4 years ago today.

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everyminute
everyminute Member Posts: 1,805
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

I was diagnosed 4 years ago today - though initiallly we did not know it was stage 3.  The info came in waves, probably best that way - though at the time it was very frustrating and scary.

Life is good.

I'm healthy and strong.  Most have you have seen my posts.  I run, I work with survivors, I do my best to spread the word about doing what we CAN do - exercise, eating well, healthy body weight.

My daughters were 16 and 13 when I was diagnosed.  My oldest turns 20 in a few months, just got her associates degree, is working, enaged and just got a cute little apartment with her fiance.

My youngest is graduating high school a year early in a few weeks, just turned 17 and going to Hartwick College with a heafty scholarship (and help from us) in September.

I have wonderful friends and a good job AND long hair.

I think most people around me forget or would like to forget it even happened.  I am not going to lie - I don't forget.  I don't live in fear but I live with fear.  But I live.large.everyday. 

My heart breaks for the girls we have lost and their families, including my cousin. And my heart soars when I see my sistahs out there living their lives, loving their kids, taking life on.

Be well, my friends. 

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  • lanagraves
    lanagraves Member Posts: 596
    edited June 2012

    Awesome post! Congrats on four years! I am sooo looking forward to the day I can say the same!!!!

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  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited June 2012

    One of the wonderful things I have experienced on this part of my life's journey is watching you grow and take your life to a new and exciting place.  I am blown away by what you have accomplished.

    Just such an important message to those behind us in this journey.....live healthy, live large, and be better than ever.

    I am so very proud of you, Mary!!!

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  • everyminute
    everyminute Member Posts: 1,805
    edited June 2012

    Thank you, Claire. You are pretty damn remarkable yourself!!!

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited June 2012

    Unstoppable.

    So proud of you, my friend!!!

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited June 2012
    This is terrific! Keep it up  ---- All of you!! 
     
    Your Mods 
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  • oaktownmom
    oaktownmom Member Posts: 114
    edited June 2012

    Congratulations Mary - that's such great news!!

     Lucy

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  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited June 2012

    Awesome!

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  • lostinmo
    lostinmo Member Posts: 922
    edited June 2012

     That's awesome! Thanks you so much for sharing.  Can't wait til I'm saying the same. Have a long ways to go but I'll get there.

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  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited June 2012

    mary,

    You are living life large...and on your terms.  kicking cancers butt to the curb.  thank you for all you do; all the encouragement amd COURAGE does help others.  recovery is so important after a breast cancer diagnosis. .....thinking all those marathons must really help in that department.  Cool  but maybe, most of all, the fearless jump back into "life" after cancer is the most important **

    ^^^^^5

    best*

    diana

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  • lkc
    lkc Member Posts: 1,203
    edited June 2012

    Mary,

    I am so proud of you. You have shown such determination and grace in your journey.

    Congratulations on this mega milestome. life just gets sweeter.

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

    Congratulations Mary!  I hope you have many, many more years.

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  • MaxineO
    MaxineO Member Posts: 555
    edited June 2012

    Mary, you are an amazing woman and such an inspiration!! Keep up the good work, and keep living LARGE!!

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited June 2012

    LOVE it Mary!  I just wish I had your drive and determination!  I go up and down with the fitness routine and it frustrates me to no end.  I used to be a "gymaholic" many years ago but can't seem to stick to much of anything lately.  You give me inspiration.  Keep up the good work!

    Love,

    Sharon 

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  • Josiekat
    Josiekat Member Posts: 85
    edited June 2012

    Thank you for this inspiring post. Four years seems like a world away, but you make it seem doable. Looking forward to finishing treatment and getting back on the exercise train I jumped off of. Thanks again...for the hope.

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  • faithfulheart
    faithfulheart Member Posts: 544
    edited June 2012

    Thank you Mary,

    You have always been an inspiration to me!!!! God Bless, you are amazing..........

     I wish I had your running discipline!!! I am working on it!

    Thank you for posting........

    Steph 

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited June 2012

    awesome Mary! Onward and upward!

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  • katyand4
    katyand4 Member Posts: 171
    edited June 2012

    Fantastic news....thanks for posting and wishing you continued good health.

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  • Beverly11
    Beverly11 Member Posts: 443
    edited June 2012

    You rock Mary!  I can't even keep track of how many marathons you have run.   What is the current total?  LONG may you forever RUN my friend. 

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  • everyminute
    everyminute Member Posts: 1,805
    edited June 2012

    Bev!  PA was number 7 and definately not my best one - but I survived.

     Working on speed with a coach and a team now - got my 5k time down to 23:31 and am hoping to get under 23 this season (even if it is just 22:59!)

    Happy National Running Day - which is ironically the day after I was diagnosed.

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  • kathleen1966
    kathleen1966 Member Posts: 793
    edited June 2012

    I love your comment, "I don't live in fear but I live with fear".  That should be LIVE in all caps for you! You are living soo well!  And you are an inspiration to me. I have never been much of a runner.  I have tried.  In my twenties, I could barely move after running my knees hurt soo bad and I was very thin at the time.  I tried it again about three months ago, and though my knees didn't hurt, I got shin splints this time. I am researching good shoes at the moment.  Keep posting! 

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  • caaclark
    caaclark Member Posts: 936
    edited June 2012

    Congratulations, Mary!!!!

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  • TectonicShift
    TectonicShift Member Posts: 752
    edited November 2018

    Thank you, Mary. You are inspiring!!

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  • Momof2inME
    Momof2inME Member Posts: 683
    edited June 2012

    You are an inspiration!!! Thank you for sharing!!

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  • JacquelineG
    JacquelineG Member Posts: 282
    edited June 2012

    "I don't live in fear but I live with fear."

    I'm going to steal that one, Mary! You and I were diagnosed just a couple of days apart, and sometimes I feel that I could have written exactly the words you write, but you, without a doubt, are my guiding light. I think of you anytime i get down, scared or lazy. You are MY inspiration!

     thank you, and here's to many many multiples of 4 years to you!!! Love you Mary!!!

    jackie

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  • dood
    dood Member Posts: 17
    edited June 2012

    Every Minute, you are an inspiration!!  I will be three years out on July 31st.  I have not been very active this site, but I do think of you every time I am too lazy or too tired to exercise or even walk.  I always say, if Every Minute can do it I can.  You have such a great attitude and you look fantastic. 

    My feet hurt alot, am now on Aromasin, but I can not believe you can run like you do and not hurt in your joints.  Have you found that the more you exercise the less you hurt?  Or do you just grin and bear it??

    What is the secret to exercising without pain the joints?  

    It is always good to hear from you.

    Dood

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  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited June 2012

    Dood.....I will take a stab at this one.  I think it's more a question of doing what it takes, although there sometimes are limits.  I exercised all the way through chemo, and cycled during weekends.  I just wasn't going to have my body tank, and in fact, kept my core fitness.  So I didn't have to rebuild in quite the same way that a lot of women have to.

    I am a cyclist, and usually hurting from something.  Most recently, strained quads, not to mention the part that contacts the bicycle seat.  I have been doing about 100 miles per week of cycling recently, as training for summer events.  I am doing a 65 mile event on Saturday.

    My body doesn't feel right if I don't exercise.  Not to mention the sad things that happen to my brain!!

    I think it's a question of buidling up strength and endurance and  I would say that I am fitter than ever (even if not quite at the level of other cycling club members).  The great news is that I can really train this summer as healed from last summer's badly banged up ankle.  Wow, did that hurt!!!

    So I would offer cycling as an alternative.....or kayaking, if you need to be seated.  Walking is also great exercise.  It appears to be three hours per week of brisk walking that makes the difference.

    The final thing I would offer is to focus on what you CAN do, not what you can't.  I remember cycling during chemo and realizing that 90% of women my age can't do this, and I was doing AC!!!  For me, that represented a major victory.  Good luck. - Claire

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  • everyminute
    everyminute Member Posts: 1,805
    edited June 2012

    Thank you all for the kind words.  You have no idea how much it means to be able to help motivate someone else.  It is the only positive that I can take out of this whole mess! 

    I do have some joint pain - but I do think it is better when I exercise.  My feet do hurt when I first wake up but as I move, it seems to get better. 

    I am of the mind set that exercise AND arimidex are saving my life (hopefully) so just keep moving forward. I don't have any excrutiating pain but I do get creaky - but I am also getting old...which is good!

    xoxo

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