BC Nirvana and Pacific Island Breast Cancer Support

Hi everyone,

I haven’t blogged for a while but I have been busy volunteering in the breast cancer sector in New Zealand. It is time to let you know what I have been up to.

BC Nirvana

In 2011, with my second breast cancer diagnosis, I had a strong feeling that I wanted to help others affected by breast cancer. I started by keeping a blog during my breast reconstruction so others could learn what it is really like to go through a have a mastectomy and breast reconstruction (and also to inform and family and friends about what I was going through). Here is a link to my breast reconstruction diary.

While doing chemo, I enrolled in a website launchpad course with Serena Star Leonard and set up Breast Cancer Nirvana. I used the name Nirvana as I wanted people who visited the site to feel peaceful and supported while there.
Breast Cancer Nirvana has a few purposes:

• To change the conversation and reduce fear about cancer by sharing and shedding light on what is really like to have breast cancer. I also kept a chemo diary and later a moving forward diary.
• To make breast cancer a bit easier by providing simple and clear breast cancer information and resources for breast cancer survivors and supporters. I wanted to share all my lessons learned so that others didn’t have to learn everything the hard way like I did.
• To provide support, hope and inspiration to those affected by breast cancer. Most women (85% approx.) are surviving breast cancer now. Support and close relationships improve survival. There is hope and I wanted women to know about that.
• To provide tools to utilise breast cancer as a personal development tool (when you are through your treatment). When you are feeling better, there are opportunities to really look at your life differently. My latest Baring it All eBook shares my tools and tips on survivorship and how to manage your health and celebrate your life after your breast cancer treatment ends.
• And lastly to express my unique and creative journey through all the trials and tribulations. We are all unique and have our own voice and journey. BC Nirvana is an expression of my creativity and me.

Swings and roundabouts

It's been an interesting few months. I have a rejection letter from one publisher and a couple of "we will take a few months to read your manuscript" letters. I also did not win the writing residency scholarship. After additionally not being successful in applying for my work role, I started to sense something in the air. That something is 'change'.

Hope and a prayer

Last week, I submitted an application for a Fulbright writer in residence scholarship. It will be fascinating to see what comes back from that. I ended up with fab references and the process of putting my application together has helped me: I know feel comfortable with this project and have references, CVs etc lined up.

My acupuncture guru Todd talks about following your excitement. I am doing my best to follow the writer excitement and sowing seeds.

x Andrea

Navigating the publishing world

Hi everyone,

This week, my designer Tessa finished the kindle file to go on Amazon and the PDF file was put in to my online shop at http://breastcancernirvana.co.nz/shop/baring-it-all-33-tips-on-creating-a-great-future-after-breast-cancer/

I have learned that on Amazon, you have to sell $100 of stock before they pay you and when they do, my New Zealand bank will take $15 off any cheque or electronic transfer. I am not sure if it is worth selling these on Amazon at all.

I had an inspiring chat with my friend Philippa. She suggested that I just print out my eBooks and send them to publishers...so this stormy Sunday, I am doing just that. There appears to be a lot involved in this simple task - getting the eBooks printed (and delivered), buying the envelopes (and reply envelopes), writing an individual letter to each publisher, writing a synopsis for each eBook, a biography..and lastly:

Baring it All

Hi I'm excited to share the cover of my new eBook! x Andrea

New eBook

I am very excited. I have finished my third eBook and just sent it to the designer. It is like the birth of a child - not an actual child of course but symbolically. The working title is Baring it all.
x Andrea

On recovery from breast cancer

Lately, I've been writing tips for those moving forward from breast cancer.

Tip #1 Manage your health and recovery

Perhaps the hardest and the easiest tip is that you are responsible for managing your health. That involves eating as well as possible, sleeping well, exercising, having a low stress lifestyle, being optimistic and talking to specialists quickly when things are not right.

These things sound simple but there is so much involved in living healthfully. It requires constant prioritising, learning new skills, organisation and being assertive about your health needs.

Some of your health is not within your control but a lot of it is. So influence the things that you can by choosing health each day.

Action: Get your health foundations right; commit to eating a bit better and exercising today. Seek support from friends and family to improve your health.