Internet Talk Radio Show for Breast Cancer Patients

[CoolBreeze]

Hi ladies,

Lots of you know how I agonized over leaving my job. My last day was Wednesday and it was super sad. I have been trying to think of ways to occupy myself, and I came up with this idea - an internet talk show for breast cancer patients!

It is not a money making thing but I thought it would be a fun way to communicate via voice rather than just in forums. I am matching it to my blog, so the talk shows name is Breast Cancer? But Doctor...I Hate Pink.

We will discuss all things breast cancer.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/butdoctorihatepink

You can like me on facebook for updates: https://www.facebook.com/ButdoctorIhatepink

The first show is planned for July 2nd, at 2:00 pm CA time.

The first show will be focused on the newly diagnosed - what we went through when we were newly diagnosed, how confusing it all was, and any tips for those who are facing their first cancer diagnosis.

The next one, July 9th at 2:00 pm CA time will be to discuss all things chemo - tips and tricks for managing it, which ones are easy, which ones were difficult, and we'll throw a little herceptin talk in there too.

The third one, and maybe last if nobody listens or calls, will be July 16th and is focused on this of us with metastatic disease. How we are living our lives with active cancer, how we manage emotionally, and how the heck do you know you have mets anyway?

I hope this is something you all would find interesting. I know it'll give me something to do and look forward to, and it's a way maybe I can help others get in touch with cancer patients in a different way. A virtual support group where all are welcome!

If Tricia is still around, i sent her a PM that never got answered - your email address failed on me. I would LOVE to interview you for my 3rd show on mets - living so long with metastatic disease is a great hope and I want to highlight hope.

Thanks all!

FYI (My last scans show I'm still in no man's land. UCSF Doctor things I'm NED and what they see on the scans are normal changes post-ablation with some weird update on the PET that doesn't correlate with the concerning spot, and my Sacramento Oncologist thinks that spot is cancer and I'm still doing chemo. He was the one who said I was in "No Man's Land." He might let me off chem for a month anyway since "you can't be on it forever." And, I could still go back on it if cancer is definitive. I'm on Abraxane right now which has been quite easy.

['lizbeth]

Good luck Coolbreeze. I hope you have a large response. Maybe we all should email and facebook the blog - to help make it a big success.

[CoolBreeze]

That would be awesome! Pass it around as much as you want. Remember my first show might be kind of rocky expecially if people don't call. But, it could be fun and valuable too!

[ElaineM]

Just want to wish you luck. See there is life after leaving a school.
I probably won't be calling in, because that is not my kind of thing, but others might be interested. Also if you can figure out how to get a 1-800 number you might get alot of callers.
Have fun.

[CoolBreeze]

Thank you! You don't have to call, just listen. And, it is a Catch 22 thing - I can do a 1-800 number but I have to pay for the calls myself. And, I don't want to pay for calls until I know its something people want. Eventually, I will try to sell products or do something to make money and I don't mind spending it to make it but I have to know somebody will be interested.

I might talk to myself for 30 minutes, who knows?

[CoolBreeze]

Oh, and I checked my plan, because I have to call in to do the radio show. For me, on my plan, it would only be $3.00 and that is for 30 minutes. So, for a regular caller to call in for a minute or two is going to be mere pennies. But of course, check your plan.

[Pray]

I think your on to something here! Good luck! I hope all goes well!

[vballmom]

Best of luck - I think it's a fabulous idea. I reposted on my April/May chemo group on breastcancer.org.

['lizbeth]

CoolBreeze in on now and doing a splendid job!

[rhondalea]

Hi Ann,

I'm listening to you right now. Took me a few frustrating clicks to realize I had to download the episode rather than listen to it on the site, but really, it should've been a no-brainer (and I'm embarrassed, but I thought I'd mention it just in case I'm not the only one).

The reason I'm posting, though, is that I want to suggest Google Voice as an alternative for those without a free calling plan. Calls can be made straight from Gmail. Within the US, calling is free, and international calls are pretty reasonable. Info here:

http://googlevoiceblog.blogspot.com/...-in-gmail.html

Good luck with the project. (Also, if you could provide some helpful hints on how to use the Amazon link, I will order through you in the future. I understand the search part, but what happens if I move around the site before I put something into my cart?)

[CoolBreeze]

First, I had some technical issues myself. Seven people were on the line to talk to me but I couldn't see any of them. So that was frustrating. I've emailed the company and hope to get an answer as to why that happened.

That said, I didn't do a very good job as I wasn't expecting to have only one caller. I got confused about what I should do. I had people who promised to call and I couldn't see any of them. I hope it'll be more professional next time.

Next, you should be able to go hear it live without having to download anything. I think you have to open it in your player. I am logged in all the time but I will log out and post instructions for next time.

As for my Amazon referral link, if you use my site to search Amazon, ANYTHING you put in your cart will be part of my referral fee. So, just search for a book or whatever starting at my site, and then all your cart items will count. I can see what people purchase but I cannot see who purchases what. So, if you buy 50 shades of grey, I will know that *somebody* bought it, but not who.

I have a zazzle store now too. http://www.zazzle.com/butdoctorihatepink*

Every item in there so far is something I used as a breast cancer patient. I have some shirts that will show up tomorrow, and some for husbands. They say "I supported my wife through breast cancer" and then a small pink flower and then under that, "But I hate pink."

I figure I will give myself a year to make some money online. I'm not going to get rich, oh no, I know that. But, I would like to make a little bit of money, so that I have my own and don't have to rely on my husband. And, so that I can put most of it away for my son's college fund now that I'm not working.

Making money online is not easy but I am going to try. And, the Amazon is great because it builds in my account and while I don't take it out as cash, I can spend it on Amazon. Since I do all my Christmas shopping on amazon (no energy for stores anymore) it's nice to have that little nest egg.

Thank you for supporting me.

['lizbeth]

I found your link to Amazon. I will try and use it next quarter when I buy my books for school.

[KDR]

Ann,
You have done an amazing job putting these efforts together, really. You are applauded.
Karen

[norkdo]

Congratulations, Ann! I was able to add the episode to my itunes and the epi's will be automatically downloaded. I am listening to the recording right now. I love it and you have a lovely, kind voice.
One comment you two made on listening or reading on the internet about cancer when newly diagnosed might merit a whole episode. It would be a valuable episode for people to pass around to newly diagnosed folks. For example, I would have loved to have heard an episode of this show when newly diagnosed.
Wonderful idea and thank you so much.
Nora

[AlaskaAngel]

Doing scheduled chats with advance notice also sometimes ends up with just one chatter attending, and other times there will be so many it is hard to keep up with everyone who shows up. Very unpredictable! Have fun with it all, Ann!

A.A.

[CoolBreeze]

Yes, the caller thing is hard to manage, for sure. I don't want to cut anybody of but I have a big time clock in front of me! I am not getting a ton of listeners so maybe I won't do it for long, but it is fun anyway.