Resilience: What Personal Strengths Do You Bring To Breast Cancer?

When I was diagnosed I thought "Are you kidding me god".
When I got my first appt at COH with a breast surgeon and she said to get the best margins, I would likely need a mastectomy, I again asked God the same thing. Yet thus Dr explained. She would send me to oncology and go from there. Chemo possibly to shrink the tumor so my breast surgeon may have another choice.
My breast tumor only shrunk 1/2 with 13 rounds of chemo.
I also took a genetic test and had Brca2+. I knew my entire breast needed to go.
I have never been married, not with anyone now, and know with 2 barbie boobs a fellow will need to be very special to get together with me.
I had donated platelets at the Red Cross for 25 years, 600 units. I loved helping others all those years. I loved the Red Cross Team. June of 2021 was my last donation. Cancer in July. I think ivwas more sad I could not donate then getting cancer. I press on because I got v 3cblood and one platelet donation during my breast cancer journey. I cried with each knowing others were doing for me what I used to do.

I started my BC journey with two helpful skills, one based on knowledge and the other on heart. I had gone back to college at 41 in a medically related field. It has helped immensely in understanding treatment options and reading research. I also know that “significant” results from the research is the standard that physicians determine whether a treatment can be depended on to do what it says it will do. It’s a statistical number. They are absolutely correct in using a standard that guarantees success most often. But I am not a statistic. I may not fall within the standard deviation. So I try to include my unique history, functioning, and symptoms when making a decision about which treatment to accept.

And my heart. One of my children had a medical issue starting about 30 years ago. It’s heart wrenching when your child has a problem that you can’t solve. That experience has made me more resilient in other tough situations. Before retiring, I worked with a very difficult person. Looking back, I should have changed jobs. But the one thing that kept me sane, was when situations with her became most difficult I’d think, “This is so minor compared to my child’s issue. If you think you can break me, you just don’t know how strong I am.”

I do the best I can to make the right decision about treatment options and remind myself that life has thrown other obstacles at me and I am strong.

When I was first diagnosed with BC, I told my doctor that it wasn’t the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I got a very strange look from her, but it’s true. I knew they had found it early and it could be treated. Life is full of challenges and we will truly surprise ourselves from time to time with how strong we are. I decided early on to put my faith in my health care team and let them figure out what was best for me. It’s been almost 8 years since my diagnosis and so far, I’m fine.

That is a very beautiful pathway--where you gave to others and received the same. In some way giving and receiving are connected--you knew how much the donors cared, because you cared in the same way. Thank you!

I'm glad to hear you are doing so well! Your experience is why I asked--life is full of all kinds of joy and sorrow. I've never wanted to be defined by cancer. In the past 8 years or so, do you feel you've changed or not so much?

hi tricot--this wowed me--your sense of perspective in particular. And also you understanding that knowledge is empowering. I found this particularly useful--"So I try to include my unique history, functioning, and symptoms when making a decision about which treatment to accept." I feel like I've been trying to do this but without being truly aware of the importance. Thank you!

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Siento que practicar meditación me ayudó mucho a aceptar el Cáncer, así también el desapego, y la vida espiritual
Los sucesos de la vida vienen a enseñarnos algo, y tenemos que aprender lo que la vida nos enseña para poder trascender y seguir adelante 🤍

I agree with you about meditation. I started when I was 21 after an early health crisis and 50 years later am still enjoying it--both for the minutes spent away from my daily concerns and the overall fact. If you feel like answering--what style of meditation do you like?

I think I’ve become a more understanding person. I think I felt if I lived a healthy lifestyle I wouldn’t have to worry about getting sick. I now realize that there are things beyond our control that are nobody’s fault, they just happen randomly and we need to accept help to get better. I got a tattoo of a pink ribbon to remind me of this.

How cool that that tattoo is a positive reminder!