Here's to my Journey!

Yes, Tonya is spot on about doctoring the low cut tops. My mastectomy left me a bit concave, but all I really cared about was being cancer free. I must admit that even though I was relatively brave during the whole mastectomy, it was only because I was a complete sook the first time I was diagnosed in 2002 and I was a bit better prepared emotionally the second time around. I guess having teenage girls distracted me from focusing on myself too much, and I found that if they saw me happy, they were happy too. Also, my husband is the eternal optimist and he was as solid as a rock for me. He let me cry when I'd had enough, but then got me back on track and focusing on things other than my treatment. He has always said (during both lots of treatment) that breast cancer was just a bump in the road of our lives and not the sole focus of our lives. I had 14 lymph nodes removed in 2002 (they weren't doing the sentinel node back then) and I had some numbness and pain from that. I started swimming in a heated pool and that got the movement back in my shoulder fairly quickly. I hate being a patient and like to get back to 'normal' as soon as possible. I think taking one day at a time is a great way to go. I asked my oncologist right from the beginning to just tell me the basics and I trusted her to worry about all the medical stuff while I just focused on eating well, being kind to myself and enjoying life. I also started a gratitude diary to keep me focused on the good things. When I was feeling a bit down one day after my first diagnosis, and old Italian neighbour told me ' Don't die while you're still alive Jane!' That really resonated with me and kind of became my mantra. Sending you lots of positive vibes Helen. x Jane