What a difference a year makes

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  • Karina121293
    Karina121293 Member Posts: 370
    edited January 2012

    Pip, they are already on p.2 .

  • pip57
    pip57 Member Posts: 12,401
    edited January 2012

    Thanks Karina.  I totally missed an entire page!  Your transformation was an amazing one too!

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2012

    Keep going ladies, it gets easier, really!

  • MaxineO
    MaxineO Member Posts: 555
    edited January 2012

    You ladies all look gorgeous, Karina, quiche, pip and claire. Thank you for sharing. BC really knocks us down, but it's so good to see each one of you have bounced back. Talk about tough women!  I love this thread.

  • quiche
    quiche Member Posts: 262
    edited January 2012

    Susan: Tink><Tink . . . Happy Cancerversary!!!

    Clare: Good for you showing the upside (or should I say the "upright" side) of treatment. And a makeover at Nordstroms . . . beautiful! What a treat.

    Pip: I chuckled at how similar our treatment pics are. We could be sisters . . . huh, I guess in a sense, we are :-)

  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited January 2012

    Oh wow! In that first pic you look like you really need a hug and a teddy bear. You poor sweetie.

    Now you look ready to kick some butt, all over the place. 

  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited January 2012

    Quiche, I agree. There have been stretches when I wasn't up to much, but when I am OK, I try to take full advantage. 

  • beth1965
    beth1965 Member Posts: 455
    edited January 2012

    Thank-you soooo much for posting this i just was told a few days ago i have BC and have been able to smile since. I definately smiled when i saw this post you are very beautiful and inspiring i cannot tell you how much seeing this helped me.

  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited January 2012

    Beth, welcome to the club nobody wants to be a member of.

  • beth1965
    beth1965 Member Posts: 455
    edited January 2012

    Thank-you momine that is a very good way of putting it. I hope to see a happy healthy photo of you on here one day.

  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited January 2012

    Thanks Beth. I finished chemo almost 6 weeks ago. My hair is about 1/8 of an inch of peach fuzz, LOL. Like Jenny I had no problem shaving it or being bald, but now I REALLY wannit back. It is strange. I have another 4 weeks of rads, and then I can hopefully start re-establishing some kind of normal.

    You got your dx just a few days ago, so you must still be in shock. Where are you in the process? 

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2012

    Oh, Beth, I am exactly, precisely one year ahead of you - January 18, 2011. I remember this time last year so clearly. Hang on, my friend. The ride is rough, but you WILL COME THROUGH!

    My tumors were a total of 13cm, and here I am, still standing. And in many ways, better than ever.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2012
  • SusanHG
    SusanHG Member Posts: 655
    edited January 2012

    thank you quiche for the toast!  now onto year 2 post-BC....

  • KaSA
    KaSA Member Posts: 6
    edited January 2012

    Thankyou for your inspiration. It has given me hope for the months ahead - still have 5 cycles of chemo and radiation to go.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2012

    Jenny - you look awesome -!!!  I took some photos of myself and my daughter when my peach fuzz on my head was just beginning to appear.  God I didn't realize how weird shape of head I had !!  You are beautiful -- believe it!!

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2012

    I danced atop the chemo fence and ended up with "just" BMX and tamoxifen.  Although I didn't have the dramatic public outward physical transformation that many of you have...I just had to comment that I absolutely love this thread!!  It's been a little over a year for me too and I think it's great for women just starting this tough BC journey to see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  During treatment vs. a year later pics would make an awesome book for a BC center.

  • beth1965
    beth1965 Member Posts: 455
    edited January 2012

    Momine -it must be a great feeling to know that you are at least closer to normal feeling as you say. and exciting to see hair again. Please keep posting how you are coming along so i know when to look for your happy photo

    I have a 9cm tumor and am getting masectomy maybe x2 on feb. 2nd again things going very fast trying to learn lots in a very short period of time.

     windlass- That is something you being exactly one year ahead of me. It gives me hope that i may be able to think and feel as you do one year from now. i have to admit all i feel is scared right now not an a tiny bit of bravery in me at the moment as i said hopefully that changes.

    I wish strength to you all you all sound like such amazing woman i hope your alright

  • quiche
    quiche Member Posts: 262
    edited January 2012

    beth1965: I remember going through treatment and always putting on that strong facade. Halfway through chemo I started to become a real wimp and then someone said (I think it was on this board somewhere) "You don't have to be strong, you just have to show up". I repeated that to myself many times.

  • Layla2525
    Layla2525 Member Posts: 827
    edited January 2012

    Oh Jenny you look like a different person & as you said bc changes us from the inside out,physically & emotionally. You look so great after only one yr. You are the pic of health and hope you always will be healthy & happy. Thx so much for being that brave to share with us.

  • beth1965
    beth1965 Member Posts: 455
    edited January 2012

    quiche i really like that saying and am quite sure i will also be repeating it to myself many times from this day forward. Thanks so much for sharing.  I guess we all have breakdown points when we just cannot pull strength from anywhere.

  • DivineMrsM
    DivineMrsM Member Posts: 9,620
    edited January 2012

    quiche, wow, I never heard that saying, but I so agree with it.  It's actually a philosophy that I'v applied to many different things in my life, and yet I never knew it could be explained so simply yet eloquently like that.  

  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited January 2012

    Beth, how come they are not doing chemo before surgery, given the size of the tumor? Have you asked?

    Quiche, that is a good saying. At this point I am dragging my butt to radiation every day, and I feel pretty accomplished for showing up. 

  • barbiecorn
    barbiecorn Member Posts: 437
    edited January 2012

    Lemondrop - I am having Double Mass next week - Feb. 1st....I am not having reconstruction...at least not now...how did you feel when you saw yourself without breasts...I am trying to imagine and I want to be well for my daughter's bridal shower in April and wedding in June...any positive feedback would be appreciated. 

  • barbiecorn
    barbiecorn Member Posts: 437
    edited January 2012

    Jenny - you look terrific!!!! 

  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited January 2012

    Thanks Layla and Barbiecorn!  You didn't ask me Barbie but I thought I'd chime in, if you don't mind :)  I cried the first time I saw myself with no boobs after surgery, it was my first shower and I was alone, it just all came to a head.  It doesn't really bother me anymore, I've got use to it but I think you have to morn the loss of the girls.  I hope your surgery goes well.

  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited January 2012

    Barbie, It was hard for me to look in the beginning. Not because the boobs were gone, but because the scars looked pretty wild at first (much better now). It was also hard for me to touch the area. It felt weird (the nerves are all messed up), but about 3 months out, I was finally able to do it. Oddly, I like how I look without boobs. I realize that it is not a fashionable look or anything, but I really think I look fine, and it is such a relief to be rid of the ticking time bombs. 

  • KaSA
    KaSA Member Posts: 6
    edited January 2012

    Quiche, thanks for that saying - I have also become a wimp and need to "show up" tomorrow.

  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited January 2012

    I agree Momine, I also like me with no boobs...it's weird but true :)

  • alphaomega
    alphaomega Member Posts: 5
    edited January 2012

    You look so pretty!  I'm scared - my lumpectomy is tomorrow. A lot of uncertainty ahead of me. My younger sister just got diagnosed with BC two months ago. These last few weeks seem surreal. Your smile will be my inspiration - thank you.

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