Someone I so dearly, dearly love has recently recieved the news "You have breast cancer" I would love for you all to tell me all the survivor stories you've heard, read or experienced, Only positive stories please, I want her to read them and know that she's not alone and that the God who made her wants only good things for her, thank you so much in advance, it means alot to me. Here's for you my sweet...
In this your darkest hour
my sweet darling
when you seem all alone
--you are never alone--
and tears, unwelcomed, seem to never end
remember, remember
that the darkest hour my love
is always before dawn
(((May He that hath made you, bless you and bless you indeed, may His hand be always upon you and through your healing may He be magnified and praised)))
I have a friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer two months ago... She has such an amazing attitude and is determined this will not beat her.
She told me the other day that she found it funny that when she lost her hair due to chemo that she bemoaned the fact for a couple of days and then got used to it and to wearing hats... she said it was so odd when she got a wig and she couldn't figure out what to do with her "hair." She now says she kind of prefers her hat or bare head...
Her amazing attitude makes me believe that she will not only survive, but will be stronger because of it.
I think having faith is definitely the key...faith in yourself, and in a loving Heavenly Father who will help us through everything we must endure...
I witness tears of fear
From one to me ever so dear
fear kicked in
where prayers of hope will begin
MRI's and other test
idled within a worried head
Feeding a mind in fear
Like a spear
it pierced through my heart
for she is my dear
that's always ever so near
after sevral weeks of fear
results came back with a cheer
tears of fear disappeared
into the four winds
With a smile that lit my heart
chasing away my fears.
Bernice, my neighbor, now 58, was diagnosed with breast cancer six years ago. After a mastectomy and chemotherapy, losing her hair...she is has been cancer free six years and counting, beautfiul as ever, and leads one of the most active live's of anyone I know!
You, Bernice, have a gentle and kind spirit.
Bernice, I was moved to aching when I scanned the New Poetry list and saw your title - you are such a soul of compassion, deep loving friendship and care. With your support your dear friend should be almost healed already! :))
Yes, shout it from the rooftops! The biggest weapon we have against the FEAR sorrounding cancer is positivity and the knowledge that our bodies can and do BEAT IT! And that's even BEFORE all the wonderful intervention of darlin medics with their wisdom, understanding and knowledge, and the treatments they employ... which almost daily are being improved upon and in which advances are being made all the time. The statistics, certainly over here, are sobering: 1 in 9 women will experience breast cancer at some time... BUT THE OUTLOOK IS GOOD AND GETTING BETTER... a very high proportion, increasingly so, will survive. So, in broad terms, that's the logic to realising that a diagnosis of malignancy isn't as totally scary as it used to be.
The next thing perhaps to take on board is that no two "illnesses" or bodies are the same. As an onlooker, we think of all cancer patients as following pretty much a similar path or journey, but that is certainly not the case. From day one, you should view your own case as unique and personalise your mental and physical campaign accordingly. No one knows your body like you do and to harmonise all your energies to overthrow this "intruder" is a great way of rallying your body's own defences to deal with it. Pro-activity is key to taking control of the situation.
In my own case, faith was/is the biggest factor in this process. I had faced life-threatening illness before and found God's presence to move powerfully into me during that experience, convincing me absolutely of His love and good plans for my life. That's when fear of the temporal future left me completely and I relaxed about all of life's issues in general.
I'm sorry, I'm rambling already, but please get in touch if I can e-mail your friend and speak to her direct, if you think I might be able to help. My own situation was that the tumour was, in fact, very small and slow growing, though very aggressive/invasive. I had surgery but not mastectomy, as dear Charlie seems to think (though from photos perhaps that's not such a wild guess! :)). Although I had many swollen lymph nodes removed, none were affected, so there has been no spread into the rest of my body through the lymphatic system. I therefore had a course of radiotherapy but declined the standard 5-year back-up of hormonal therapy as my prognosis is so good. I attend check ups six monthly now, and will be monitored for between 5-10 years. But, sincerely, I have never felt fitter in my life and, apart from having a good reason now to excuse my lack of cleavage and sometimes the need to explain my "dent" and cute scar, the whole episode just seems a bit more of a fairy-tale than anything else... well, a bad dream, then! :))
YOU AND YOUR FRIEND ARE IN MY THOUGHTS, HEART AND PRAYERS... We might be said to have "an illness", but it doesn't, in fact, have US!!!
Sorry, this is a total blah... it's very late and I'm totally whacked, but let me know if I can be of further help XXXXXXXXXXXX LOVE LOVE LOVE Kancer-free Kate xx
2002, Cancer, total Hysterectomy, ray treatment, no hope, she thought, oh well! at least I live a little more than most.
The good doctors said three months, maybe less; the good Lord said don't hear those schmucs I am giving you many many many years yet.
She has been in total remision since with not one of those dumb cells.
The Lord talked.
Long live the breasts! The home we all long for...where we took our first breaths--cries--meals--and squawks... and Kate Burnside says she's had hers removed, but just look at that girl, exuding hope and life and poetry... that mothering essence lives with her still, and how! --Charlie
Right here at Author's den Kate Burnside had surgery for breast cancer and is very much with us. I believe it was 3 years ago, but if you look through her back poems you should find one. She is so busy now moving, I don't know if she'll get to read and tell you , so I did. I'll keep your friend in prayer. meanwhile tell her to stay positive, it's very important.
A very sweet poem to give your friend strength. Positive thoughts and laughter are healers. My favorite cancer survivor story is Scott Hamilton's (Gold Medalist figure skater) - as told in his book. He beat his testicular cancer against all odds. I cried when he returned to the ice. Keep her strong & love her through...
Sheila
Bernice,
Please refer her to (or search for) my tribute poem, "You're a Survivor," posted here at Author's Den to share with her. The poem was written after last year's Susan G. Komen for the Cure Pasta Party in Houston and will be auctioned off, along with my books and a breast cancer ribbon afghan, this October at the Pasta Party to raise money for a cure.
My sixth grade teacher is a breast cancer survivor. Her surgery was in 1999 and 9 years later, she is cancer free.
Bernice, two of my four sisters had breast cancer and the third had cancer of down below, all recovered and have been doing well for years now. I feel confident your friend will survive and my thoughts are with you both.
hugs
Fee
My Mother --who passed in Feb 2008 not from BC--she was 80, but from diabetes. She had IBC Inflammatory Breast Cancer at age 72 she survived this ---the worst BC there is. There is always hope. Strong poem.
Can You Have Her Go To Youtube.com & search "CYBER KNIFE" this is very useful information & perhaps she can discuss with her doctor. Cyber Knife treatments do not harm the other internal organs. I have one breast cancer story of my sister in law & she has survived her ordeal back in 1988 :)
Much Love & Blessing Of Support & Information To Empower Your Friend
Embraced ~ Embrassé
Vickie
here is a link to CYBER KNIFE videos:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cyber+knife&search_type=&aq=f
You MUST recommend the book, "Cancer Has Its Privileges, Stories of Hope and Laughter," by Christine Clifford (herself, a survivor).
I'm not a survivor but know many who are. (Was an Air Force Medic, and saw my share of combatants on the field of cancer; some won; some didn't; but the ones who won - Oh, my goodness. Nothing stronger than a woman determined to beat the enemy - and succeeding!)
Pray the best for you and your friend, Bernice, a loving, compassionate reach and embrace in your words, and in the hope you're bringing her. Well done.
I'm a survivor Bernice. A different type of cancer than your friend, but one that is generally fatal. When I was diagnosed the physicians told me there was little to no chance of survival past a year. I refused to believe them, and after surgery considered myself cured regardless of what "they" said. And here I am 25 years later telling the story. Please, tell your friend that people she doesn't, or ever will, know are praying for her and also tell her to think positive. Positive thinking releases chemicals into the body that are needed for healing. Thank you for sharing this with us thus giving us an opportunity to send out oodles and bunches of positive energy to your friend. God bless and keep you both.
Hugs,
Marcia
She told me the other day that she found it funny that when she lost her hair due to chemo that she bemoaned the fact for a couple of days and then got used to it and to wearing hats... she said it was so odd when she got a wig and she couldn't figure out what to do with her "hair." She now says she kind of prefers her hat or bare head...
Her amazing attitude makes me believe that she will not only survive, but will be stronger because of it.
I think having faith is definitely the key...faith in yourself, and in a loving Heavenly Father who will help us through everything we must endure...
Cryssa
Peace be with you
William
I witness tears of fear
From one to me ever so dear
fear kicked in
where prayers of hope will begin
MRI's and other test
idled within a worried head
Feeding a mind in fear
Like a spear
it pierced through my heart
for she is my dear
that's always ever so near
after sevral weeks of fear
results came back with a cheer
tears of fear disappeared
into the four winds
With a smile that lit my heart
chasing away my fears.
You, Bernice, have a gentle and kind spirit.
Yes, shout it from the rooftops! The biggest weapon we have against the FEAR sorrounding cancer is positivity and the knowledge that our bodies can and do BEAT IT! And that's even BEFORE all the wonderful intervention of darlin medics with their wisdom, understanding and knowledge, and the treatments they employ... which almost daily are being improved upon and in which advances are being made all the time. The statistics, certainly over here, are sobering: 1 in 9 women will experience breast cancer at some time... BUT THE OUTLOOK IS GOOD AND GETTING BETTER... a very high proportion, increasingly so, will survive. So, in broad terms, that's the logic to realising that a diagnosis of malignancy isn't as totally scary as it used to be.
The next thing perhaps to take on board is that no two "illnesses" or bodies are the same. As an onlooker, we think of all cancer patients as following pretty much a similar path or journey, but that is certainly not the case. From day one, you should view your own case as unique and personalise your mental and physical campaign accordingly. No one knows your body like you do and to harmonise all your energies to overthrow this "intruder" is a great way of rallying your body's own defences to deal with it. Pro-activity is key to taking control of the situation.
In my own case, faith was/is the biggest factor in this process. I had faced life-threatening illness before and found God's presence to move powerfully into me during that experience, convincing me absolutely of His love and good plans for my life. That's when fear of the temporal future left me completely and I relaxed about all of life's issues in general.
I'm sorry, I'm rambling already, but please get in touch if I can e-mail your friend and speak to her direct, if you think I might be able to help. My own situation was that the tumour was, in fact, very small and slow growing, though very aggressive/invasive. I had surgery but not mastectomy, as dear Charlie seems to think (though from photos perhaps that's not such a wild guess! :)). Although I had many swollen lymph nodes removed, none were affected, so there has been no spread into the rest of my body through the lymphatic system. I therefore had a course of radiotherapy but declined the standard 5-year back-up of hormonal therapy as my prognosis is so good. I attend check ups six monthly now, and will be monitored for between 5-10 years. But, sincerely, I have never felt fitter in my life and, apart from having a good reason now to excuse my lack of cleavage and sometimes the need to explain my "dent" and cute scar, the whole episode just seems a bit more of a fairy-tale than anything else... well, a bad dream, then! :))
YOU AND YOUR FRIEND ARE IN MY THOUGHTS, HEART AND PRAYERS... We might be said to have "an illness", but it doesn't, in fact, have US!!!
Sorry, this is a total blah... it's very late and I'm totally whacked, but let me know if I can be of further help XXXXXXXXXXXX LOVE LOVE LOVE Kancer-free Kate xx
The good doctors said three months, maybe less; the good Lord said don't hear those schmucs I am giving you many many many years yet.
She has been in total remision since with not one of those dumb cells.
The Lord talked.
Georg
Love,
ET
Sheila
Please refer her to (or search for) my tribute poem, "You're a Survivor," posted here at Author's Den to share with her. The poem was written after last year's Susan G. Komen for the Cure Pasta Party in Houston and will be auctioned off, along with my books and a breast cancer ribbon afghan, this October at the Pasta Party to raise money for a cure.
My sixth grade teacher is a breast cancer survivor. Her surgery was in 1999 and 9 years later, she is cancer free.
My best to her; she's in my prayers.
Jill
I pray for your friend but thank God it's not you, hugs
hugs
Fee
Much Love & Blessing Of Support & Information To Empower Your Friend
Embraced ~ Embrassé
Vickie
here is a link to CYBER KNIFE videos:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cyber+knife&search_type=&aq=f
that I almost cried when I read your words
of comfort for her that you have colored
orange.
Harold M. Nash
John
I'm not a survivor but know many who are. (Was an Air Force Medic, and saw my share of combatants on the field of cancer; some won; some didn't; but the ones who won - Oh, my goodness. Nothing stronger than a woman determined to beat the enemy - and succeeding!)
Pray the best for you and your friend, Bernice, a loving, compassionate reach and embrace in your words, and in the hope you're bringing her. Well done.
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
Hugs,
Marcia