Beyond The Shock(R)

People die from car crashes, cancer, or even a common cold (depending on their health). The reason people are so positive is because YOU are NOT going to die from this. You have to find the fight inside you & use the love & support around you to kick some cancer ass. Without a positive attitude, the ass kicking is not as easy. Cancer & chemo may take your hair, possibly your toenails, & likely your breasts...but it doesn't have to take your life. You've got cancer...it doesn't have you.

It's scary, I realize. And you have every right to go through phases of sadness or anger or whatever else you feel. But in the end, it comes down to a battle. And cancer is a tricky little bugger, but this is a battle you will win! If ever you need support or just want to vent, know that people like me are here for you, too. Sending love your way!

Negativity will get you no where. Believe me. It's mind over matter, you stay positive, positive things will come your way. I guarntee it. It's the only way I have made it thru this battle thus far. I don't think about death and just like the other ladies said, we can all die at any time by any particular reason, its the not thinking about death that remains for me. I have too much to live for and my life is worth it to me. Cancer is a side block for most, now a days there are survivors with worse cases than ours. I know a woman who was diagnosed at stage 4 and it has spread to her stomach and lungs, and she's still going on and living life.

2007 I had the same diagnosis. My internist made a comment that, above all, was the most comforting. He said, "Well, thankfully, you have the --good-- kind of breast cancer." The fear I felt melted away. I went on to have a mastectomy (totally my choice) 4 rounds of chemo, and am on a hormone blocking drug for 5 years. I have my follow-up appointments, and do all I can to stay healthy. The rest I leave to God and pure luck.

Your breast cancer was diagnosed in a early stage and there are lots of answers for you with this type of finding. Yours is the most common and there are several kinds of breast cancer. March through your treatment like a warrior! You have many, many, sisters alive today who have had the same diagnosis.

rebekahalkhalifa@yahoo.com
Hello...
I wish you best Compliment of the season,with hope that you are physically and healthly alright,l do believe that this mail will reach in good condition. My name is Rebekah i saw your profile in www.beyondtheshock.com and admire it, i think we can make it together, please i would like you to contact me through my email address:( rebekahalkhalifa@yahoo.com ) i will tell you more about myself, also send you my photo,as soon as you contact me back, hopping for your lovely reply soonest,
Rebekah....

It's very hard to define symptoms for breast cancer. Everyone is different. Some women do not have any noticeable symptoms. Others notice a lump or a discharge from the nipple.

The safest course is to have your yearly exames, Know your own body, and know your family history. If you have concerns, discuss them with your doctor right away.

I am on my third year after chemo and radiation. Had stage 2 BC. I am on tamoxifen and Effexor. let me tell you the Effexor gives me more energy than I can handle. Had to get the dosage corrected a couple of times. I highly recommend it if you are tired all the time. Don't even feel like I went through radiation or chemo. I am blessed with the best oncologist in Georgia !

I had an unilateral mastectomy in 09. I also had a tissue expander. My drain tubes were in place for almost 2 weeks. They really were annoying! Didn't hurt, but just bothersome. I used a mastectomy cami and it was wonderful. It had a pouch in front to stuff the drain tubes in. I wore bagging, button down or zipper up tops and it was fine. The tissue expander is not fun though. It is a hard, implant like thing that has a magnet in it. The magnet is for the fills. The doc fills a syringe with saline and with the magnet guides the needle to the right spot and then he pokes your skin and into the expander. How long you have to have the expander in all depends on how big you want and how long it takes for you body to stretch. It didn't hurt at all except for the stretching of the muscles. My neck and back would ache for a few days. I was lucky, it only took 2 months before I was ready for the permanent implants. Over-all it isn't a horrible surgery as far as surgery goes. I have had worse for sure!! And I was only in the hospital 1 night too.

I had bilateral mastectomies 8 months ago. Stage I invasive but very small. Genetic testing negative. Sentinel Lymph node negative. Estrogen progesterone positive. Post menopausal. Age 56. I had tissue expanders for silicone gel implants for only 3 weeks before implant exchange. Drain tubes for almost the whole 3 weeks. They are annoying but not horrible. I wore my surgical bras and loose tops. Not a huge issue, really, but was ready for them to come out! The exchange surgery was quick and not a big deal. Went to opening home game of OU football 2 days after!! Made it thru half! Taking Arimidex ...no chemo needed. Doing fantastic'nnb

I was diagnosed dcis, stage 0, grade 2 and 3. Lumpectomy done and also had clear margins. My doctors have recommended radiation, and I began treatments last week. I also began taking Tamoxifen. I wish you well in your decision. my thought was fight it now, and hopefully I will never have to deal with this again.

That's a question for your doctor. You should get your doctor's opinion. My mom had the same thing, though, about 5 years ago. I think she opted out of radiation, but again, you have to get some second opinions. I think they (doctors) do radiation after a lumpectomy because they want to make sure they got all the abnormal cells, so nothing has a chance to spread later.