Thanks Sue ❤️

I am five years cancer free today!

I am so grateful to my medical team and the support of OCA. Here's to the next five.

Best wishes

Rachel

I am Anne and I recently had a surgery and will start chemotherapy this Thursday. I want to try to get support from you ladies who know what I am going through. It has been a tough 5 weeks for me after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer stage 1c. I try my best to see the light in this but sometimes I feel so sad and alone and mostly scared now that treatment will start. It is nice to hear inspirational stories from all of you and I pray that my treatment will be kind to me . Appreciate any helpful tips that I can do before I start this Thursday .

Thank you. 

Dear Cancer,

I write to you in disbelief and a level of denial that my life has crossed paths with you. Like most people who have met you, your presence was never welcome nor enjoyed but the life-changing lessons you left behind were amazing. It is for this reason I want to say thank you for teaching me....

The true meaning of life;

That my children are my life's most rewarding blessing;

That my husband and I are true soulmates and how blessed we are to be together

That no matter what family is the biggest gift we are all given

That our achievements are own but the impact they have on others are our true legacy

How to immerse myself in each moment, giving it my full attention and care;

To be resilient in the toughest of times no matter how weak I feel

That I possess an inner strength ready to fight any challenge

Fear is a waste of precious energy and time and giving me new perspective and ability to not sweat the small stuff;<

To celebrate the smallest of wins and graciously take ownership for them because I deserve to;

To find pleasure in the simplest of beauties in life and to bask in the most glorious of them all

To re-connect with me and live my own truth

I am enough just as I am;

I have survived your ferocity and pray that others who meet you are as fortunate I In the meantime passing forward my lessons, I hope will show, that you have nothing on the human spirit and matter how hard you try that spirit will overcome you!  Sirin

Putting my learnings in words directed to that very challenge was a very empowering experience. Prior to writing this letter, I had trouble using the words 'I' and 'Cancer in the same sentence, now 10 months into remission I call my safe a Cancer Survivor and do so with great pride and gratefully. I invite your comments or even better your own letter to Cancer so that we can pay forward our learnings with others in similar circumstances.

You feel like your body has turned on you.  Suddenly you're going through menopause and have more in common with women twice your age.  When people find out what you have been through they are shocked and horrified because you are so young.  Prepare yourself for sympathetic looks and comments from strangers.

Even though you feel like you are going through a never ending hell, there are positives.  People will realise you are one of the toughest people they will ever meet.  Not much will upset you, life's small things take on a different perspective and you learn to make the most of life while you can.

Keep wearing bikinis, your scars are impressive.

If it makes you happy, do it.

If you want those shoes, buy them.

Nikki

1) If my cancer had not been found in what was thought to be a healthy ovary at such an early stage my outcome would not have been as positive.  I feel blessed to have had extended time with my family.

2) I no longer work due to fatigue from chemo etc but find I am busier than ever.  It might take me 3 times as long to do something but I feel great when I have managed a task.

3) Although there are some confronting discussions that have had to be had, I don't dwell on the future too much as I find worrying about the future robs me of pleasure in the present. Equally I am not stressing about things I cannot change from the past.

4) I am not perfect -far from it and every now and again I have a pyjama day but mostly I try to make sure that each day I have at least one thing that gives me a reason to I get out of bed, get dressed and face the world.  It is too easy to give into the negative path or thoughts can take us.  I also put news of cancer breakthoughs etc in prominent places to remind me that I just need to stay healthy and contain the tumours until the breakthrough in Ovarian Cancer gives me another positive option.

So that's a little about me, I hope I haven't waffled too much

I lost our thread.

I will not have chemo or blood work till June 15, 16.

Longest I have been without treatment since 10/13/2016.

No blood stick this Friday either - thrilled about this.

Going on a church retreat this weekend.

Very unhappy at work - my contract was not renewed and I suspect these people are the tackiest on the Earth when it comes to managing foreign teachers.

Day at a time with this roller coaster.

Enjoy your short trip.

Sandra

I'm Margaret, retired nurse and midwife, diagnosed with Stage 4 , or so I'm told, Sept 2014. I thought my life had ended, but it's now 2018, and I'm still alive and kicking and keeping very busy