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 Deb Helfrich/Gold Star Dog Training

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DebbY Does Chemo

(A Blog about Breast Cancer, but Funnier)

Battling Cancer (as imagined by me and Copilot (Generative AI)

In early September 2016, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. I had plans—a growing dog-related business, a 20+-year career in proposal management, a passion for European travel, family and friends—and cancer took a big crappola on all of that. This blog captures my experience with cancer—doubt, diarrhea, dark days, and even delight (at times)—and into recovery.

Even though the blog was written several years ago—I think it’s still relevant to anyone wanting a front row seat to what it’s like to look cancer in the hairy eyeball.

The blog isn’t dead, though I do post less frequently! I write as the spirit moves me. So, please do subscribe. And, I’d also love it if you’d hop on over to my other blog on this page: Debby Does Destinations.

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What Do You Say to Someone with Cancer? (Spoiler: I don't know either)

January 8, 2025

She was sitting there, looking like someone who’d just misplaced her car keys, wallet, and all belief in human decency in one catastrophic moment. She kept glancing at me—my mostly bald head, cancer’s calling card. I took a breath, closed my laptop, and asked, “Umm, are you okay?”

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Tags Breastcancer, Cancersucks, FuckCancer, Debbydoeschemo, chemo, radiation, cancer, cancertreatments, cancerexperience, masectomy, uvmcancercenter, cancersupport
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Boobie and Bra Shopping Humor (This really happened)

July 25, 2024

Bra shopping…I'd want to be doing anything else but this--and that includes trimming the poopie clusters from my long-haired German Shepherd's back end.

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Tags Breastcancer, Cancersucks, FuckCancer, Debbydoeschemo, chemo, radiation, cancer, cancertreatments, cancerexperience, masectomy, uvmcancercenter, cancersupport
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And this makes breast cancer look like a sniffle

December 31, 2018

Brain abnormalities? No thanks… I would have preferred a new car, a new stove, a make-over…anything else please.

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Tags Breastcancer, Cancersucks, FuckCancer, Debbydoeschemo, chemo, radiation, cancer, cancertreatments, cancerexperience, masectomy, uvmcancercenter, cancersupport
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What the F#$*%...FOLLICLE?

July 16, 2018

Learn I have Stage 3 cancer and rally. Learn my hair is gone for good, and lose my shit completely.

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Tags Breastcancer, Cancersucks, FuckCancer, Debbydoeschemo, chemo, radiation, cancer, cancertreatments, cancerexperience, masectomy, uvmcancercenter, cancersupport
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I should be...I should be...I should be...

July 12, 2018

Cry? I’d rather do the back stroke in a vat of razor blades and then roll around in some salt and pepper.

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Tags Breastcancer, Cancersucks, FuckCancer, Debbydoeschemo, chemo, radiation, cancer, cancertreatments, cancerexperience, masectomy, uvmcancercenter, cancersupport
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The Definitive WTF guide: So, you have cancer? So, you know someone with cancer?

June 11, 2018

Just a little advice from me to you…

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Tags Breastcancer, Cancersucks, FuckCancer, Debbydoeschemo, chemo, radiation, cancer, cancertreatments, cancerexperience, masectomy, uvmcancercenter, cancersupport
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The Weird, Lonely, Drifty Space After Cancer Treatments

April 14, 2018

The landscape of life after cancer treatments—alien and desolate at times.

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Tags Breastcancer, Cancersucks, FuckCancer, Debbydoeschemo, chemo, radiation, cancer, cancertreatments, cancerexperience, masectomy, uvmcancercenter, cancersupport
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Helfrich 11-18-19XX, Signing out from Chemo Bay 01, Chair 2

October 3, 2017

Signing out from Chemo Bay 01, Chair 2.

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Tags Breastcancer, Cancersucks, FuckCancer, Debbydoeschemo, chemo, radiation, cancer, cancertreatments, cancerexperience, masectomy, uvmcancercenter, cancersupport
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Checking in...and an announcement I've been meaning to make.

August 6, 2017

Cancer free (but we’re not done here yet!)

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Tags Breastcancer, Cancersucks, FuckCancer, Debbydoeschemo, chemo, radiation, cancer, cancertreatments, cancerexperience, masectomy, uvmcancercenter, cancersupport
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Zap. Zap. Zap...and thoughts about Godzilla

May 3, 2017

There is a light at the end of the tunnel…but it may be ME, glowing brightly in green florescence.

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Tags Breastcancer, Cancersucks, FuckCancer, Debbydoeschemo, chemo, radiation, cancer, cancertreatments, cancerexperience, masectomy, uvmcancercenter, cancersupport
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On Being Naked After Mastectomy

April 1, 2017

This blog is about nakedness and boobies. Since I’m not going to show you any of that, here’s me in a velour cat hat.

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Tags Breastcancer, Cancersucks, FuckCancer, Debbydoeschemo, chemo, radiation, cancer, cancertreatments, cancerexperience, masectomy, uvmcancercenter, cancersupport
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Chemo is DONE! Reflections at the end of chemo and next steps

February 13, 2017

Chemo over. Next up…surgery and radiation.

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Tags Breastcancer, Cancersucks, FuckCancer, Debbydoeschemo, chemo, radiation, cancer, cancertreatments, cancerexperience, masectomy, uvmcancercenter, cancersupport
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The Chemo Side Effects Show

January 8, 2017

Do you laugh at 4th-grade-boy-type jokes about farts? Fascinated by juicy details about bodily functions gone awry? Read on.

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Tags Breastcancer, Cancersucks, FuckCancer, Debbydoeschemo, chemo, radiation, cancer, cancertreatments, cancerexperience, masectomy, uvmcancercenter, cancersupport
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Getting Back on the Brighter Side...

December 1, 2016

On the bright side…I’m saving a ton on hair products.

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Tags Breastcancer, Cancersucks, FuckCancer, Debbydoeschemo, chemo, radiation, cancer, cancertreatments, cancerexperience, masectomy, uvmcancercenter, cancersupport
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Loss and Limitations

November 10, 2016

This week, for maybe the first time (and probably not the last I would imagine), I've really felt a sense of loss and limitation related to this cancer thing.

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Tags Breastcancer, Cancersucks, FuckCancer, Debbydoeschemo, chemo, radiation, cancer, cancertreatments, cancerexperience, masectomy, uvmcancercenter, cancersupport
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So, OCD, Anxiety and Cancer Have a Tea Party

October 23, 2016

I would imagine if OCD, Anxiety, and Cancer were having a tea party, it might look something like…

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Tags Breastcancer, Cancersucks, FuckCancer, Debbydoeschemo, chemo, radiation, cancer, cancertreatments, cancerexperience, masectomy, uvmcancercenter, cancersupport
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Good Bye Hair

October 15, 2016

I'm going to take charge. I'm having my head shaved tomorrow.

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Tags Breastcancer, Cancersucks, FuckCancer, Debbydoeschemo, chemo, radiation, cancer, cancertreatments, cancerexperience, masectomy, uvmcancercenter, cancersupport, hair, hairloss, chemobald, chemohairloss
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The Cancer Treatment Machine

October 12, 2016

I never would have thought my own boob would attempt to murder me.

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In Chemo Tags Breastcancer, Cancersucks, FuckCancer, Debbydoeschemo, chemo, radiation, cancer, cancertreatments, cancerexperience, masectomy, uvmcancercenter, cancersupport
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Did you get the name of that cruise ship...

October 1, 2016

My little dinghy squished and swamped by something so inconceivably big I couldn't breathe….A few days after the diagnosis, I was swept into the cancer treatment machine...

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In Chemo Tags Breastcancer, Cancersucks, FuckCancer, Debbydoeschemo, chemo, radiation, cancer, cancertreatments, cancerexperience, masectomy, uvmcancercenter, cancersupport
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Welcome to "Debby Does Chemo"

September 30, 2016

Not all of what I write will be pretty. But, there will be humor, light, lots of off-color cancer humor...and perhaps, even some disco dancing.

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In Chemo Tags Breastcancer, Cancersucks, FuckCancer, Debbydoeschemo, chemo, radiation, cancer, cancertreatments, cancerexperience, masectomy, uvmcancercenter, livingwithcancer, cancersupport, stage3cancer
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