Ode to My Breast

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emamei
emamei Member Posts: 146
in Breast Cancer #1
I found out this week that despite a lumpectomy, chemo and surgery to further clear margins, I must now have a mastectomy to remove my breast - June 1, 2011 is the date. I wrote this poem last night in an effort to come to terms with it all.

Ode to my breast...

We first met when I was nine
Small at first and then quite fine
From 32A to a 38C
We’ve hand a good life you and me

You have helped define me
Refine me and filled amply

You have known love and affection,
Felt gentle touches and motion
Have had your fair share of caresses and kisses
Felt the warm sun at summer beaches

You have been dependable, indispensable,
Reliable and humble

You helped me feed three hungry babies
Always prepared to appease
Because of you they grew strong,
We’ve been together for so long

You and I have been through so much
I will miss you and you will miss my husband’s touch

We have had thirty-three years of life together
I so wish things would have turned out better
How could we have possibly known
What inside you had silently grown.

Something so stealthy and ominous
A presence so great to come between us

A painful little lump appeared
Out of nowhere it sneered
Taking us both by surprise
“It has to come out” we were advised

And so it began 9 months ago
The fight of all fights long and slow

Surgeries, infections and chemotherapy,
Hoping to survive our new reality
We have fought long and hard to save you
You’re a part of me and we love you
I never wanted to lose you my breast
But I’m afraid it is for the best
You have given it your all my lass
Your time has now come to pass

I will continue our fight dear friend
I will miss you ‘till I reach my end

One day we’ll be reunited
It’s not our fault we’ve been blighted
Remember the good times we’ve had
I cry for you and am deeply sad

Life won’t be the same without you
For some time to come I will feel blue
I’ve been told you’re replaceable
Perhaps, but there’s only one real you

We have some time to say goodbye
Three more weeks for you and I

I know you don’t want to leave me
I don’t want you to go believe me
In order for me to live,
It is your life you must give

I’m sorry it must end this way,
I wish there was more I could say,
I wish there was more we could do for you
But, I’m afraid I must bid you adieu.

Maria A. May 11, 2011
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Comments

  • butterflylvr
    butterflylvr Member Posts: 944
    #2
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    Very Nice...
    Maria you have such a way with words. I said goodbye to both my girls on Feb. 28th. You will do fine my dear, but I am sorry you had to come to this decision.

    Hugs,
    Lorrie
  • emamei
    emamei Member Posts: 146
    #3
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    butterflylvr said:

    Very Nice...
    Maria you have such a way with words. I said goodbye to both my girls on Feb. 28th. You will do fine my dear, but I am sorry you had to come to this decision.

    Hugs,
    Lorrie

    Thanks
    Thanks Lorrie.

    Can you tell me what the recovery time was like for you and what I should expect?
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #4
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    emamei said:

    Thanks
    Thanks Lorrie.

    Can you tell me what the recovery time was like for you and what I should expect?

    great poem liked how you
    great poem liked how you still loved the breast but not the cancer
  • jessiesmom1
    jessiesmom1 Member Posts: 915 Member
    #5
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    Your poem
    I am sitting here with tears rolling down my face. What a wonderful piece of writing. You captured exactly how I feel. I had my mastectomy in 2/2010 and 16 rounds of chemo followed. My tissue expander exchange surgery is scheduled for June 13th. Thank you for the poetry.

    IRENE
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #6
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    jessiesmom1 said:

    Your poem
    I am sitting here with tears rolling down my face. What a wonderful piece of writing. You captured exactly how I feel. I had my mastectomy in 2/2010 and 16 rounds of chemo followed. My tissue expander exchange surgery is scheduled for June 13th. Thank you for the poetry.

    IRENE

    Maria, so appropriate
    very tasteful and suitable for the occasion. I so enjoyed your poem. Kudos!

    Strength and Courage, dear Sister.

    Vicki Sam
  • butterflylvr
    butterflylvr Member Posts: 944
    #7
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    emamei said:

    Thanks
    Thanks Lorrie.

    Can you tell me what the recovery time was like for you and what I should expect?

    Maria, I am about 2 and a
    Maria, I am about 2 and a half months post Op and I still feel numbness all over my chest area. This is normal since many nerves were severed. For a few weeks after surgery just under your armpit, down the side of your torso and even the back of your shoulder will feel numb, again this is normal and will subside as time goes by. I had tissue expanders put in right after my mastectomy so I can start immediate reconstruction. Some of my odd feelings might be from them. I was lucky and didn't feel much pain, but those darn drains are a pain in the butt. I had mine in for three weeks. You will do fine sweetie... Keep us posted.

    Lorrie
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #8
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    VickiSam said:

    Maria, so appropriate
    very tasteful and suitable for the occasion. I so enjoyed your poem. Kudos!

    Strength and Courage, dear Sister.

    Vicki Sam

    Wonderful poem
    Good luck with your surgery. I am glad that you are at peace with your decision.
  • gagee
    gagee Member Posts: 332
    #9
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    Great Poem
    You are quite the writer. I wish I could write a tenth of what you put into words. I made a copy and will keep it with my other cancer papers. I think I will need to read it from time to time. It was sad but so perfect. Thank You for it.

    Hugs and Prayers for You,
    Diana
  • csr771
    csr771 Member Posts: 117
    #10
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    Poem
    I read your poem and tears ran down my face. I gave up my breast January 21. I did not have the option of a lumpectomy because there were too many areas of DCIS in the breast. I had immediate reconstruction (DIE Flap). I am four months out from surgery and still cry for my breast--not for the cancer, but for that part of me which no longer exists. It helps that I had immediate reconstruction. This is not to say that this is the right choice or option for everyone. You will have good days and bad days, but I am prayerful that in time, it will get better. Blesings.
  • Mitzi333
    Mitzi333 Member Posts: 511 Member
    #11
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    csr771 said:

    Poem
    I read your poem and tears ran down my face. I gave up my breast January 21. I did not have the option of a lumpectomy because there were too many areas of DCIS in the breast. I had immediate reconstruction (DIE Flap). I am four months out from surgery and still cry for my breast--not for the cancer, but for that part of me which no longer exists. It helps that I had immediate reconstruction. This is not to say that this is the right choice or option for everyone. You will have good days and bad days, but I am prayerful that in time, it will get better. Blesings.

    Love your poem!!!
    Thanks for sharing.... Perfectly stated. My sentiments exactly!!!

    Hugs~
    Mitzi ;0)
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #12
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    Mitzi333 said:

    Love your poem!!!
    Thanks for sharing.... Perfectly stated. My sentiments exactly!!!

    Hugs~
    Mitzi ;0)

    I love all of your poems
    I love all of your poems Maria. You do write beautifully. Thank you for sharing this with your pink sisters.


    All the best of luck to you.


    ♥ Noel
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    #13
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    Thank you for sharing this,
    Thank you for sharing this, it is lovely. I gave up my breasts on Jan 14th, for me the only choice was one or both. I chose to be more aggressive.

    I think you are absolutely right to take the time to say goodbye. In my opinion, it makes everything about the mastectomy (both emotional and physical) a little easier. I made sure my husband had the chance to say goodbye too.

    Sending you strength and peace,

    Linda
  • Starzna
    Starzna Member Posts: 5
    #14
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    Thank you...
    Thank you for this beautiful poem. It really blessed me.
  • Corinna11
    Corinna11 Member Posts: 75
    #15
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    Starzna said:

    Thank you...
    Thank you for this beautiful poem. It really blessed me.

    My breasts were so good to
    My breasts were so good to my 3 babies... I hate to loose them next week :( I guess I never really appreciated them enough. I hope GOD will give me some perfect ones in Paradise.. =)
  • emamei
    emamei Member Posts: 146
    #16
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    Corinna11 said:

    My breasts were so good to
    My breasts were so good to my 3 babies... I hate to loose them next week :( I guess I never really appreciated them enough. I hope GOD will give me some perfect ones in Paradise.. =)

    Thinking of you...
    I'll be thinking of you and wishing you strength and peace as you go through your surgery.
  • wndringmnd
    wndringmnd Member Posts: 44
    #17
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    beautiful writing
    Maria you have a gift for writing. God blass. I had my double Mastectomy 4 weeks ago and while it was hard both physically and emotionally I relied on my doctors to care for me. I told them I was not ready to see them yet. When it was time for them to check the wound site, they told me to look left, right or up...they didn't make me do it. The drains were a pain in the butt, but the nurses took care of them until you have to do it when you get home.
    good luck and keep the writing going, it is beautiful
    Marilyn
  • ssmith37
    ssmith37 Member Posts: 22
    #18
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    Absolutely beautiful! Thank
    Absolutely beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing these most heartfelt words with us. I will keep you in my prayers.
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #19
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    ssmith37 said:

    Absolutely beautiful! Thank
    Absolutely beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing these most heartfelt words with us. I will keep you in my prayers.

    Thank you for sharing this
    Thank you for sharing this wonderful poem with us! You are very talented.


    Hugs, Debby
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #20
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    gagee said:

    Great Poem
    You are quite the writer. I wish I could write a tenth of what you put into words. I made a copy and will keep it with my other cancer papers. I think I will need to read it from time to time. It was sad but so perfect. Thank You for it.

    Hugs and Prayers for You,
    Diana

    Your poem made me cry. It
    Your poem made me cry. It is so heartfelt. I will be praying for you.


    Hugs, Leeza
  • dbhadra
    dbhadra Member Posts: 344 Member
    #21
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    DebbyM said:

    Thank you for sharing this
    Thank you for sharing this wonderful poem with us! You are very talented.


    Hugs, Debby

    wonderful, wonderful poem!
    Thank you so much for sharing it with us!

    Laura

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