| My friend has breast cancer. She just turned 50. This | | | | benefit from attending meetings of others who are |
| year she also lost her job, saw her eighty-something | | | | "in the same boat". |
| father through getting a pace-maker and broke her | | | | I say this mainly from my own experience with a |
| foot. All these events took place in a mere 4 month | | | | very different disease. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. I |
| span. Talk about stress! | | | | have been very fortunate to have a very supportive |
| At this particular moment the news is "good". The | | | | family base. My husband gives me my weekly |
| internist actually told her "if you had to get breast | | | | injections. My grown children are more than willing to |
| cancer, this is the best one to get"! I'm no expert, by | | | | pitch in to help with a meal and laundry. I've learned |
| any means, but that sounded like an oxymoron to | | | | to not be quite so controlling and let some of what I |
| me. There's a "good" type? | | | | have always considered to be "my job" get farmed |
| The radiologist tried to calm my friend's fears as | | | | out to others who are more able-bodied. But what |
| much as possible-explaining that she was fortunate | | | | really helps are my two support friends. We've never |
| enough that it was caught in an extremely early | | | | actually met face to face, but we've known each |
| stage. According to the mammogram, the sonogram | | | | other for over six years now and it's our |
| and the biopsy, that it's very tiny and localized. Both | | | | cyber-connection that has seen us through some |
| of these first two doctors said that since these | | | | times that our families quite simply cannot |
| were all signs of an excellent prognosis they felt that | | | | understand! We met via a now defunct Rheumatoid |
| a lumpectomy would be all she would need. Of | | | | Arthritis website |
| course, this was also followed by "unless the surgeon | | | | We are all 49. One married, no children. One single. |
| feels differently and thinks some radiation might be | | | | And me. We share many things, all of which help us |
| warranted". | | | | get through the bad days and make the good ones |
| When she e-mailed me with the news, I felt a wave | | | | seem all the brighter. I cheered one lady on when |
| of nausea myself. After all, I'm but a mere year | | | | she decided to take her hobby of painting and go |
| younger so I felt her terror and the terror of | | | | professional. One cheered me on when I decided to |
| wondering who could/would be next to announce this | | | | rejuvenate my writing career after a 26 year hiatus. I |
| type of news. Being a writer my way of coping was | | | | was in the rooting sections when one went back to |
| to start researching the web for types, treatments, | | | | college to earn her degree. Both were online telling |
| groups and outcomes for an article. | | | | me that starting my ENBREL injections would put me |
| Many of the websites talked about the varied types, | | | | back into a more "normal" routine and told me stories |
| stages and treatments. Too numerous to become an | | | | about their positive reactions and remissions due to |
| expert on for the most part. Since my friend is still in | | | | the taking of stronger medications. |
| the "numb" stage, as she puts it, she hasn't told me | | | | So while I am still going to have to work on |
| which type she has contracted. But when she does, I | | | | becoming more knowledgeable on my friend's |
| will go to some of the more user-friendly sites (I | | | | disease, I know one of the best things I can provide |
| liked Susan G. Komen and The City of Hope) and | | | | her with is a list of breast cancer support groups that |
| start my detail searching there. | | | | she can contact and get involved with right away. |
| As the patient that's also the line of attack my | | | | Even if they will be an anonymous support group, |
| co-hort has decided on. She wants to know the | | | | they will give her invaluable comfort, and information |
| what-ifs, what-abouts and what are the closest | | | | that she would probably not receive from the |
| support groups around her. As a single woman she | | | | medical community. |
| fortunately has built up a very strong base of other | | | | I am also hoping that when the new year begins, she |
| single women to have nearby. Which is as necessary | | | | finds a sense of strength and renewal that will be a |
| as it wonderful. However, she will probably also | | | | positive outcome. |