Three years!
Three years ago yesterday, I got the devastating call. I spent the next month in a daze. I never thought I would be here today. You can look at good survival statistics or listen to survivors, but you always think you'll be the exception, the one that doesn't make it.
Three years have taught me not to fear the unknown. To take chances I never would have dared to take. To try new things because I may not get another chance. To hug my kids more often. Not to sweat the little things.
I still fear cancer. I still hate cancer with every fiber of my being. I still don't imagine life many years out and hardly allow myself to consider the concept of retirement. But every day I work to not let it have any more control of my life than it has already taken. And I strive to enjoy the little things. Because that is TRULY what life is all about.
Comments
-
Congratulations Maxine! Lovely post! So happy for you! -
Congrats!!!!! I think everyday gets better and it's true that we should not let cancer take any more from us than it already has.
It's two years this month for me and I'm only having my exchange surgery now. I'll be happy to ring in 2014 with all the active treatments behind me.
-
Congratulations Maxine! These are the stories that keep me going every day! I am so happy for your post and the way you embrace life!
-
Congrats! Thanks for sharing and giving hope!
-
MaxineO, I wish you the best as you enter Year Four.
I understand what you mean about long(er)-term planning. It still feels too emotionally risky to me. But it's shifted from impossible to unlikely, and that's progress! -
Thanks Maxine for sharing your inspiring post!
To many, many more celebrations.
(((The Mods))) -
Glad to hear that you are doing well. -
Congratulations, Maxine - what a lovely post. -
Maxine ( my favorite aunties name ) thanks for the uplifting post. I am struggling, like many, with the unknown. Just finished chemo, need to relax & quit obsessing on my scary path report. -
Congrats! Couldn't have said it better myself
-
Congrats Maxine! -
Maxine.....so thrilled that life is wonderful. Welcome to the "better than ever" club! - Claire -
Maxine...thank you for sharing with us your celebration of three years! Yeah!! Thankful you found the path that brings life back after BC!! -
I wish they would hurry up and make a like button on this site....well said Maxine and congrats on 3 years! Wishing you many more years of health and happiness. -
Thank you all so much ladies. It is the wonderful support from this site that has kept me going in the difficult days. -
Congrats, Maxine! There are many many more to come
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