Starting a new chapter

That's a great story - thank you for posting it! It's great to know that even middle schoolers can be kind and understanding, lol! It's a tough age to teach. My hat's off to you for doing it.

Hi! Best of luck to all! Remember that the days are getting longer now, so more to enjoy each day!
I remember my radiation. I had had it all planned so that my radiation would occur during the summer, when i wasn't teaching. But, things happen, and my port turned over, so I had to have that fixed, and it delayed one of my chemo sessions, so my radiation was delayed, and ran into the first few weeks of school.
I had burned, and was sore, tired, and unable to wear a bra or prosthesis. As I had a very large remaining breast, and a negative- chest on the other side, I was VERY lopsided. I wore very loose clothing, taught all day, and then jumped in my car and drove like mad for an hour to get to my rads appt. EVERY DAY.
Thirteen-year-olds can be very rough, but were amazingly kind and thoughtful for me, even though not one of them asked any questions, or mentioned my condition in any way.

Finally, I had said something in class one day, and one of my students asked, "You say you HAD cancer? So you don't have it any more?" And when I said yes, I HAD cancer, but it was gone now, he told me that his grandma was going through treatment for cancer then. He was worried.
I talked to the class the best I could, trying to be reassuring and matter-of-fact about it, not knowing her situation.
We never know when others are going through something.
For all you out there, hugs and prayers.


Edited by: CARO488 at: 1/28/2020 (10:55)

Hugs to all. I was diagnosed in March of 2019. Did 2 months of clinical trial. Started Chemo in July for 5 months. Lumpectomy in December and started 4 weeks of radiation today.

For you too!

hugs and prayers for you all.

I'm at the 3 month mark post radiation.
Follow-ups are this week.
Praying all points to the Ca being in remission

Irismedia,
We were both diagnosed the same month and year.
Welcome (of sorts), to adapting to a strange, new world of survivor

Hi, also new. 2/19 told need biopsy. lumpectomy. Then we think there's more. Then mastectomy needed. Surgery 6/6/19. Bilateral mastectomy. No chemo no radiation.

I was told I was a survivor when I was still in the hospital.

Feels weird that my bumps don't have any feeling in them. Getting started on the NEW me. My clothes are all weird. They don't seem to fit right

Pretty sure the practice among oncologists is to count survival from date of diagnosis, mainly because it is hard to be consistent with any other measure. However, it can lead to some inaccuracies - for instance, someone who was diagnosed in June of 2013 would be considered a five-year survivor in June of 2018, even if he had relapsed twice in that time, and was on hospice.

While I was going through chemo, I asked the nurse when I could start calling myself a “survivor “. She answered, “Well, you’re here, aren’t you?�

It's a strange 'title' which I'm having challenges coming to grips with. it's good to know I'm not alone.

I remember that. It felt weird. Even now being 6 years later I still don't really know how I feel about that

I'm new to the title of 'breast cancer survivor'.
I was diagnosed in 2/19 and had surgeries in 3/19 & 4/19.
In 5/19 - 6/19 received daily radiation.
Now is the chapter of 'close follow up for the next few years'.