is in my rear view mirror.

Knitted Knockers!

Knitted Knockers are just that.

Free Knitted falsies (fake breasts) for those of us who have undergone a single or double mastectomy and need to fill up the bra space either temporarily (awaiting reconstruction surgery), or permanently for those who chose not to undergo reconstruction.

They are available free of charge by contacting the knittedknocker organization. (Monterey County residents please email me for our local contact.)

CLICK HERE to learn more.

Pick a good medical team; one that works well with each other, and one that’s flexible to your requests.
If you have chemo, protect your brain. (Don’t read War and Peace. Write War and Peace.)
If you have chemo, protect your balance. ( I had to relearn how to ride a bike. I started on a bike with training wheels.)
Be your best advocate. (Insist on treatments if you think you need them.)
Live Cancer large. Don’t let Cancer diminish you.

If your family has a history of cancer, ask your HCPs to do blood tests to rule out possible genetic mutations like BRAC and Lynch Syndrome. These mutations require extra screenings to keep you cancer free. Kleiss’ Alive and Kickn Podcast

Recommended Reading

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
by Bessel Van Der Kolk, MD

Radical Remission- The Nine Key Factors That Can Make a Real Difference
by Kelly A. Turner Ph.D.

Minx Oct 2009 – Oct 8, 2022
RIP my sweet Minx who got me through three breast cancers, and ended up getting cancer, too. Minx arrived on Halloween 2009. He departed, after our struggle with his pancreatic cancer, almost 13 years later to the day. I have lost my best friend and constant source of comfort through my own dances with “the lady.” His last gift to me was to turn on the water. I will tell our story in due time.

CLICK HERE
to watch the video