Forum Discussion
Celebrating Life
Birthdays.
Once one approaches 50 and beyond it is not something we often feel like celebrating.
However nothing like a breast cancer diagnosis to put that aging fear in a different light.
I recently celebrated by 53rd birthday. I feel I lost a year in the middle of that due to bc treatment. My 50th birthday I was a bit sad as I was in a job that broke me mentally and I realised I either needed to move on or suicide actually felt like a viable option
Well that is a wake up call.
My 51st birthday...I celebrated. I had a new job I loved with much less stress (and money, but so worth it) My husband and I did a huge ride on my birthday ...over 2000 km and travelled part of the great ocean road. It was fabulous. I was so happy and felt life was so happy again.
Ahhh. But life held more drama. My sister in law died from endometrial cancer the same week I found a breast lump. It was 3 months after that wonderful holiday.
So my 52nd birthday was intersting. I had just finished treatment. I was growing hair and I was planning on returning to work. I had gained a huge amount of weight...but I was so happy to be alive.
This year....it was simple. I family thing. Didn't matter. My thoughts were f...you cancer I'm still here. And I'm planning to be here for a long time. To see my sons launch into careers and find life partners. I hope to have grandchildren. I'm so lookimg forward to all that.
So when you have those bad moments about wrinkles, about grey hair and about how much cancer has taken from you. Just remember what cancer has given you. A reason to treasure all those moments. A reason to want to live, to dream , to fight. I didn't choose cancer but it has done that for me.
Life, celebrate....be grateful to have the opportunity to get wrinkles.
Kath
Photo....no makeup, after a few fed up tears about ongoing fatigue, and then just pulling it together and taking a pic...of my current post chemo hair and appreciating that I'm still here and I'm still winning.
Once one approaches 50 and beyond it is not something we often feel like celebrating.
However nothing like a breast cancer diagnosis to put that aging fear in a different light.
I recently celebrated by 53rd birthday. I feel I lost a year in the middle of that due to bc treatment. My 50th birthday I was a bit sad as I was in a job that broke me mentally and I realised I either needed to move on or suicide actually felt like a viable option
Well that is a wake up call.
My 51st birthday...I celebrated. I had a new job I loved with much less stress (and money, but so worth it) My husband and I did a huge ride on my birthday ...over 2000 km and travelled part of the great ocean road. It was fabulous. I was so happy and felt life was so happy again.
Ahhh. But life held more drama. My sister in law died from endometrial cancer the same week I found a breast lump. It was 3 months after that wonderful holiday.
So my 52nd birthday was intersting. I had just finished treatment. I was growing hair and I was planning on returning to work. I had gained a huge amount of weight...but I was so happy to be alive.
This year....it was simple. I family thing. Didn't matter. My thoughts were f...you cancer I'm still here. And I'm planning to be here for a long time. To see my sons launch into careers and find life partners. I hope to have grandchildren. I'm so lookimg forward to all that.
So when you have those bad moments about wrinkles, about grey hair and about how much cancer has taken from you. Just remember what cancer has given you. A reason to treasure all those moments. A reason to want to live, to dream , to fight. I didn't choose cancer but it has done that for me.
Life, celebrate....be grateful to have the opportunity to get wrinkles.
Kath
Photo....no makeup, after a few fed up tears about ongoing fatigue, and then just pulling it together and taking a pic...of my current post chemo hair and appreciating that I'm still here and I'm still winning.
16 Replies
- Dear @primek what shows in your photo and in your words when you write is what a truly beautiful human being you are - how lucky your family and friends are to have you in their lives as we are on this site. And @onemargie a beautiful woman is a beautiful woman hair doesn't change that . XOXO
- You look fantastic too Kath. Hang in there lovey I really hope you feel better soon. I feel very selfish and vulnerable at the same time as I had triple neg bc so don't need to take any post treatment meds like you take Kath and I feel so good heaps of energy and rarely have any osteo joint pains or hot flushes these days. But also aware I do t get to take the meds you take to prevent recurrence either ❤️ Margie.
- Love it! You really are an inspiration to me @primek xx
- Fantastic @onemargie
- So here's me 12 months ago with 2 rounds to go and then here's me sept 9 at my best friends wedding. Looking fabulous!! Got the girls in my boob tube to to hold the dress up
- @socoda awww ...big hug back. @Afraser yes ...wake up call ... @LMK74 No 53 isn't old and until treatment I didn't ever feel old. ..now just stiff but live in hope that will improve once letrozole treatment finishes...but it is livable and worth the downs to hopefully prevent any stray cells dividing. I just want my old energy back and live in hope that it will return if I keep at it and not give up.
