What a difference a year makes
Comments
-
Pip, they are already on p.2 .
-
Thanks Karina. I totally missed an entire page! Your transformation was an amazing one too!
-
Keep going ladies, it gets easier, really!
-
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.
-
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 :-)
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Beth, welcome to the club nobody wants to be a member of.
-
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.
-
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?
-
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.
-
bump
-
thank you quiche for the toast! now onto year 2 post-BC....
-
Thankyou for your inspiration. It has given me hope for the months ahead - still have 5 cycles of chemo and radiation to go.
-
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!!
-
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.
-
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
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Jenny - you look terrific!!!!
-
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.
-
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.
-
Quiche, thanks for that saying - I have also become a wimp and need to "show up" tomorrow.
-
I agree Momine, I also like me with no boobs...it's weird but true
-
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.
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team