5 years ago today ......

[Sheila]

5 years ago today I heard those awful words that shattered my world...you have breast cancer.....my whole life went into a tailspin...before I fully grasped this news, I began to deal with this emotional rollercoaster....the first time I looked in the mirror and saw the scar where they had removed my breast....I felt beaten, overcome with fear...planning my funeral....

Well, now, 5 years later, I can say that it was a turning point for me...I have learned to appreciate the little things in life, I know that life has no guarantees, and I try not to put off things that are important to ME! I have found new friends through this site, and all the knowledge, love and compassion anyone could ever ask for from all of you.

5 years ago today could have been the worse day of my life .... but in my heart, it was probably the best....it made me appreciate all I had taken for granted over the years.

[AlaskaAngel]

I love seeing your smile, Sheila. What an encouraging post!

AlaskaAngel

[Mary Anne in TX]

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_1_203.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm824LBUS) Congratulations, Sheila, on the last 5 years and on the positive journey you made it be. Here's to the next 5 years and many more smiles!

mary anne

[mslinda]

Congratulations Sheila. You have given the rest of us hope with your milestone, and also your wealth of information. I'm praying for you many more years. Keep that smile on your face, and continue doing things for Sheila.

Many hugs,
Linda

[lexigirl]

Congrats Sheila on your 5 year anniversary! You are an inspiration and your kind words are always appreciated. I wish you many many more happy and healthy years ahead.


Hugs,
Lexi

[karen raines hunt]

Hi Sheila,

Congratulations and thanks for all of your posts. I am approaching 2 yrs (Apr 13) and can relate to so many of those early feelings you had.

Karen

[Adriana Mangus]

SHeila: Congratulations! I hope to see you smiling many many more years. You have been so helpful to me, thanks from the bottom of my heart and cheers to you for a healthy and long life, the Best is yet to come!!!

[MJo]

This is a wonderful anniversary. Thanks for the wisdom.

[Leslie's sister]

Sheila:

Your post was so uplifting and encouraging. From the pits of despair to the realization of a real hope and finally a gratefulness for day to day living which we all can and have taken for granted. Thanks for sharing your five year anniversary with us!

[Colleen007]

I get quite a bit of hope hearing how well other Stage IV folks are doing...you are an inspiration to all of us. Don't forget to change your signature to say that you have actually made it to the 5 year mark!

[kareneg]

Here is to 50 more years! I am so happy to have met you through this sight, and the many other women and men. And breast cancer has changed my life so much. But most of it is truly for the better like you I appreciate so much more than I ever did before my cancer. Wishing you all the best Sheila!

[juanita]

congratulations, you give me such hope.

[rinaina]

Sheila, congratulations on your 5 year anniversary. You have such a wonderful outlook and attitude. I only hope on my 5 year anniversary I can feel and write exactly what you said. You truly are an inspiration and have helped so many, more than you realize. I am not sure I am ready to say that this is the best thing that could have ever happened to me because I truly don't believe it is. I have had other illnesses before this that have made me realize the real important things in life so having breast cancer of course emphasized this but I think breast cancer is the worst thing that has happened to me. Now that is not to say I haven't gained some things I value since finding out I had breast cancer. I have met some incredible people because of it and I am thankful to have them in my life, (forum group included), but I don't think I will ever say I am happy to have breast cancer. I respect you so much for being able to.

[Sheila]

Colleen

Thank you for reminding me to change my signature....I just did...this is better than a birthday to me....by the way, I have gained so much knowledge from the friendships on this board...and a few pounds over the last 5 years. What a day to celebrate for me, my 5 years and my little grandaughter had her back surgery in Chicago today and is in ICU and doing wonderful!!!!! She may be released by Friday if she continues to do well! What a great gift for me!!!!!
Thanks to all of you who have given me the encouragement to make it to celebrate 5 years!

[Mary Jo]

You said it all Sheila and you said it so well. I couldn't agree more. Although it isn't quite 2 years for me I share your appreciation for life and all that it offers.

Congratulations on your 5 year mark. I am so happy for you and lift up prayers of thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father.

Mary Jo

[Audrey]

Amen, sister! Congratulations on your 5-year anniversary-I hit mine last August and it was better then a birthday--now we shoot for 10 years..(one day at a time).

[Andi]

Congratulations Sheila on such a milestone. Your positive attitude and success has given me such hope since frequenting this board. Reading how others with advanced b/c are getting along well gives me so much optimism. I hope things go well for your granddaughter and that she has a speedy recovery. If she is as tough as her Grandma, she will!

[StephN]

Dear Sheila -
Welcome to the "Five Year Club!"
WOW! It is a long road in a short time span since we met on this forum. Must be somewhere in the 3 year time frame.

Just goes to show that life DOES proceed whether we choose to participate or not. The New Normal IS do-able, and we learn that along the way.

When we have a joyous event like your granddaughter's surgery, we reach another plateau and feel we can see at least a little bit of the future.

See you in the "Ten Year Club" which will be upon us before we can say "facelift!"

[Carol Carlson]

Sheila,
Congratulations.
I sign on fairly regularly but rarely post replies.
I had to reply to your wonderful news.It will be three years for me March 9th.
When I reach the 5 year mark, I'm planning a big party for myself.
Hope you celebrate and treat yourself !!!!
Carol C.
DX 3/9/04
2.2cm. tumor IDC, 3 DCIS , 4 pos. nodes out of 18
er/pr neg. her2+
A/C, Taxol , 37 rads
1 year Herceptin finished May 06

[Joy]

thank you Sheila for sharing your experience, your anniversary and your encouragement! Congratulations and I'm thinking you will be sharing many more anniversaries with us. We are both February girls. I was told February 15, 2000 that I had cancer. Your smile brings me much warmth in this wintery month and your words encourage me to keep going!

[tousled1]

Sheila,

Congratulations on your milestone! You are an inspiration to the rest of us that, yes, we can do it. Your positive attitude is refreshing. Also, I'm glad to hear your grandchild is doing well

[Sandy H]

Congratulations Sheila, I hear everything you said and will be doing mine next month. Amazing how this changes us! Hope you see many, many more years and like Steph said head for the 10 year club. Wishing you a great 2007. hugs, Sandy

[Becky]

Congratulations Sheila. I am thinking of you today (and everyday).


With love,

[cafe1084]

You know, Sheila, my first experience with breast cancer was as a student nurse in 1992, back in the day when it was literally a death sentence. That's pretty much how I felt, that I'd been given a death sentence with my diagnosis, until I found you and all the other women on this site. I can see that cancer, although not fun by any means, does not mean life is over. The image of my patient those many years ago will always be with me, but has been joined by the faces of the women here with their warm smiles and bright eyes. You and all the other women on this board are THE example of how we can live...and thrive through anything!! Congratulations on 5 years!!! hi-5, sister!

Stephanie

[Jean]

Sheila,
Thank you for bearing your heart and soul on your 5th Anniversary.
Many of us can so easily relate - at first there is such a feeling of
doom....and then somehow we manage to capture a strength that
we did not know we had.

Glad to hear the good news that your granddaughter is doing well after
such a big surgery. What a special day for you!

God Bless
Jean

[chrisy]

Hey there Sheila,

5years and counting - thanks for sharing this along with your constant encouragement to everyone.

Enjoy your "anniversary" I hope you celebrate!

[Karen Weixel]

Congratulations, Sheila!!

Karen

[caya]

Way to go Sheila! I'm relatively new to this board, diagnosed Oct. 2006 - barely 4 months out - I look to you as an inspiration in the fight against this horrible disease - I still am in a bit of shock about my diagnosis, but reality is setting in after the mastectomy and 2 rounds of chemo, hair falling out - I just remember that I can beat this, as I check the board and see the good stories like yours Sheila - hoping for another 5 years for you ( and another 5, and another 5 etc. )

Best regards,
Caya in Canada

[sassy]

Sheila,

Congrats on your 5 years. You are such a source of inspiration to many of us. Thank you for sharing your life with us and looking for many more years of celebration.
________
Wellbutrin lawyer (http://www.classactionsettlements.org/lawsuit/wellbutrin/)

[MGordon]

So tell us - were you such a flip-flop fan 5 years ago or is this an "acquired" taste?

Seriously now - congrats! 5 down and 50+++ to go!

Love and Light
Mel

[Sheila]

Mel

Flip Flops have become a way of life for me since starting Xeloda....not very practical for Illinois winters...now if I can find socks I can wear with them...might look like a geek but the feet will stay warm!

[StephN]

Hey Sheila -

It is a simple solution to find "flip flop socks!"

Just become a Geisha on top of everything else! They have something to wear over their feet that work with those thong/clogs they wear.

Seriously there may be an Asian specialty store that might have such a thing. I have seen them here in the Seattle area where there is a large Asian population.

Or take up knitting and knit yourself a custom pair of socks. I don't think my Chemobrain could keep up with the knit or pearl sequence ...
Let us know what you come up with, OK?

[Soccermom]

Many HAPPY returns and CONGRATULATIONS,Sheila! Doin' the happy dance for you!

Marcia

PS "Wally World" sells socks with toes...maybe that would help?(they are muticolored0... you can be a trend setter!!!!! Hugs!

[tricia keegan]

Sheila I said it before but your smile just cheers me up everytime I see it.

Congratulations on the five year mark, you're an inspiration to us all and I
love your upbeat happy attitude.
Thank you for sharing your special day...now go celebrate girl!!!!!
Tricia

[RobinP]

Amen, I think we all appreciate the small stuff more ,Sheila, after getting Her2 bc.

[vickie h]

Sheila, Congratulations on such a wonderful day! You are a bright, shining light for all to see. Thank you for the heartfelt inspiration. It has been 3 years for me and I look forward to many more with my grandchildren and children and loving husband (and friends like all of you here). I am sending you good wishes and healing prayers. Love and hugs, Vickie

[Debra]

Sheila -


All I can say is "wow". I don't even know you but reading that post of yours was truly meaningful to me! That's all I can say.

[MCS]

I'm very glad that you have done so well. Love to have you with us on this board. You have certainly answered many of my worries, many times.


Wish you many many more years of life and relatively good health. You are inspirations to us all, that you can live with this illness and make the most of what God has given us to live with

Love

MCS ( maria)

[Ceesun]

Sheila, Way to go! I am happy for you and thank you for your many replies to my questions this past year or so. Keep on shining!!! Ceesun