Welcome

Wow, a great site. I once thought years ago “Where do I go now?” Then came several episodes of “Just when you thought it was over!” After the 4th episode of cancer (3 breast and 1 fallopian tube), I am back to the “Where do I go now?” stage and am relishing it. Reconstruction is complete and everything looks better than I could have ever imagined thanks to the work of one fantastic plastic surgeon in Baltimore. I have not blogged about the experience until now and it has been nine years since the ordeal began, but I really like this site. Thank you for the great stories. I love the one today regarding ruining the color pink for survivors.

Hi Debbie,
Great site! Just read about your site in the Daily Record. I am 3 years out from my Stage 1 BC, lumpectomy, chemo and radiation – all done at Morristown Hospital. Many sites deal with cancer support DURING your illness, but the ball drops after that regardless of the fact that survivors still have issues to deal with (as I sit here fanning another hot flash courtesy of my Tamoxifen and chemo induced menopause – yay).
It’s almost like we are supposed to box up the experience and put it in the attic – it’s over now, just move on. But,as we do indeed move on, we are now a different person. We have a new “normal”. The 6 month check ups, the worry each time that the cancer could come back. I read your gift and loss list and mine is very similar, right down to the Pilates failure!
Thanks for creating a support place for us!

I love this posting. It is a real reminder that October is a pretty cool month. In fact, I am currently writing a post about reclaiming October and not succumbing to the pink parade — especially when October is so much more.

For me ( @DarrellSmithsr )it was a horrendous battle, given only a few hours left to live. The finality of my doctor saying it was time to call in my family and watching my doctor simply walk out of the room for the last time, I fought even harder than when I was first told I had cancer. And by a miracle, I survived. Only to find how much society had changed in my absence. Finding the road back for me, meant finding a new road untraveled. Searching for something positive, I wrote a book currently being published at West Bow press. “After the Cancer, what Now”? All survivors need to share their story to give hope to others. You cannot hide, 1 in 4 Americans will get cancer and the “boogie man” is standing in your street today, looking for the next home to enter. Please take the time to have cancer screening now.

Just found your site and am finding my way through it – lots of good information! I completed my bilateral mastectomy on February 14th, 2011 (yes, it was Valentine’s Day, that’s how anxious I was to get the expanders out)! I’m trying to figure out how to get involved after my year and a half of this awful, yet profound and life changing process of breast cancer. How did you get involved? I’d like to do something to support other women going through this, but not sure what’s available in NJ. If you have any suggestions, I’d be most appreciative. Best, Claudia http://www.claudiaspost.blogspot.com

I thought I was done after my stage 2b/3a bc was “cured” a few years ago. But no. I now have early bone mets (have for a year now) and am feeling fine, it’s under control with estrogen blockers (Faslodex) for now. What I’m learning now is how willing the Pink Ribbon machine is to throw those of us who aren’t expected to survive under the bus. 30% of people with breast cancer will die from mets. Yet we get 1 day in October and 2% of Komen’s funds for research FOR A CURE. If any of you survivors want to do something meaningful…HELP US! You could be one of us before your life is done. 1 in 3 chance ladies. Not fun to look at that but there is so much to be done if we really are to find a cure. We need to push for trials of less toxic drugs that will keep us alive with some measure of quality of life too. And so much more. Don’t leave us behind as you move forward and try to put this in your past. You do so at your own peril.

I have completed one year of treatment with lumpectomy, chemo, radiation & Herceptin. Now continuing with Femara for a total of five years. I have residual peripheral neuropathy in my feet & legs, but otherwise feel great.

I love your site, & admire your strength. Cancer is not for sissies! I blogged for one year about my health challenges at CaringBridge (shaynadanasg). Now that I am doing well, I do not write much, as thankfully, I have a less eventful life today. It is important for me to pay it forward, & help guide women (or men, of course) who are going through treatment or struggling with diagnosis, recurrence or recovery.

We need to be our own best friends, and support each other.

For the last 6 months I have been completely frustrated with myself. I’ve been anxious and fearful and very negative. I am 13 months post double mastectomy and 10 months post radiation therapy for Stage 3 breast cancer. I just recently have sought help to cope with my emotional issues and have been quite relieved to discover that this is “normal”. Just read the article in CURE and have signed on to this site. Thank you.

Debbie,

Hi i was kinda wondering if their is a site for THYROID CANCER. I am a Cancer Survivor, but this one hit me like a football!!! I just went for my 6 month checkup and i was amazed at the result…. I have no one in this cancerous world but tears and unhappiness. It’s a miracle to have found your site but I am angry and don’t understand a lot so i said o.k. live or die and my little doggie said mommy i need you!! So last night we both cried and tomm is the second biopsy on my LYMPH NODES that appeared in my results.. So can u give me words of advice. Last Sept. 2011 i was getting a divorce when i found out i had to CANCER.

I love your blog! I’m a 2-time breast cancer survivor and am moving on with my life. During and after I finished chemo (last March) I have relied heavily on www.beyondtheshock.com. It’s sponsored by the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Many women in all stages of diagnosis and treatment helping each other. I highly recommend it!

after surviving stage III breast cancer and leukemia, along with two bone marrow transplants at 32 years old when my life went from carefree, fun, traveling, working, raising and loving my daughter to a complete nightmare as all the odds stacked against me. after 2 years, i am in remission but continue to fight the side effects of the cancers and the transplants. i have a clot in my jugular vein, i have severe osteoporosis and arthritis and having difficulty walking, i am grateful to be alive but i cannot snap out of the fear and trauma that i have gone through. to me there is still no new normal. i struggle through every day. I miss my job, i miss traveling and as often as i still end up in the hospital with infections, graft vs host etc, i feel stuck in the city that i need a break from. i’m alive but my life ended at 32 when i heard the words ‘you have breast cancer’ and three weeks later when i heard ‘you also have leukemia’. I am not a weak person and i cannot forgive myself for being stuck, for being so sad and scared and depressed. can anyone relate? has everyone moved on?

i am sorry..