Five years ago this month, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a bilateral mastectomy.
You know what I found out during that (unfun) time? I learned that things that had once seemed impossible and undoable are actually quite doable when you have no choice.
I did cancer. I was not undone by cancer. And as of this month, I am a 60-month survivor.
Which reminds me of a funny story.
I was giving blood this week and selected “Yes” on the question, “Have you ever had cancer?” When the nurse came back to follow up on my questionnaire she asked me what kind of cancer I’d had. When I told her I had breast cancer five years ago she said, “So, you’re a survivor?”
That question struck me so funny. And how do you answer a question like that? “Um. Yes. Pretty much.”
I cut her a little slack, though, in the light of the fact that the amazing people who work Blood Drives are exhausted at the end of a long day and can be forgiven for asking an occasional non-logical question.
But returning back to my original story . . . here are a few pictures from the cancer season of my life.
Steve kissing me before I was wheeled away.
I especially love this photo . . .
because the tables had been turned and the child I had cared for had become a wonderful caregiver.
We were blessed that Steve’s parents, my mom and sister, and a church board member and his wife were with Steve and Sarah during the surgery. We were also joined by long time friend, Pastor Ferrell Hardison (in the foreground) who pastors a large church near Goldsboro. In the midst of his crazy busy schedule, he drove to the hospital and spent the whole morning with us.
When I got home, the church had put up this sign.
Steve laid out spread sheets in Excel to get all my medications and drain-emptying schedules coordinated.
Our church family brought so much food we couldn’t even eat it all.
My mom and sister stayed with me for a week, pampering me and caring for my family when I wasn’t able to. Debbie earned her Loving and Brave Sister Badge by emptying my drains several times a day. (NOT a job for the faint of heart.)
Can you tell I’m just a little bit loopy in this picture of Mom and me? (By the way, I have the sweetest mom you will ever meet.)
My favorite picture from that season of life was this one. After I had spent one tearful morning grieving over the changes in my body and had just about convinced myself that I was completely unlovely and unlovable, I came downstairs to find this note from Steve along with a rose he had picked from our front yard.
Five years.
Loved.
Cancer-free.
Blessed.
What about you? Have you had cancer? If so, leave a comment telling us what kind and how many years since your diagnosis. And if you want to share any lessons learned through the experience, that would be great. We want to celebrate YOU!
I realized in the middle of the night last night that I haven’t been to your blog in a really long time. It made me sad so here I am tonight, trying to catch up on all things Smithellaneous. I can’t believe it’s been 5 years since your breast cancer. Wow. I feel incredibly old saying “My how time sure does fly!” But seriously, it really does! I’m so happy you are a SURVIVOR! Much love and many hugs to you and your wonderful family.
Lizz,
We’ve missed you! Thanks for stopping by again.
And yes, time does fly–for real. Hugs to you, too!
54 months here. Happy to have had those months. Glad to have the technology to check for recurrence. Mildly annoyed that my tumor doesn’t have the magical 5 year mark and requires check ups every 6 months for the rest of my life. But better that than the alternative.
Vickie,
Happy fifty-four months to you! And you’re right. Bi-annual checkups are a great alternative to non-survival! Here’s to many more fifty-more months to come.
I had thyroid cancer in 1988. Not a real worrisome type, but cancer nonetheless. Then my daughter was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2005. We are both fine and healthy. You have been so blessed in so many ways. Feeling proud to help you celebrate 60 months cancer free!!
LeeAnne,
ANY kind of cancer is worrisome when you’re the one to be diagnosed with it! So glad both you and your daughter are doing well. Many reasons to celebrate.
Becky, I have struggled with how to comment on this post. Some of the photos (especially of young Sarah) broke my heart. But the love in Pastor Steve’s beautiful flower and post-it note says it all. We are told that God is Love, and we can see God’s love woven throughout your story. ~ Fred & Lucy 🙂
PS – I am celebrating my 11th year of being cancer-free.
Fred,
Yes, those pictures of Sarah going through her treatment are still difficult to look at. But thank the Lord and great doctors she is a survivor. And also thankful YOU are a survivor!!
Congratulations on 5 years Becky! I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma at age 24 and will be celebrating 17 years cancer free on May 11th!
Jana,
Seventeen years? That is a long time! Celebrating those years right along with you.
Wow! Five years. You are such an inspiration.
Ann,
I can’t believe how fast those five years went by! I’m looking forward to many more years of being cancer free.
Congratulations! You’re not just a survivor, but a fighter! Love you much! Berit
Berit,
Thanks for the congratulations and the love!
Congratulations Becky on this 5 year milestone. How wonderful.
I am thankful to have not personally experienced cancer. However my family has survived losing a beloved 57 year old uncle to pancreatic cancer three years ago and the loss had been deeply felt. I pray for a day when cancers of all kinds are a distant bad memory.
Jenna,
I agree. Cancer is something we need to be looking at in our rear view mirror as a thing of the past, not the present. It takes too many of the people we love.
Congratulations!! i’m so happy for all of you…
Michele–thank you for sharing our happiness!
happy to hear that you are “pretty much” a five year survivor celebrant!
Mrs. Pam,
Yes, that’s “pretty much” it! 🙂
It is hard to believe it has been five years. I will never forget that heart dropping moment when you told me at dinner after the wild horse tour! There was not enough chocolate in the world to fix the way my heart felt. I rejoice that you recovered well with loving family members! I am so thankful that my Mom remains cancer free for a year and a half after her breast cancer story.
Cindy,
I well remember that moment of telling you and Chlorita. No fun for anyone. So glad your mom continues to do well. Hooray for her!
I was diagnosed with stage 1 invasive breast cancer on Sept 24, 2008. I had a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation followed by Tamoxifen for a year and a half, at which time I had a complete hysterectomy and changed to Aromasin (estrogen blocker) which I had a not so pleasant reaction to. My oncologist switched me to Arimadex and I responded much better to that one. I finished taking all of my meds and I am on a yearly visit to my oncologist now….I have graduated and hit the 5 year mark as well! Here’s to survivors….although I like to call us warriors better! Congratulations Becky! <3
Desera,
Your journey was certainly many times more difficult than mine so I can only imagine your joy and thanksgiving when YOU hit the 5-year mark. Annual visits are a great thing when you’ve spent five years going much more often than that. Happy hugs to you!
Hallelujah! And Happy Dancing in my office chair! (Yes…quite the sight). Five years … awesome milestone … congratulations!
I have not had a cancer diagnosis for which I am grateful. My brother, John, had his stem cell transplant due to MDS last Fall and is right on track with healing …ok … except at a follow up visit his appendix burst a few weeks back and it should be removed in another 3-4 weeks. After that, he is due to start receiving all his childhood immunizations. The Lord has been so faithful!
Guerrina,
Having an appendix burst after a stem cell transplant is probably not on a highly recommended list of things to do! So glad John continues to do well–other than that.
So happy to be celebrating 5 years with you! You stood tall, endured, had God fully in control and won the battle.
Becky,
Thanks for the happy thoughts. So much nicer to celebrate with others. 🙂
I have been blessed to not have had cancer. Ten years ago this October, my good friend and I participated in the Susan Komen 3 day walk for breast cancer in Tampa, FL. At the time, she was a 12 year survivor – and still survives today! Training in the humidity and heat of Tampa summers was nothing compared to what cancer patients go through – although I did lose all of my toe nails!
Phyllis,
You lost ALL of your toenails? I can’t even imagine–I’ve lost two due to ingrowns and that was bad enough. Thanks for doing that walk and for honoring all of us who survived and especially all of those who didn’t. Bless you.
No cancer for me but my father died of pancreatic cancer in 1991. But praising God you are a survivor sharing your life journey with us. Hugs from Iowa
Marjie, I am walking in the Purple Stride walk tomorrow in Kansas City. My boss’ mother is fighting it now and a good friend’s husband died from it nearly three years ago. She is walking with me.
Phyllis,
Thank you SO much for walking!
Marjie,
That’s what we are ALL doing isn’t it? Sharing the journey. I’m just sorry your father’s journey ended too early.
Hey, Duggy here. Yes, I’m a “survivor” of a tiny spot of basal cell carcinoma on my nose. It left a scar; I just tell people I was in a knife fight… “but you should see the other girl.” But more seriously, my dad, his five brothers and their mom all had cancer, so we’ll see how that goes. However, this is a milestone for my wife Patty who had her last reconstructive surgery two days ago. She had to live with the expander in place for a year and a half while enduring chemo and radiation, so this is a welcomed procedure!
Hey, Duggy! 🙂
(Let me just mention to my readers that Doug produced several of our CD’s many years ago and is one amazingly talented fella.)
I’m glad you have outrun any major cancer so far. That is quite the family history you have!
Kudos to Patty for making it through the dreaded Season of the Expander. Been there; done that. However, I didn’t do it while having chemo and radiation–she must be an amazing person!!
Celebrating my brave and beautiful sister–so proud of you. Love you!
deb
Deb,
I couldn’t have done the journey without you!
I will celebrate 7 years of being cancer free in October! I was diagnosed with stage 1b Melanoma at 23 and had surgery to remove it. I feel so blessed to have found it early (and thankful to have a mom who nagged me to get that mole checked out). You ARE a survivor, HOORAY!
Lindsey Lou,
Hooray for nagging moms! So glad you found that melanoma early and had it dealt with. We are BOTH survivors!
I remember saying lots of prayers during this time. So glad you are still here to be prayed for
Margie,
I remember those prayers, prayed by so many dear, dear Smithellaneous readers. I am forever thankful.
Congratulations….in fact, 60 congratulations, dear Becky, on your wonderful milestone!! Actually, I figure your a double survivor, since I’m quite certain that you survived Sarah’s cancer right along with her.
The only cancer I’ve had was a basal cell carcinoma on my temple. Although there were cancer cells in the biopsy, there were none at all in the rest of the “mole” when it was removed. This experience doesn’t even show up on my medical chart…but it was traumatizing for me because I lost my husband to melanoma that metasasized from a mole on his face to multiple brain tumors. And yes, there’s a little survivor’s guilt going on here because I got off so easily with mine!
Jan,
Yes, in light of your husband’s history, traumatizing is the exact right word to describe what you must have felt when that carcinoma was found on your temple. I have no doubt a few sleepless nights ensued while you were waiting for results; so very, very glad it all came out okay.
And I know there many stories and many tears behind your simple words, . . . “metastasized to multiple brain tumors.” I’m so sad for what you have been through.
Oh, my, Becky! FIVE Years. I remember all the prayers and the full “waiting room” of blog followers just waiting for word or your recovery. Five Years! Congratulations. Smile at all that has come your way in those God-given FIVE years. So happy to celebrate this anniversary with you.
I have been blessed, so far, in my life to not have been diagnosed with cancer. I have known too many who have and have lost some very precious people in my life because of that diagnosis. They are my angels. Tears as I remember their faces. I continue to count every cancer-free diagnosis day as a true gift from God.
Mary,
How very true for all of us: “Every cancer-free diagnosis day is a true gift from God.”
Many hugs to you today as you get through this difficult season.