Life After Breast Cancer

Life after breast cancer...

 

What will my life be like after breast cancer treatment?

What will it look like?

How do I live it? 

What's next?

 

 

These questions have been bouncing around in my brain for a little over a month. That's about how long it has been since my last infusion.

 

Contemplation, thoughts, and prayers have led me to the only answer that will work for me. My life will be just like it was before...with a few exceptions.

 

The first exception is a fuller, deeper appreciation of my awesome family. Family has always been most important but cancer magnified that for me. My family stood (or often sat!!!) by my side and loved me through the tough times. It wasn't always easy for them and I owe them much gratitude.

 

A close second exception is a greater, more profound appreciation of my friends. I knew I had great friends before, but this past year has proven that I have the best, most thoughtful friends in the whole wide world!!! The cards (some sent weekly by two lovely ladies!), texts, emails, food, gifts, fruit bouquets, flowers, phone calls, pink shirts at a reunion, visits, and prayers were appreciated so very much. My friends "loved me through it" too. It all helped me heal.

 

Another exception is that I am trying to live with more mindfulness, being "in the moment", and appreciating things more fully...appreciating EVERYTHING life brings more fully. Being more aware and paying attention to the present takes practice. I am working on that.

 

A fourth exception that I now have is a much better appreciation and understanding of the struggle people who have ongoing health issues deal with on a daily basis. Breast cancer treatments slowed me down for a while but now I can move on, leaving my medical issues to linger in my memory (and a few scars on my body) instead of living them every day.

 

An exception that I have added since breast cancer is a greater admiration and gratitude for the doctors, nurses, technicians and all others who dedicate their lives to helping people get well. Theirs is a special mission in life.

 

 

So, what will my life be like now?
My life will be just like it was before...with a few exceptions.