Sharon Blynne: Bald is Beautiful

Check out this interview with Sharon Blynne -- just as good and inspiring today as it was three years ago.

Sometimes I go for the "oldies but goodies" because women like Sharon represent a "real woman on health". Her fresh view point and beautiful way opens up a new perspective you might really appreciate.

First, view her commercial reel, with the Bristol Myers Squibb "Prevail" commercial, and her beautifully sweet plug for the advocacy group she founded -- “Bald is Beautiful”.

“I started Bald Is Beautiful in 2003 after what, at the time, I hoped was my final surgery.

I was inspired by my cancer journey and the people I met along the way/throughout to start Bald Is Beautiful, which is a women’s wholeness/cancer awareness organization through which I do spokesperson/advocacy work and as an actor/writer am dedicated to activating the media industry to expand and redefine notions of beauty and femininity -- especially for those women whose appearances may drastically change as part of a health journey, and promoting the idea that our femininity is undiminished by the effects of cancer.

As such (an actor and cancer survivor), I auditioned for the BMS commercial last summer and booked the job based on what they found interesting or inspiring about my particular journey and what I told them about my Bald Is Beautiful work in the initial audition interview. The words in those spots are derived from that initial interview which was the basis on which they created my specific commercial copy.

What is so beautiful about the spots is that we (the actor/survivors) are not “pitching” for BMS. We never had to say Bristol-Myers Squibb or name the drugs that were part of our treatment regimen. They (BMS) made the bold and beautiful decision to create very simple, powerful, touching, inspiring vignettes from real survivors that stand alone as messages of hope, positivity, support, and encouragement.

That’s why I was so excited to be considered and ultimately participate in this campaign; because it’s not a pharmaceutical pitching more drugs and making people feel bad about themselves or that their lives are incomplete without their products. It’s the opposite and very much in tune with my Bald Is Beautiful work to support, encourage, and share joy with others. I had the opportunity, as did all of us in the 4 spots, to express our personal journeys in ways that, as far as I’ve seen on TV, hadn’t really been done.

They don’t focus on illness or medicine or treatment – the commercials are really made to speak to people’s hearts and spirits and to uplift them.”

Read more on the Bristol Myers Web Site to learn more about Sharon.

Improving the Doctor-Patient Relationship: Top Tips from a Real Woman

Have you ever visited a doctor's office to discuss a diagnosis or some treament options, only to have your brain ambushed by fear or confusion?

Once I read Sheryl's advice to women who are undergoing breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, I got connected to my own vulnerabilities in speaking to "the doctor".

It absolutely mirrors the top three mistakes women make when speaking with doctors, regardless of how educated we might be!

In Sharon's voice, here's what she has to tell us from her experience as a breast cancer survivor:

Below, I offer some tips garnered from various sources, including the excellent information offered by Dr. Marisa Weiss, president and founder of www.breastcancer.org, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health (www.womenshealth.gov) and http://www.networkofstrength.org/.

1. Write down questions or issues ahead of time. Don't forget to prioritize these. Many of us tend to save the most important question for last. When the doctor has one foot out the door is not the right time to ask any question, much less your most important one.

2. It it's a diagnostic visit, come prepared with a detailed description of your symptoms. Note when the problem began, how it makes you feel, what sets it off or triggers it and what works/doesn't work to make you feel better.

3. Bring a list of your medications and dosages. Include both prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as vitamins, herbs and any other supplements. Make sure you also understand the implications of any medications your doctor prescribes: what to do if you miss a dose; if there are any foods, drugs or activities that you should avoid while taking the medication; if there is a generic brand of the drug you can use; what side effects to expect.

4. Ask for support materials. If your doctor is discussing things like treatment options, things can get pretty complicated and confusing. Many times, there are pamphlets you can take home. Ask the doctor about reliable Web sites, too; there's a wealth of information out there. Remember, the more information you have—assuming it's reliable and current—the more able you are to participate in your treatment and understand your condition.

5. Don't be afraid to ask questions or ask for clarification. A study from the University of Washington found that doctors rarely (only 1.5 percent of the time) ask patients whether they understand what was discussed during an appointment. So it's important to be your own advocate and make sure you understand everything. This will avoid unnecessary worry and follow-up phone calls to your doctor. It doesn't hurt to say something like, "So, if I understand correctly, you are telling me XXXX" and reiterate what your understanding of the conversation is.

6. Check ahead to make sure the doctor has your test results and/or reports from other labs or doctors. This gives you the opportunity to discuss those results in person, rather than over a rushed phone call (if you're lucky enough to even get your doctor on the phone).

7. Bring a trusted friend or family member with you. In the beginning, I rarely went to a visit without my husband. Thankfully, he was able to adjust his schedule to accommodate me. The few times he couldn't, my mother or a close friend accompanied me. Another set of ears is always helpful. Many times, as a patient, you may be too consumed with worry or fright to fully comprehend what the doctor is saying. And sometimes another person thinks of questions to ask that would not even occur to you. A tape recorder (with your doctor's OK, of course) can also serve as a backup for you, as will a pad of paper to jot down some notes.

8. And lastly, there are a couple more things I have experienced that I'd like to include.
- Make sure you find out how to reach your doctor between visits. Some doctors might use e-mail; others have a designated time of day for returning calls. You may even be able to talk to a nurse to get the information you need.

- Keep a folder with copies of your test results (yes, you are entitled to this information). With copies in hand, I could share them with my internist, if need be, or just feel secure knowing that I had a stack of papers that conferred my continued good health.

Beyond Empowerment to Results

"Controversy. Conflict. Words that I have heard over and over again. I have heard that women avoid confrontation and conflict. That they historically have been quiet, conforming, polite. That certainly has not been my experience with the National Breast Cancer Coalition and its network of activists across the country. These women embrace controversy and conflict, recognizing that going along with the way things are will not change the statistics about breast cancer."

Those words are from Fran Visco, President of the National Breast Cancer Coalition in her post this evening at MyBreastCancerNetwork.com. Read on about how Ms. Visco has mobilized patients, caregivers and researchers in the organization's grant making process -- resulting in some of the most important breakthroughs in breast cancer research today.

"In 1991, many breast cancer groups decided to band together and launch a political movement - the National Breast Cancer Coalition - to make breast cancer a national priority and to make certain the right policies were in place to address the important issues surrounding this disease.
And, while it was controversial, it was the right thing to do. In fact, one of our first campaigns was Do the Write Thing - delivering more than 600,000 letters to the President and Congress, calling for significantly increased federal funding for breast cancer research. In response, funding went up by $50 million. The following year, NBCC launched its $300 Million More! Campaign and was invited by a Senate Committee to testify on the issue."

"It was controversial, both the campaign and the testimony. And it was 1992, the vaunted "Year of the Woman" (as though we only got one year!) But we were making more and more progress, bringing together more and more voices across the country, some lawmakers were now beginning to understand the depth of the problem, and that year, thanks to our efforts, they funded the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Peer Reviewed Research Program. Federal funding immediately increased from $90 million to more than $400 million.

Fifteen years later, with annual lobbying on our part to make it happen, this unique program has brought two billion dollars in federal funding and attracted more than 26,500 research proposals. The result: some of the most important breakthroughs in breast cancer research.

And, breast cancer consumer activists -- women and men who are living with breast cancer and can speak from first-hand experience - play an equal role with scientists on the panels deciding which grants to fund."