Thank you for sharing in the Celebrating-Survivorship community and supporting our dedication to improving quality of life for cancer survivors!
There are hundreds of different side effects that cancer survivors may experience as a result of treatment, including hair loss, fatigue, and significant weight fluctuation. But, most cancer treatment focuses heavily on surviving the disease and not on equipping patients to deal with the temporary and permanent side effects of treatment.
Many survivors are embarrassed or ashamed to ask for help, feeling that they should just be grateful to be alive, so they do not talk to others about the side effects or challenges they may be experiencing. By contributing your experience on Celebrating-Survivorship.com you made a difference in helping others through this difficult and confusing time and to allow those who have lived through the experience the opportunity to pass on what they have learned.
Karen, 66 | Phoenix, AZ
I'm a 25 year breast cancer survivor. I am here today because I had a routine mammogram at age 42. I encourage ALL women to get routine mammograms. It saved my life!
Suzy | Houston, TX
I am a “baby boomer workaholic”. I run my own public relations agency in Houston, and I wasn’t prepared for the physical and emotional wallop that came following my breast cancer diagnosis. After undergoing a lumpectomy, lymph node removal surgery and six weeks of radiation, I felt spent. But the tipping point came after I started a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) treatment, which caused my estrogen levels to decrease. I was robbed of all of my estrogen. I had this horrible depression and normally I’m the happiest person in the world.
I immediately experienced a depression I had never known—stopped eating and lost a tremendous amount of weight. At 4’10” and 94lbs my entire life –I didn’t have much to lose. But my weight steadily declined along with my strength and that was tough. It was even tougher because my life needed to remain ‘business as usual’-- I didn’t want my clients or employees to know I was undergoing treatment –I didn’t want them to know I had cancer-- as I was certain they wouldn’t understand and I believed they would think I couldn’t get the job done. So, I continued working and traveling at the same pace.
Passing out at a client appointment and a day in the ER at M.D. Anderson was absolutely the tipping point. It served as my wake-up call. Changes needed to be made. And needed to be made fast. I was dying. Literally. My weight was down to 78lbs and I had no strength to move. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I saw a ghost—a ghost that was so boney and dried out-- I was embarrassed. Immediate action needed to be taken.
In addition to stopping the SERM treatment (with my doctor’s approval), I knew the best way to get out of the funk was to stay focused on the future, my career and to improve my diet. I worked my way through it and just started eating well. Food was important—I ate a lot to get my strength back up. I had juice daily and filled up on fresh fruits and vegetables. Within two months, I began feeling better. I am absolutely perfect now. I look great, I’m healthy and I no longer suffer from depression. I have time to relax. Once or twice a year I go to a yoga retreat, sit quietly and contemplate life. The diagnosis has made me think maybe there is something else I need to do in life.
Kris, 36 | Sellersville, PA
I was lucky enough to have a mother-in-law that I really loved. She was such a special woman who cared for everyone around her – a meal for the new mom across the street, thermos of coffee for the next door neighbor who worked late shift, the odd bill that was mysteriously paid. We lost her to breast cancer. It is such a tragedy because I firmly believe she could have survived if she had gotten treatment. She was terrified of doctors and knew that something was very wrong but did not seek help. I found out too late. I believe that if she had found a community like this, it would have given her the courage to get the treatment she needed. Thank you for creating this site!
Surviving-Since-2010
I had been going to a very well respected and recommended breast surgeon diligently every 6 months for years. It was strange that I felt a small lump under my arm and close to my right breast and scheduled a special visit for the Dr. to examine it. She assured me not to worry that she’s seen this type of cyst throughout her entire career and it was absolutely benign. She kept telling me it was nothing--for four years—and I listened, until it got so big that I couldn’t shave under my arm without nicking the lump and bleeding.
So on January 5, 2010 I had elective surgery to remove the lump. Then I received that dreaded call…the one from the Dr. saying, “this is the worst mistake, I’ve ever made. The lump was malignant and we need to go back in and remove the lymph nodes to ensure it hasn’t spread.” The next week, I was under the knife once again and found myself thrown into a new world I had no experience with at all. The dreaded word I had feared all my life—with every routine mammogram, ultrasound and mammogram. CANCER!
Becky, 61 | Meridianville, AL
I went in for a routine pap and well-woman check. My tests showed I was extremely anemic. My doc said not to worry--just needed more iron. What he didn't seem to think about was that I had had a hysterectomy 3 years earlier so obviously I was bleeding somewhere. Since I was only 48, I was told a colonoscopy wasn't needed because I wasn't old enough. Finally I got someone to listen and had my colonoscopy--Stage III colon cancer. Had a resection and did 6 months of chemo. Now 11 years cancer-free. I knew something was wrong and had to fight the system to get what I needed. My advice to everyone is "listen to your body and don't let anyone else tell you that nothing is wrong. You are your best advocate!"
sweetpea, 44 | Savannah
I'm sp glad I tried this product