We have come so far

pamtriggs
pamtriggs Member Posts: 386
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I've just been re-reading some early posts from September/October/November. Really interesting some of us who were newcomers then are old hands now & dishing out advice to anyone whether they want it or not. But what comes through is how much we have all learned through our own experience & others. I truly believe knowledge is power and our sisterhood makes us even stronger. So my thanks to all of you who have given me support, strength, knowledge and power but most of all unconditional love. I love you all. Pam

Comments

  • tiger
    tiger Member Posts: 277
    #2
    Pam, are you trying to make me cry? You know how emotional I am!! Very true sentiments though, I feel like I am part of a huge family of nannys, sisters and aunts. It is a wonderful feeling. We are a regular bunch of 'Anne Landers' on here, I know sometimes I give more advice than was asked for, but at times too it is my way of venting off to someone who understands. Lord knows my husband doesnt, If i am down in the dumps or quiet, he thinks he did something wrong, so takes it personally then either gets snappy or quiet and walks around on eggshells. I have explained time and again to him, but I guess being a man he just does not comprehend. Ok, here I go again!!

    Ditto for me too!!
    Love Tiger xo
  • nancys
    nancys Member Posts: 323
    #3
    Hello Pam, I have looked back and read some of my early posts and thought how naive I was in the beginning. This site really grounded me during that time. I was able to talk to others going through the exact same thing, and it really helps to know that someone truly understands your emotions and fears. Our family loves us and they pray for us and help whenever they can, but they have not walked in our shoes. I too, feel part of a sisterhood of fantastic human beings, each of us praying for one another and gaining strength from one another. God bless us all. Nancy
  • cherdaetwyler
    cherdaetwyler Member Posts: 156
    #4
    Hi all,
    While I personally am still less than half way through me current series of adventures
    in this unwanted trek, I have gained so much from my correspondence here.

    I am sure that many of the things I learned here are what has made my chemo so uneventful
    so far.
    God bless you all, cher
  • catherine
    catherine Member Posts: 18
    #5
    Hi, dear sisters, Catherine here. I am so touched after reading Pam's post. I got many medical knowledge, encouragement and precious feelings from this site. I guess I am the only oriental here. But all of your friendships really makes me feel so great, so comfortable and I can feel at ease to talk with any one of you. In Taiwan, we do not have a wonderful site like this, consequently, breast cancer patients do not have a channel to vent away their mood or get useful information or obtain supports like we did. How fortunately I am. I encouraged my friends who also got BC to come to this site, they are all afraid of their English proficiency is not good enough to talk with you.
    You support me in many ways, especially in spiritual, that's the most important part in fighting with cancer. I love you all. God bless you all. Love & hugs from Catherine
  • jane38
    jane38 Member Posts: 123
    #6
    catherine said:

    Hi, dear sisters, Catherine here. I am so touched after reading Pam's post. I got many medical knowledge, encouragement and precious feelings from this site. I guess I am the only oriental here. But all of your friendships really makes me feel so great, so comfortable and I can feel at ease to talk with any one of you. In Taiwan, we do not have a wonderful site like this, consequently, breast cancer patients do not have a channel to vent away their mood or get useful information or obtain supports like we did. How fortunately I am. I encouraged my friends who also got BC to come to this site, they are all afraid of their English proficiency is not good enough to talk with you.
    You support me in many ways, especially in spiritual, that's the most important part in fighting with cancer. I love you all. God bless you all. Love & hugs from Catherine

    Catherine, tell your friends to not be concerned about their proficiency in English. I think it is remarkable that anyone can speak and understand two different languages. Unfortunately, I can only speak English, unless you want to call Texan a separate language, which sometimes it does fall in that category. I am a medical transcriptionist and have to listen to foreign doctors all the time. They truly amaze me. I really do hope your friends will try to come on this site, if not to participate to at least read the questions, comments and answers. We may be able to help them. If there is one good thing that breast cancer does, it brings all women of all races, religions, and beliefs together. We are a sisterhood! Jane
  • catherine
    catherine Member Posts: 18
    #7
    jane38 said:

    Catherine, tell your friends to not be concerned about their proficiency in English. I think it is remarkable that anyone can speak and understand two different languages. Unfortunately, I can only speak English, unless you want to call Texan a separate language, which sometimes it does fall in that category. I am a medical transcriptionist and have to listen to foreign doctors all the time. They truly amaze me. I really do hope your friends will try to come on this site, if not to participate to at least read the questions, comments and answers. We may be able to help them. If there is one good thing that breast cancer does, it brings all women of all races, religions, and beliefs together. We are a sisterhood! Jane

    Dear Jane: I'll keep encouraging my friends to come to this site. I always told them "All the ladies in the site are fabulous, brave and excellent!! You will get lots from them." I cherish the feelings you give me so much, I'm no more afraid of breast cancer as long as I have the friendship from each one of you. Praise the Lord! Knowing all of you here really makes me feel so good, so lucky!!

    Love & hugs from Catherine
  • mjdp2
    mjdp2 Member Posts: 133
    #8
    catherine said:

    Hi, dear sisters, Catherine here. I am so touched after reading Pam's post. I got many medical knowledge, encouragement and precious feelings from this site. I guess I am the only oriental here. But all of your friendships really makes me feel so great, so comfortable and I can feel at ease to talk with any one of you. In Taiwan, we do not have a wonderful site like this, consequently, breast cancer patients do not have a channel to vent away their mood or get useful information or obtain supports like we did. How fortunately I am. I encouraged my friends who also got BC to come to this site, they are all afraid of their English proficiency is not good enough to talk with you.
    You support me in many ways, especially in spiritual, that's the most important part in fighting with cancer. I love you all. God bless you all. Love & hugs from Catherine

    Hi Catherine, Guess what, you aren't the only oriental here. I am a third generation chinese-american.
    Studies have shown that we API's (Asian Pacific Islanders) have the same increased risk of breast cancer
    as the general population we assimilate into. Being diagnosed with breast cancer has made me an advocate
    for early detection and awareness among my cultural group. Though the incidence of breast cancer is lower in the API group
    the mortality rate is unfortunately higher due to later detection. Please continue to spread awareness
    to your friends and have them practice monthly self exams. Gung Hay Fat Choy (I was born in the year of the
    Tiger). In His Love, Margaret
  • catherine
    catherine Member Posts: 18
    #9
    mjdp2 said:

    Hi Catherine, Guess what, you aren't the only oriental here. I am a third generation chinese-american.
    Studies have shown that we API's (Asian Pacific Islanders) have the same increased risk of breast cancer
    as the general population we assimilate into. Being diagnosed with breast cancer has made me an advocate
    for early detection and awareness among my cultural group. Though the incidence of breast cancer is lower in the API group
    the mortality rate is unfortunately higher due to later detection. Please continue to spread awareness
    to your friends and have them practice monthly self exams. Gung Hay Fat Choy (I was born in the year of the
    Tiger). In His Love, Margaret

    Hi Margaret: It's so great to receive your message! I got breast cancer at the age of 28, now I'm 33 years old. It has been 5 years after I got BC. If you have time, you may go to my personal web page to see my story. I have suffered so much in these 5 years, I accepted 2 times of surgeries(one for breast, one for brain), chemos and radiation. I have mets on my bone and brain. The brain is no problem now for the surgery is very successful. My present trouble is on bone. I use Chinese herbs to control it, really works! The tumors on my bone are shrinking!
    I usually tell my friends to practice monthly self-exams but 100% of them don't know the exact way. I told them: OK! If you don't know how to do it, please go to see a doctor at least half a year or once a year. They don't want either! They think they are "single", they don't want doctors to "touch" their breast. Here in Taiwan, the BC patients are younger and younger. In my hospital, the youngest patient is only 17 years old, a high school student.
    How about your treatment? I always think, "Statistics mean nothing, only ourselves can decide how long we live. If you think you can survive, then you can." The friendships here make me feel stronger, all the ladies here are so excellent!
    Are your senior generation from Hong Kong? The pronunciation of the blessings you wrote to me "Gung Hay Fat Choy" is Kwangtungnese. I was born in the year of "goat", my horoscope is "Leo"(7/29/1967).

    Let's keep in touch. Love & hugs from Catherine
  • mjdp2
    mjdp2 Member Posts: 133
    #10
    catherine said:

    Hi Margaret: It's so great to receive your message! I got breast cancer at the age of 28, now I'm 33 years old. It has been 5 years after I got BC. If you have time, you may go to my personal web page to see my story. I have suffered so much in these 5 years, I accepted 2 times of surgeries(one for breast, one for brain), chemos and radiation. I have mets on my bone and brain. The brain is no problem now for the surgery is very successful. My present trouble is on bone. I use Chinese herbs to control it, really works! The tumors on my bone are shrinking!
    I usually tell my friends to practice monthly self-exams but 100% of them don't know the exact way. I told them: OK! If you don't know how to do it, please go to see a doctor at least half a year or once a year. They don't want either! They think they are "single", they don't want doctors to "touch" their breast. Here in Taiwan, the BC patients are younger and younger. In my hospital, the youngest patient is only 17 years old, a high school student.
    How about your treatment? I always think, "Statistics mean nothing, only ourselves can decide how long we live. If you think you can survive, then you can." The friendships here make me feel stronger, all the ladies here are so excellent!
    Are your senior generation from Hong Kong? The pronunciation of the blessings you wrote to me "Gung Hay Fat Choy" is Kwangtungnese. I was born in the year of "goat", my horoscope is "Leo"(7/29/1967).

    Let's keep in touch. Love & hugs from Catherine

    Hi Catherine,
    My grandparents are from Canton but I am a native Californian. I attend a church that is composed of
    mainly people from Taiwan. I spoke at our church's women's retreat in 1999 and passed out brochures on how to do BSE -breast
    self exams. The brochures had chinese translations with diagrams. I can send some to you and you can make copies
    to give to your friends. I got them from Am. Cancer Soc. San Francisco office.
    What chinese herbs are you taking? I am on Tamoxifen so have been told to watch my soy intake
    as that may make the Tamoxifen less effective. I had 3 cm invasive tumor so had lumpectomy, AC for 4 times
    then Taxol which I had to stop after one treatment because of severe neuropathy and pain. Had 35
    treatments of radiation including 4 boosts. Finished all that in 1/99 and have been on Tamoxifen since.
    My check up are 4 months apart and I have mammogram once a year. If any of you ever come to So. Calif
    give me a call. We can go to the new Disney California Adventure. Love Margaret
  • catherine
    catherine Member Posts: 18
    #11
    mjdp2 said:

    Hi Catherine,
    My grandparents are from Canton but I am a native Californian. I attend a church that is composed of
    mainly people from Taiwan. I spoke at our church's women's retreat in 1999 and passed out brochures on how to do BSE -breast
    self exams. The brochures had chinese translations with diagrams. I can send some to you and you can make copies
    to give to your friends. I got them from Am. Cancer Soc. San Francisco office.
    What chinese herbs are you taking? I am on Tamoxifen so have been told to watch my soy intake
    as that may make the Tamoxifen less effective. I had 3 cm invasive tumor so had lumpectomy, AC for 4 times
    then Taxol which I had to stop after one treatment because of severe neuropathy and pain. Had 35
    treatments of radiation including 4 boosts. Finished all that in 1/99 and have been on Tamoxifen since.
    My check up are 4 months apart and I have mammogram once a year. If any of you ever come to So. Calif
    give me a call. We can go to the new Disney California Adventure. Love Margaret

    Hi Magaret: The Chinese herb I take now is a combination from many different kinds of herbs. There are 3 types: pills, powder and ointment(external use only, apply on the tumors on my bone). They are effective.
    I got many brochures regarding "How to monthly self exam--prevention for breast cancer" from hospital, I gave them to my friends, but they do not take the monthly self-exam. I will try my best to remind them to notice this disease.
    My eldest brother lives in L.A. California, I've been there twice. I like to go to the shopping mall, outlets, Univeral Studio and Disneyland. It's a wonderful place! The Disney Adventure you mentioned is brand new? It must have a lot of fun there. When I go to California next time, I'll contact you!
    I always think: Keep positive thinking and peaceful mind is the most powerful ways to get rid of cancer. Though we all have suffered so much, but this disease really makes us totally understand the real meaning of life. That makes us cherish everyday, every moment. If I didn't get BC, perhaps I still don't know how to make my life wonderful and meanfuling. Though I have recurrence twice, but I still believe I will survive, for God is always with us. He knows our fear and he has his ways to heal us.

    Love & hugs from Catherine
  • pamtriggs
    pamtriggs Member Posts: 386
    #12
    catherine said:

    Hi Margaret: It's so great to receive your message! I got breast cancer at the age of 28, now I'm 33 years old. It has been 5 years after I got BC. If you have time, you may go to my personal web page to see my story. I have suffered so much in these 5 years, I accepted 2 times of surgeries(one for breast, one for brain), chemos and radiation. I have mets on my bone and brain. The brain is no problem now for the surgery is very successful. My present trouble is on bone. I use Chinese herbs to control it, really works! The tumors on my bone are shrinking!
    I usually tell my friends to practice monthly self-exams but 100% of them don't know the exact way. I told them: OK! If you don't know how to do it, please go to see a doctor at least half a year or once a year. They don't want either! They think they are "single", they don't want doctors to "touch" their breast. Here in Taiwan, the BC patients are younger and younger. In my hospital, the youngest patient is only 17 years old, a high school student.
    How about your treatment? I always think, "Statistics mean nothing, only ourselves can decide how long we live. If you think you can survive, then you can." The friendships here make me feel stronger, all the ladies here are so excellent!
    Are your senior generation from Hong Kong? The pronunciation of the blessings you wrote to me "Gung Hay Fat Choy" is Kwangtungnese. I was born in the year of "goat", my horoscope is "Leo"(7/29/1967).

    Let's keep in touch. Love & hugs from Catherine

    Dear Catherine. I have been studying astrology (western) for 2 years now. If you would like me to I can do natal chart & interpretaion for you. I would need your time of day & place of birth to do this accurately. Let me have these if you want this done. SO glad you are feeling better now. Love to you. Pam

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