07:58 AM EDT 04/13/2013
Diem Brown
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Diem Brown's Meaningful Gift Guide for Patients in Your Life
Originally posted 12/06/2012 11:15AM
In her PEOPLE.com blog, Diem Brown, the Real World/Road Rules Challenge contestant recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer for the second time, opens up about her desire for a child and the ups and downs of cancer and fertility procedures.
'Tis the season, and I know if you could give the gift of health to a loved one going through illness, you would. So, I thought blogging about a few great gift ideas for patients or caregivers of patients would be a nice holiday treat.
Everyone is different but most patients – whether they're fighting cancer or recovering from a car accident – spend a lot of time either at home or at the hospital. So think about giving a gift that helps make being at home or the hospital easier.
Here are my suggestions!
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Diem Brown Shares How Her Chemo-Brain Sends Her to Dumb-Dumbville
Originally posted 11/29/2012 03:20PM
In her PEOPLE.com blog, Diem Brown, the Real World/Road Rules Challenge contestant recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer for the second time, opens up about her desire for a child and the ups and downs of cancer and fertility procedures.
I have always been a list girl: Things I need to accomplish by a certain age; places I want to visit within five years; must-haves for my fall wardrobe. I actually have lists of my lists!
I have always believed that by writing your hopes, dreams and your daily errands down, the lists become achievable. I guess it's that whole The Secret thang Oprah talked about, but basically for me, lists equal getting things done and moving forward.
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Diem Brown Is Thankful for Support System: Friends, Family and You
Originally posted 11/22/2012 11:00AM
In her PEOPLE.com blog, Diem Brown, the Real World/Road Rules Challenge contestant recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer for the second time, opens up about her desire for a child and the ups and downs of cancer and fertility procedures.
Cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole and pumpkin pie! What other three dishes scream Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is a holiday that brings back fond memories and immediately triggers you to reflect upon the past year.
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Diem Brown Blogs About Her Friend's Breast Cancer Scare
Originally posted 11/14/2012 05:15PM
In her PEOPLE.com blog, Diem Brown, the Real World/Road Rules Challenge contestant recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer for the second time, opens up about her desire for a child and the ups and downs of cancer and fertility procedures.
It's the phone call that you never want to get – the one that makes your blood heat, your senses perk up and your heart drop. It's the call where you find out that someone you love dearly is in danger.
When I pick up the phone I think my friend is calling to check in, but as I hear her strong steady voice start to uncharacteristically tremble, I know something is wrong.
"They found a lump," says my friend (who asked not to be named in my blog post). "My GYN wants me to get a mammogram tonight. Tell me it's okay. Please tell me it's okay. Tell me this is normal."
Diem Brown Goes Bald – Shares New Video
Originally posted 11/08/2012 11:00AM
In her PEOPLE.com blog, Diem Brown, the Real World/Road Rules Challenge contestant recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer for the second time, opens up about her desire for a child and the ups and downs of cancer and fertility procedures
So here it is. The second half of something I have always searched for as a cancer patient. I have always wanted to see a video showing from start to finish what the chemo hair loss process looks like.
I did the first half of the video, and here is the second/final half of my road to chemo bald-dom. Yes, I have become fascinated by the way chemo kills fast-growing cancer cells, so seeing my hair fall out each day was a double-edge sword.
At first it was frustrating and emotional – but as time went on my hair loss has become my visual proof that the chemo is working and is killing the cancer cells in my body.
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Diem Brown Blogs: What Hurricane Sandy Taught Me
Originally posted 11/01/2012 11:00AM
In her PEOPLE.com blog, Diem Brown, the Real World/Road Rules Challenge contestant recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer, opens up with her usual wit and insight about coping with chemotherapy.
"Sandy, oh Sandy" I can hear John Travolta crooning away in Grease, but now "Sandy" evokes a slightly different memory.
Forget "stranded at the drive-in." For the East Coasters affected by dear old Hurricane Sandy, it's more like stranded at your powerless apartment realizing, "Oh dear lawd, I'm addicted to technology!"
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Diem Brown Blogs: Those Sneaky Chemo Hangovers from Hell
Originally posted 10/25/2012 08:00AM
In her PEOPLE.com blog, Diem Brown, the Real World/Road Rules Challenge contestant recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer, opens up with her usual wit and insight about coping with chemotherapy.
Remember the first time you tried a Jell-O shot, apple martini or lemon drop? You'd feel as if you were immune to getting drunk off these yummy sweet concoctions, so you'd have another and another and then – boom – they finally hit you and you'd end up racing to the ladies' room, swearing you would never drink again as you grasped the porcelain rim.
Well, that, my friends, is day two of chemo; day two feels like a hangover from hell that won’t go away.
However, the first day after chemo is like taking the first delicious sip of that apple martini. You're on cloud nine. The heavy steroids that they now put in your chemo cocktail infusion make you feel so numb to the pain you actually believe, "Wow, I guess I'm not gonna feel the bad side effects this time, I feel great!"
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Diem Brown Films Her Hair Loss After Cancer Treatment
Originally posted 10/18/2012 08:00AM
In her PEOPLE.com blog, Diem Brown, the Real World/Road Rules Challenge contestant recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer for the second time, opens up about her desire for a child and the ups and downs of cancer and fertility procedures.
This week I wanted to do something a lil different. One, because I've been really quite ill and haven't been able to think straight through the medication haze to write a coherent blog. And two, because making a chemo hair loss video is something I have always wanted to do – video of the hair loss process was something I had searched for the first time I had cancer.
When I was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer, I made the common mistake all patients do: I Googled! Yep, that dreaded Google search, where no matter what symptoms or disease you type in, it triggers the "Oh My Word, You're Dying" results.
I also Googled for images of people undergoing chemotherapy. I wanted to see what people looked liked going through chemo ... Scratch that – I wanted to see what girls my age looked like going through chemo. We have peer groups for a reason, and sometimes seeing someone who has gone through what you are about to go through is a massive aid when it comes to peace of mind.
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Diem Brown Blogs: How to Find the Bright Side of a Bad Situation
Originally posted 10/11/2012 12:00PM
In her PEOPLE.com blog, Diem Brown, the Real World/Road Rules Challenge contestant recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer for the second time, opens up about her desire for a child and the ups and downs of cancer and fertility procedures.
Attitude is everything.
That may seem like a cliché thing to say, but I've found most clichés are true. We all go through "crappy moments" in life, but the way you approach and maneuver through those moments makes all the difference.
I have tried to embrace my second time around with cancer. I've become so curious about how chemo actually works and kills cancer cells. So, as hard as it is to watch your hair fall out, I decided to not shave my head so I could feel the entire experience.
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Diem Brown Blogs: I 'Became Wig Obsessed'
Originally posted 10/04/2012 01:40PM
In her PEOPLE.com blog, Diem Brown, the Real World/Road Rules Challenge contestant recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer for the second time, opens up about her desire for a child and the ups and downs of cancer and fertility procedures.
First, thank you all so very much for your comments. I honestly read all of them and love hearing your thoughts and opinions. And who doesn't love blessings/words of encouragement? ;)
Now comes the "fun" part: Looking for a wig. I had donated the wig from my first bout with ovarian cancer, obviously never thinking that the cancer would return and hoping another patient could use it during their fight.
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