Here's the latest on my friend with breast cancer.

[NightTrain]

Just got this e-mail from Diane, my friend in New York who has been fighting breast cancer for the past several months:

As for my personal "saga"....I finished chemotherapy at the end of November. The side effects damn near killed me. Some of them have not gone away yet.

I had a mastectomy on December 16, but unlike your very noble governor I have not yet returned to work. My surgery was more extensive than hers, and she did not require chemo. Recovering from the chemo is probably harder than recovering from the surgery! I will start radiation treatment tomorrow. This will continue for 6 to 8 weeks. Meanwhile, I have to return to work in 2 weeks or else I will lose my health insurance. I am hoping I am up to it.

I still have no hair, but I do have *fuzz* on my head.

The day after tomorrow will be my 57th birthday. There was a time last summer when I was afraid I would not live to see another birthday. I am more hopeful now, but it's still pretty much day to day. It's like, every weapon known to Modern Medicine is being fired at this disease. I'm doing everything I can. But the chances remain 50/50. So....that's how it goes for me now.

Breast cancer is not like other cancers. There is no "okay, you
survived 5 years, now you can relax." Breast cancer can recur in your *bones*, in your *lungs*, in your *liver*, in your *brain*, and kill you even after 10 years....even after 20 years. There will never be a day that it isn't hanging over my head. <sick joke alert> Unless, of course, I get Alzheimer's and forget I have breast cancer!

[tnlefty]

1. I can only hope that your friend does well.

My oldest friend died of breast cancer the morning after Thanksgiving at age 44. She was originally diagnosed and began treatment at age 33ish. I don't mean to be a downer or to frighten you, just to let you know that I sincerely hope that your friend will be okay.

[Blue Diadem]

2. Hugs to Nighttrain and your friend Diane.

I can't begin to imagine what your friend must be going through. Good thoughts and prayers are coming her way. I hope she'll be strong enough to go to work so she doesn't lose her health insurance. God..this administration sucks. It's awful that someone who is ill has to continue to work just to have health care.

My sister-in-law is a 10 yr survivor. So far, things are as well as they can be for her and she remains cancer free. She is also a dialysis patient and has been for about 20 yrs now. She's endured alot in her life and had to come to grips with knowing that she's not able to get a transplant due to her inability to take the anti-rejection drugs.

[borlis]

3. I hope your friend is getting stronger every day

Help her keep her spirits up. My Mom, who died of a heart attack seven years ago this past December was a 17 year breast cancer survivor. She always said that in her mind she would truly never know if she had beaten the cancer unless she died of something else. Shortly before her death, her latest mammogram had come back with a couple of "red flags." Nothing much to think about at the time, kind of a watch it type of thing. She told me then that she was seriously considering having her remaining breast removed just as a precaution. Well, it turned out to be a decision she never had to make. I am truly grateful that when it was her time to go, it was quick and painless and we didn't have to see her suffer.

[seemunkee]

4. Best wishes to your friend

My mother fought it for 15 years. Several recurrences until finally her body gave out. My teenage kids never knew their grandmother when she was disease free. Thank goddess my wife works in cancer trials and was able to give knowledgeable advise.

Yes you can have recurrences after 5 years but that is usually the point when you are considered disease free.

[Maestro]

5. As a cancer survivor,

although nothing nearly as serious as hers, tell her to keep a positive attitude and do whatever the docs say. They is much known about fighting this insidious disease and it can be beaten. Much of the battle is staying positive even on the worst days.