[rinaina]

Leslie is so fortunate to have you for a sister. I commend you for stepping up to the plate and being her #1 supporter, researcher and confidant. Everyone on this board has been where you sister is at. When I first got my diagnosis I was shocked and dismayed. I prided myself on always taking such good care of myself and staying in good shape. I went for yearly mammograms from the age of 40. I never thought, as we all do, that this would happen to me. Well it did and in the beginning there is so much to digest. Everyone is different and handles things different. Believe me, it is not that I am so strong, but I learned early on that attitude can effect your outcome, so I decided that I would force myself to remain positive. That's not to say that I didn't have my moments, and I did allow myself time to be upset and to cry. I just didn't allow it to take over my life. I realize easier said than done...not everyone is strong enough but if you could encourage your sister to try to remain positive because it really can make a difference in her prognosis or encourage her to seek professional help that would be great. We can't all do it alone and you alone can't do it all. I would be happy to talk to her as well. I can understand every emotion and feeling she has had and will have. It isn't easy and even now that I have completed chemo and have just started Herceptin and about to start radiation, I still sometimes get down. Only normal, but I won't let it consume me or my life. I will fight this beast with everything I have in me because I want to live for my children, my husband and most important for me. My chemo did get worse with each treatment but I made it through all the side effects, and I had plenty, and now I am feeling almost back to normal. Do I like that I lost my hair, of course not, who does, but it is temporary and it doesn't change who you are. Please feel free to pass my info along to your sister, I would be happy to talk to her. Would be good for her to talk too so she could hear how well someone is doing after just completing chemo. I am here if needed.