Re: Mastectomy on Moday, December 11-

[Guest guest]

- your response to Jan was wise and thoughtful and could

apply to many of us here. Thanks for being the special person that

you are.

Hugs!

Ellen

>

> Dear Jan, honey,

>

> Breast cancer is an extremely emotional roller coaster; don't let

anyone kid

> you about that. Even 2 1/2 years past surgery, I still

occasionally allow

> fear to hold me in its grip, only to shake it away, and realize I

can be in

> charge. There's the fact that you were diagnosed with cancer,

the tests, the

> surgical procedures (I had bilateral mastectomy at 46 years young

w/23 lymph

> nodes removed,) treatment to give you a little more insurance

against

> recurrence and learning to get through daily life after enduring

all of this, while

> trying to act normal for the ones around you who love you. You

think it could

> bring tears?

>

> Take it from a survivor: one step at a time, cry when you want

and get out

> all those tears, whether it be pain, fear or the image you are

seeing in the

> mirror each day that is so new to you. YOU are a survivor, Jan,

get it?

> Regardless of the road ahead of you, you have already been

through so much and

> you want to have time to mourn the loss of your breast(s). I

know it sounds

> absurd, but it was a part of who you were your whole life. I

sometimes

> forget what it was like to have breasts, except when I see

pictures once in a

> while, and yearn sometimes to get back to life with breasts; in

other words, to

> " pre-cancer " days, when things were simpler. Then I quickly

remember my

> insistence with my surgeon to " remove them, " my sacrifice to

hopefully ensuring

> my survivorship for many years to come. This acceptance didn't

happen

> overnight, Jan...it was a gradual thing for me, the more positive

I became and the

> harder I fought to remain healthy.

>

> Get through now, Jan...tomorrow will get better, and the day

after. Focus

> on " healing " , one little step at a time. Don't be so strong for

> everyone...it's Jan who needs the strength now...and we're all

here to get you through

> this journey. You'll see...you'll be amazed at what you can

accomplish when

> you're part of this team!

>

> Best,

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you, girlfriend! How are you doing?

Best,