So....talk about.....CANCER SUPPORT THREAD !!

[phoenixmama]

Luna,

I developed cancer in my left breast at the age of 25. I was diagnosed with stage IIIb IDC (invasive ductal carcinoma) the day after I turned 26. It was already in my lymphatic system. I was approximately 4 weeks pregnant with twins when I was diagnosed.

I like the saying, "If God takes you to it, He'll take you through it." I won't bog this thread down with details of my experience with cancer. However, if you are interested...I have kept up a blog kinda thing at Caring Bridge regarding all the cancer junk. Here's the link to my page: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bethanylobocki

I am now sitting here cancer free (for all intents and purposes...although I am not finished with treatment) and holding a beautiful, healthy baby boy who made it through multiple surgeries and many chemo treatments with me. I call him Mighty Mouse.

Cancer is a dare, girl...whoever said winning isn't everything never had to fight it. Get mad at it! Tell that cancer in your body to piss off. You can do it.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Quote:

 

[verthandi]

Luna I am stunned by this news. I don't have any wisdom on cancer for you, except that my grandmother beat a similar cancer at age 40 and lived to be 98. That was long before they had the types of treatments that they do now. I have a feeling that cancer is not going to dare hang around your body with the attitude that you have shown towards it. Gram said that she yelled at her cancer and it didn't dare to hang around.

A thought for your doctor's appointments. Check out the Smart Pens. I use them when I have to take notes at meetings. They are used with special paper that you or someone else can take brief notes on. Then if you take the pen and touch on a word that you have written down they will play back what was said at that point in time.

 

[phoenixmama]

Just thought I'd post something else I like to read when I'm feeling beaten up...makes me feel tough when I need a boost.

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

-William Ernest Henley

 

[melissa09]

Hi sorry that you have been diagnosed with cancer. But do not let it beat you!! You can beat it! My grandfather beat cancer twice

And here is something I like, It helped me a lot when my 10 yr old daughter was first diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.

I know it is hard, but with the attitude you have you will come thru this with flying colors




WELCOME TO HOLLAND

by
Emily Perl Kingsley.

c1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

 

[calicokat]

Oh Luna! Not the news we all were praying for

You should write pheonixmama's thought in big letters and keep it on the vanity mirror & the fridge - and remember we're all praying for you too!

 

[Elite Silkies]

Oh Luna, I am so very sorry. My heart is breaking for you, but you can beat this. Stay strong and keep fighting.

My prayers are with you.

 

[Lunachick]

Quote:
I know I'm not alone - you guys keep reminding me.

And I thank you all for that. I'm not really fearful...........I know one day I will die, but not today.

It's not a pleasant thought but there it is.

I found out more details this a.m. The Dr was in surgery, so I posted my questions to the person on the phone, and when the Dr. called in, she gave him my questions, and she called me right back with his answers.

That was within a 1/2 hour.

My uterus was a stage 1B, grade 2-3, my ovary had a cancer that was stage 1C, grade 2-3. In a nutshell, they are both primary - meaning early stage detection. But because of that darn ovary, I need to receive radiation - external. And chemo, which would be 4 - 6 treatments, or there abouts. So, I think I can handle that.

After reading all of your kind posts about what you all had to endure, of course I can handle this! It's the "what if's" that kinda bug me. But I have to remind myself to take it, like Sara said, one step in front of the other. And I will.

 

[jjthink]

Good (early) catch!

Hugs.

JJ

 

[Lunachick]

Thank you easttxchick! and you too Maple!

redhen, Sara

, sfw2, 3goodeggs, and CedarRidge! Thank you also to Babymakes6 (congrats!), Sonoran & Phoenixmama! yeah, piss off you old C!

Verthandi, thank you for your encouragement. I find such comfort in reading your posts, I hope I didn't miss anyone, if I did, I'll catch up to you, and thanks a bunch.

Phoenix - LOVE that poem, I printed it out, and it's my new mantra. Melissa09 Thank you for that Holland story, I get it.

Calico & Cammy -

Thank you everyone, your keeping my glue together.

Hah! I feel pretty good today, it must have something to do with friendship and support!!!!!

I feel like I'm at this weird Oscar party....

"OH thank you, thank you!

But really........

you all.