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Recovery: Now What?
Okay, so life post-EBC isn’t exactly what we thought it was going to be. In fact, there are a ton of realities that our docs may have implied but didn’t exactly spell out. For example, if you’re on long-term adjuvant therapy like tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor, what techniques are you using to cope with the side effects?
Or, for those who lost a significant number of lymph nodes, what are you doing to ward off lymphedema? If you already have lymphedma, what are you doing to manage it?
The gorilla-sized issue the medical community seems loathe to mention is that we may never be the same – ever again. Once we get over the shock, we have a decision to make: wallow in it, or pull ourselves together and leverage the realities of a “new normal” for our personal benefit. This page is about moving forward, no matter how stiffly or slowly that may be…and how you are redesigning your life.
Share after-treatment tips and/or stories here that can help the MWQ sisterhood. C’mon, don’t be shy. Let’s hear from you!
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Pearls of Wisdom
November 29, 2010
Starting to suspect that the pink movement has lost its’ footing? Take a look at Peggy Orenstein’s recent article in the NY Times Magazine.
May 30, 2010
A friend sent along this link to an essay by singer/songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter that really touched me. It describes how difficult it was for her to accept the complex process of recovery after illness. To listen, click here.
February 29, 2010
Vaginismus: a strange word that describes a frustrating condition where the vagina clamps shut and makes it painful or even impossible to have intercourse. It can develop as a result of menopause and hormonal changes, so imagine how much more likely it is for us who’ve survived chemotherapy and are now on aromatase-inhibitors. If vaginismus is plaguing you, you don’t have to put up with it! Help is out there and two sites are especially informative:
1) A company with info and products
2) A comprehensive, non-profit site written by women who have overcome this condition.
Another Queen’s Pearls of Wisdom
Check out this video by stroke survivor Jill Bolte Taylor as she describes her incredible journey. It’s a tale of illness and recovery that gives us a shot of courage to keep going! Click here