breast cancer support groups- vent

[marni]

thank you everyone for the venting support and many helpful suggestions and stories.

Margo49 your story is inspiring and makes me feel petty for my complaints- thank you for adding your story so I have a scale of relativity. You go girl, continue to get healthy and ride strong.

Knotted yet- austin is 2 1/2 hours a way if the traffic goes right. Thank you for the links though, I will reach out and see if they have anyone or anything around here or somewhat closer.

Jobob- both Livestrong and Komen have been generous with their information, but also very generous with sharing my address with their various fund raising efforts- this is a particular affront, especially coming from Komen since I have in the past managed to raise a goodly chunk of change for them in memory of two friend who have died of breast cancer.

oakleaf- I have my son and my daughter both coming to stay for a week and my dh is going to be taking some time off. If worse comes to worse, dad can skip his gym sessions for a week or so if I can't drive after the kids leave and otherwise, if I can be available as eyes for him, he can pretty much cope for himself except for cooking dinner which dh can do.

Crankin and Indy steel- Unfortunately this is sanctimonious god found and blessed us Houston so religion enters into more stuff than it misses. I have given up fuming silently about being prayed over any time we go to dinner at another persons house. Just down the street from me is the Cinco Car Care Garage, Christian community center and 24 hour dogwash- I kid you not. Occasionally they have a humorous pithy saying on the car care sign. Recently it read "being in a garage doesn't make you a car nor does being in church ;make you a christian." Today's is just plain churchy- "for inner peace try looking up."

I had an excellent ride yesterday in spite of the usual 20 mph winds, and today in addition to five pounds more on all the resistance and weights, I did 40 leg presses at 230 pounds Whoo hoo!! Thats far beyond my expressed goal of 10 % a quarter which was one of my new years goals.

thanks for listening and for the support and advice. Team Estrogen members know everything and care, to boot.

marni

[jelee1311]

Marni I'm so glad you have connected with a group that is right for you. You have been in my thoughts and I'm glad you are keeping us all updated on your progress. I'm happy you have red riding hood to look forward to before your surgery. I hope that you are also doing some sort of complimentary care to help relieve your stress. Sending good vibes your way. Jenn

[ny biker]

I would call livestrong and komen and ask them to put you on their "do not solicit" list. And I would tell them you're offended by the fundraising efforts, since you're just trying to get help right now.

If it helps, my neighbor had a mastectomy 5 years ago. She was pretty sedentary at the time, but a couple of years later she joined a gym and has been actively working out since then -- frequent cardio and weight training sessions. I think she has some shoulder/arm weakness on the side where the mastectomy was, but otherwise she is doing well and in fact only needs a mammogram once per year.

[txred9876]

I just read through this thread and sometimes people on help lines are no help at all!!!!

I am a double mastectomy survivor without reconstruction....
I had inflammatory BC in 2005 and I am fast approaching my 6 year mark when they didn't expect me to make it a year....

I have lymphedema on the bc side but I deal with it with a lymphedema pump. I was very seditary before diagnosis and I also got back into working out with the help of the team survivor ladies in Austin, tx. I lost 55-60 lbs and now do triathlons!!

In time you can do many of the things you did before.....we are here to support.... Tina in Austin

[marni]

tina, you and your story are amazing. I wish I lived in Austin.... My daughter does and she loves it, but here is where the work is.

Keep up the good fight. I can't swim very well, but at least I am getting into running so maybe some day a triathalon is in my future, or a biathalon.

marni

[sundial]

Marni, you are smack dab in the Bible Belt so it's not surprising that faith and religion are being interjected into your encounters with support groups. I haven't experienced what you are going through but my mother is a bc survivor and had a lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy. I think what helped her most was talking with the oncology nurses and fellow patients who knew exactly what she was going through.

Having a forum of like minded people is a big boost for the challenging days. Cancer robs peace of mind and wrecks havoc on the psyche and having contact with fellow survivors is a real boost for when you are experiencing bad days.

Here is one such forum:

http://www.healthboards.com/boards/f...splay.php?f=23

Marni, I wish you a steady recovery and lots of support in the coming days.