Women who blog: Karen Lynch

Keris Stainton continues our Women who blog series...

I'm not sure how I discovered Karen Lynch's blog, Discussing Breast Cancer, but once I did, I couldn't stop reading. Karen Lynch talks about her breast cancer candidly and honestly while, at the same time, sharing empowering and informative news about the disease. It's moving, educational and inspirational.

What was the first blog you ever read?

The one my husband set up when we decided to adopt a child; I loved that I could journal about the adoption process and our personal journey and those that loved us could read about our adventure. The surprise (for me) was that people we didn't even know started reading ... and really began to care about us and our daughter as a result.

Why did you decide to blog about breast cancer?

I started off blogging about breast cancer because I believed there was a message in my personal story that the world should hear: that "baseline" mammograms are critically important for young women because breast cancer doesn't wait until you've turned 40 to start attacking your cells.

I also believe the more people talk about breast cancer, the more we share about it, the more open we are about it, the more confident women will feel before, during and after their own diagnoses.

Has writing about it been cathartic?

The first time I was diagnosed, I wrote in my journal regularly and captured so much about my experience. When I was diagnosed the second time, I rebelled in a way and didn't write a thing about it, for a year! When I shared me experiences the second time around at discussingbreastcancer.com it was the first time I'd written about it. It helped me heal emotionally, which is so necessary after the physical healing is done.

You're very honest - do you ever worry about who's reading?

Sometimes I do. As I mentioned, at one point in time I had a personal blog that I thought only my family read. When I was re-diagnosed, I wrote about it then heard from a local girlfriend that she'd read the news online -- that freaked me out because I wasn't ready for my community to know about my diagnosis. I think it is easy to assume that your readers are virtual strangers when in fact they can be the guy next door!

What's the point of blogs?

It's twofold: Writers can voice their thoughts and feelings on a topic or share information with an audience that shares their interest. Readers can either enjoy the act of reading or gather information on a topic that will serve them in some way. Discussingbreastcancer.com gives me a forum for speaking out about breast cancer and I hope it gives readers information that will empower them as they fight their own battle with breast cancer or support someone else doing the same.

What has been your best and worst blogging experience?

I was thrilled when a writer from the Associated Press called me for an interview about baseline mammograms; their story was picked up all over the country and since I was quoted in it, my opinion about the importance of baseline mammograms really got out there.

I was disappointed, once, when a member of an online breast cancer support community suggested I was blogging about the cause for financial gain. I'm so not discussing breast cancer for the money -- I'm discussing it because survivorship is a part of my life, a big part, and I believe my words might make a difference in a survivor or caregiver's life.

Keris co-edits Shiny Media’s fabulous women’s fiction blog, Trashionista and contributes to TV Scoop, The Bag Lady and Bridalwave.

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