The joy of Oral chemo

Once again you have proven to me how courageous you are.  It is very hard to put to words how impressed I am with your strength without "patronising" you.  You know how confident, strong, courageous, stubborn and all those things you are.  I like to think that I am as well.  Every word you say will help someone.  Every story you tell will help someone.  For those of us willing to take this step, this is what will help others in the future.  Yes it might be scarey for EBC girls to read however it is reality.  I will now tell you a story.  I met a lady over 5 years ago at my first diagnosis.  She had had EBC 8 years earlier and was leading a wonderful life within the BC "community" and beyond. A great ambassador helping out without other charities as well.  (A mad dragonboater too)  She showed us "new"  girls that there was life to be had.  Two years later she was diagnosed with EBC in her other breast and had a mastectomy.  She got over this very quickly and even attended the Brisbane International Breast Cancer Convention a few weeks later.  Life went on - extremely busy for this lady.  Always going somewhere with family and doing everything for others.  Well for a couple of months she was a "bit off" - not her old self.  Then a couple of weeks ago she was diagnosed with bone mets.  She is presently going through tests to see how intense it is.  This has really knocked me as she is my age and I have used her as a "benchmark".  Every day I use as a bonus knowing that one day this could be me. (My family get really annoyed if I happen to say anything like this as they think my BC is gone forever!)  Unfortunately  all ABC's live "with a time bomb. Some days that "time bomb" gets lower and heavier but for the rest of the time I try and live "in denial" to get through.  I am off to have my first mammo and ultrasound next month (18 months since my  diagnosis of secondaries) and I am scared stiff on one hand and am armed with my fighting gear with the other.  Amanda, I feel so sad that you feel that your youth and vigour has been robbed.  Your wisdom far outweighs your physical incapacities.  I love your posts and you inspire me to be stronger than ever.  There are so many stories and I love hearing them and also relating the ones I know. :)XLeonie