Friends of Bill W. with Cancer

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LivingIt
LivingIt Member Posts: 710
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

Hey Gals,

My name is Zoh and I'm 24 yrs sober. I thought we could use this thread to talk about sobriety and using the 12 steps while living with Cancer.

I am doing well with my meds. I use them ALOT for pain, but have not had the strange mental compulsion about using them. I don't pray like I should and I am unable to to get to meetings sometimes because I am sick.

Altogether Im glad I'm doing this journey sober and strong instead of the alternative. I now have two diseased that I won't outlive and alchoholism is by far my favorite.

I live in Midway KY.

How about you?

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  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited May 2010

    Zoh: I am Melinda, 21 years sober and dong my best to practice these principles in all of my affairs.

    I get frustrated analyzing every pain pill or everytime I take any meds for anxiety. (I usually only take them on scan days).

    I am trying to use the steps in cleaning up some relationships that need tending to. Alcoholism gave me great tools-or should I say sobriety has given me tools (the drinking was a crappy tool), for strengthening my spiritual bond and for daily living. Cancer has given me a chance to really exercise those skills.

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  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited May 2010

    Elizabeth here.  i'm 25 years sober.  The phrase that keep me going in the beginning was "the result was nil until we let go absolutely" from the preamble.  I had to let go absolutely--that's how my Higher Power was able to break thru my fear.  I cannot tell you how much i have been helped on this journey--every where I have turned there is help.  Learning to do things one tiny step at a time really helped.  When I had my biopsy, i called a friend in the program who also went thru breast cancer, and i asked her what i should read up on and her suggestion was to just enjoy myself and show up for the results of my biopsy.  And than I would know what my next step would be.  and my next step was to find a breast surgeon and show up for that.  And I just loved the breast surgeon, my case was not complicated at all, and I had my surgery date and showed up for surgery.   If I ever wondered if there was a god, i know now that there is.  I do have to say that I have had wonderful doctors all along the way--i realize that there are many women here on the boards who really have to search and research and go thru so much fact-finding becuase doctors give them terrible advise.  I can't believe how nice everyone has been in this process--the receptionists, the phlebotamisy (they draw blooed), xray, doc, onc, rad--I walked away from each appointment being amazed how nice people were to me.

    Lizzie 

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  • ICanDoThis
    ICanDoThis Member Posts: 1,473
    edited May 2010

    Hi, I'm Sue

    Today is my 26th anniversary, and I am so incredibly grateful to be sober, and NED.

    My initial diagnosis and treatment wasn't all that pleasant (never find a lump in your breast at the end of October), but I was lucky enough to have manageable disease, and a good outcome.

    Breast cancer gave me the gift of reconnecting with my program. We moved to a new city about 40 miles away from our home groups (I'm actually married 22 years to a man I met in program), and we just never got around to connecting, and gradually stopped driving to our old meetings.

    Once I was diagnosed, I was right back at my home group, dragging up a chair, and being needy.

    So, I am now making an effort to try out different meetings in our local area, and have found some meetings that I really like. And I have some phone #s. I was invited to speak last night, and was interested to find out what was important to me.

    I will always support Friends of Bill's -- wherever I find them.

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  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited May 2010

    Happy Birthday, Sue!!  My home meeting has been so helpful--i was getting really lax about going meetings and had tried to start going more regularly but when i got my diagnosis i knew that i would not make it through without the program.  so i got my diagnosis one year ago today and went to my home meeting that night--and when I walked in i saw a gal who went thru breast cancer 2 or 3 years ago and i told her about my diagnosis (IDC) and she enthusiastically and cheerfully said, 'that's the best kind of cancer is you are going to have cancer".  Oh my god.  did that help.  That was god talking to me of course.  Tonight i am secretarying my home meeting and I have to pick a topic and tonight's topic is going to be GRATITUDE.  

    Lizzie 

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  • LivingIt
    LivingIt Member Posts: 710
    edited May 2010

    It feels great to be connected to other sober women with this silly disease. I definitely had to head "We had to let go absolutley." I feel like I am holding on to lots of things with clawed hands. I want to run my family and my household the way I always have, but now I cant. I  have to nap. Im foggy from pain meds, I wont be here for a normal life span and I have to find a way to trust HP again.

    I was dx in Dec with stage IV at age 42 with a 2 year old kid and a 9 year old.

    Tonight at my meeting someone mentioned turing everything over to God and the thought occured to me that my HP has had an off year and needs a designated driver. I mean- why should I let HP be in charge of my daughters life, my son's grieving process, my husbands career when he cant even get My recovery from cancer straight?? I mean shees!!

    So I know what relation ship needs mending anyway. Im not angry at HP that I know of , I just don't feel like I should give him the keys right now.

    Zoh

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  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited May 2010

    Zoh, It's ok to be angry at HP.  You are in my prayers today.

    Lizzie 

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  • LivingIt
    LivingIt Member Posts: 710
    edited May 2010

    Thanks Lizzie!

    I lived in Mill Valley for a couple of years in my wild 20s. How is the Bay Area treating you?

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  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited May 2010

    the Bay Area is treating me well--i've lived in San Francisco for years and of course i get out of the city every chance i get.  I have spent much time in Mill Valley and hiking Mt. Tam.  What a wonderful place (Mill Valley) to have lived, especially as a young person!  I had a really nice day today--read a bit from the bright orange As Bill See's It (page 135 was really good for me to read) and went down the Peninsula and gave my horse a big bath.  hope you are doing well today.

    Lizzie 

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