Secondary Survivor Stories

Firsly I am so pleased that a nurse has led you to this site.  The word is getting out there.  This online network is a very supportive and informative site.  There are always women willing to help with any queries that anyone has.  There is never a silly question and there is never any judgements.  My story started in Oct 2006 and it was the shock of my life but life goes on.  My first thoughts were to organise my funeral.  However I had lots of good reasons to live.  I had a few surgeries to remove my breast cancer (lumpectomies) then  radiation then hormone therapy.  I returned to fulltime work and a year after my diagnosis I married my long-term partner.  What a celebration - instead of a funeral.  I figured that  as I was still alive  I would enjoy the celebration with all my family and friends - so it was Huge.  Life continued on and I enjoyed a long-awaited granddaughter.  I intended to get as much out of life as I could and set myself and my husband a 5 year plan of "good things" to achieve each year.  I got to 4 years and was re-diagnosed last December 2010.  Well I have been on a roller-coaster ride again with surgery, radiation, chemo and hormone treatment.  However how bad it was and still is, I enjoy each day as much as I can.  This is what it is about.  When I go out I look a million dollars (or as good as I can) and I look for enjoyment and pleasure each day.  It doesn't matter that my joints are aching like hell and it is difficult to sit and stand, I am living the best I can.  I set myself goals and always have "things" to look forward to.  People keep telling me that I am doing too much.  (I am doing what I can and loving what I can)  I live day to day with a future in sight and that is the only way to do it.  I get frustrated when I can't do things that I had previously found so easy to do but there is always tomorrow and maybe less pain.  When I was first diagnosed back in 2006, I was lucky to attend an information session and one of the ladies spoke of being a 20 year survivor.  She is now 25 years past bc and is heavily involved with bc activities.  She was and still is my inspiration.  My advice to you (a great friend to have) is to be a great set of ears.  This will allow you to support your friend in many ways.  If you are able to go with her to doctors appointments you will be able to "take it in" and make the decision process easier for her with "all the information on the table" when she has more time to digest it. I could go on and on but there will be other ladies online that will offer more good advice.  take care.  XLeonie