Liz O'Riordan - breast surgeon with BC Recommended to Read

kmakm
kmakm Member Posts: 7,974
edited October 2021 in General discussion
I found this blog by an English breast surgeon who got BC herself to be incredibly useful & informative when I was first diagnosed. And then most especially the chemo guide when I found out I had to have it myself.

She hasn't posted for a long time but a notification just popped into my inbox, she's writing again. So if you're into blogs, check it out.

http://liz.oriordan.co.uk/MovingOn_files/this-is-who-I-am.html
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Comments

  • lrb_03
    lrb_03 Member Posts: 1,267
    edited March 2018
    She was diagnosed around the same time as me, I think. I've followed her blog since her early days. I'm excited to see what direction she now takes. I got that new entry, too
  • kmakm
    kmakm Member Posts: 7,974
    @lrb_03 The book could be incredible. I hope it's not too Britain-centric.
  • Spillsy
    Spillsy Member Posts: 96
    I found this blog too, Amazing and helped me. 
    Her ted talk is fantastic too, 
    ‘jar of joy’ . The book will be good as the co- author is a very established medical writer who also had breast cancer. It may be UK focused, such as support groups etc, but I am sure the information will be evidence based and practical as both ladies have been though breast cancer. 

  • kmakm
    kmakm Member Posts: 7,974
    Thanks @spillsy. I'll check out her TED talk.
  • Spillsy
    Spillsy Member Posts: 96
    It’s inspirational, it helped me in the first month of diagnosis when I was petrified of what future was in store for me. She is so down to earth and such a great speaker, I have bought a glass jar that can be my jar of joy!
  • kmakm
    kmakm Member Posts: 7,974
    Wouldn't it be incredible to have something like this institute here? We'd be a great resource. And how good is this quote from Eric Topol?!

    "the patient is the single most unused person in healthcare."

    http://liz.oriordan.co.uk/Speaker/KeynoteTalks/?post=this-institute-launch
  • kmakm
    kmakm Member Posts: 7,974
    Oh that's brilliant @traveltext! She's very impressive, and clearly really nice  :)
  • iserbrown
    iserbrown Member Posts: 5,540
    Wow what a powerful statement!


    Eric Topol, an American physician, in his book 'The Patient Will See You Now', says that the patient is the single most unused person in healthcare. Finally, someone is listening.

  • arpie
    arpie Member Posts: 7,521
    edited January 2020
    Bumping this as I believe it is a powerful read for all going thru their BC treatment.

    Liz O’Riordan gives a totally honest and upfront discussion on her own Breast Cancer from discovery, to diagnosis, surgery and treatment and side effects and then a recurrence In 2018.

    Start at the beginning and work your way thru at your own pace. 
    http://liz.oriordan.co.uk/

    As a direct result of her BC, she has been forced to step away from her lifelong passion - being a Breast Cancer Surgeon

    Her TEDx talks are well worth watching as well.

    You can follow her on a Facebook as well. 
    https://www.facebook.com/liz.oriordan.3

    take care xxx-
  • BlackWidow
    BlackWidow Member Posts: 268
    Good idea to 'bump' this up, @arpie .  I wonder if there is any way the system can be made to bring interesting posts like this forward every year or so.  Perhaps it could be done by members requesting that of the BCNA and if they think it a good idea they can get the system to do so ?  Technology can be made to work for us.
    Liz's story is very inspiring and would be of interest to those being diagnosed.  At the time I heard of her through a UK site and then Googled newspaper articles - she is very candid in all she says.
  • Nefertari
    Nefertari Member Posts: 288
    Wow, I just read the first instalment of day 1 to 4 after chemo.  Wish I had read this when I was having chemo as I had most of her side effects!  thanks for bumping it up @arpie
    I cried as it all came flooding back,  :'(
  • arpie
    arpie Member Posts: 7,521
    I hope it hasn't upset you too much, @Nefertari  -  but it definitely validates your own experiences  xx

    It is an incredibly honest & emotional blog on her behalf  -  especially as she pretty well got all the symptoms that most of us got (and some!) yet our health professionals don't believe us ....... anyone who's health team don't believe YOUR symptoms - put them onto THIS blog!!  It is from a highly regarded BC Surgeon - so SHOULD BE BELIEVED!

    @Giovanna_BCNA  - as @BlackWidow suggests - is there any way that a link to Liz O'Riordan's blog can be made as a 'sticky' somewhere as a 'must read'?  I really believe that it will help a lot of newbies as they start their own treatment - coming from a BC Specialist herself.

  • kmakm
    kmakm Member Posts: 7,974
    It was her blog that prepared me for chemo. My BS had a link to it on his website. I've communicated with her a little since then, she's lovely.
  • Nefertari
    Nefertari Member Posts: 288
    @arpie, I cried because she had them and so did I. My oncologist was telling me some of my side effects were not
     "typical" ones!   I actually feel better reading that this lovely lady and I had a lot of the same ones, so they were not imaginary. 
    I might give him the link and he can read the whole lot and add some new ones to the sheet of side effects I was given ;)