Thursday, November 15, 2007

I learned some things, An Awesome Documentary


Last night, on Dish Network, documentary channel, was 
great documentary called "Breast Cancer Diaries" 
The picture above is Ann with her youngest.. her son
was about 4 and such a sweet young man.

It was about Ann Murray Paige & her journey with
breast cancer. She was 38 when diagnosed and she two little babes.

She found her lump with a self exam. I found her journey
to be frightening, enlightening and very educating for me.

I am so glad I have grown children.  It was so hard on
her babes to go without their mom for so long.

I especially learned about the chemotherapy process..and what
it entails. Even though I had an idea..I didn't know exactly how
it was administered.

The good thing..after about a year, Ann was happy, healthy and 
beautiful again.  Her hair DID grow back with a bit of curl. She
opted to have BOTH breasts removed, even though only one 
had the cancer..and she has NO reconstruction.  From watching
her story, I feel the only option to her was implants, which I 
would not do either.  She was courageous, had a loving supporting
family..and they all went to Boston to stay with her parents , so
there was help with the children.  

WELL!!! of course last night, I dreamed I was doing chemo
& I tell ya, tis what scares me most.  They were most AWFUL dreams. 
Why must the nights by so SCAREY??
 My husband thinks the 
surgery is when I'll need him most, but from Ann's story, the
chemo is what kicks your butt!  She had 8 of them.. 2 weeks apart
and just when she felt decent after each dose, it was time
for another.  Her hair was gone after the 2nd treatment.
She wore hats & a wig outside, but not at home.  

I am thankful she shared her story..for me and for everyone
who may be touched by this.  She said for a year, she felt 
her life was about her being a cancer patient..not a woman, mom, wife, daughter, sister or 
friend..   She DID find peace, health..and she said ..now she takes time
out to just go outside and look at what flowers bloom.  She breaks silly
rules and spends as much time as possible with her family.  She even left her
job as a Special Reporter for a Public TV station AFTER she got well.
Here's an interview with her..she was even cute BALD

I also realize HOW hard this will be on my family & friends..especially my
dear hubby, but I look forward to the OTHER side of this journey and
the health that awaits me.

God will see us through this and whatever the outcome..it will be His will
and I will be joyous.
fondly, Deena

7 comments:

  1. Wow, what a story. I am so glad that she is in remission. Oh, she had to be so brave. You have to be so brave too. Thank you for sharing your story with all of us too. May God bless you and give you strength and I pray that you beat this thing!

    Hugs, Sharon

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  2. Deena my dear, God will be with you. As will your husband, family and friends. Please don't be frightened of chemo...it is doable...and you'll be fine. Really. There are things about chemo that aren't great. There are things about surgery that aren't great. But you said it yourself..you'll be on the journey to good health.

    I'm so glad you found my blog. I'm so glad that you found my email address. I don't know how you found me..that is not important. What matters is that you did find me.

    Any questions you have, any concerns, any worries. Anything your husband is concerned about or worried about. Anything that your children wish to know, please, I hope you will ask me.

    What this comes down to is your spirit. Remember what cancer cannot do. Watch the survivor movie that I posted.

    Keep a positive attitude, even during the down times.

    It is all part of the process and the journey. And remember this...no matter what others have been through (including me!), this is YOUR journey, your experience and it will be like no one else's. Just as with pregnancy, there are people who want to tell you the horror stories of cancer and it's treatment. Try not to listen to them. Negativity has no place in your life right now. Only positive.

    You are in my thoughts, and my prayers.

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  3. Dear Deena,

    What an amazing chronicle of this woman's journey through breast cancer and chemo. I'm so glad you were able to see it and get a first-hand glimpse into the journey. I do believe fear of the unknown is one of the most unsettling fears ... and hopefully at least knowing a little bit more in-depth about the process will calm *some* of your anxiety.

    I'm so sorry about your night terrors. :( All day long there are ways to keep your mind off it ... and so at night your subconscious is taking over. I'll say some prayes that those awful nights will subside and you're able to get the REST your body and mind needs to fight this.

    God Bless You!
    xo
    Dana

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  4. Adding my prayers that your mind will rest as well as your body while you sleep. I'm so glad you've been able to connect with other women who have been through this and benefit from their wisdom and experience. A wonderful benefit of the internet.
    Hugs
    Lennea

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  5. I have a friend that went through chemo last year and she felt fine the entire time; I was utterly amazed. I have lost contact with her as she was a coworker and I quit to help out my inlaws and to have time with family. But she took some anti nausea medicine and she said she had little side effects except for loss of hair (which did grow back)--she wore a wig for a while.

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  6. oh--so how come she could not have reconstruction as an option. Also you said something about insurance having to pay for it in another post--is this just in your state or is this nation wide?

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  7. You will beat this, Deena. Nights are scary and I will pray for your nights to be better.

    I know a woman who shaved her head before her chemo treatments began. She said that way she CHOSE to be bald. She was determined to beat it and I know you are too.

    Remember to lean on God. When I had cervical cancer, I found that reciting the 23rd Psalm before I went to sleep each night kept the night demons away. I hope it will do the same for you.

    My thoughts and prayers are with you as you go through this difficult time. May God and His angels administer to you.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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