Cancer Survivors

**phesina** · 03-09-2011, 09:36 PM

Karen, I am a breast cancer survivor.. for more than 25 years now! I'm working on putting together an encouraging message for Jonah.

Pat

**kokopup** · 03-09-2011, 11:52 PM

Karen, I am a Cancer Survivor, this May will be six years. I will try to put together some encouraging words relating to my experience. I know this has got to be upsetting to a child. Bill

**Karen** · 03-10-2011, 12:02 AM

Thank you both! Jonas is much like my beloved in that he is a worrier, always has been, so I am sure all words of encouragement will help him a lot!

**pomtzu** · 03-10-2011, 07:55 AM

Karen..

My best friend when I was growing up and until we went our separate ways after school and kids and 3000 miles between us ----- her mother was a breast cancer survivor. I really don't have enough info to write anything about her experience, other than I know she was diagnosed in her 50's (and that was back in the 60's) - had a mastectomy - and went on to live to be 94 years young. Yes - YOUNG. She was still driving her car in her 80's, traveled the world extensively with her daughter (who was a travel agent), and lived on her own till the time of her passing, in the same house that I spent so many of my teenage days in - her daughter and I. I was probably closer to this lady than I was to my own mother.

**Karen** · 03-15-2011, 06:17 PM

Thanks, Pom, I will add that. Also bumping this up to remind others.

**Alysser** · 03-15-2011, 07:07 PM

I know the feeling all too well.

In 2005, on Halloween to be exact, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was in 7th grade at the time, and I didn't know any better. I was convinced she was as good as dead. My parents didn't even admit it until a few weeks later when I saw a pill bottle and it said "cancer" on it with my mom's name. I guess they didn't want to scare us. I don't really know much of the details, but she survived and is doing very well! Of course, right after she was cured of Breast Cancer she had skin cancer. It was the less-aggressive kind and the dermatologist removed it right away, so all was good with that, but it sure was a double whammy to her.

I do remember that she lost her hair, and wore a wig. She had radiation and chemo. She also had lymph nodes removed in her left arm, and some surgery on her skull. I don't remember what it was called. We don't like talking about it alot.

**Karen** · 03-15-2011, 07:29 PM

Do you have a picture of you and your mom now that maybe you could email me, and I'll include that in what I give to Jonas and Anna?

**phesina** · 03-15-2011, 07:52 PM

Karen, here is my message for Jonah. Please let me know if I should revise any of it, before passing it on to the 6-year-old boy.. I'm not used to communicating with young children seriously without being alarming. I don't think I have a picture of myself to include.. I'll see if I can find one and send it along if I do.

Dear Jonah, I was diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer more than 25 years ago! I was 40 years old. It was diagnosed on April 1, 1985. (I asked my surgeon, "This isn't an April Fool's joke, is it?" No, it wasn't..)

Back then I lived in Cambridge, near where you live, so I had all the excellent medical facilities and experts around Boston working with me that your mother has working with her.

Mine was caught very early, before it had started to spread. I had several tests and got second and third opinions before we came up with the course of treatment. In mid-May I had surgery to remove the affected breast.

I had no other treatment, and since then I have had no further recurrence! I have a physical exam and a mammogram every year, and if I ever have any questions or concerns, I call my doctor who will see me right away if needed.

So you see, people can be diagnosed with cancer and be treated and do very well. And in the years since I had mine, many advances have been made in the treatment of cancer. Please don't worry.. A diagnosis of cancer is NOT an automatic death sentence!

I am sure that since your mother is a nurse who works with cancer patients herself, she knows just what is going on with herself and all the different treatments possible, and has chosen the best course of action with the finest doctors and medical staff available.

I am sending my prayers and good wishes for your mother that her treatment goes well, and for you and Anna and your father and all your family and friends who love your mother so much.

God bless you all. Love and healing energies to you!

,

Pat Murray, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, 65 years old now, with my seven cats: Sydney, Poppy, Elmer, Bob, Sparkler, Lavinia, and Poppaea Sabina Eugenia