Seventeen years with stage 4 today

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  • heartnsoul76
    heartnsoul76 Posts: 1,648
    edited December 2010

    WOW! Bumping up this inspirational thread!

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  • chainsawz
    chainsawz Posts: 3,473
    edited December 2010

    Yes - this is an amazing thread and a ray of sunshine and hope into my world every time I read it.....

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  • jan508
    jan508 Posts: 1,330
    edited December 2010

    Wow!  Thanks for bumping this up so we all can read it....again and again!

    What an inspiration!!!

    Jan

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  • BaseballFan
    BaseballFan Posts: 859
    edited December 2010

    Boy o boy....I sure needed this today!  Thanks for bumping!!!!

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  • lago
    lago Posts: 17,186
    edited December 2010

    OMG Congratulations !!!! Yes you should shout out in Boston. Guess you've never been to a Red Sox vs Yankees game in Fenway Park. Stayed my (_!_).

    (I'm a Boston area homie living in Chicago).

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  • lorrhaw
    lorrhaw Posts: 751
    edited December 2010

    Thanks for bumping this.  We can all use the inspiration and hope.  We should always keep this thread in the active topics!

    Lorraine

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  • Frapp
    Frapp Posts: 1,987
    edited December 2010

    Thank you Kathy!!!!  I am at my 1 year anniversary and have a scan scheduled for tomorrow, so I've been feeling a bit scared and very very old.  Thank you for lifting my spirits and showing me the other side of the coin.  

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  • KSkier
    KSkier Posts: 467
    edited December 2010

    Looking forward to hearing from Kathy in just one short month!

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  • jenilo
    jenilo Posts: 27
    edited December 2010
    Oh my god you are my hero. You have seriously cheered me up an you are a true inspiration to all breast cancer survivors . Smile Well done you, never give up the fight as your true testomny to this .
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  • Lowrider54
    Lowrider54 Posts: 2,721
    edited December 2010

    I cannot wait for her post in January!  I just think it is so wonderful that she takes the time to let us all know that there is life, and lots of it, after a mets dx!  Being only 3 months out from my dx last year, this gave me such a lift and wow, I am still here!  Woo Hoo!

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  • SunnyCoconut
    SunnyCoconut Posts: 350
    edited December 2010

    Wow.  I really needed to read this today.  I am a year out, just found another lump and waiting on biopsy results.  This is so encouraging.  Thank you so much!! 

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  • suzyq47
    suzyq47 Posts: 34
    edited December 2010

    You are the hope that I have been looking for !!!  Thank for for sharing your awesome day with me.. I have been in tears for days....I have been looking for hope.. and you just gave it ..freely !! God Bless you !! Today is your day !! Live it up !!

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  • Bruburn
    Bruburn Posts: 286
    edited December 2010

    I keep a copy of Red Devil on my bedside table to remind me to be strong!  Your post has just given me the strength to get through the holidays!  Thank you for your empowering messaged and reminding us that we can survive!

    My joyous moment is a last minute vacation with my husband to LasVegas...we took a helicopter ride into the canyon and had more fun on the trip than we've had in ten years!

    Bruburn 

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  • BonnieK
    BonnieK Posts: 655
    edited December 2010

    You are such a true inspiration!!!  I've not seen your posts before, nor did I believe it was possible to live a substance filled life with stage 4 BC.  You are living proof and I thank you so much for sharing your experiences.  Now I need to know the title(s) of your books.....

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  • 4everhopeful
    4everhopeful Posts: 71
    edited December 2010

    for those of you who have not read Kathy's story in the NY Times.....here's the link.  http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/27/health/27case.html?_r=1.

    I keep it close and read it over & over.  She is definitely a true inspiration to all of us.

    I'm so looking forward to her post in January celebrating her 18th year survival!

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  • Honeybear
    Honeybear Posts: 554
    edited December 2010

    I am so thrilled to find this post.  What an inspiration you are, Kathy!  Thank you for sharing your amazing story.

    I found joy this year in losing some of the fear, finding calm even in the midst of tremendous pain, and feeling confident on the low days that the sun will come out again, the pain will go away, and better days are always just around the corner.  I am joyous to be a couple weeks away from my 5th anniversary with my dear husband.  And, my 4 dogs bring me joy throughout every day because even if I just run to the store for a minute, they are thrilled to see me every time!  What blessings!

    Thanks for being you and reminding us of the joy!  I pray you are here to write your January post for many, many more years.

    Peace and hugs,

    Jennifer

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  • Jelson
    Jelson Posts: 1,535
    edited December 2010

    Still time to put her books on your xmas list. That is what I am going to do!

    http://www.katherinerussellrich.com/

    Julie E

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  • Frapp
    Frapp Posts: 1,987
    edited December 2010

    Bumping this up for those in need.

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  • Rusalka888
    Rusalka888 Posts: 3
    edited February 2011

    Hello,

    My name is deborah, and I was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer with 6 months to a year to live. That was 2 years ago, and I am looking pretty well, and it seems my cancer isn't advancing very much. How do you live the psychological ups and downs of knowing you're going to die soon, or maybe not, how do you make plans? I have a feeling I'm still going to be around for a while. I made my will and paid for my funeral, but now what? I am battling anxiety  in a big way, a new thing for me, and feel as though I don;t know how I should live. Thank you for any encouragement you can give me.

    Warm regards,

    Deborah

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  • shooshoo23
    shooshoo23 Posts: 96
    edited February 2011

    I don't even know what to say! I was diagnosed with stage 1 in October and I've only had to do 4 rounds of chemo. They have been really hard and I also struggle with panic disorder that within the past few days feels like it's going to do me in. I am so grateful for your post and I so hope you know what a beautiful, wonderful inspiration you are!!

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  • celticsgirl143
    celticsgirl143 Posts: 30
    edited February 2011

    thank you Kathy, for giving me hope

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  • Fighter_34
    Fighter_34 Posts: 834
    edited February 2011

    You just made me smile sweetie! Take care!!!

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  • Rusalka888
    Rusalka888 Posts: 3
    edited February 2011

    Thank you Nerida, for your inspirational thoughts, it is so good to have a soul sister in austraila! One thing I have done lately is taking up chanting. It has made my inner self stronger, and just spending 20minutes where I just work to calm my mind is a big investment. It's true I can look back and say I have had a rich life, but I am now working on looking forward and saying I am as whole and as inspired as I was before the cancer, what can I do now. To keep on living fully is my challenge. Sometimes it would seem so easy to climb into bed and never want to come out again. I find it interesting that other women have noted panic attacks and anxiety issues. No one in the medical field seems to be addressing that, although it is treated with medication. But I would rather get to the root of things so I can move on. Much love and encouragement to you, dear Nerida and all the other women on the forum.

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  • renee2010
    renee2010 Posts: 93
    edited February 2011

    Congradulations and thank you for sharing it is inspiring for all of us.Here is to many many more years.

    God bless

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  • cal4305y
    cal4305y Posts: 4
    edited February 2011

    I just listened to your NPR interview.  Thank you for sharing.  May we all have a hopeful year!

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  • lrr4993
    lrr4993 Posts: 937
    edited February 2011

    What a wonderful post!  Congrats on your successful management of this disease. I can't help but think that your positive attitude is part of your success.

    My joy in the last year:  learning to appreciate life more when I realized I am not guaranteed any additional days (a tough pill for this relatively young person to swallow) and learning to not get bogged with issues I cannot control (a tough pill for this control freak to swallow).

                               

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  • aniko
    aniko Posts: 2
    edited February 2011

    You are an inspiration not just because of your 17 year survival but also because of your positive attitude and lovely post!!! Made my day. I was first diagnosed with breast cancer stage 2 in 2001. I had a lumpectomy, chemo, radiation and continued to work. Then I was happily cancer free for nine years. Last May it recurred, had a masectomy, today finished my 8th and last round of chemo and will continue indefinately on Herceptin. But unfortanately it has spread to my lungs. I haven't met anyone yet who has had met lung cancer who is alive for over 5 years so I was happy to read your post. I am hoping there are more of us out there. At any rate, I am still working full time. Am feeling good. Have planned to go to Europe this summer with my youngest son - Spain, France and Italy. Can't wait. And ... I'm going in for a massive reduction to my double d remaining breast. It does bug me to be so lopsided and I don't like wearing a double D prosthesis. So I'm looking very forward to going braless for the first time since I was 14!!!

     thanks again!

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  • imbell
    imbell Posts: 659
    edited February 2011

    My Hero. When I get anxious I think about the 3 family members that have died since my diagnosis. One was 35. None from cancer. My DH has lived with heart disease for 24 years. Thought we'd lost him in December. Just too mean to die. It's not easy when you feel like crap but when I am out of the house and busy I don't think about my diagnosis. Worrying about it 24/7 would make life not worth living. Of course, being 5 months out of chemo makes it easier to be up.

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  • FrancaB
    FrancaB Posts: 12
    edited February 2011

    Congratulations......I needed to read your post, I've been in such a dark place the last couple of days and feeling that I would never come back into the light.  Your words have given me hope to keep on fighting and not to give up.   It is so easy to get tired after battling for so long....but there is too much to live for.  Life does have beauty even in its worst moments.  It's nice not to feel so alone and isolated.   I am new to this discussion group, but I can tell that it will be immensely helpful to me.  I've felt so alone for such a long time.  I've been battling this for over 5 years , first colon cancer, then breast. Now fighting mets to my skull and liver....may have lost a few battles, but definitely not the war! 

    Wishing you and anyone who reads these messages, peace and happiness.  Franca.

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  • pee
    pee Posts: 456
    edited February 2011

    Glad to read this post again.  It is so filled with hope and excitement!  Thanks for bumping it up Heartandsoul.

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